Free Classroom Resources
The Barbershop Harmony Society can be your partner in bringing the joy of singing together in harmony. Use these free resources to introduce the music, ignite interest, and give singers quick success in close harmony a cappella.
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Learn about the style
Recommended songs
The barbershop style encompasses literature from the late 1800s through contemporary pop and Broadway. Among the thousands of arrangements published by the Barbershop Harmony Society, with the help of current music educators, chorus directors and judges, we’ve curated a special collection particularly well-suited for advanced JH/MS, high school, and college-level ensembles. All are available with multiple voicings and digital learning media at shop.barbershop.org, and also at HalLeonard.com.
Free Sheet Music + Shop Our Top Picks
Simply download, print, and enjoy!
We proudly provide free sheet music for everyone to enjoy. In addition to barbershop classics, you'll find music to help you celebrate birthdays, holidays, and more. Happy singing!
Looking for something specific? Shop our Top Barbershop Picks!
Teach a Barbershop Tag
Get started with a classic tag! View our playlist of basic tags to try with your ensembles today.
Additional Tag Resources
Access the Classic Tags for Men's Voices songbook (125 tags), find tags for all voices, download tag apps, and more.
About Our Music: what makes it barbershop?
Everyone can sing barbershop, but we have some terminology and best practices to learn!
All music has special performance practices that take some time to learn, especially if you are familiar with a different style. A professional pianist can play classical music at an amazing level, but it takes some time for the same pianist to learn to play the blues, rock, or ragtime. The same is true for singers from the choral world trying barbershop harmony at the start.
The History of Barbershop Music
Barbershop harmony finds its roots in a rich African-American tradition. Starting in the 1880s and 1890s, the black community harmonized recreationally the popular songs of the day as well as spirituals and folk songs, improvising harmonies according to long-standing African-American musical practice.
From these sessions arose certain idiosyncratic musical qualities that are the hallmarks of what we now consider the barbershop style.
Mental, Physical and Vocal Warm-Ups
Watch expert clinicians teach mental, physical and vocal warm-ups to participants at our flagship educational event, Harmony University
Strategies for successful remote rehearsals
At the onset of the pandemic, barbershop choruses scrambled to keep their ensembles singing, learning and growing. This quick video might inspire additional approaches for your remote classroom needs.
Harmony University Scholarships
Scholarship opportunities are available for music educators, front-line music directors, people 25 and under who want to participate in our Next Generation Chorus, and so much more. Click on the button below to learn more about all of our scholarship offerings. Email HU@barbershop.org for more information about scholarships for educators and students.