0. New Additions to Distribution 

• We've added our maliing list to this newsletter distribution. If you do not want to receive this, just reply and let us know. Thanks.

1. Notes for this week

• Feb 6: Our regular chorus meeting. We had 19 men in attendance this past Monday. Followed by a great Afterglow with 7 of us there at our usual watering hole: The Corner Tavern! 
• This coming weekend through Tuesday, Feb 14, is Valentine's weekend
  • Quartets will be out and about the area delivering Singing Valentines! 
  • Please see Mike Muha's email about signing up to be in a Valentine's quartet.
  • Please send a message, Facebook post, or whatever, to advertise our Singing Valentines program. It is really easy to place an order for a Singing Valentine: just go to OakCitySound.org and click "Order Here".
• Feb 13; Our next Chorus meeting will be held at our regular location Searstone Retirement Community. 7pm to 9:30pm. for those not involved in a Valentine quartet at that time.
• Did anyone see me checking my own jaw position while I was singing last Monday night? Can you guess why I would do such a thing?
• OCS is deciding whether to set up a booth at Cary Spring Daze's Cultural Arts Row. OCS/General Assembly has done this in the past. It runs on April 29, 2023, and we're talking running our info booth from 9am to 5pm. If you have thoughts or opinions about manning such a booth for OCS for a few hours, please let me know!

2. Carol's Korner

• Leads and baritones, please spend some time with your learning tracks for "Here Comes the Sun" so we can come to an agreement about the rhythms in the measures we have worked on for several weeks. If it is helpful for you to sing the note or notes before yours, go for it. I will also try directing a different pattern next week that may make more sense for the 1-2-3 patterns, but individual work is VITAL to find success with this song.
• You've Got a Friend is coming together nicely! The next step is flow and connection. Only put rests where they are written in the music. Err on the side of too fluid to eliminate choppiness.
• Our contest set (Almost Like Being in Love and Ova the Rainbow, in case we have not been clear) is becoming more consistent and sounds better every week. Make sure you are always telling a story with the words. You are not just singing sounds, you are relating a story to the audience, even if that is just to me!
• Song list for next Monday night  (Feb 13):
  • Almost Like Being in Love
  • Ova the Rainbow
  • Honesty
  • Desperado
  • Here Comes the Sun
  • You've Got a Friend in Me
  • Do You Hear the People Sing?
  • The Bare Necessities

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 - Part 1: Check Your Posture, Basic Stance. Covered on Dec 7. Click here. 

Step 3 - Part 2: Check Your Posture, Balance. Covered on Dec 14. Click here. 

Step 3 - Part 3: Check Your Posture, Straight and Tall on Jan 18. Click here. 

Same as last week ....

Step 4 - Drop the Jaw! 

• The fourth step is to Drop the Jaw.  This does not mean to just open your mouth wide, like an alligator. In fact, you can drop your jaw while leaving your front teeth close together.  
• It means separating your TMJ (temperomandibular joint) as if you had a couple of marbles between your back molars. Practice that.  It’s an odd feeling at first, and you’ll get used to it.
• Dropping the jaw helps to increase the volume in your vocal chamber, and as you also raise your soft palette your can create music with great resonance. It’s easy to do, yet most singers just don’t do it. 

4. Future Notes

• Still working with Cambridge Village Retirement Center in Apex to schedule a concert sometime between Feb - April. Stay tuned.
• March 10 and 11, 2023: Carolinas District Spring Convention in Spartanburg, SC. 
  • Our contest song set: Almost Like Being in Love and Ova the Rainbow.
  • All contests and performances will be held at Spartanburg High School in the state-of-the-art District 7 Fine Arts Center.
  • Early Bird registrations are $75 for the weekend (rates increase to $95 on February 17). 
  • All attendees are expected as a matter of goodwill toward our singing community to:
    • Take a PCR test (regular or rapid/NAAT) no earlier than the day before picking up credentials (48 hours); or 
    • Take an antigen test the day of event.
  • All fellowship events (Greek Night and District Afterglow) will be hosted at the Marriott in the Presidential Suite.
  • Two steps to register:
    • To register for the convention, go to https://www.tickettailor.com/events/carolinasdistrictbarbershopharmonysociety/835475 and click the Buy Tickets button on the upper right. Select Full Registration - Early Bird.
    • To get a hotel room, go to https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1674064449570&key=GRP&app=resvlink 
    • Do not delay any longer!

5. Long Range

• March 20 - Our next guest night. Our focus will be on reaching out to the Hispanic community. 
• April 3: Oak City Sound concert at Springmoor!
• Apr 29: Cary Spring Daze booth
• May 8: Templeton concert
• 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 personally 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.