The Barbershop Lead Creed
I stole this from the harmonet and thought it was quite humorous - and so true...
1. We will not flaunt in front of others the fact that we have the best voice in the group (unless the music calls for it, which, come to think of it, it usually does).
2. We will do our best to stay in tune, but won't too much about that since the other guys have to follow us anyway.
3. As consummate gentleman, we will continue to let the Basses feel like they're the most important part of the group, even though without the melody they would have nothing to harmonize.
4. As we focus on shaping and caressing the song, if we forget a word (or all of them), we won't worry too much since the other guys have to follow us anyway.
5. We will never allow a baritone to sing louder than us, even when we're on the seventh. The melody must be heard!!!
6. We will be sensitive to the Tenor's need to feel special. We won't overdo it, though.
7. In a chorus, although we will do our best to follow the Director, we realize that we have to take advantage of all of the opportunities in a song to show off our wonderful Lead voice. After all, that's what the audience has come
to hear, right?
8. We will do our best to cover the fact that the Baritone has a weak, emaciated instrument, otherwise he'd be singing Lead.
9. When in doubt, pitch it up!!!
10. When a Coach/Director advises us that we were under pitch, or too loud, we will always nod appreciatively, all the while knowing that we were just doing what the Composer/Arranger originally intended (even if the Coach/Director IS the Composer/Arranger).
- Dean's blog
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