The Music Team meeting was called to order at 7:10PM on Thursday,8/10/23. Jack Press and Toni Wilson were not present at the meeting.
We discussed the Farmer's Market performances for the month of August. Since we have several members on vacations during the month of August, we decided that we would pass on these performances at this time. We also discussed the dates for these performances in September due to the Jewish Holidays. We will find out from the chorus how many people will be available for the performances in September.
We discussed the merger meeting with the Crescenta Valley Chapter on 8/21/23. As shown on the What To Practice for August, we will run through songs the first half of the rehearsal and after break we will have the merger meeting. Our President, Jack Press, with assistance from myself, will handle this part of the meeting. At this point we do not have any definite details of number of people that will attend this meeting from Crescenta Valley, what questions they may have, etc. We will just play it by ear. If we do not have a lot of discussion, we will then run thru some of the songs we have been working on, depending on time.
We discussed the prospective member process and how it works, and if we are following that process on a regular basis. I will talk to Ben about this to make sure everyone is aware of the process and how it works so we make sure we are following the process.
I reminded the Team that the pick-up quartet would be presenting another new song at the rehearsal on 8/31/23. Also, let everyone know that the PoleCat program is on hold at this time. I have also started the process of checking out coaches in our area, cost, and availability. When we get closer to the point of having coaching sessions, I will relay more details.
I let the Team know that since we have had some prospective members attend our last few rehearsals, and the possibility of new members from the merger, I have started checking our the status of the Polo Shirts and the sources we have been dealing with. We have some current members who have been waiting for quite a while to get the shirts, and some that have paid for their shirts quite a while ago and still have received nothing. We will get back on track of getting the Polo Shirts ordered and to our members ASAP!
We also talked about the USB 2.0(Flash Drive)Voice Recorders that we will be distributing to the members sometime in September. We will explain at that time what these are and explain how to use them, and why. We will also distribute a "How To" page to explain how they work.
Again we discussed the Meet Up app and that all members must be "members" of the app. There are communications, via email, that go out to public members of the app letting them know what is going on in the community. There is an email that goes out every week to the public, and the members of the VHS, those signed up on Meet Up, telling them about our rehearsal and inviting them to join us. You just click on the RSVP button, then the Will Attend button, and then if you are bringing a guest or not. It will then show on the email how many of the VHS will be attending. That's why it is important for everyone in the chorus to be signed in to this app and follow thru when you receive the weekly emails. Questions......call Ben Marder or Bob Karlin. THIS IS IMPORTANT. SO DO IT!!
The Team then discussed the Jonathan Burns(bass)situation. He has been attending our rehearsals for I believe over a year now. I realized at our last performance at the Farmer's Market that we had to make a decision about his status with the Chapter. When I realized that he was standing with the chorus and attempting to perform the songs, I realized we needed to make a decision immediately. I am not aware that he asked anyone if he could perform with the chorus at this performance. Several members of the Music Team, especially Ron Malkin, Bass Section Leader, has heard him attempt to sing bass, and offered assistance to no avail. I have had private sessions with him trying to help him. His problem is the fact that he can't sing the bass part. He sings the melody line an octave lower. After discussing this, it was decided that I would talk to him and offer him a couple of options. I will let him know that because of the problems he is having, he find a vocal teacher, outside the chapter, who he can work with and try to fix his problems. After a period of time, if he manages to correct the issues he had, he is welcome to return to the chapter and try again. I will also let him know that if he cannot afford this or does not want to pursue this option, he is welcome to continue attending our rehearsals and be a supporter of the chapter in helping wherever he can and whatever he wants to do to help the chapter. He would not become a member of the chapter or Society. But, it will be made very clear that he will not be able to perform with the chorus. Once he has made a decision, we will inform the Board and if we need Board approval, it will be finalized at that time one way or another.
Chorus Manager, Jeffery Bunch, will be contacting the teacher at the Boys Prep School in Northridge next week to set up a date for the GASCo to attend two choir classes to perform and demonstrate the four part a capella Barbershop Harmony style.
"Good of the Chapter".....the team is excited about the merger and the guests we have had recently, with hopes that the chapter will finally be growing a little. We're all hoping this is the beginning of a positive future for us all.
Tom Raffety, Director
VP Music & Performance
