This is the first comprehensive examination of the remarkable singing groups in the U.S.A., Canada, and Europe known as "barbershoppers." In both male and female a capella quartets and choruses, the barbershop singers concentrate on a song literature that was popular in the period 1860-1930. Their purpose is spelled out in the title of a male group founded a half century ago in Oklahoma: the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA). Today, the SPEBSQSA consists of approximately 40,000 men in the United States and Canada, with affiliated chapters in thirty other nations. Two women's groups who share the ideology of the SPEBSQSA are Sweet Adelines International and Harmony, Inc. The entertainment provided by these groups - in both concert performances and international competitions - is enjoyed by a wide public. In 1988 a special committee began to reexamine SPEBSQSA's basic purposes and organization - vis a vis social and aesthetic changes. The committee members decided to create for this reexamination a task force of distinguished scholars with expertise in sociology, ethnomusicology, and music education. Each scholar was invited to research barbershopping as it related to a specific discipline. The historian emeritus of the SPEBSQSA was asked to provide a broad history of the movement. Their work is presented in the current volume - a book that will be of interest to many people: educators, musicians, counselors, social scientists, historians, recreationists, health workers, gerontologists, and - of course - the 75,000 men and women who call themselves barbershoppers.

Although barbershop singing is clearly a circumscribed social world, understanding how it works expands current knowledge of the variant forms of social participation available to citizens of the modern world.

The William Marvy Company's barber poles, encased swirls of red and blue above a rounded stainless-steel base, hang on street corners around the country. The company began creating the vibrant signposts in St. Paul three generations ago. Modern versions of the bloody rags used by surgeon-barbers in the Middle Ages, barber poles are well-known icons, but the Marvy family story is largely unknown. From his humble beginnings as the son of a Latvian "migr" carpenter through the growing pains of his namesake company, Marvy showed business acumen and innovation that culminated with his invention of a shatterproof barber pole, ensuring the company's continued success. From crew cuts and the Beatles up through today, barber poles have remained an easily recognized social constant.

Are you looking for a complete guide to barbershop marketing? Your search ends here with this comprehensive book! This book offers 17 unique marketing strategies to help you succeed, providing an abundance of tips, tricks, ideas, and examples. Real-world ad copy examples are included for each marketing strategy, making it a powerful tool to re-imagine, think out of the box, see new possibilities, or even simply use the same ad copy samples to get started faster. You may have known a marketing strategy before, but when you have multiple ad copy examples about the same marketing strategy, it will open up your eyes to new ways that it can be done. This comprehensive guide offers a unique opportunity to generate fresh and innovative ideas, elevating your barbershop marketing to the next level, with insights that only a marketing expert could provide. Whether you're a professional or just getting started, this book is the perfect resource to take your barbershop marketing to the next level.

In SoYou Want to Sing Barbershop, veteran barbershoppers Billy J. Biffle of the Barbershop Harmony Society and Diane M. Clark of Sweet Adelines International provide a practical handbook for singers at all levels who want to learn about the American art form known as barbershop singing. Clark and Biffle explore the history of the style, survey the international organizational structure of the twenty-first century barbershop world, and outline techniques to develop the necessary vocal skills for the style. Guest authors Scott McCoy and Wendy LeBorgne provide valuable information on vocal anatomy and vocal health. The So You Want to Sing seriesis produced in partnership with the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Like all books in the series, So You Want to Sing Barbershop features online supplemental material on the NATS website. Please visit www.nats.org to access style-specific exercises, audio and video files, and additional resources.

For All Your Head Needs Inside And Out. A Cut Beyond Barbershop always open for business. Everywhere, anytime. Turn your head after visiting and it blinks out of existence. A barbershop full of multitudes. Wherever the shop appears, the barbershop changes. A different name and a different barber—different gender, different nationality, different race. A Cut Beyond Barbershop Quartet includes stories about a woman looking for help facing her fear of death, a young man offered a chance to change a fateful choice in his recent past, and a traveling man realizes he may not be entirely human. The Solo gives you a story by Rob Vagle outside of his A Cut Beyond Barbershop series. Here, “Dispatch From The Other Side,” a story about ancient and mysterious technology, about immigration and separation. Five stories in this collection brings you mystery and the fantastic.

"Harmony in Four Voices: The Barbershop Quartet Tradition" delves into the rich history and enduring legacy of barbershop harmony. From its humble beginnings to its modern resurgence, this book explores the tradition of four-part a cappella singing, celebrating the unique blend of voices and tight-knit harmonies that define this beloved musical genre. Through captivating storytelling and insightful analysis, readers are invited to discover the cultural significance and timeless appeal of barbershop quartet music. Whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or new to the world of vocal harmony, this book offers an engaging journey through the evolution and artistry of barbershop quartet singing.