About Sweet Adelines

The History of Barbershop

Barbershop has its roots in the American gospel and minstrel quartets of the last century. It is one of the recognized indigenous American musical genres, along with country-western, Dixieland jazz and the American spiritual.

This barbershop style was a solely male domain more than a century ago, but during World War II, American women decided that whatever men could do, so could they. They formed their own all-female organization based on the popular barbershop song Sweet Adeline.

Sweet Adelines International

East City Sound is one of the hundreds of Sweet Adeline’s International choruses that make up this worldwide organization, and are the only barbershop chorus in this area. Sweet Adelines International is an organisation of women singers who meet regularly to practice, socialize and have fun. Active members sing in choruses and quartets, regularly performing in public and competing at regional and international levels, and are committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performances. This independent, non profit music education association is one of the world's largest singing organisations for women. "Harmonise the World" is the organisation's motto.

Sweet Adelines International is a musical force around the world.

The organization is headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., where it was founded in 1945. This non-profit music education organization encompasses more than 25,000 members, 1,200 registered quartets and 600 choruses in most of the fifty United States, Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden, The Netherlands and Wales.

Southern Cross Region

The Sweet Adelines Southern Cross Region #34 encompasses the whole of Australia and commenced in 1989. We currently have around 1200 women singing in more than 30 choruses and quartets all around the country.  The Region is managed by a Regional Management Team, some of whom are elected by the membership, and others are appointed by the Sweet Adelines International Board.

Barbershop harmony

Barbershop-style harmony is different from any other kind of choral or group singing. It is characterized by a “cone-shaped sound” where the broadest strength is at the lowest part of the chord and the lightest is at the top. Specific chord structures, delivery and interpretation all contribute to the “lock-and-ring”. This sound is created by a perfectly balanced and in-tune chord, which produces harmonic overtone vibrations that create a resonant ring unique to this form of music. Listen closely to a barbershop-style song and you will often hear a note (or notes!) “ringing” above the highest tone – without anyone singing them!
Barbershop Harmony is, close harmony singing. It can be sung by a quartet, with each singer singing their own part, or by larger groups of anything up to 200 singers - still singing in four parts. It is a stimulating journey to master this art form.

Member’s benefits

Singing, performing and music education are only a portion of the benefits that members of Sweet Adelines International enjoy. Members experience genuine friendships, increased self-confidence, renewed vitality, and the unwavering motivation and inspiration of friendships, increased self-confidence, renewed vitality, and the unwavering motivation and inspiration of others.

• Annual national and international competition/convention. - Education workshops held around Australia and overseas, durations range from one week to one day.
• Sweet Adelines International magazine ‘The Pitch Pipe’ and other relevant newsletters that are filled with news, information, stories, letters, pictures and everything else there is to know about the wonderful world of Sweet Adelines.
• National magazine ‘Oz Chords’ filled with information about our Australian region.
• Extensive library, filled with educational and entertaining CD’s, DVD’s and literature.
• Coaching provided by experienced educators, on various aspects of performance including… vocal production, directing, choreography, expression, costuming. Training and certification programs are available to you in the areas of directing, arranging, judging, teaching (faculty), personal growth and leadership.

Competitions

Sweet Adeline’s members hone musical and performance skills at regional and international competitions. Judges give detailed feedback on performances, which can be used as a learning tool to improve performance of the individual as well as the group. National annual competition/conventions are held at various locations. Judged by four certified judges, in four categories: sound, music, expression, and showmanship. The winning chorus and quartet from our region #34, are eligible to compete at international level.

The Voice Parts

Finding the right voice part is the initial step. Experienced music educator’s help singers find a singing part that matches the tone of their voice and experience level. Lead is the melody and is sung in the range between A below middle C, and C above middle C. Tenor is a harmony part sung consistently above the lead. Baritone covers approximately the same range as lead. The baritone harmony notes cross the lead notes. Bass singers should have a rich, mellow voice and be able to sing the E flat below middle C easily. Women who can sing bass are most sought after.

Weekly Rehearsals

Are run according to Sweet Adeline guidelines, and include physical and vocal warm ups. Physical warm ups may include vigorous routines to build stamina, stretching to release tension, choreographed actions to be performed with songs, or any other form of movement to assist co ordination. Movement is part of our singing performance, it is recommended never to be still while singing. Vocal warm ups, include various exercises, and are also an opportunity to learn barbershop vocal production skills and breathing techniques.