Fall 2023 Alto Email Messages

9/14/23 Hello, awesome alto section! Welcome to a new choir year, with a special welcome to those just joining the alto family--Chelsea, Lauren, Lisa, and Susan.

This message will cover “All Things Alto”—basic points to help get us started to a great choir year. 

’Tis the season for joy!

Choir has its challenging moments, but it’s all about joy. We joined this choir because each of us loves to sing, and we join our hearts and voices because there is something special about singing in community. I’m reminded of a post-March 2020 poster I’ve seen: We’re better together when we’re better together. 

     I’m also reminded of this quote by Jack Canfield: Remember, there is no perfect time for anything. There is only now.

     So, we’ll make the most of the opportunity we’re given every Wednesday to make mistakes, practice self-discipline, stretch our listening ears and vocal chords (safely), ask questions when things are unclear, cheer each other on, and look for moments of joy. 

Section leaders

Carol Burton (206) 713-5426, burtonmccain@msn.com

Leann Onishi (206) 228-9795, leannonishi@icloud.com

Carol sings Alto 2. Leann sings Alto 1. Section leader responsibilities include: schedule and lead sectionals (extra practice times when just the altos meet to go over their part), make recordings of just the alto part(s), support the alto section during rehearsals, and answer questions/clarifying instructions regarding the music or related choir issues (what to wear, what to bring, etc.). Feel free to contact either one of us at any time. 

Part recordings

Recordings of the alto part of the songs we sing will be posted to the Alto page (linked to the Member’s Only page on the choir website—see below). Carol and I will do our best to make these available by the Sunday after a song is initially introduced on a Wednesday.

     Because the Alto page on the Member’s Only website is currently under construction, we’ll send recordings this weekend by e-mail.

NWFC website

There is a member’s only page on our choir’s website with some useful information and some outdated, useless information. We’re a volunteer-based group, so please be patient as you click (and click, and click, and click…), trying to find all the useful information. Right now, much of the useful information still needs to be entered. 

Once the member’s only site has been updated, on the page that opens, you will find: 

A calendar of rehearsal and performance dates (times and locations)

Links to recordings of past rehearsals (I think)

A link to the Alto page (under “Section Info”)

To get to the choir website: https://www.nwfirelightchorale.org/members-only-main-page

To get to the Member’s Only page:    On the choir website, scroll down to the bottom. Click on the orange box: Members Only Pages. You will need a password:   SPARKLE!!!

Alto page on the Member’s Only website

On the Member’s Only page, scroll down towards the very bottom of the page to “Section Info” (orange background). Click on the white box: Alto.

     Once the page is updated for this term (by Sunday night, I hope), I plan to have three or four things relevant to this term:

Part recordings 

Publisher’s recordings

Copies of all e-mail messages sent via the Alto distribution list

Copies of all e-mail messages sent by Deeji to the whole choir

Alto sectionals outside of Wednesday rehearsals

Once or twice during a term, we will hold an alto sectional outside of a Wednesday rehearsal. These are usually on Saturday mornings, approx. 10:00-12:00, at a member’s house. These are optional.

     The two tentative dates for this term are October 21 and November 11 (Saturdays), from 10am. Place to be determined.  

A few miscellaneous notes

Especially for those who are new, here are a few words/phrases and concepts that Deeji brings up often that may not be familiar to all:

Crunchy/crunchy chords—notes that are discordant

Pure vowels—I know what this is, but I’m having trouble explaining it. I think pure vowels are saying vowels as they’re pronounced in Italian or Spanish (no diphthongs). Here’s an example. Let’s say we sing the word, “night” for a whole note. Singing “igh” is a diphthong—first we say “ah”, and then our mouth slides into “ee”. If we sing with pure vowels, we would sing “ah” for the four counts and add “ee” at the end of the fourth beat. (Someone else will probably have a better way to define pure vowels.)

Flashcards—Deeji will sometimes hold a stack of papers (“flashcards”). Each paper has a word on it. She will get us started on a familiar song and then hold up a card, one at a time. For example, she will hold up the word, “courageous”. We express “courageous” (while singing) with facial expression. While we’re singing in rehearsal, she might say something like, “What are some flashcard words?” It means, “What words/emotions go with the lyrics you’re singing?” The opposite of “flashcard” singing is singing with no expression. 

Focus—When Deeji is directing, all eyes are on her (unless she tells us otherwise). 

We’re open to suggestions

Please let us know about your ideas and suggestions to better serve you and the alto section.

Happy singing,

Leann and Carol