Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Msg #2: It's time we had the talk about birds and bees

Welcome to our second preparedness update.
All previous updates can be found at https://nehbprepare.blogspot.com 
Useful info and links at the bottom of the page.

Important News

We are still recruiting singers

You probably saw the email Daniel sent earlier this week - while we have enough singers for a solid rally, we certainly have capacity for more people, especially in that higher-sounding clef I hear so much about. :-)

Please publicize NEHB to friends, fellow singers, people you admire.  For those worried about the cost, remind them that we have scholarships available.

More singers = more fun!

Planning your learning process

We need to learn a little more than a song every 2 weeks to be successful, and most people aim for a slightly quicker pace than that.  I, personally, have aimed for at least a song a week.  If the week ends and I'm not done, I still start the next song.

Doing so dovetails nicely with our run-through schedules:
  • May = songs 1-4
  • June = songs 5-8 (and some 1-4)
  • July = songs 9-12 plus challenge
  • August = everything
  • September = rally

Need Help?

Singing is a together-activity, and so is preparing for a rally.

If you are a first-time brigade person, you have been assigned a sponsor.  Sponsors and their sponsored singers should be communicating at least once a week on progress, and offering help and suggestions.  If your sponsor isn't responsive - we can get you a new one.  If your sponsored person isn't responsive - please let us know so we can provide more help.

If anyone (new or old) needs help, or suggestions - please reach out to the VP of Music, or me, or anyone at all.  We will get you the help you need. Many of these songs are of high complexity - but we will help.

Run-throughs are far more helpful than you think.  If you can't make it to run-throughs, we can find you a partner to video-chat with and sing for, or to whom you can send audio recordings for evaluation.

Your success is as important to all of us at the rally as it is to you.

This will be my 8th rally - I would never be properly ready for a rally without singing with others and getting feedback.

Between You And The Birds And The Bees And Cupid


Words and Music by Pee Wee King and Redd Stewart
Arrangement by Aaron Dale

I would bet that OC Times has had more of their songs sung at Brigades than any other quartet.  The next best thing to an OC Times song with Sean Devine on lead, is a Throwback song with Sean Devine on lead.

Sean and his quartets have a fine ear for country songs that make fun barbershop arrangements.  This song is a classic from Pee Wee King - a famous arranger of old fashioned country classics in the 40s and 50s.  Honored with many lifetime achievement awards, Pee Wee (born Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski) wrote Tennessee Waltz and other famous tunes. In this song he partnered with a frequent collaborator, Redd Stewart.

In the classic tradition of “we can’t talk about it, but we can allude to it”, this song is about having fallen deeply in love.  Cupid was not always the floating cherub with the arrows that we see today - he was originally the god of erotic love and desire. While Cupid originally had two types of arrows (gold=desire, lead=fear and fleeing), we tend to focus on just the arrows of desire today.

The Birds and the Bees - well, you don’t expect me to explain those to you, do you now? :-) Besides, in previous years we’ve sung “Let’s Do It” (“Birds do it, Bees do it, even educated fleas do it. Let’s do it, let’s fall in love.”)  Such imagery goes back to the Romans and through the Middle Ages. You understand how our melodeer got in this position. At least he seems happy about it.

Aaron Dale produced this arrangement.  It’s in a classic barbershop style of basic repetition, simple key changes, and a bit of variety in the lyrics and rhythms to keep the audience awake and alive. Avoid the temptation to sing too bouncy - keep some smoothness to the lines as you go.

 Sometimes I'll insert some advice into the song description of the week, aimed at my fellow basses.  I'll be calling that the Bass Note.

Bass Note:there are pickups you sing, and pickups you don't. Be careful. The most common pickup basses miss is "a-well now". The most common one we sing when we shouldn't is "Between".

VIDEO LINKS

Pee Wee King his own self - fascinating differences in timing and emphasis
Chorus 52eighty (youth) - a faster pace and interesting interpretation
Boom Town - why should Throwback have all the fun?

Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Welcome to the 2019 Preparedness Program: Message #1

Please Read All Of The Following

In this first note of 2019, I lay out our plans for preparation, what these notes will contain (and how to read them best) and a bunch of other important stuff.

Please read all of this email. You won't have to read all of the emails that follow - although it will help if you do.

Welcome, and "Why Am I Getting These"

Hi, I am Mark Schuldenfrei - your Chief Preparedness Assistant.  I am mostly a cheerleader for the work you are doing, a help for any troubles you may encounter, and an occasional reminder to your conscience that the Rally is ever closer. :-)

I am here as a Promoter and Maximizer of Fun. The best way to enjoy your Rally experience is to never think about the songs themselves, but to think about the singing you are doing during the weekend.  The more you can think about making music and how great you sound, the more fun you (and everyone else) will have.

If You Need Help with learning, or are stuck on a song, or with anything - I can put you in touch with the right people.  Feel free to email me.

We help each other prepare, so that we can enjoy our weekend to the fullest.  Simple as that.  If we (as a team) can make preparing as much fun as singing together, we will have achieved Peak Harmony Brigade Satori.

Format and Contents of These Notes

Summary: Read the top, reference the bottom, enjoy the middle.

Each email will also be a blog post which you may refer back to. Important information at the top - new, different, timely.  Please read at least the top info.  Deadlines, new resources, errata (if any), offers of additional ways to have fun.  If you read the top info, you will be all set.

At the bottom of each email will be a compilation of all the old information - useful links, deadlines, stuff like that.  You should be able to find everything that you currently need at the bottom of the most recent email.

In the middle of the sandwich - useful advice, entertaining information, fun stuff, weird pictures, links to inspiring performances.  Stuff like that.  Since I sing bass, I may make some bass-centric observations.  Oh well. :-)

We Are Still Recruiting Singers

We are still actively recruiting singers, especially in the top clef.  We have a few basses and one baritone waiting for balanced parts to sing with.  Please recruit people that you are sure everyone would want to sing with and send them to our application page.  More singers = more singing = better fun.

Useful Info And Links

Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, September 6, 2018

Msg #20: Stuff you gotta know besides the 12 songs. :-)

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

Our preparation phase is largely over (although there are plenty of run-throughs left this week and weekend). But we have a few items left to cover.

 Most of your critical information is here.

AIRPORT TRAVEL: I will stop accepting requests for airport rides shortly, because we need time to arrange drivers.  If you need a ride from the airport or to the airport click the links. If you have questions, please email me.

 CHECKERS STILL NEEDED: Volunteer to Ted Blank via email.

SINGOUTS still available: held in the hours before the rally on Friday please email either Noah Morrison or Lee Daum.

DINNER THURSDAY There is a restaurant dinner planned Thursday Night, contact Lee Daum if interested. (Cost not included in the rally.)

SHOW TICKETS still for sale, they will NOT be sold at the door. Invite friends!

COSTUMES: The weekend is scheduled tightly, there is no time to go shopping.  Bring the chorus uniform (solid white long-sleeved dress shirt, solid colored conventional tie, black everything-else, optional solid colored suspenders if needed.)  If doing singouts, Hawaiian shirt, jeans and good sneakers.   Bring spares of everything if you have them, somehow we need them every year.

ATTENDEES FROM PREVIOUS YEARS:
  • Bring old Brigade song books (with your name in them) and sing some oldies!
  • NEHB Brigaders, bring old book-bags, name-tag holders, lanyards.
FORWARD LOOKING CALENDAR:
We have always been on the third weekend of September since inception.  In 2020 (two rallies from now) we will be on the second weekend of September.

NON-MEMBERS
  • If this is your second NEHB Rally in a row, you are eligible to apply for membership.  Instructions will be available at registration.  (2 specific songs to be recorded and submitted).
  • There is a members meeting at each Rally, where members (only) get to vote on matters of importance to future Rallies.

    THESE ARE NOT OPEN TO DISCUSSION ON THE NEHB MAILING LIST - we need to keep this lane clear for last minute important updates.

    This year the topics and votes include:
    • Vote on new Board of Directors for 2019
    • Discussion only: potential alternatives to a random draw quartet contest for 2019
    • Discussion only: expected increase in costs of procuring music
    • Discussion and vote about adding female attendees next year - and if so, either as a one time experiment or permanent change.
Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Msg #19: A dozen songs, more or less

Let's Cover The Basics For The Rally

Please read this email quickly but carefully - It is a list of what you should have done, or what you need to do soon.

================================

By now you should have already filled out your housing and meal survey  and your supplementary requests.

If you are traveling and need a ride from the airport or to the airport click the links.

If you can offer a ride, please do.  If you are using other transit, send me an email.

We hope it is not necessary, but click if you have to withdraw.

Please consider becoming a checker - the more we have, the better things will go.  I'm volunteering for my first time ever this year, and if I can do it, so can you!  Volunteer to Ted Blank via email.

If you want to join the singout opportunities before the rally on Friday please email either Noah Morrison or Lee Daum.

There will be a members meeting - look for the agenda to be mailed to members-only very soon.  There are some important topics on the agenda.

We are trying to arrange a Sing With The Champs opportunity with our guest quartet OC Times - stay tuned for more information.

Most of your most critical information is here.

If you are a NEHB veteran or a veteran of other previous year brigades, it's a good idea to brush off some of the previous songs.

I want to repeat the "Tips For Quartets At Brigades" - it's especially a good time to look at #3.
And, at the bottom of this, where many of you won't see it... let me take a minute to thank all our volunteers, staff and my fellow Board Members.  When Daniel Schwartz asked me if I would step up to help, I was unsure what I was getting myself into.  But Daniel is worth trusting, so I did.  I appreciate every one of them, and the opportunity to serve has been an abiding joy.

The many wonderful people who help produce this event personify the best of barbershop.  Honest, true, hard-working - motivated by the music and their love of their fellow singers.  Some of them aren't even able to attend this year, but have put in hours and hours for their love of what we do.

When you get to the Rally, please thank them for their service.  These are really fine folks.

Speaking for myself (but probably for many others) - I simply can't wait to sing with each and every one of you.  
Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Msg #18: Are you excited yet? (T minus 4)

URGENT IMPORTANT LINKS

  1. You must fill out your housing and meal survey before August 15.
  2. You should fill out your supplementary requests if you have guests or require a longer stay.
  3. Tickets are on sale for our show, and are very limited.

FRIENDS WHO ARE TRAVELING

If you have not made your travel plans yet, now is the time.

 If you haven't filled out the ride information (offered and needed) please see the links at the bottom of the page.

SINGOUT OPPORTUNITIES

Noah Morrison and Lee Daum are arranging opportunities to perform for the public before (and maybe after) the Rally.  If interested, please email either or both of them.  (Email in lieu of the survey I promised last week.)

UNIFORM CLARIFICATION

Clarification on the show uniform from last week - the shirt must be:
  • solid white
  • button down
  • no pattern
  • long sleeve
  • cleaned and pressed
The tie is a regular knotted tie, not a bow tie.

MEMBERSHIP REALLY DOES HAVE PRIVILEGES

Anyone in good standing and who meets minimal requirements, and who is attending the second of two consecutive New England Harmony Brigade rallies may become a member of the New England Harmony Brigade.  Beyond fancy badge holders, members drive the future of the Brigade.  They may sponsor new singers, they are consulted on important matters during the year - and at the annual members meeting they help decide important matters related to future plans for the Brigade.

Once you are a member, you get earlier registration and guaranteed early acceptance to future New England Harmony Brigades, your membership is considered if you apply to other Harmony Brigades, and you are eligible to be on the Board of Directors.  To keep your membership all you must do is attend New England Harmony Brigade every other year (at least).

To apply - if this is your second New England Harmony Brigade in a row, listen for the announcements of the two audition songs for this year.  Make a recording of each, and submit them to the music team after the rally is over.  There are no extra fees or applications beyond the songs. (This status does not apply to people who attend as staff.)

ATTENDING OTHER BRIGADES

New England Harmony Brigade is a member of The Association of Extreme Quartetting Harmony Brigades (AXQHB), an umbrella group for worldwide harmony brigades.  If you enjoy our Brigade, you are encouraged to visit another - in the US or around the world.  (See the list on their web site, or their calendar.)  To learn more about the history of AXQHB, click here.

AXQHB is the home of "the core 8".  Each year their music team picks 8 songs that all Harmony Brigades will share.  (The many smaller brigade-like programs each year mostly use some of the core 8 as well.)  If you meet a fellow Harmony Brigade singer, you have some songs in common from the years you attended.  Every Harmony Brigade picks their own unique four songs - and if some future Core 8 includes one of those, it is guaranteed to be the same arrangement.

This year the core 8 are:
  1. No, No, Nora
  2. The Bear Necessities
  3. Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring
  4. I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby
  5. Cheek To Cheek
  6. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
  7. When She Loved Me
  8. I'm Feelin' Fine

Useful Links


Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Msg #17: Polish and practice (T minus 5)

URGENT IMPORTANT LINKS

  1. You must fill out your housing and meal survey before August 15.
  2. You should fill out your supplementary requests if you have guests or require a longer stay.
  3. Tickets are on sale for our show, and are very limited.

SINGOUT OPPORTUNITIES COMING

As in previous years, we will have some quartet performance opportunities on Friday morning (and perhaps other times as well.)  Thanks to Lee Daum and Noah Morrison.

There will be a survey distributed soon.

I do it every year - what's better than more singing?  More singing plus making audiences happy!

UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS

We keep the dress code simple - wear whatever you want. With two exceptions:
  1. For singouts the uniform is a Hawaiian shirt.
  2. For the Saturday Night chorus performance it's simple:
    1. Solid long sleeve, white dress shirt, clean and pressed, not yellowed, not patterned.
    2. Black dress pants, shoes, socks, belt. Not black jeans, not sneakers.
    3. No suspenders unless necessary, solid simple colors like black, red, white.
    4. A solid color tie.
If this represents a hardship for anyone, please let me know privately and I will see what we can do for you.  (For example, if the only black shoes you have are orthotic sneakers, wear them.)

If you can, bring spares of things - we want everyone on the risers any way we can.

Reunion Rooms

Since Harmony Brigades and Platoons (smaller, one-day rallies with shorter song lists) have become so popular, whenever you travel to a convention or other gathering - look for Brigade reunion rooms.  Brush up on your core 8 songs (and others from previous years) and have a blast.  If the event you are attending doesn't have a reunion room for AXQ brigaders, why not see if you can organize one?


Useful Links


Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Msg #16: Final Prep Work Time (T minus 6)

THREE NEW IMPORTANT LINKS

  1. You must fill out your housing and meal survey before August 15.
  2. You should fill out your supplementary requests if you have guests or require a longer stay.
  3. Tickets are on sale for our show, and are very limited.
Of course, please register for rides if you need them, or can offer them (see the bottom of this note for links.)

WE ARE ONLY SIX WEEKS AWAY


We are about 6 weeks away from the rally.  At this point you should be able to sing most every song off paper (but not necessarily perfectly).  If you are a veteran Brigade attendee, you might also be dusting off some of your old favorites from previous rallies.

I know many attendees who have at least one or two rough songs.  That's expected.  If you are more than four songs behind, now is the time to get help.

There is a LOT we can do for you, but only if you ask.  Everyone wants to help you succeed, please ask!

Rehearsing Tool

At run throughs people keep looking at the notes that I keep. (I'd mentioned them in another weekly letter.)  I'm sharing a link to them - feel free to make a copy and keep your own records.

Tramp and Supertramp

One of the fun activities at the rally is to earn a "Barbershop Tramp Award".  To do so, you need to sing (and collect a sticker from) everyone outside your own part.  We caution people not to "sing and run" but to enjoy the rally and the singing, and not just collect all the stamps as fast as possible.

The truly dedicated make the effort to learn another part on at least one song, and try to sing with EVERYONE.  This is popularly called the Supertramp award.

This is our biggest and most successful rally ever, so earning Tramp and Supertramp will be quite a challenge.  Enjoy!  These awards are given at the closing meeting on Sunday.

Useful Links



Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)