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--- new-singer [2022/05/16 22:22] – Iain Hallam
+++ new-singer [2024/10/29 15:20] (current) – Iain Hallam
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-====== New Singer Information ======
+====== New Singer Info ======
 > **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 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||Freya||[[membership@bristolacappella.co.uk]]
+|-
+!Treasurer||Mark||[[treasurer@bristolacappella.co.uk]]
+|-
+!Welfare||Lacey||[[welfare@bristolacappella.co.uk]]
+|-
+!Register||Lacey||[[register@bristolacappella.co.uk]] / 07492 882449
+|-
+!rowspan="4" style="border-bottom-width: 0;"|Section leaders||Sopranos||Izzi and Lacey
+|-
+|Altos||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.
+===== 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.
-===== Auditions =====
+**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 audition our new members.
-We try to make our auditions 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**. 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 audition, 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.
+===== 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.**
+===== 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 =====
-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 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 =====
-There's a [[/singers/handbook]] and lots of useful links in the **[[/singers|singers-only area of the web site]]**.
+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! =====
+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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