What is the Barbershop Harmony
Society?
What is barbershop
singing?
What are the requirements
for membership?
If you can carry a
tune, and you're male, you are eligible for membership.
Will I have to audition or pass some kind of test?
No way. After you
have attended some meetings we may check your voice to see what part (tenor,
lead, baritone or bass) you are best suited for but you won't have to prove to
anyone that you're another Pavrotti or something.
I like to sing but I never
had any music training. Wouldn't that be a problem?
Not at all. Most of
our members have never had any formal musical training.
I don't have the slightest
idea about what part I'd be able to sing.
No problem. You could
try different parts if you want, and we'll have some one available who can
help determine which part is right for you.
Would I have to sing in a
quartet? I'd feel really funny about that.
Lots of our members don't sing in a quartet. That's why we have
a chorus. But after time goes on some members get that urge to sing in
quartets, which is a great way to maximize the pleasure of barbershop singing.
Its up to each guy. If I came to a meeting I'd
feel strange trying to sing with a bunch of guys who can already sing.
We almost always have
new members or guests who are just getting into barbershop singing so you
won't feel alone. Also, our chorus is frequently learning new music so even
the old members are in a learning mode. And you can be sure that the people
you are sitting with (or standing next to) will happily do all they can to
help you and make you feel welcome!
I'm sure I'd make a lot of
mistakes. Won't that screw things up for anyone else?
Not really. Everybody
makes mistakes - that's why we have rehearsals. Eventually you (and the rest
of us) will get it right.
I'm retired and have my
days free. Does the Red Bank Area Chapter have anything special to offer me?
We have a daytime
chorus, the Matinee Idles, that is very active. Members of the
Matinee Idles must be members of the Red Bank Area Chapter, but not all of
them sing with our main chorus, the Chorus of the Atlantic, although
most do.
Are there any social
events, or is barbershopping just singing?
We are a singing and
social organization. There is usually plenty of socializing at our meetings,
which are generally followed by an optional "afterglow" at a nearby watering
hole. During the year we have a number of other fun activities,
including our annual installation dinner dance, a ladies night, a Christmas
party, and a family picnic. We work hard at singing, but we have a load
of fun doing it!
Where can I learn more
about the Barbershop Harmony Society?
Check out their Web
Site by clicking on the Barbershop Harmony Society
icon on your left. You may also want to look at the Wikipedia articles on
Barbershop Music and the
Barbershop Harmony Society.
More Questions?
Email us by clicking on the email
icon on your left.
The Barbershop Harmony Society
is a not-for-profit singing and social organization
with over 30,000 members in the U.S and Canada, and with affiliated
organizations around the world. Its purpose is
To perpetuate the old American Institution, the Barbershop
Quartet and;
To promote and encourage vocal
harmony and good fellowship among its members,
and;
To serve the musical needs of all current
and potential members by providing and actively supporting a wide variety of
barbershopping opportunities which may include organized quarteting, pickup
quarteting, chorus singing, and group or "gang" singing,
and;
To encourage and promote the education
of its members and the public in music appreciation,
and;
To initiate, promote and participate in
charitable projects, and;
To
promote public appreciation of barbershop harmony.
Barbershop singing is a traditional American art form. In short,
it is singing songs written in a tradional style in four part , male harmony.
Barbershop harmony is unique in that the melody is almost always carried by
the second voice, called the "lead", while the tenor, baritone and bass
provide the harmony.