On Wed, May 17, 2006 at 07:41:18PM -0000, william ainsworth wrote:
> I have only recently joined this group and have been reading some of
> the earlier messages and I guess I'm supposted to introduce myself.
> Perhaps I have the distinction of being the oldest man to become a
> barbershopper. In fact I only started singing, other than in the
> shower, when I was about 68. At that time I joined our church choir.
> I quit for a while because of difficulty reading music, but now I
> enter the bass notes into a music notation programme on the computer
> and that helps a lot, plus I am getting better at reading intervals.
> I am now 73 and a two year member of the Men of Accord of the London,
> Ontario, Canada chapter. I know I can only get in a few years of
> barbershopping [either my voice will go or it will get even tougher
> than it is now to get up on the stands for long periods ]. I am no
> great shakes as a singer but I am contributing to the chapter by
> resurrecting the newsletter the chapter never had for a couple of
> years. I should say that I am surely a "bassitone" too and I suspect
> most of the basses in my chapter are. I can often get down to the
> lowest note of a song but I'm not sure the quality is too good and as
> for projection - forget it. I am going to try what they advise for my
> saxophone practice - long tones. I am also going to take some advice
> I read on this board and try to relax.
> [...]

Welcome aboard. We bassitones all need to learn (and then remember "in the
heat of battle") not to force the low ones. Just let them float and add what
you can to the mix. Sounds like you are on your way -- with not that many
years on me :-)

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| Brian Gordon -->briang@...<-- brian.gordon at cox dot net |
+ Bass: "Spirit of Phoenix" SPEBSQSA Chorus +
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