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new-singer [2023/01/31 01:14] – Iain Hallamnew-singer [2023/12/08 00:57] (current) – Iain Hallam
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-====== New Singer Information ======+====== New Singer Info ======
  
 > **Welcome to Bristol A Cappella!** > **Welcome to Bristol A Cappella!**
  
-Here’s some important information for potential new members. If you’ve got any questions after reading this summary, please speak to the membership coordinator or a section leader at your first rehearsal, or email **[[mailto:membership@bristolacappella.co.uk|membership@bristolacappella.co.uk]]**.+BAC is an award-winning mixed chorus that sings **contemporary songs** from a range of genres in the **barbershop style**. Apart from our tune-up pitch, all our sound comes from the human voice. We don't have beatboxing or soloists, but we aim to create a wall of sound by singing in four to eight-part harmony. Our repertoire includes pop, rock, and musicals, from Disney to My Chemical Romance, and we’re always open to suggestions from our members.
  
 +We love to entertain at **gigs** and **competitions**; we’re always looking to improve our performances and have a good time along the way! As a singer, it’s a great place to improve your musical skills, appreciate close harmony singing, and make social connections.
  
-===== First rehearsals =====+We look forward to harmonising with you and creating unforgettable musical moments!
  
-<block important> +===== Key contacts =====
-Please remember to observe our guidelines for [[/COVID rehearsals]]! +
-</block>+
  
-Your **first two weekly rehearsals are free**. In your first week or so, we'll check your **vocal range** to suggest which voice part best suits your voice and ask you to **sing a line back** to someone from the music team. Our membership team will take  **contact details** from you including an email address so we can send you more information about joining.+{| 
 +!Membership||Sam||[[membership@bristolacappella.co.uk]] 
 +|- 
 +!Treasurer||Mark||[[treasurer@bristolacappella.co.uk]] 
 +|- 
 +!Welfare||Vikki||[[welfare@bristolacappella.co.uk]] 
 +|- 
 +!Register||Vikki||[[register@bristolacappella.co.uk]] / 07492 882449 
 +|- 
 +!rowspan="4" style="border-bottom-width: 0;"|Section leaders||Sopranos||Vikki and Izzi 
 +|- 
 +|Altos||Melody and Suewon 
 +|- 
 +|Tenors||Danny and Robin 
 +|- 
 +|Basses||Michael and Stuart 
 +|}
  
-After your first or second rehearsal, we’ll make an account for you on our website and ask you to sign a **copyright agreement**. Then we can give you access to our web site’s singer pages to download **sheet music and audio teach tracks** to help you to learn songs. You don’t have to read music to sing with us, but we do give you a copy of the songs we’re singing during the rehearsal until you can access the web site. This also makes a Bristol A Cappella email address you can use to log into **Slack**, our chat platform.+===== What do we do? =====
  
-**Come along to the pub** at the end of the evening and have a chat with the other singers!+**Weekly rehearsals** (Tuesdays 7:30–10 pm): we rehearse all year round at Victoria Methodist Church, BS8 1NU, with a two-week break around Christmas. We understand you’ll need to miss a rehearsal sometimes, but please let the register contact know ASAP so we can plan ahead.
  
-===== Induction stages =====+**Coaching** (weekends, usually 4–6 days spaced throughout the year): we invite an external coach to help us improve our techniques and performance, often in preparation for an event.
  
-<block twothirds column> +**Competitions** (usually once a year on a weekend): we compete in a major contest every year, often at the British Association of Barbershop Singers convention. It’s a wonderful opportunity to be inspired by other singers and socialise as a chorus!
-We want you to enjoy making high-quality performances, whether you're just starting out, or have been singing for decades, and we check our new members to make sure they’re a good fit for the chorus.+
  
-We try to make our induction as natural as possible, so you have **eight weeks to memorise a song** (singing along to our audio teach tracks helps) and sing it within the chorus and a few lines in our rolling quartets without using the score. In the next five weeks we'll check how you're getting on and whether you're ready to join Bristol A Cappella. Your section leader will let you know more about the process as you start.+**Gigs**: we perform at various types of events, from busking to private bookings, local occasions, or our own shows.
  
-Once you’ve passed the process, you’ll become a full member of the chorus and we’ll present you with a certificate, a shiny name badge, and lend out your uniform. +**Socialising**: we aim to replace one rehearsal each quarter with a social (potluck suppers, talent nights, ceilidhs, Christmas meal, etc.), and head for the pub after most rehearsals and shows.
-</block> +
-<block third column>{{/about/david.jpg?1440x1080&nolink|One of our new members receiving their certificate}}</block> +
-<block clear/>+
  
-===== Learning songs =====+**Chorus members are encouraged to take part in as many of these activities as they can.**
  
-We learn around six to eight new songs each year. Although we work on the musicality of songs in rehearsal, **you’re expected to learn the notes in your own time** and put in some practice at home during the week. We also have a back catalogue of around 25 songs that will take longer to learn; we think you can get up to speed over a couple of years with the chorus and you won't need to be able to sing these all to start with! Our repertoire songs are labelled "year 1" or "year 2" in the recommended learning order and when we send out lists of the songs to be practised in rehearsal.+===== How much does it cost? =====
  
-===== Performing =====+Your **first two rehearsals are free**! Our standard rate is then **£#@fee_basic@#/month**, with a youth rate for those under 26 of **£#@fee_half@#/month**, by direct debit. If you need help with this, chat to our treasurer.
  
-Every year we try to take part in a **major competition** and put on several large **shows**, plus we take on a number of gig bookings from busking to private engagements. We also schedule three or more **weekend coaching sessions** spaced throughout the year where outside specialists help improve our techniques and performance.+If you can’t make our weekly rehearsals but still want to join for coaching and competitions, you can join [[/OutBAC]] for **£#@fee_outbac@#/month**.
  
-**Chorus members are expected to take part in as many of these activities as they can**, and we ask members to let us know in advance their attendance using a spreadsheet in the singers' area of our web site.+===== Joining ===== 
 + 
 +{{  /about/david.jpg?400x300&nolink|One of our new members receiving their certificate}}We’re delighted you’re considering joining our musical journey! We want you to enjoy making high-quality performances, so we check our new singers to make sure we’re a good fit for each other. To become a full member, prospective singers are asked to show they can hold a tune, memorise songs, and sing independently during their **induction**. 
 + 
 +==== First rehearsals ==== 
 + 
 +In your first week our membership team will take **contact details** from you including an email address so we can send information about joining (using the [[/signup]] form). 
 + 
 +Then, or in your second week, we’ll check your **vocal range** to suggest a voice section and ask you to **sing a line back** to someone from the music team. **You don’t have to read music to sing with us**, but we’ll lend you a copy during rehearsals until you can access the web site and either print your own or buy from our librarian. 
 + 
 +After this, we’ll make an account for you on our web site and ask you to virtually sign our **copyright agreement**; then we can give you access to our singers-only pages to **download sheet music and audio teach tracks** to help you learn songs. This also makes a Bristol A Cappella email address for you that you can use to log into Slack, our **chat platform**. 
 + 
 +==== Induction ==== 
 + 
 +We try to make our induction as natural as possible, so you have **two full calendar months to memorise a song** (singing along to our audio teach tracks helps) and sing it within the chorus, and a few lines in **quartet with other members**. In the next month we'll check you’re making progress on learning more of our repertoire and whether you're ready to join Bristol A Cappella. Your section leaders will walk you through the process at all stages to let you know what’s next. 
 + 
 +Once you’re through the process, you’ll become a full member of the chorus and we’ll present you with a certificate, a shiny name badge, and lend out your uniform. 
 + 
 +===== Learning songs ===== 
 + 
 +We learn around six to eight new songs each year. Although we work on the musicality of songs in rehearsal, **you’re expected to learn the notes in your own time** and put in some practice at home each week. We also have a repertoire of around 25 songs that will likely take a couple of years to learn, but you won't need to be able to sing these all to start with!
  
 ===== Special requirements ===== ===== Special requirements =====
  
-If you've got any **special requirements or medical conditions** that you think we should be aware of, please [[welfare@bristolacappella.co.uk|contact the welfare coordinator]] or membership coordinator in confidence. They'll make sure that the relevant people know so we can make any adjustments needed to help support your time in the chorus.+If you've got any **special requirements or medical conditions** that you think we should be aware of, please contact the [[welfare@bristolacappella.co.uk|welfare coordinator]] or [[membership@bristolacappella.co.uk|membership coordinator]] in confidence. They'll make sure that the relevant people know so we can make any adjustments needed to help support your time in the chorus.
  
 ===== More information ===== ===== More information =====
  
-There's a [[/singers/handbook]] and lots of useful links in the **[[/singers|singers-only area of our web site]]**. We probably won't have thought of every question you have, so please ask; the music team and committee are always happy to field questions, and you can ask the chorus in the `#general` channel on Slack. Weekly notices are given in rehearsal, and a copy is sent out to our members by email.+There's a [[/singers/handbook]] and lots of useful links in the **[[/singers|singers-only part of our web site]]** including our **riser etiquette** and volunteer **code of conduct**. We won’t have thought of all your questions, though, so please ask: the music team and committee are always happy to field queries, and you can ask the chorus in the #general channel on Slack. 
 + 
 +**Weekly notices** are given in rehearsal, then emailed to members.
  
 ===== Have fun! ===== ===== Have fun! =====
  
 Our [[/about/vision|mantra]] is **enjoyment, education, and excellence**, and you should do all three to get the full Bristol A Cappella experience. See you on the risers! Our [[/about/vision|mantra]] is **enjoyment, education, and excellence**, and you should do all three to get the full Bristol A Cappella experience. See you on the risers!
- 

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