Quartetting: why it matters to make it official
Posted by Rick Spencer | Posted in Music, Quartetting, Run your chapter | Posted on May 26, 2009, 9:00 AM
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Guest post by Society Music Specialist Mike O’Neill, (also bass of Lunch Break, 2008 international semi-finalist):
Currently, we have 1,444 registered quartets in the Barbershop Harmony Society. That means, approximately 5,776 (it is probably less since several men are registered in more than one quartet) members of our Society sing in a registered quartet. Can you believe that fewer than 22% of our current membership is enjoying this incredibly important component of membership? I can’t either! As a matter of fact, I know it is more than that. We have hundreds of quartets in our organization who are not registered with the Society.
Many ask the question, “other than to compete, what do I get for being in a registered quartet?” Let’s help answer that.
In the midst of worldwide financial issues, job instability, and an unstable outlook on the future, as a barbershopper, what better way to put all the troubles behind you and sing in a barbershop quartet! Although most of us barbershoppers enjoy our hobby while singing in a chapter, the Barbershop Harmony Society is a quartet Society first and foremost. There is nothing like the experience of quartet singing and ringing those good ole fashioned barbershop chords …. NOTHING! The enjoyment from singing your part on your own with three other guys singing their part on their own, the friendships formed while doing so, and the fellowship shared, are only a few of the reasons to sing in a quartet.
Below, you can see a list of reasons / benefits to registering your quartet:
Tangible:
- Ability to compete
- Receive “On the QT” Newsletter geared specifically for quartets
- Name appears in HQ database for potential gigs
- Your quartet name is protected
- Receive Quartet Registration card
- Receive “An Information Manual for Barbershop Quartets” (Stock #4093) which contains lots of useful / helpful hints for quartet singing and enjoyment
- Eligible for scholarship opportunities at Quartet College
- Can legally use the BHS logo on business cards
Intangible
- It’s mentally and emotionally the difference between “casual dating” and “marriage” – a committed quartet gets more out of the experience because they give more. (Except in barbershop, there’s no stigma if you partner swap and/or get some additional action on the side, and with us, frequently getting back with all your “exes” is considered a good thing!)
- Your quartet registration plays a vital role in helping the Society perpetuate Barbershop Harmony
- Fellowship and fraternity
- A quartet bond for many, is like an extension of your family
- Ability to deliver performances for charities, other non-profits
- Increased opportunity for performing on chapter shows
What members are said in a recent survey regarding benefits of registering their quartet
- Pride of identity
- Permission to compete
- Good marketing to say we are a part of the Barbershop Harmony Society
- It helps our chorus / chapter
- A feeling of greater responsibility
- “Locking in” the quartet name
- A unique extended family
- Prospective members can find us on a website (marketing)
- Ability to be adjudicated at competitions
- Able to claim membership with the Barbershop Harmony Society
- Support the BHS
- Accountability
- Accreditation
- Recognition
So if you are singing in a quartet right now and are not registered with the Barbershop Harmony Society, we humbly ask you consider registering. As you can see above, there are many benefits. However, the largest benefit is probably the opportunity to help perpetuate the Society.
For a small fee of $40 ($10 / man), you can register your quartet in three ways:
Online – you can register a new quartet (or renew your existing quartet) by going to eBiz…on the top menu items, hover over “quartets” and you will see a pull down menu that gives you the option to “Register New Quartet”…then…click on the “Register New Quartet” radio button on the left side, and input all needed information…it is as simple as that.
Email – bbox@barbershop.org (Becca Box) is in charge of handling quartet registration and renewals
Phone – Call our Toll Free number at 800-876-7464, ext 4122…Becca Box will handle your quartet registration
As for those of you not yet in a quartet, get out there and start enjoying YOUR hobby to its fullest!
I’d have to say that it is the feeling of “belonging” and legitimacy that motivates me to register most of the quartets that I have sung in. I’ve been in a few quartets over the years, including mixed gender quartets, that haven’t been registered for this reason or for that. Each of these unregistered groups, while rewarding in their own right never totally felt real. (Yes, I like that little piece of paper that says I belong to something unique.)
I value my membership in the Barbershop Harmony Society and registering the quartets I sing in seems like the right thing to do.
The ability to compete and the other “tangible” benefits listed are just plusses for me.
How does a person make themselves feel comfortable with their own voice,andconfident to become a Quartet member?
I just am not very confident with my own voice and my ability to sing in a Quartet.
You know Bob, your question may inspire a whole separate blog post, as there isn’t an easy answer! I could recommend a couple things, and maybe it can get you started.
1. Know your notes with a high level of accuracy, so when you get into that quartet role, you will have a positive experience.
2. Find 4 of your closest friends, one on each part. Let the guy who sings your part “5th wheel” with you for added security.
3. Find a corner somewhere where there is no risk of anyone listening (if that is part of your insecurity).
4. Repeat those steps until you feel more comfortable.
5. Get rid of the “5th wheel” and enjoy singing on your own.
The most important thing is that you enjoy your hobby to the fullest extent. Ringing a chord with three others is a whole different experience than ringing a chord with your chorus! Give it a try!
Confidence? Bob asks a great question and I can personally speak to that because I have (had) the same issues. First, YOU have to WANT to become a BETTER singer which takes several things: first (it is an absolute requirement) is a commitment to DO lots of it, practice, practice, practice! Second, find some other folks to practice with you. I think it is less intimidating if they are your peers, not three steps above you in skill. Finally, spend some time with your “practice group” with an accomplished coach to help you master the skills, one step at a time. As you actually get better, in your eyes and in the eyes/ears of your coach, you will achieve more confidence. It ONLY comes with a history of successes so choose your battles wisely!
This probably won’t work for everyone but it worked for me. And I have a serious case of performance anxiety but I refuse to let it me rob me of the fun of singing in a quartet.
As an fairly new quarteter, one of my favorite parts has to be getting used to making mistakes in front of friends. I started out like Bob. I lacked confidence in my own abilities. For 2 years, I’ve made mistakes with friends and they’ve made mistakes with me. That’s how you get better. Our first recordings are nothing like the recent ones, and we get to all laugh at them together.
The comraderie of a small group where you can test your limits and help your buddies test theirs without having 40 guys critique you ntil you’re ready is a perfect incubator.
My absolute favorite part is that when it does all come together, ringing like crazy, there is one man in each part that get’s to claim the credit. Awesome.
Just an observation . . . at the head of this column there is a caption under the picture that says that the guest post is by the Bass of Lunch Break . . . but the picture is of Men In Black . . .very misleading without the proper photo credit.
James, thanks for starting this discussion! Quartettng is such a great learning experience and, yes, John, the confidence builds over time. It sure seems like you are doing the right things. A couple ideas: Take lessons. I started because I had (I thought) one little problem. Three years later I am still at it and look forward to each lesson. Be patient because singing requires bringing lots of things together. Go to Harmony University. Not only once but regularly. Keep challenging yourself to do things (Quartet College, Honors Chorus, eXtreme Brigade) that you can’t do at home. It all helps.
I’m glad to be a part of a registered quartet. It would be better however, if we could come up with some sort of qualification in order to be registered. Today, any four guys can pay their money and say they are a registered barbershop quartet even if they can’t carry a tune in a bucket. In this age of easy communication, it would seem that we could ask quartets to submit a video of themsleves singing a polecat or something, just to show that they can indeed sing in tune, before granting them the privilege to call themselves a BHS registered quartet. They don’t have to sing like OC Times, but to represent the Society, there should be some minimum standard it would seem to me. Then being a registered quartet would mean a little more.
I’m sorry Wendell, but I totally disagree with your “audition tape idea”. When four Barbershoppers take the step of registering as a bona-fide quartet they have already doubled their commitment to the Society and their hobby-craft. Many of us are not within a thousand miles of events and assistance that many may take for granted. Rather than make it more difficult to become a “Registered Quartet” we need to encourage any and every four guys with that desire to follow their dream too! Every four voices practicing regularly together bring newly developed skill sets to their Chorus and it is a triple win for the quartet, their chorus and the Society! To use a Hockey analogy….not everyone gets to play in the NHL but there are thousands of hockey players who get a lot of personal satisfaction and even bring a lot of pleasure to those who watch them, who will never see “the bigs” or anything like it.
Rather than take the elitist approach of making it more difficult for others to enjoy what you have as a member of a Registered Quartet, I would suggest you reach out to another four guys and become a mentor to them.
I agree with Bill. As VP Music of our chapter I’m charged with trying to promote quartet growth. Putting a barrier up like an audition tape is counter-intuitive to that goal.
IF you were to proceed with the audition tape for quartets, the same methodology would also need to be applied to a chorus…now that’s a pandora’s box!!!
I saw no reference to the quartet names on file and the quartets are no longer active, such as mine which broke up 14 months ago. I’m certain the name is still on file. Of course there are those names on file of quartets that haven’t sung a note together in years, but somebody preserves their name each year for reasons unknown to me.