So You Want to Sing Barbershop. A Guide for Performers

In SoYou Want to Sing Barbershop, veteran barbershoppers Billy J. Biffle of the Barbershop Harmony Society and Diane M. Clark of Sweet Adelines International provide a practical handbook for singers at all levels who want to learn about the American art form known as barbershop singing. Clark and Biffle explore the history of the style, survey the international organizational structure of the twenty-first century barbershop world, and outline techniques to develop the necessary vocal skills for the style. Guest authors Scott McCoy and Wendy LeBorgne provide valuable information on vocal anatomy and vocal health.

The So You Want to Sing series is produced in partnership with the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Like all books in the series, So You Want to Sing Barbershop features online supplemental material on the NATS website. Please visit www.nats.org to access style-specific exercises, audio and video files, and additional resources.

CONTENIDO:


Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Who Sings Barbershop?
1: The Barbershop Family Tree: A Brief History of Barbershop
2: Singing Barbershop and Voice Science (Scott McCoy)
3: Vocal Health and the Barbershop Singer (Wendy LeBorgne)
4: The Barbershop Style: "Let?s Bust a Chord"
5: Barbershop Singing Technique: From Shower to Spotlight
6: Barbershop Ensembles: You Can?t Do It Alone!
7: Standards for Barbershop Singing: Here Comes the Judge
8: Becoming a Better Barbershopper: Education in the Craft
9: The Barbershop Culture: Hobby or Lifestyle?
Conclusion: Keeping the Song Alive
Appendix A: How to Speak Barbershop: Terms Used in the Barbershop World
Appendix B: How to Locate a Barbershop Chorus/Chapter: Navigating the Websites
Appendix C: Books, Videos, and Other Resources
Index
About the Authors


Diane M. Clark is associate professor emerita of music at Rhodes College. She has been a member of Sweet Adelines International since 1992 and is active as a chorus and quartet coach and music arranger.

Billy J. Biffle has been a member of the Albuquerque chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society since 1975 and is an arranger and coach, certified master director, judge emeritus, and past president of the Barbershop Harmony Society.