Q: What happens at an Open Evening?
A: The Open Evening is designed for potential new members to see what happens at an Albacappella rehearsal.
Visitors can take part in the warm-ups and vocal skills training, join in learning a new song or simply observe.
Visitors will get the opportunity to have an informal chat to members of the committee to ask any questions about the group.
After the rehearsal, the membership secretary will give you all the information you need regarding joining Albacappella.
Q: What does a typical weekly rehearsal look like?
A:
Physical warm up – gentle, fun movement to popular music, with stretching.
Vocal warm up – exercises and fun songs to help us move from our spoken voice to our singing voice. Vocal warm up is an energising group activity.
Song performance – the chorus sings through the songs on our current repertoire, with our MD, Sarah, highlighting areas for improvement and harmonising.
Performance – practising how to tell the story of the song using our faces and synchronised body movements.
Circle of sound – Albacappella often finishes the rehearsal by singing one of our favourite songs in a circle, listening in to each other.
Q: Who is invited to an Albacappella Open Evening?
A: Any woman (18+) who enjoys singing is welcome at Albacappella.
Q: Do you need any previous experience?
A: No! Some of our members love to sing in the shower while some are experienced choral soloists.
Q: Does it matter if I have a low/high voice?
A: No! We sing in four parts and our musical director will decide which part you would most enjoy singing.
Q: Do you need to read music?
A: No! We learn by audio tracks and the music score, but you do not need to read music. If you do, it helps, but many of our members have no experience of reading music.
Q: Are Albacappella’s rehearsals accessible?
A: Yes – our rehearsal venue is fully accessible, and chairs are available for sitting during rehearsal and performance.
Q: You rehearse at a church – are you affiliated to a religious organisation?
A: No – Albacappella is a secular group.
Q: Does Albacappella perform in public?
A: Yes! We perform singouts (concerts), music festivals, at events and at competitions across the city and shire.
Q: You are part of the Ladies’ Association of British Barbershop Singers – what is barbershop singing?
A: Barbershop is a type of four-part harmony singing. Popular songs such as Bohemian Rhapsody are arranged into four parts to produce an exciting harmonic sound.
Q: Do you have to dress up and wear make up?
A: For performances and competitions, the group agrees a group costume. A little make up is recommended for stage performances but not obligatory.
Q: Do you need to sing a solo?
A: No! We sing in harmony, so no one voice stands out.
Q: Is there an audition process?
A: Yes – our musical director will privately hear you sing a simple tune to assess the best voice part for you. After this, you are asked to learn one song and your section leader will check that you know the notes and words.
Q: How do you ensure a high quality of music?
A: Every member records each new song, and a section leader will check they know the words and notes. Our musical director works with the chorus to improve the quality of the group sound, coaching the chorus to enable Albacappella to make beautiful music.
Q: What help is provided to learn the words and notes?
A: Members are given audio tracks and sheet music to learn their part, and regular section practices are held to help members iron out any tricky parts. Members record songs at rehearsals to end to section leaders for checking of words and notes.
Q: What commitment is required?
A: We are fairly relaxed about attendance, as we know that life can be busy, but members are asked to attend as many rehearsals as possible. However, when we are preparing for a public performance, we would expect those wanting to be involved in the event to attend regular key rehearsals.
Q: Is there any commitment outwith the rehearsal?
A: Members are asked to learn the notes and words at home from the teach tracks and the chorus then sings together at rehearsal. There are a number of fun social and educational activities which are optional.
Q: What does it cost?
A: Albacappella subs are £25 per month (as at April 2025), which covers our Musical Director fee, rehearsal venue costs, music copyright and teach tracks. A one off registration cost of £57 is required for LABBS registration. There may be additional costs for costume and travel/accommodation for LABBS convention (which we attend every two years).
A: The Open Evening is designed for potential new members to see what happens at an Albacappella rehearsal.
Visitors can take part in the warm-ups and vocal skills training, join in learning a new song or simply observe.
Visitors will get the opportunity to have an informal chat to members of the committee to ask any questions about the group.
After the rehearsal, the membership secretary will give you all the information you need regarding joining Albacappella.
Q: What does a typical weekly rehearsal look like?
A:
Physical warm up – gentle, fun movement to popular music, with stretching.
Vocal warm up – exercises and fun songs to help us move from our spoken voice to our singing voice. Vocal warm up is an energising group activity.
Song performance – the chorus sings through the songs on our current repertoire, with our MD, Sarah, highlighting areas for improvement and harmonising.
Performance – practising how to tell the story of the song using our faces and synchronised body movements.
Circle of sound – Albacappella often finishes the rehearsal by singing one of our favourite songs in a circle, listening in to each other.
Q: Who is invited to an Albacappella Open Evening?
A: Any woman (18+) who enjoys singing is welcome at Albacappella.
Q: Do you need any previous experience?
A: No! Some of our members love to sing in the shower while some are experienced choral soloists.
Q: Does it matter if I have a low/high voice?
A: No! We sing in four parts and our musical director will decide which part you would most enjoy singing.
Q: Do you need to read music?
A: No! We learn by audio tracks and the music score, but you do not need to read music. If you do, it helps, but many of our members have no experience of reading music.
Q: Are Albacappella’s rehearsals accessible?
A: Yes – our rehearsal venue is fully accessible, and chairs are available for sitting during rehearsal and performance.
Q: You rehearse at a church – are you affiliated to a religious organisation?
A: No – Albacappella is a secular group.
Q: Does Albacappella perform in public?
A: Yes! We perform singouts (concerts), music festivals, at events and at competitions across the city and shire.
Q: You are part of the Ladies’ Association of British Barbershop Singers – what is barbershop singing?
A: Barbershop is a type of four-part harmony singing. Popular songs such as Bohemian Rhapsody are arranged into four parts to produce an exciting harmonic sound.
Q: Do you have to dress up and wear make up?
A: For performances and competitions, the group agrees a group costume. A little make up is recommended for stage performances but not obligatory.
Q: Do you need to sing a solo?
A: No! We sing in harmony, so no one voice stands out.
Q: Is there an audition process?
A: Yes – our musical director will privately hear you sing a simple tune to assess the best voice part for you. After this, you are asked to learn one song and your section leader will check that you know the notes and words.
Q: How do you ensure a high quality of music?
A: Every member records each new song, and a section leader will check they know the words and notes. Our musical director works with the chorus to improve the quality of the group sound, coaching the chorus to enable Albacappella to make beautiful music.
Q: What help is provided to learn the words and notes?
A: Members are given audio tracks and sheet music to learn their part, and regular section practices are held to help members iron out any tricky parts. Members record songs at rehearsals to end to section leaders for checking of words and notes.
Q: What commitment is required?
A: We are fairly relaxed about attendance, as we know that life can be busy, but members are asked to attend as many rehearsals as possible. However, when we are preparing for a public performance, we would expect those wanting to be involved in the event to attend regular key rehearsals.
Q: Is there any commitment outwith the rehearsal?
A: Members are asked to learn the notes and words at home from the teach tracks and the chorus then sings together at rehearsal. There are a number of fun social and educational activities which are optional.
Q: What does it cost?
A: Albacappella subs are £25 per month (as at April 2025), which covers our Musical Director fee, rehearsal venue costs, music copyright and teach tracks. A one off registration cost of £57 is required for LABBS registration. There may be additional costs for costume and travel/accommodation for LABBS convention (which we attend every two years).
