Barbershop vs woodshedding

[Oppie]

Hi all,

I'm a fairly new member of the Westchester Chordsmen. This singing style is
totally new to me and I'm working hard to pick it up. I've sung in a church
choir for many years where they weren't too particular if we'd ad lib on the
harmonies as long as it worked. Now, it's sing it as written or else! <grin>

Just came across this group and had a question about the differences between
barbershop and woodshedding.

Tnx,
Oppie

[Hank L.]

Hi Oppie, and welcome to the wonderful world of Barbershop. I can guarantee
you are going to have the time of your life!
I will be entering my 5th year in August. I was hooked the moment I walked
in the door and it has changed my life. I am a life long musician and have
done everything from classical orchestra (Trumpet & French Horn) to playing
bass in a punk rock band wearing an orange Mohawk (that lasted about a
summer but I have to admit it was kinda fun). But in all honestly, in
hindsight I realize I had never enjoyed music more than I have since joining
the barbershop world. This was where I belonged all the time, but never knew
it existed. Just returned from the Salt Lake City international's btw.
I'm not an expert but I find myself a bit obsessed with this art and scour
the net for info as well as pick the brains of my fellow chorus members.
It just so happens the Bari in my quartet is a 50 year member this year
and is a master woodshedder. In fact I think he is a little too good because
he never bothers to look at the music and sometimes sings someone else's
note and always thinks he is right lol. I love to see his face when I show
him the music and he has to admit he is wrong.
Anyway, I will give you what I have gathered about woodshedding. If I'm
wrong I hope the more knowledgeable will correct me.
***

In essence they are one in the same. Barbershop started with wood shedding.
Woodshedding was 4 guys getting together, working a melody and "finding"
their harmony parts. Then working till it sounded good and proper in terms
of what was sensible (for my lack of a better term).
In the old days, there were no formal arrangements, it was all done this
way. As the form evolved certain "Barbershop" rules were established. This
kept evolving to what we have today which is certainly a specific musical
form and 100% American. It all hinges on those dominant 7th, or "Barbershop"
7th chords.

I'm sure the guys in your chorus can help you out with this. I'm not good
at woodshedding in the pure barbershop sense. I can tell when a chord is out
of tune and I can give 3 other guys what note to sing to make a nice chord
but trying to compose your part on the fly is hard. Woodshedding is
difficult for most and something a lot of guy's shy away from. Don't be one
of those guys, jump in with both feet and do what you can, it makes it all
the more fun.
***

I hope barbershopping proves to be as fulfilling to you as it has for me
Oppie. Get involved and enjoy yourself.

Take care and all my best

George Loose
VP chapter development
Gold Coast Barbershop Chorus
D-085

[Lyle]

Hi Oppie,

It would seem that Barbershop and Woodshedding are closely related.
The history, as put forward by George, is a good starting point. From
there, YOU become the link to the present by jumping in with both
feet. Your chapter may, from time to time, do some chorus
woodshedding. That's fun, but you can also be pro-active by grabbing
three other guys during break or after chapter and trying out some
harmonies.

If you want to learn more about woodshedding, go to
http://www.harmonize.com/ahsow/ and browse through the various
resources there.

I (too) was in Salt Lake City for International, and while I was
there, did a bunch of woodshedding with folks from all over the world.

So, as much as you can, take part in District and International
events. Inter-Chapter visits, Harmony College, COTS, contests -
they're all places you'll meet many woodshedders.

Quartetting is another great opportunity to woodshed. "You're on my
note" is heard in about 800 cities in North America on quartet
rehearsal night. In my city, that's Thursdays.

On Mondays, I'm at Edmonton, Alberta - leader of a group starting up a
new chapter.

On Tuesdays, I should be in Red Deer, Alberta, and if I'm not there,
I'm probably upporting my wife who sings with the Alberta Heartland
Chorus in St. Albert (Sweet Adelines International chorus) On
Wednesday, I sing with Spruce Grove, Alberta (V.P. Music &
Performance) On Thursday, Quartet rehearsal. "Get off my note"

This weekend is our Evergreen Harmony College Northwest - and three of
us are driving 18 hours to Tacoma, WA for a weekend with the Dapper
Dans, Realtime (who just won at International), and some other
district champ quartets. Ask me what I'll be doing at 3:00 am friday
night? And again Saturday night?

Woodshedding. Barbershop.


Lyle Southam
C-066, C-069, C-000
Edmonton
http://www.evg.org/~megacity/

Post by Oppie
Hi all,
I'm a fairly new member of the Westchester Chordsmen. <snip>

[Oppie]

Thanks guys. In essence, woodshedding sounds a lot like the old street
corner Do-Wop singing.

Do-Wop actually got me started with the Chordsmen. I was in the local diner
one afternoon and heard some really excellent Do-Wop from behind me. I
always loved this music and shortly realized that it wasn't the jukebox but
seven guys at a table near-by. They were singing while waiting for their
orders to arrive. They finished a song and I applauded. Several other
patrons joined in with the applause (it always takes one person, it seems,
to initiate). The singers, with new found approval, continued with a few
more songs, no longer in hushed tones but in normal volume. We all had a
ball and even the waitress came over with a cell phone and asked the group
to sing one for her boyfriend <grin>.

Anyway, the food arrived and I had a chance to talk with one of the singers.
He said that they were all with the Chordsmen www.chordsmen.org and that
their quartet, Classic Sounds, did Do-Wop along with the standard fare. He
invited me to a rehearsal and I was hooked.

...And in a strange coincidence, we had a cousin come in to visit us from
Portland, Oregon (we're in the New York City area). Hadn't spoken with her
in ages and found that she is a Sweet Adeline. Who Knew.

Chord-ially,
Oppie (bass)

[Dave Whittier]

Oh, Lyle. You are _far_ too idle ;)

Heh.

Dave

Post by Hank L.
Hi Oppie,
It would seem that Barbershop and Woodshedding are closely related.
The history, as put forward by George, is a good starting point. From
there, YOU become the link to the present by jumping in with both
feet. Your chapter may, from time to time, do some chorus
woodshedding. That's fun, but you can also be pro-active by grabbing
three other guys during break or after chapter and trying out some
harmonies.
If you want to learn more about woodshedding, go to
http://www.harmonize.com/ahsow/ and browse through the various
resources there.
I (too) was in Salt Lake City for International, and while I was
there, did a bunch of woodshedding with folks from all over the world.
So, as much as you can, take part in District and International
events. Inter-Chapter visits, Harmony College, COTS, contests -
they're all places you'll meet many woodshedders.
Quartetting is another great opportunity to woodshed. "You're on my
note" is heard in about 800 cities in North America on quartet
rehearsal night. In my city, that's Thursdays.
On Mondays, I'm at Edmonton, Alberta - leader of a group starting up a
new chapter.
On Tuesdays, I should be in Red Deer, Alberta, and if I'm not there,
I'm probably upporting my wife who sings with the Alberta Heartland
Chorus in St. Albert (Sweet Adelines International chorus) On
Wednesday, I sing with Spruce Grove, Alberta (V.P. Music &
Performance) On Thursday, Quartet rehearsal. "Get off my note"
This weekend is our Evergreen Harmony College Northwest - and three of
us are driving 18 hours to Tacoma, WA for a weekend with the Dapper
Dans, Realtime (who just won at International), and some other
district champ quartets. Ask me what I'll be doing at 3:00 am friday
night? And again Saturday night?
Woodshedding. Barbershop.
Lyle Southam
C-066, C-069, C-000
Edmonton
http://www.evg.org/~megacity/

Post by Oppie
Hi all,
I'm a fairly new member of the Westchester Chordsmen. <snip>

[Peter B. Steiger]

Post by Oppie
Just came across this group and had a question about the differences
between barbershop and woodshedding.

Oppie, it sounds like you hooked up with a group who knows what
barbershopping is all about - the joy of singing.

As far as I'm concerned, barbershop IS woodshedding. If somebody else
took the time to work out some harmonies and put 'em on paper, that's
fine, but the main thing is a melody that you can easily identify 5th and
7th chords in.

Anybody who tells you "barbershop" is 300 guys in $200 tuxedoes dancing an
intricate choreography while singing "Luck Be A Lady Tonight"
arranged for six vocal parts needs to have a pitch pipe shoved up his nose.

Not that I feel strongly about it :-)

[Oppie]

"Peter B. Steiger" <***@for.email.address> wrote in message news:***@access4less.net...
<snip>

Post by Peter B. Steiger
Anybody who tells you "barbershop" is 300 guys in $200 tuxedoes dancing an
intricate choreography while singing "Luck Be A Lady Tonight"
arranged for six vocal parts needs to have a pitch pipe shoved up his nose.
Not that I feel strongly about it :-)

LOL!
Well, if you look at our web at www.chordsmen.org , you'll see about 80 guys
in $200 tuxedos. Don't know what they were singing, it was before my time (4
parts though afik). I just ordered my Blue long sleeve and black short
sleeve polo shirt embroidered with the logo. That's as much as I'm spending
for right now. got some time before the big Christmas show to save up.
Meanwhile I'm just havin' fun.

We had a quartet development night with some of the group gurus. I went for
it and was made painfully aware that I have much to learn first. I'm dealing
with dyslexia and some short term memory deficits which makes it hard to
learn the music. Professionally, I'm an electrical engineer, so it's a left
brain - right brain issue. (Don't ask me which, I'm dyslexic)

Oppie

[Hank L.]

Well sadly, many of the modern chorus's are guys in $200 tuxedo's with
choreo. Our group does not do super intense choreo but do try a little with
most of our songs. And we do wear $200 tux's lol.
http://www.evg.org/~slogold/ Actually I hate them, as do pretty much all of
our guys. I like to be comfortable. I always look forward to a strong theme
for our annual shows so that we wear something other than the tux.
But I can definitely relate to what Peter Steiger is saying. One thing
about internationals is, you see "the top chorus's" as it were. To be
honest, I found the one's with the most choreo so distracting it took my
mind away from the singing. I have a strong mental picture of Masters of
Harmony choreo but I can't recall either song they sang. I like movement but
not to the point of looking like a bunch of Las Vegas show girls. Not my
idea of barbershop.
Hank L. (George)

[m***@hotmail.com]

Let me add my two cents, Oppie.

Also, in the beginning of barbershop contests, woodsheedding was a
primary aspect of competition. In my converations with Lou Perry and
Walter latzko, they have such great memories of barbershop and
conventions. Altough this has little to dowith your post, Lou once
toldme that they used to have parades that would go through the middle
of the city that hosted Internationals. Floats, singers, etc.; I guess
it was quite a sight! Another thing he said was that when quartets
would show up for contests, the rarely spent every moment together.
They were usually out finding other people with which to sing. My guess
there was A LOT of woodshedding happening! He was sad that he was
witnessing a move away from that kind of fraternity before he died.

Everybody in my quartet was a 4-part AHSOW. When it didn't go well, we
called "woodpiling" *snicker* But I always enjoyed it. I hope you enjoy
barbershop as part of your joy of singing.

M