The Hawkseye 

Learning something new
By Allan Harms, Chapter President

I was pleased that John Hayden offered to give some theory lessons at our June 8 meeting. I have always felt that the chorus would greatly benefit if more of us read music, and I’ve also believed that knowing how to read music makes singing even more enjoyable. Of course, for our style of music, one must also know how to harmonize, that is, "listen", to make chords ring.

Because I have long ago learned to read music, I didn’t attend John’s music-reading lesson since John clearly was going to start at a beginning level. Now, I don’t proclaim that I read music because of any moral superiority -- rather it is because I took piano lessons as a child and later was in high school band and university band. Because I played a baritone horn, I learned the bass clef notes as well as treble. This training has been a great benefit to me in the barbershopping hobby, especially in singing a bass clef part like baritone. Playing the instrument has also been a good source of pleasure.

I hope that John will continue to offer the theory lessons because I believe it will certainly help with the speed of learning music when more information can be gleaned by the chorus member by merely looking at the score. It will help us singers become better sight readers, which of course accelerates learning as well.

On the subject of expanding knowledge of our hobby and improving skill, many of us fail to take advantage of the great learning experience that is Harmony University. This weeklong seminar training has once again returned to St. Joseph, Missouri, which makes it very convenient for us Iowans. Those who have attended in the past attest to the good times they have had. Plus, the price for a whole week of vacation, room and board included, is very reasonable, made possible because so many talented barbershoppers work for free in providing instruction. 

Now you may say that you can’t take off a week to spend on yourselves in your hobby. This year you have the chance to spend only the weekend, at a very reasonable price of $ 245. Your only other out-of-pocket expense would be travel to St. Joseph and eating on the way. The weekend time frame is Thursday night, August 3 to Sunday, August 6. If you haven’t given this serious thought, why don’t you do so now and enjoy the opportunity.