San Francisco Sound Wave Chorus

Oh my goodness, this article on Soundwave is from three years ago but, darn, it still captures our spirit! We share Pauline Harris' sentiment: We miss singing in person!! But we will be back at it, and if you want to join, follow us on Facebook or check our website to keep track of our status. https://www.sfchronicle.com//The-Regulars-S-F-chorus-group

San Francisco Soundwave has a new Board Secretary: Maddi Brown!!! We definitely scored when Maddi joined us, she brings experience, enthusiasm, and talent - all in large quantities. We sing Barbershop and have extra fun creating parodies. Check out our website and consider joining in a few months when we can all sing together again! Here are some excerpts from a short interview with Maddi: Soundwave: How long have you been singing? ... Maddi: I’ve been singing since I was a little kid in both musicals and chorus groups. In college, I was part of a competitive co-ed a cappella group that competed at ICCAs (International Championship Collegiate A Cappella). After college, I joined a Sweet Adeline’s chorus in Austin (Austin Harmony Chorus) where I fell in love with SAI. I was on the board for AHC, and I’m so glad to be on the board with SFSW now. Soundwave: We're sure you have many other talents, why sing? Maddi: I sing because I always have! It’s how I learned to spell when I was little and it’s how I remember things now. I can’t imagine my life without singing and I love singing in a group so that I can share my passion with others. Soundwave: How are you managing to keep singing in your life during this pandemic? Maddi: Besides singing during our zoom meetings, I tend to sing at my computer while working at home. Not sure if my neighbors or roommates are fans but oh well! Soundwave: What's one fun fact that you would share with us? Maddi: Normally telling people I sing in an all female barbershop chorus is my fun fact. Other than that, craziest fact about me is probably that I Irish step danced as a kid and danced in the St Patrick’s day parade in Chicago.

Hello Singers! IWe all want to return to in person singing and competing with an improved vocal range. Sharing a simple and short set of exercises for extending your singing range, check it out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=temMd2x6ErE

From our very own Seismic Soundwave - Do Self Isolation! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmhqjaHEeM4&feature=youtu.be

Hello to all singers! Found a quick video for practicing that most basic of warm up activities - the lip roll. Yes, you can do this at home I read all of the reviews that mentioned looking a little insane while doing this, so while we are all still avoiding unnecessary public activities, might as well do something a little insane! Check it out!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5_-kvfsiGE

We sure are missing singing together! But look at those smiles from our retreat at the beginning of March. We pinned Eliana, Ella, and Tess. And our coaches Nikki and Diane worked over our competition songs. We will be in person again soon, for now we are keeping up using Zoom! Oh, the 21st Century!

In recognition of Director's Week, San Francisco Sound Wave members cheer on Diane Myrick for leading us to success. Most Improved and 4th overall at St. Adeline's regional competition, family and friends shows, and community sing outs all year. Thank you for all you do. SFSoundWave.com

The start of a wonderful holiday season, singing at the Fairmont in San Francisco. SFSoundwave.com

At a bookstore in NY and my husband found this fascinating book, it's a very cool analysis of music across the decades and why it appeals to us. We flipped open to the page about CCR's Proud Mary, one of our rep songs. Fun fact! The opening riff was inspired by the opening motive of Beethoven's Symphony no. 5 in C Minor.

I'm perpetually amazed by singers in our chorus that have perfect pitch - I'm blessed with having no idea if a note is sharp or flat without comparison to another note and I'm happy to sing a song in any key I was interested to read that the prevalence of absolute pitch differs between different populations. Populations who speak tonal languages have much higher rates of perfect pitch. "Absolute pitch is more prevalent in those who began musical training before the age of four, which suggests that many people have the potential to develop absolute pitch if the skill is properly honed."

"How do you protect your voice, when it’s your whole livelihood?" "You know, the funny thing is, I think talking in loud spaces is possibly the worst thing you can do." I remember hearing our director mention this during the week prior to my first competition. Try to avoid speaking in loud places before we sing. The opera singer talks about how when we sing it's all supported with our breath but we don't do the same when talking.