Tucson Women's Chorus
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FAQ
For New Members
What are the policies regarding COVID?
Since TWC returned to in person rehearsals and performances, we have
required members to show proof of vaccinations, and to sign a waiver agreeing to follow our stated protocols, acknowledging the risks of COVID in spite of protocols, and holding TWC and its Board harmless.
For our Spring 2023 series, masks will be optional.
COVID
Do I have to pay before I attend a rehearsal?
Do you perform in masks?
Since TWC returned to in person rehearsals and performances, we have required masks. However, we have decided that for our Spring 2023 series, masks will be optional.
What if I don’t know what section I should sing in?
This is not a problem at all. Come to a rehearsal and try singing in a section.
Keep moving among the sections until you find the right one for you and your
voice. And if you later decide a different section would be better, that’s fine.
No, you are welcome to come to a rehearsal and check us out before
committing. We do appreciate knowing you are coming in advance so that we
have the necessary materials on hand. Let us know you are interested by
filling out a Sing With Us form on our TWC Website Tucson Womens Chorus.
What if I want to join the chorus but cannot afford the fee right now?
Can I pay by check?
Once I have completed the registration and payment process, how do I access the music tracks?
Once you are logged in to Chorus Connection, click on MUSIC in the upper
left. Click on the blue MUSIC button and you will see a list of all the songs for
our series.
Click on each song to see the tracks.
Natalie labels the tracks for the Sections on the tracks, and sometimes there are multiple Sections on a track.
S1=Soprano 1; S2=Soprano 2; A1=Alto 1; A2=Alto 2. For some songs, all Altos sing together. For other songs there may be a separate track for the melody. Natalie will explain these special cases in rehearsal.
How do I become a member and pay?
We use ChorusConnection.com for registration, communications, keeping a
chorus calendar, and for storing music practice tracks. If you are paying by
credit card, first let us know that you intend to join, and then we will put you in
the Chorus Connection system. You will receive an email invitation from that
site with a link. Simply create a log in to complete your membership, click on
My Account in the upper right corner, and then on Payments.
Do I have to pay the entire fee at once?
No! When you go to Payments Center as you register in Chorus Connection,
you have the choice of paying in several installments. Also, you will
be given the option of monthly automatic charges to your credit card until the
full amount is paid.
Sing with us! We do not want to lose the chance to sing with anyone over
money. Please let one of the Board members know, and someone will contact
you to discuss what you are able to pay comfortably. The arrangement will be
made quickly and quietly.
Yes, of course! Bring it to rehearsal, or mail it to
Tucson Women’s Chorus, P.O. Box 12415, Tucson, AZ 85732.
Even if you pay by check, you will want to be able to log in to Chorus
Connection, since the practice tracks are stored there. We also urge
members to watch the chorus calendar for events posted there.
How will I learn the songs if I do not read music?
What if I have questions about the chorus that the website does not answer?
Fill out a Contact Us Form on our TWC website here Tucson Womens Chorus
and someone will respond in a day or two.
The proud tradition of this chorus is the happy fact that we can all sing whether
we read music or not. Natalie teaches each song, bit by bit in our rehearsals.
She does this by singing each line of each part, and having us sing it back to
her until we have basically learned it. Sometimes she asks us to make notes or
mark parts of the music in order to remember the timing or volume or
pronunciation.
Are we expected to memorize the music?
In general, yes, our goal is to sing all our program without music in our final
performance. Although this always seems daunting when we first see the
music for a new series, Natalie works with us to ensure we can be successful.
And always remember that we are singing for the joy of it, and not to make
ourselves crazy! If you get worried about this, talk to your Section Leader or
one of the Board members for some ideas. Just try to calmly keep practicing,
and to let Natalie know when a song is giving you trouble. Natalie sees
potential in us that we sometimes don’t see in ourselves. But she will never
put us on stage unprepared.
Are there tips that may help me use the practice tracks more effectively?
Here’s a sequence that seems to help.
a. Early in the series, Natalie urges us to listen to the practice tracks
and to begin to get the music in our heads. Many of us do some
of this in the car :).
b. Once Natalie begins teaching us our parts, it’s time to sing them
using our section’s practice track (and following along with the
music sheets in our packet if that is helpful.)
c. When you think you know your part, listen to the tracks where
your part is combined with the other sections. When you can
sing your part well with all the other parts, you have really
learned it!
Can singers have input into the music decisions?
Yes, with some caveats. Natalie is a professional, and in choosing each song
for a series, she uses the resources and current thinking of her profession, as
well as her training, understanding of our chorus mission, and appreciation of
us as singers. So once Natalie has set a program of music, members
are asked not to use rehearsal time to object or present issues with songs.
However, it is important to us to know if members are troubled by
selections. And because we encourage Natalie to be bold and creative in
choosing music, occasionally a member may want to express reservations
about a song. Please do! Your thoughts matter to us. Please write Natalie
and the Board by email. We promise to listen, keeping in mind that Natalie
makes all decisions about music.
On the other hand, if you have ideas for future themes or music, share them
with Natalie by email!
Do I need to practice on my own between rehearsals?
Yes! Even after Natalie teaches a song, we still more practice to
sing it well. We listen to the practice tracks, study the words on the
song sheets, review our rehearsal notes, and those who read music sing with
the music sheets in our packets. Everyone has a week here and there when
practice doesn’t happen. But we just get back on the horse and try to catch up.
Can I miss rehearsals?
Yes, of course. And if you are not well, as much as we will miss you,
we expect that you will not come!
But in general, we hope you will attend as many rehearsals as possible.
We know other commitments come up. We would appreciate it if you would
let your Section Leader know when you are going to miss.
Who chooses the music?
Our Artistic Director selects a theme for each series, and the
music to go along with it. It is also her job to decide how we will sing it. Natalie will occasionally in each series open a discussion or sharing, so that we can think together about the more personally challenging aspects of the meaning of the songs we are singing, and our connection to the theme and the music.