Surprisingly SACRAMENTO VALLEY CHORUS was very busy this month keeping pace with the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Our devoted Director, Dede Nibler, continued her "Wake Up With Dede" morning classes 09:30 am-10:00 am Tuesdays-Thursdays through the middle of the month with all of Sweet Adelines invited to participate. She has single-handedly kept the soul of the chorus thriving by connecting with ladies all over the United States.
We had our book club meeting reviewing "Eleanor Oliphant...Is Completely Fine" written by Gail Honeyman. The book club allows us to genuinely communicate how we each digest an author's personnel messages. Informative and refreshing, it is truly unique how each book contains so many detailed nuggets that we each see differently.
Our coffee and stitcher club met and shared many new crafts. Our ladies get to show off their completed projects and take advantage of a different set of eyes and ears for future projects. These meetings are popular for sewers, knitters and general crafting and are open to all.
We were forever grateful for quartet "Whatever 4" for heading the fundraiser for Christmas Singing Grams. On Sunday, December 20th, 2020 they sang 44 singing Christmas grams in a period of 5 hours! Many thanks to "Whatever 4" for spreading joy and cheer to the community. Santa and Mrs. Claus are very proud of you for being the face of love and joy this past holiday season.
Donna Spitzer was recognized for completing her 50th year as a Sweet Adelines. Via Zoom at our Christmas rehearsal party, Donna walked us through her vivid memories reliving a lot of fun singing with many different quartets and choruses. She said that Sweet Adelines has fed her soul and was something that kept her young and checked off so many positive benefits for a healthy lifestyle.
Our Zoom Christmas party was held on Wednesday, December 16, 2020. We had a crazy hat contest; an ugly sweater contest, a virtual background contest, a visit from Santa and exchanged white elephant gifts (virtually). We enjoyed the evening by singing classic Christmas songs and felt the love of our singing sisters spread beautifully through smiles and twinkling eyes!
We would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and look forward to getting together once again to sing for each other on the risers in 2021. It has been a blessing to have the support of our sister choruses in Region 12 and around the world.
Last month we were shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Mary Alice Myers. She was age 87 and passed away peacefully on December 16, 2020, from the complications of a stroke at her assisted living facility in Sacramento, California.
Mary Alice was born in Arcata, CA to Joseph and Cecile Foster on March 3, 1933. Ironically, she had been celebrating her birthday on March 13th for over 60 years and when she requested a copy of her birth certificate it stated she was born on March 3rd, not March 13th. Mary Alice went to elementary school in Orick, CA and attended high school in McKinleyville, CA.
Mary Alice is survived by her children Alan Roberts of Boise, ID, Randy Roberts and wife Sherry Rowe of Sacramento, CA, Kelly (Myers) Obrecht and husband Jeff of Sacramento, CA, Rick Myers and wife Marty of McKinleyville, CA; grandchildren Scott Roberts, Amy (Roberts) Houston, Jeff Roberts, Rusty Roberts, Shelly (Roberts) Harris, Paul Obrecht and Daniel Obrecht; great-grandchildren Olivia Roberts, Amelia Roberts, Riley Houston, Tucker Houston, Lianna Roberts, Nathan Harris, Jesse Harris and Donnie Myers. She is also survived by her brother Dale Foster and wife Syble of Yreka, CA.
Mary Alice was a legal secretary for most of her life and worked up until she retired at 80 years old. Besides the love Mary Alice had for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren she loved singing four-part harmony in Sweet Adelines. She joined Sweet Adelines in 1963 at the age of 30 and was an active member until she retired in her late seventies. Mary Alice traveled the country and entertained thousands singing barbershop music either with her many quartets or the numerous choruses she directed over the years. Mary Alice also sang in a mother/daughter double quartet which included four mothers and their daughters. She loved being the center of attention, singing, performing, laughing, and especially teaching others the craft of barbershop music.
Due to Covid restrictions, a large memorial service in Sacramento will be held possibly in late spring. The details will be posted on Mary Alice’s Facebook page, phone and emails and we will pass it on through our website and Facebook.
Mary Alice will be greatly missed.
|
|
|
Hello Region 12 Choruses! California HEAT Chorus has slowly been waking up from our long spring, summer, and fall nap .. and have been busy planning and celebrating our Director Anita Main’s retirement. A drive-by extravaganza was held at Team Coordinator Susan Ramage’s home on Sunday, December 27, and was attended by approximately 18 current and Emeritus members. They were all socially distanced and safely tucked into decorated cars and pickup trucks, with signs decorated by Sally Harris Conry and chorus songs played loudly from almost every vehicle. Anita was serenaded by our singing our closing song “Tomorrow is Another Day” as she accepted her crown and roses. Anita was also given many gifts, including a book of love letters from current, past, and Emeritus members and many of our coaches. Thanks to our Events Coordinator Carol Holland, who put the Parade and book together with letters and pictures of the past 16+ years .. we love you, Anita Main!!!
|
|
|
Oregon Spirit has been busy putting together a virtual song called “Amazon Sweetheart”. We want to thank Kathy Scheel for putting in all the work to get it finished! We feel that it’s perfect for this crazy time we are living in, as we’ve all been doing a lot of online shopping! Check it out here:
|
|
|
|
Amazon's Sweetheart OSC 12 20 20
|
|
|
Oregon Spirit was honored to be voted as the winner of Salem’s 2020 Mid-Valley in the Best Live Music category. We are very proud of this award and will be using it in our marketing to bring together singers in the area who want to perform in a high quality a cappella ensemble. OSC!
On December 15th, we celebrated our 15th Annual Christmas Party and were so happy to see many former singers Zoom in to play some games and sing songs that we performed together each holiday season. We are all so thankful for those strong connections and friendships made through the years!
Our theme for the past few months has been "DREAMS" - Daily Rehearsals Enhance Artistry and Musical Skills/Stamina. Director Kathy Scheel has been keeping us inspired with "16 Weeks to Vocal Excellence" and encouraging us to sing a little every day. We start out with straw phonation and breathing exercises, gradually adding various other vocal exercises to keep our voices strong and beautiful. OSC's next exciting adventure is a partnership with Pride of Portland Chorus (just to our north). We'll have a get-acquainted Zoom party with a scavenger hunt, breakouts for chatting, and online karaoke. Then we'll start learning a new song to sing together in late spring wen we hope it will be safe, and quartets and other small groups will perform, too! We look forward to working together with our sisters in song to produce a virtual chorus video of the song, "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You."
Happy New Year 2021 from Oregon Spirit Chorus!
|
|
It was quite the fun and educational six weeks with High Desert Harmony's first-ever virtual guest chorus for the holiday season – and it has all culminated in three "holiday concert" videos with our lovely guests! Two of the videos – A Carol Medley and Hark the Herald Angels Sing – are live and ready for you to enjoy.
|
|
|
|
A Carol Medley
|
|
|
|
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
|
|
|
Additionally, our full-time chorus members have created a few more fun videos to help you stay in the winter and holiday spirit. Enjoy our performances via the following links:
|
|
|
|
Carol of the Bells COVID Parody
|
|
|
|
Children's Medley
|
|
|
|
Happy Hanukkah My Friends
|
|
2 more videos, including our third guest chorus video – a rendition of Have Yourself a Very Little Christmas – will be published soon (or they may be already by the time this edition of the Region 12 Chapter Chats go out!). Keep an eye on our Facebook and YouTube pages for a greater chance of catching those!
Happy New Year from all of us to you!
|
|
Happy New Year! We are looking forward to a brighter 2021, with a renewed focus on developing and exercising our vocal skills and rigor
December was a month filled with holiday preparations and celebrations. We spent time in our first two rehearsals of the month reviewing the quartet holiday cards that were produced. We also had a great class given by Laura Bode about the Melodyne audio editing software we use to create our in-house learning tracks. This software was also used to fine-tune our holiday cards. It was interesting to hear about the capabilities of this software.
The 17th was our last rehearsal of the year, and we used it to debut our chorus holiday card performance of Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
|
|
We welcomed our first new member that joined since we have been doing Zoom rehearsals, and we have some others that are well on their way to joining us. We also had a wonderful holiday celebration evening, filled with singing and watching prior holiday performances. We used breakout rooms to play a scavenger hunt game as well as doing a fun chorus version of the Twelve Days of Christmas. It was a great way to end the year.
We are looking forward to what 2021 will bring!
|
|
| Wed, Jan 20 2021 |
6:30 pm |
SVC Coaching with Vicky Maybury |
SVC Virtual Coaching Session |
| |
|
|
|
| Fri, Jan 22 2021 |
7:00 pm |
HFC - Betty Clipman |
Zoom |
| |
|
|
|
Fri, Jan 29 2021
to Sat, Jan 30 2021 |
|
Region 12 - Virtual Winter AIM w/ Jennie Morton |
Virtual Event |
| Tue, Feb 2 2021 |
|
Jim Arns coaching |
Zoom |
Fri, Feb 5 2021
to Sat, Feb 6 2021 |
7:00 pm |
DVC Ryan Heller Coaching |
860 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. |
| Sat, Feb 20 2021 |
4:00 pm |
A Cappella Harmony - A YWIH VIrtual Event |
Online |
| Sat, Feb 27 2021 |
4:00 pm |
A Cappella Harmony - A YWIH VIrtual Event |
Online |
|
|
|
WAKE UP WITH DEDE - VOCAL WARMUPS
The new schedule for January, Wake Up with Dede will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
|
|
|
SWEET ADELINES INTERNATIONAL NEWS!
|
|
|
 |
As coaches and educators, the late Sharon Babb and Darlene Rogers helped countless Sweet Adelines strengthen their voices and confidence using the craft and artistry of barbershop music. To honor their memory, Peggy Gram and Dale Syverson (co-creators of Sing, Baby, Sing! along with Darlene Rogers) have donated a free audio recording (.mp3 file) of Sing, Baby, Sing!: Blue Ribbon Vocal Warmups, Edition #1, to Sweet Adelines members.
Singers will learn vocal exercises to build skills for all ranges in the following areas:
Resonation · Range extension · Passaggio ·
Flexibility · Agility
|
|
Watch this video from Peggy Gram and Dale Syverson as they introduce
a special gift to Sweet Adelines Members. |
|
Log in to the Sweet Adelines International website to download
your free .mp3 file! |
|
| Sing, Baby, Sing!: Blue Ribbon Vocal Warmups, Edition #1 is the first in this popular series of vocal educational tools. The entire Sing, Baby, Sing! series includes CDs 1-7, as well as the book, A Springboard to Artistry. All are available for purchase in the Sweet Adelines online store at www.sweetadelines.com/shop. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
REGIONAL VIDEO LIBRARIAN REVIEW
|
|
|
Regional Video Librarian Review: Written by Harriett Feltman, Regional Video Librarian
“The Aging Voice”: Dede Nibler, Summer AIM 2020
*Video available on Region 12 Website
The Aging Voice---That Means You!
We are so fortunate that, in this time of Covid, our region has continued to keep us informed and educated all via Zoom and videos. We are fortunate, too, with our very knowledgeable faculty who are so generous with their time to produce these classes.
Dede Nibler is one of these faculty members, and during the Summer AIM event, she gave a class on “The Aging Voice-" a subject that eventually affects us all. Many years ago, while in our 30's, my friend Marilyn Rex prophesied that we’d “grow old together singing in Sweet Adelines.” And now here we are, in our 70's, still going strong. Here are some of Dede’s suggestions on how we can all “grow old together, singing with our friends”.
The normal process of aging can have a negative effect on our voices: weight gain, loss of muscle and tone, bone or joint issues can all affect our general strength, breath support, posture, and mobility. Our soft tissue loses moisture and elasticity with aging, and that can affect the vocal folds, cartilage, and muscles that are involved with singing.
The choices we have made and are currently making can affect how our bodies, and our voice specifically, age. Cigarette smoking of any sort, exercise and body strength (or lack of same), how we use (or abuse) our voices, past and present, all have a part to play in the aging process of our voices.
But, as Dede says, “IT’S NOT TOO LATE!!” Here’s a brief outline of her suggestions to maintain and nourish your voice:
Daily physical exercise: We’re not on the risers, but take a walk, do some stretches, dance in your living room; Zoom a yoga class!
Hydrate: Be sure to drink 8 glasses of water every day; tepid or warm water is best for your vocal folds, relaxing muscles and increasing blood flow.
Sing: Begin every day with some smart warm-ups, starting with posture, breathing, and then smart phonating; you can find many good vocal exercises in Dede’s article or the SAI website.
Get a Hobby: There is actually more in life than singing: join a Zoom book group, start a quilting or sewing project, or work on an arts and crafts project.
Here are some websites that you can check out for good vocal health:
https://www.sairegion12.org/commonfiles/region12/db_uploads/Aging_Voice_Handout_by_dn_8-2020.pdf
https://www.sairegion12.org/dbpage.php?pg=view&dbase=uploads&id=48228
https://sweetadelines.com
In the search field, type "vocal exercises" and take your pick of all the many downloads available!
|
|
Happy New Year, Region 12!
With the exit of 2020 comes a new year and new educational opportunities for our region. Winter AIM 2021 is coming up on Friday, January 29th and Saturday, January 30th - and do we have some terrific classes in store for you! Jennie Morton is our featured speaker, and we are so excited to have her coming to Region 12. In addition to Jennie's classes, we have several classes being offered from some of our fantastic regional faculty. See the schedule of classes and Jennie Morton's bio below:
WINTER AIM 2021 CLASS SCHEDULE
Friday, January 29th:
6:00-7:00 p.m.
Terrie Carrozzella- “The Song Assessment Tool- How it Works & What Happens Post-Submission”
Come and learn how the new required song assessment tool works from start to finish. Learn what is required of you and what happens after you submit your songs
7:15-8:30 p.m.
Jennie Morton- “The Voice From Foot to Head”
An exploration of the anatomical relationships throughout the whole body that support optimal breath and vocal mechanics
Saturday, January 30th:
9:00-10:15 a.m.
Jennie Morton- “Physical, Vocal, & Emotional Fitness for Performance”
Learn strategies for performance readiness & general health as an artist
10:45-12:00 p.m.
Jennie Morton- “Beyond Technique: The Art and Science of Communication”
An exploration of the science of human communication to facilitate artistry and connection with audience
1:00-2:00 p.m.
Laura Schultz- “Character Tools for Virtual Rehearsals (How we learn to stop worrying and love the Zoom!)”
Come for a discussion about the 5 tools of storytelling and how we can grow our visual communication skills - yes, even during Zoom! Leave with engaging activities to bring back to your own chorus.
2:15-3:15 p.m.
Laura Bode, Leah Brooks, Kathy Hebert & Andi Giles - “Connect4”
Whether you want to just see each other and talk, record a virtual performance, or sing all together- we've got options for you! We'll survey what tools are out there to connect, primary uses of each and give you their pros/cons. Technologies discussed: Zoom, JamKazam, Jamulus, Acapella, and Bandlab.
***PLEASE NOTE: All class times are Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Jennie Morton Bio
JENNIE MORTON BSc (Hons) Osteopathy, MS Psychology
Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional
Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider
Certified HeartMath Practitioner
www.jenniemorton.com
After a long performing career as a Ballet dancer, West End Musical Theatre performer, and lead singer of a London Big Band, Jennie is now a Clinical Osteopath specializing in the field of Performing Arts Medicine. She provides treatment for musculoskeletal, neurobiological, and psycho-physiological issues from her office in Los Angeles and online. She also works as a Performance Coach for singers and actors, focusing on anatomical efficiency, embodiment of artistry, movement education, and rehabilitation from vocal injury. Based in Los Angeles, California, she is the Wellness Professor at The Colburn School, sits on the Board of Directors of the Dance Resource Center (LA), and Backline (a musician’s mental health resource), and is on the Health and Wellness Committee for the International Society for Music Education. Jennie lectures internationally to artists, arts educators, and healthcare professionals on the subject of performance-related injuries, and is the author of three books: The Authentic Performer: Wearing A Mask And The Effect On Health; The Embodied Dancer: A Guide To Optimal Performance; and Dancing Longer, Dancing Stronger. Her website www.jenniemorton.com contains many of her published articles and educational resources, as well as links to her online courses on a range of health topics.
***Winter AIM registration is now open - please go to our Region 12 website at www.sairegion12.org to register. Prices are $15 for regional members, $20 for non-regional members, and $10 for youth (under 26 years of age).
Contact me with any questions at education.coord@sairegion12.org.
Let's kick off 2021 with more friendship, laughter, and music!
With a song,
Alison Miller
Education Coordinator
Sweet Adelines Region 12
www.sairegion12.org
|
|
|
Facebook is an excellent way to reach out to your audience. Be sure to post weekly. It can be a recap of your latest rehearsal, the announcement of an upcoming event or share a related musical meme.
Pacific Shores Region 12 has two Facebook pages:
|
|
|
|
|
|
