The Acorn - Oak City Sound's Weekly Newsletter - Jan 11, 2023

Type of post: Chorus news item
Sub-type: No sub-type
Posted By: Nic Cols
Status: Current
Date Posted: Tue, Jan 10 2023

1. Notes for this week

  • Greetings and Happy New Year! The Acorn is back after a well-deserved vacation in warmer climes.
  • A very fine rehearsal last Monday evening. It was our first meeting after Christmas break since our performance at Springmoor on Dec 19.
    • Followed by a good Afterglow at The Corner Tavern. UGA was already up 38-7 by the time we arrived, so with the game aready decided, it did not interfere with the usual banter and socialization.
  • Our new later stop time on Monday nights might make us run too late at The Corner Tavern to order food, as their kitchen closes at 10. They have agreed to receive our food orders from any of us over the phone so it can be ready when we arrive. I suggest that you enter their phone number 919-460-0088 into your phone directory with the link to their menu: https://www.seamless.com/menu/the-corner-tavern-and-grill-1301-nw-maynard-rd-cary/370117?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=place-action-link
  • Jan 16 - Next Chorus meeting, at our regular location Searstone Retirement Community. 7pm to 9:30pm. 
  • New Music: Ready for download from the web site:
    • Desperado (Eagles), Here Comes the Sun (Beatles), Honesty (Billy Joel), and You've Got A Friend In Me (Randy Newman - Toy Story). 
    • Don't spend time on the intro to Desperado as we will probably drop it. 
    • Larry has uploaded the revised sheet music for "You've Got a Friend in Me" in the men's key, so we now have sheet music to match the tracks. Those who already printed the sheet music in the mixed voice key will need to print it in the new key so that the notes match what they are hearing on the tracks.
 

2. Carol's Korner

  • We have begun some great work on creating more tone and, therefore, more ringing chords! Please keep working on singing from vowel to vowel instead of consonant to consonant.
  • Think about the great sounds and smooth lines we created in the first 6 bars of "You've Got a Friend in Me" (it was like WOW - Ed.) and work on replicating that physical sensation and sound for every song we sing. This approach will be especially helpful for the introductory verse for "Ova the Wainbow".
  • As we did on Monday night, whenever we sing together, choose someone whose voice you will be listening for as you sing. This will really help you to work toward the ideal of "listening louder than you sing" and will lead to us consistently singing like a chorus instead of a bunch of individual singers.
  • Also, remember what a HUGE change occurred on Monday night when we all eliminated the L in "Ah-most Like Being in Love." What a BIG difference removing one consonant can make in bringing your sound forward and getting it out of your throat! Let's build on that!!

3. Ben's Buzz

10 Steps to a Note,

Step 1 - Hear a Pitch. Covered on Nov 25. Click here

Step 2 - Find Your Note. Covered on Nov 30. Click here

Step 3 - Check Your Posture. Covered on Dec 7. Click here

We learned that the 3rd step in the 10-steps to a note is to check your posture. We started by talking about chin position. What else you’re checking is that you …

Step 4: 

  • Stand conformably with your feet about shoulder width apart. 
  • One foot should be slightly in front of the other.  Some disagree on which foot should be in front, although from what I observe, that’s mostly a question related to performance rather than singing or music.  In fact, I’ll switch which foot is in front during the performance from time to time related to choreography or depending on where I am on the risers. It’s a consideration of balance, comfort, and what the audience sees.  
  • Your weight should be slightly more on the balls of your feet rather than the heels – and on the risers you should “hang 10” your toes which, at least from the forward foot, should be slightly hanging over the front of the riser (and those on the floor should have 6-8 inches between the back of the leg and the riser).
  • Bend your knees slightly and tuck your butt gently. The bottom part of your pelvic region will be rolled slightly forward of the upper part, as if you’re lightly resting on the edge of a stool.
  • Getting this lower part of the posture right will provide good balance and a solid foundation for your core and upper body, which we’ll address in the next buzz.

4. Future Notes

  • We have been contacted by Cambridge Village Retirement Center in Apex, whose Activities Director attended our concert at Glenaire last month -- she liked us so much that we are about to be scheduled for a concert at Cambridge somewhere between Feb - April. Stay tuned.
  • February 12 to 14 - plan to run Singing Valentines again this year. February 14 is a Tuesday, so we'll look for opportunities on the previous weekend.
    • Think about how maybe you can help out in the planning and management of this little enterprise!

5. Long Range

  • March 10 and 11, 2023: Carolinas District Spring Convention in Spartanburg, SC.
  • March 20 - CHANGE Our next guest night. Our focus will be on reaching out to the Hispanic community. 
  • August 4 to 6, 2023. At Clemson University Campus in Clemson, SC. The Carolinas District is now partnering with the Dixie District to run a single Harmony Education Program ("HEP") in the summer for both NSC and DIX districts. This tot fab educational weekend will be held at Clemson University in Clemson, SC. Absolutely top-tier faculty is assembled for this training event. I can attest that this is a GREAT weekend of singing education, for individual singers, quartets, entire choruses, and chorus directors. Pencil this weekend into your calendar for now. Over the winter, we as a chorus will develop plans, as appropriate and beneficial, to attend this, if possible.
  • October 2023 - Carolinas District leadership has decided to permanently eliminate the Fall Convention and Contest, going forward. 

6. Champagne Room

  • Congratulations to Russ Johnston who has marked his 39th year as a SPEBSQSA/BHS Member.