InCider Press, August 2003, page 6

Another View of Russ Young Visit (Continued from page 8)

them the same way we've always done it. It's just a matter of working on our craft.

I remember once when some of us were in the "post mortem" session with a judge after we went to contest and being told there are three elements to good barbershop singing. 1) Sing in tune (listen), 2) sing together (watch the director), and 3) sing alike (pay attention to vowels, watch the "r's", etc.) And why don't we do all these things? According to the judge, we 1) just don't think it really makes any difference, so forget it, or, 2) we can't, for one reason or another. Most of us can shape vowels so they sound the same, so I guess we must think it doesn't make enough difference to worry about.

Last week during warm-up Don fixed some chords in "The Old Songs", one of the songs we almost always sing to start our meeting. How many of us have since looked at the music to make sure we were singing all the right notes? I

confess I haven't, and I had evidently been singing the wrong note on one chord since I joined the chorus 16 years ago.

I guess what I'm getting at is this: - Sure, it's a blast to have the Russ Youngs of the world come and share their experience with us once in a while, but the Little Apple Barbershop Chorus is incredibly lucky to have the musical leadership we're blessed with. And there's no reason we can't improve as a chorus if we'd just try a little harder to match the effort Ken and Don make to help us to sing better. Sure, we all enjoy the camaraderie, and just getting together to share what's going on in our lives, have fun, and socialize in other ways. But isn't barbershopping about singing? And wouldn't it be more fun if we brought down the plaster with more chords ringing in every song we sing?

Are we better than we were 10 years ago? Of course. Can we get better still? YES! Let's get on the edge of our chairs when Ken is in front, and really give it a whirl!

Barberpole Cat Program (Continued from page 5)

* Sing each song (WITHOUT using printed music) with three other voices (who may use music, if they don't let you look at it!-) in front of the entire chapter (or at least a significant number of other Barbershoppers); if your audience thinks you have sung the song satisfactorily, be sure your experience and voice part are recorded on one of Myron's "early palm pilot" notecards. If there were too many sour chords or you forgot some words, no harm done -- just feel good for trying, practice a little more, and try again!

* After you have sung any six songs on the list, you will receive a Barberpole Cat Certificate, and after singing the remaining songs, you will receive one of those coveted little Barberpole Cat lapel pins.

* Finally, if you are really gung-ho, you can earn Certificates and Pins for the other three voice parts!

Currently, our chapter has fifteen pinned Barberpole Cats: Wayne Bailie, Myron Calhoun, Frank Carpenter, George Dickerhoof, Melvin Emig, Larry Hansen, Bill Hanson, Sam Kvasnica, Chuck Marr, Mike McCaffrey, Leonard Purvis, Bob Ridley (two voice parts!), John Schlender, Don Thomson, and John Trail.

An additional ten men have received Certificates: Bart Bartholomew, Pat Caffey, Pete Cooper, Jim Gardner, Tom Hart, Gene Klingler, Jim Lindquist, Chas Martin, Terry Nanninga, and Bob Swenson. Furthermore, two of those ten lack only one song and another two lack only two songs to earn the Pin!

In the last 31 years, many Barbershoppers have enjoyed the Barberpole Cat Program. The goal is not necessarily the formation of registered quartets (although that would be a great result if it were to happen); rather, the program introduces men (and boys) to the joy of singing with three other guys. I hope the Barberpole Cat will become your favorite animal.