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Essentials in
Get Famous
Down By The Old Main Stream
Put barbershop in the musical main stream, and educate the public about this great musical art form.
Updated: 4/30/2003 2:53:00 PM
by Gary Stamm, CAE, Director of External Affairs
Ever heard of the term “mainstreaming”? It’s mostly been used in education to describe the inclusion of children with special needs into the regular classroom. The theory is that both groups will be able to learn from the other and everyone will get a better education.
My purpose here is not to debate whether the theory works. The truth is, it probably has in some cases and hasn’t in others. But what about mainstreaming with barbershop? Why not?
Barbershop harmony is a very specialized type of music. In fact, it has been described in more than one instance as niche music. Lots of people who hear it like it; some even want to try to perform it.
The trouble is, not as many people hear it as we would like. Even though we have hundreds of chapters putting on annual shows, choruses and quartets performing at various functions, and even after several PBS specials, we’re still the “best-kept secret in town.” Well, folks, a little mainstreaming can help this situation and accomplish some other worthwhile goals, to boot.
It’s really quite simple. Invite other vocal groups to be on your show, or be part of your musical event. That’s right, invite (hire) a high school chorus, show choir, vocal ensemble, etc., to be a feature act on your program. Or maybe ask a junior high group, church group or contemporary a cappella group to do so.
“But, we’re putting on a barbershop show,” you might say. “What’s the advantage?”
Of course you’re putting on a barbershop show. And that’s certainly what your audience should mostly hear if that’s how you advertised the show. But if you share a quality vocal act with them that provides a little variety, I doubt whether you’ll get any complaints.
And, there are several advantages. We’ve already mentioned the variety aspect. It’s the spice of life and a key to a lot of great entertainment we experience all the time.
The performers you invite on your show will most likely bring some friends, family and followers with them. That sells more tickets to your show, but more important, it introduces barbershop harmony to people who may not have experienced it before.
And, of course, it shows that we are musical leaders and not barbershop snobs. We’re the ones organized enough to put on a show. We’re the ones who are inviting them to share our stage. We’re the ones who had this great idea. We’re the ones providing them an audience and talent fee. We really are leaders, aren’t we?
Go a little farther and do a joint number with your guests. Joe Liles has put together some nifty arrangements of the SingAmerica and SingCanada song, “Teach The Children To Sing” that might be just the ticket.
If you do your barbershop music well, you have nothing to fear. Our music can stand up against any other, if it is performed with quality and feeling. You will be giving your guest performers something to shoot at. And you certainly will be fulfilling a big part of our Society vision, “. . . leading the cause of encouraging vocal music in our schools and communities.”
Is this what they mean about a win-win situation?
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