QUARTETTING IN LABBS

There are currently over 40 registered quartets in LABBS! (including active gold medal quartets). The LABBS Quartet Registrar and coaching co-ordinator is Alison Jack who reports to the Education and Judging Committee and you may contact her by e-mail at quartet.registrar@yahoo.co.uk. She is always willing to help and advise.

Are you in a quartet? Have you registered? Are you thinking of starting a new quartet to sing either just for fun, or even maybe to compete? Are you worried about where to start, or just need guidance about what is involved? If so, please read on.

Firstly, if you have not yet got four like-minded people together, you can advertise/search for potential quartet chums at the following service (global) :

• www.quartetmatchup.com

Secondly, once you have your four people you need to decide on a name for your quartet. This is where you need to contact the Quartet Registrar who has to check that name against her records. If the name you have chosen has been used before this name cannot now be used again. When contacting her it is always a good idea to have 2 or 3 possibilities to choose from. Once she has cleared the name for use, you will be sent a Registration Form to complete and return together with a cheque for the appropriate amount made payable to LABBS MUSIC COMMITTEE. Your quartet will then be registered for that year. You can register at any time of the year, although there is a deadline if you wish to compete.

REGISTER YOUR QUARTET WITH LABBS

Registration forms for 2011 have been sent to all 2010 registered quartets along with contest entry forms. For new quartets, the forms are available online, download below! Alternatively, new quartets can contact the Quartet Registrar, Alison Jack on quartet.registrar@yahoo.co.uk for further information.

In order to be eligible to enter for competition in 2011, registration forms need to be returned with payment by the deadline of 31st January 2011.

Although you are too late to be able to compete this year, you can still register!

• Quartet Registration Form 2011

COACHING

As the Coaching Co-ordinator for LABBS, Alison would be very happy to put you in touch with a coach near you to help you. Again, please just ask. Whatever your query, she will endeavour to help and advise, that's what she's there for!

DOROTHY BOSLEY AWARD

Quartets registered by the deadline can apply for that year's "Dorothy Bosley Award". Information for 2012's award can be downloaded below.
Note: the deadline for applications is 31st January 2012 (can be submitted by email)

• Dorothy Bosley Award information and guidelines

COMPETING

If your quartet decides to compete you then have to fill in a Contest Entry Form which is sent out towards the end of year at the same time as the Quartet Registration Form is sent to existing registered quartets. This must then be completed and returned by the date stated together with your completed Quartet Registration Form and a cheque made out to "LABBS Education" for the appropriate amount.

Every club is issued with a copy of the LABBS Contest and Judging Rules and this should be available for your use, or you can download your own copy or access it online. However, for guidance here is the paragraph on eligibility:

1. Each member shall be a fully paid up member of LABBS.
2. The quartet name and names of members of the quartet shall be registered with the LABBS Quartet Registrar, and such registration must include the same personnel that enter the contest.
3. No professional quartet shall be eligible to enter. A quartet shall be considered professional when its members’ principal means of income is from fulfilling quartet engagements. Right of appeal in this matter shall be to the Education and Judging Committee, whose decision shall be final.
4. A separate contest for previous Gold Medallist quartets shall be held in the year previous to a ladies' European Convention, the winner will be one of the selected representatives for LABBS.
5. No person shall sing in more than one competing quartet in the same contest.
6. A Novice quartet is considered to be one which has never previously competed and shall include no medallists. No novice quartet may include more than two members who have previously competed in a quartet contest.
7. Failure to comply with the above will result in forfeiture by the Chairman of Judges.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SING IN A QUARTET?

If you cannot get all the parts together that you need, please visit www.quartetmatchup.com and search or advertise for likely candidates. Or if you don't know where to start, submit your details and someone may be contacting you!

Singing in a quartet is the Barbershop equivalent of living on the edge. Here you will discover exactly how four part harmony works, it's like discovering Barbershop all over again. You will develop your own skills and your ability to complement the skills of others. You will experience the sheer delight of singing well, the excitement of competition, the joys of friendship.

Tips to help you on your way:

• Sing with three others you like and are prepared to spend time getting to know.
• If possible, at least one of you should read music or have a good ear for it.
• Be prepared to make effort, take constructive criticism, work hard, and spend time on coaching, choosing costumes and attending Barbershop events.
• Have fun together too! Remember, quartetting does not have to be competition orientated - set your own quartet goals. These goals will change over a period of time and, hopefully, all of you will want the same thing in the end be it aiming for gold, singing out and about or just enjoying singing together.
• Listen to a lot of good barbershop quartet singing.
• Find a 'hero' in your voice part and ponder/study what makes them a great bass/baritone… If you are nervous of performing, pretend to be that 'hero'.
• Make a date for LABBS Convention and check out the special guests.
• Support your chorus and organisation; they will support you in return.
• Always go to Harmony College.
• Keep your eye on the ball: the most exciting and current thinking on the whys and wherefores of the Barbershop style is regularly discussed within the LABBS Judging Programme. Talk to judges; find out what they are trained to do, and why they bother to do it.
• Ask for help: other quartets, your MD, or other experienced barbershoppers will be happy to share their experience with you.
• Renew your passport!

Good luck, and enjoy the quartet experience!