george seelinger, chapter president - long island ... · when i think about how much time i waste...

this issue

Thanks to a gracious invitation to use facilities at Friends Academy in Locust Valley for its 65th Annual Show, the Long Island Harmonizers will be bringing its chorus, quartets and guest entertainment to the auditorium in the Academy’s Helen A. Dolan Center for our organization’s Spring performances.

An evening show is set for Saturday, April 25th, and a matinee will be offered on Sunday, April 26th.

The decision to accept the school’s kindness came after a delegation of N-MI members visited the 65-acre campus on Duck Pond Road, personally saw its auditorium and spoke with several members of the staff. The show committee headed by Wayne Lazar is excited at the prospect of taking to the stage in the Center that made its debut at the Academy in 2000.

Friends Academy is a coeducational, independent, college preparatory school teaching approximately 700

students up to the twelfth grade. Its Director of Arts is Tracey Foster. She also was among those on hand to answer questions.

Prices for next year’s Show when purchased in advance will be $15 for general admission, and $13 for seniors and students. All tickets will be $15 at the door.

“We are working on a lineup of great songs old and new in four-part harmony,” says Chapter President George Seelinger, “and we continue to hone our skills to make the 65th Annual Show the best ever. The setting is conducive to a thoroughly enjoyable experience.“

Additional details about the Show will be announced as the Spring dates come closer.

The comfortable auditorium in the Helen A. Dolan Center at Friends Academy in Locust Valley, NY with superb acous cs and marvelous sight lines for audiences.

President’s Message P.2

Eyes & Ears P.4

Election Results P.5

The Best Vocal Coach P.6

Wild About Harry P.7

Parting Shots P.9

Chapter President Seelinger gets some auditorium capability answers from Friends Academy technical director, Michael Grant.

Toosday Toons ‐ ‐ November 2014

From the Corner Office

Toosday Toons A publication of the Nassau Mid‐Island Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, a nonprofit, charitable and educational society.

Chapter meetings are held at 8:00 pm on Tuesdays at Winthrop Hall, Church of the Advent, 555 Advent Street, Westbury, New York.

All articles not accompanied by a byline have been written by the editors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the members nor of the officers of the Nassau Mid‐Island Chapter. Opposing points of view are welcomed and encouraged.

All editorial submissions must be received no later than the 21st of every month prior to the upcoming issue in order to be considered for publication.

Editor Bob Heim

[email protected]

Editor‐At‐Large Chiz Bell

[email protected]

Assistant Editor Bill Ruth

[email protected]

Additional Contributing Team George Seelinger

Wayne Lazar Eva Milauskas Bill Vesely

Design & Whiz‐bang Dan Gilmartin, Chapter Webmaster

Chapter Census

(October, 2014) Life ‐ 1

Regular ‐ 27 Senior (SL) ‐ 19 Senior (SN) ‐ 10

Visit us at:

www.LongIslandHarmonizers.org

“Timely Words” George Seelinger, Chapter President

Bill Ruth has often told the story of the guy who didn't want to go to church but was told by his mother that he had to go because he was the minister. I have to confess that sometimes I just don't want to go to chapter meetings. I may be too tired, or just not in the mood, but even when I force myself to go, I never regret my decision. Chapter meetings always seem to have some moments that get me stirred up and I come home energized and have to wind down a bit before I can go to bed.

I think that we're a pretty good chorus, but certainly not as good as we could be. We spend too much time at chapter meetings doing work that should be done at home. Maurice has recently asked that everyone devote three fifteen minute sessions a week learning their notes and words so he doesn't have to teach them on Tuesday nights. When I think about how much time I waste every single day, his request seems minimal to me and maybe not enough, but it couldn't hurt. When someone tells me (and some people have) that they just can't do that much, I fail to understand it. They're either not being honest or they just don't care.

As of now, we're planning to go to the Northern Division convention next June and to compete in the chorus contest. We keep telling ourselves that we get better every year and one way to find out is to get the objective and expert rating we'll receive there. I hope all of us will be willing to put in the effort to improve on our past results. It'll take a lot more than forty‐five minutes a week. Will we finish first ? No, but to paraphrase Lord Tennyson, "It is better to have tried and lost than never to have tried at all."


It won’t be the last time we talk about preparedness. In that vein, I’ve been thinking about some of the other things we should bring to rehearsals other than ourselves, a willingness to learn and the consequences of practicing the planned music at home.

Looking around the rehearsal hall recently I saw only a small fraction of our members wearing barbershop name tags. It would make a lot of sense to have yours handy so that guests, newer guys and even some of those who have returned after an absence can place names to faces.

A water bottle should be part of your preparedness, now that they are not freely available on a complimentary basis as in the past.

A folder for take‐aways (sheets distributed at rehearsals or promotional material available in quantity) safely puts such materials in one place for your later review and use.

A pen or pencil in your possession will negate asking the person next to you for a writing implement and loosing focus (ok, I’m guilty, but not any more).

Ask longtime members what resources we have that can be given to you without charge. We have a few of our magnetic bumper stickers, for instance for cars ( see photo on this page). It is yours for the asking as a proud member of the Society who wants to see our Chapter and barbershopping grow.

Pins like the ones that say “I Sing” are great incentives when guests look around as first‐timers. Be creative; come prepared.

SIGN OF SUPPORT: Tommy Ho, owner of a store selling promotional items at 682 Willis Avenue in Williston Park, LI , reached for this magnetic bumper sticker as a sample when asked what he had in the shop that could serve as a music‐related item. (Not knowing it your Toons editor was doing the asking.) Conversation about the Long Island Harmonizers chorus then ensued, and the fact that those bumper stickers grace our cars to promote interest in attracting new members.

TRIVIA QUESTION: Four animated pigs sang a few

measures of one of the great songs associated with

barbershopping in a TV segment with Elmo. (How

sweet.) Guess what it was.

Answer on page 9.


Alison Lazar, Wayne and Carol Lazar’s daughter,

has joined GSN (Game Show Network) as Vice

President, Publicity and Corporate Communica‐

tions based in New York. She has worked in the

television industry for many years for, among

others, AMC Networks, Disney/ABC Domestic

Television, ESPN and Netflix. GSN is a joint

venture of DirecTV and Sony Pictures Television,

part of Sony. We are sharpening our skills to play

Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

Ed Andreassen drew rehearsal applause and lots

of "wows" when he was recently handed his new

membership card. He has been with us and the

Society for 42 years. Congrats Ed.

Mark January 15th on your calendars as a date you

won’t want to forget. A dinner evening for

members and guests is set for Westbury Manor

where the N‐MI Chapter will have the official

installation of its 2015 Board and also reveal the

name of our 2014 Barbershopper of the Year.

We’ve found out (shhh) that Tony Leone’s “stage

name” is Tony Paradise, and the fact that the “j” in

Wayne Lazar’s e‐mail address (jwayne314) stands

for his first name, John. He was born when John

Wayne was such a dominant star on the large

screen.

It has been decided to scrub Chapter rehearsals the

nights of Dec. 23 and December 30, figuring you

might be scrambling with last‐minute wrapping

and finding the noisemakers put away.

HEIM “OVERHEARD IN’S”

Overheard In A Pet Shop Our musical parrot has been trained to say: Give me a George, George and forget the cracker.

Overheard In A Children’s

Day Care Setting Arnold sings the words to Twinkle Twinkle as blue, blue, green, green, yellow, yellow, green.

Overheard In A Chorus Rehearsal

When he joined he WAS a tenor, but at 83 he’s moved to the bass section.

Overheard In A Dry Cleaners Our quartet was hitting the last chord and the ketchup seemed to come from way in the back.


Election Results for Next Year’s N‐MI Board Official Installation, January 15, 2015

President ‐ George Seelinger

VP Music & Presentation ‐ Hal Verity VP Chapter Development ‐ Bob Merrill

VP Program ‐ Vincent Colonna VP Marketing & Public Relations ‐ Bob Heim

Treasurer ‐ Michael Creaney Secretary ‐ Ray Shotter

Immediate Past President ‐ Jon Ayers

Board Members At Large Dennis Weiss (2015‐2017) Bob Miraglia (2015‐2017) Bill Spencer (2014 ‐ 2016) (Open) (2015‐2016)

Wayne Lazar (2013‐2015) Don Rausch (2013‐2015)

Administrative Personnel Chorus Director ‐ Maurice Debar Attendance ‐ George Seelinger Bulletin Editor ‐ Bob Heim Librarian ‐ George Seelinger Chapter Website ‐ Bob Heim

Uniforms ‐ Tony Leone Chapter Counselor ‐ Steve Marrin

Section Leaders

Tenors ‐ Harold Verity Leads ‐ Steve Brausa & Vincent Colonna Baris ‐ George Seelinger & Bob Miraglia

Basses ‐ Jon Ayers

Annual Show ‐ 2015 Show Chairman ‐ Wayne Lazar


THE BEST VOCAL COACH As Seen In A 2011 Issue Of

Concho Capers, San Angelo, TX Current Bulletin Editor ‐ Paul White

I still remember the first time I heard myself on a tape recorder. It didn’t sound anything like me! My friend sounded exactly like herself, but that strange voice singing with her just wasn’t mine. I was shocked to realize that it was indeed me. I suddenly know that the “wonderful voice” I have lived with all of my life isn’t the same voice that everyone else hears.

For months, I taped myself singing in the chorus. I listened in amazement to this awful voice—it sang wrong notes, wrong words, bad vowels, made funny sounds, scooped, and even went flat! I became very aware of pitch and went right to work to produce a better voice.

Little by little, I improved myself as a singer under the cold truth of this heartless coach, my tape recorder. Yes, your tape recorder is the best coach you’ll ever find! It gives you the opportunity to hear the voice that everyone else hears.

Remember that the only person who hears the voice in your head is you! Any time you are serious about good singing, the truth is there for you to hear.

Just press the button.

Obviously all this extends to all the advancements in technology as well. – Ed.

Your Answers From the October Toons Question:

November 22 Has Been Dubbed "Go For a Ride" Day. Where would wish to ride to in celebration?

“Given the choice I would like to ride to Hawaii

but the bridge hasn't been built yet. Hope

springs eternal.” ‐ Bill Ruth

“I would like to take nice relaxed ride to

Tennessee to visit old friends . You can see and

hear some real down home clogging and country

music. That is probably why the society moved

down there.” ‐Bill Vesely

“Ride through my old neighborhood in Brooklyn

and reminisce.” ‐Howie Bailin

“My initial response was for Dianne and I to take

a ride to visit Marist College, my alma mater, in

Poughkeepsie, NY. Driving there in the Fall is

scenically magnificent. However, as of Monday,

10/13, at 4:38 PM the choice dramatically

changed when my only niece, Angela, gave birth

to her first child, a son named Ethan David

Crouse. Now, my ride would be to Indiana to see

my new Great Nephew (we hope to do just that in

December).” ‐Michael Creaney

All editorial submissions must be received no later than the 21st of every month prior to the upcoming issue in order to be considered for publication. - The Editor.

Do you have the “write” stuff?Do you have the “write” stuff?Do you have the “write” stuff?


I appreciate most highly your thoughtfulness in presenting me with this wonderful piano as the culmination of the celebration of “National Music Week.” My fondness for music, I'm happy to say, is in line with the other Presidents you have named.

I have always been very, very fond of music. Since I was 12 or 13 years old, I have heard all the great pianists from that time until now, and I have heard all the great singers from that time until now.

I had a smattering of piano education from the time I was about 7 until I was 14 or 15 or 16, and decided that I would have to go to work and earn a living. There are some people in the country who think maybe the country would have been better off if I had gone ahead and become a professional musician. I can't say that I agree with them. I am prejudiced, however.

I have heard Paderewski; in fact, he gave me a lesson on how to play his Minuet in G once. And I have heard De Pachmann, and Josef Lhevinne, who I think was the greatest of them all.

I have heard De Pachmann play the famous Mozart Sonata, the 9th, which he always played. And I have heard the great Myra Hess, and Augusta Cotlow, and also these modern ones‐‐Iturbi and Rubinstein‐‐I wasn't old enough to hear the first Rubinstein; and nearly all the modern pianists. In fact, I found a very talented young man in the Army at Potsdam, Eugene List‐‐he doesn't spell it like the great composer of the last century.

I am still very much interested in music and what it does for people. My daughter has some interest in music. My wife had, too, when she was younger and has now. My sister has. My mother was very fond of music, and my father used to sing in the church choir. So I come by my love of music honestly.

I am sorry to say that I do not pretend to be a proficient pianist or a musician that could contribute anything to the real music of the age. I am very fond of light opera, and some of the parts of heavy opera. I can't say that I can go to a "high hat" opera for social purposes and enjoy it all. But there is usually one aria or one song in nearly every great opera that is worth listening to‐‐most of the rest of opera music is boring. I don't want you to say that out loud, it may hurt the Metropolitan Opera! [Laughter]

I am very fond of Gilbert and Sullivan. There used to be a musical show when I was a young man called "The Girl From Utah"‐with Julia Sanderson, Donald Brian, and

Joseph Cawthorn‐‐ and there were the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan. And there was Fay Templeton and Emma Trentini in "The Firefly." Those were all great, great shows.

[At this point it was brought to the President's attention that Otto Harbach, the composer of "The Firefly," was among those present. The President then resumed speaking.]

"The Merry Widow" and other light operas that came along about that time were all highly appreciated by the people. Now they are to some extent coming back. We can get them all on records, of course, and I have several of all those old musical shows, and a great many records of the great pianists playing those wonderful things of Mendelssohn and Beethoven, Mozart and Bach and Chopin.

I hope I will always have an appreciation of music, and that you will continue what you are doing to educate our people to love good music. I have no objection to the noise they call music these days, any more than I have to the "daubs" they call art these days, but I would like to see you continue to get people interested in good music. Whenever we have a banquet here, this gentleman, Major Santelmann, usually plays the music, and he knows what I like and he plays it for me, and I think everybody there enjoys it and that it contributes to the musical education of a great many of the people for whom you have played; and other bands as well‐‐whenever I have had a chance to listen to them. I want to thank you all for the courtesy which you have shown me, and I appreciate it.

Thank you very much.

Wild About Harry Wild About Harry Wild About Harry --- Harry Truman, That isHarry Truman, That isHarry Truman, That is His love of music was expressed at a ceremony

in observance of “National Music Week” in 1951

EndEndEnd NotesNotesNotes

‐Continued Next page.


Dave D’Antonio, Chiz & Bess Bell, Mary McCoy,

Gene & Dorothy Kammerer, Sally

O’Connor, Joan Rampolla, Bob Roth, Bill Schlageter, Steve Stojowski, Joel Trent,

Jack & Susan Szaluta, Diane Vesely

End Notes, Continued from page 7

Birthday Wishes To:

November Celebrations Anniversaries:

Reading your

Toosday Toons on

your computer or

tablet instead of

printing it out on

paper is good for

the environment.

Editors Note: Our 33rd President of the United States was a card‐carrying

Barbershop Harmony Society supporter. The famous Muehlebach Hotel in

Kansas City, where a chance meeting of two businessmen led to the idea of

forming our barbershop society, was the White House headquarters for Truman

when he visited nearby Independence, MO. A YouTube clip of the former

President at the piano with James C. Petrillo, head of the American Federation

of Musicians, is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_6ONmlWQHw

Karel Boersma (1), Steve Ritz (5), Joel Trent (9),

Marlene Muscarnera (19) and Bill Ruth (25).

Former longtime member Harry Ruvolo & his wife, Agatha (26).

THE SONG IN YOUR HEART To study the benefits of choral singing on the body, researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy at Sweden's Gothenburg University studied the heart rates of high school choir members as they sang in unison. Their findings were recently published in Frontiers in Neuroscience. Musicologist Björn Vickhoff, who led the study, observed that not only did the choir members' heart rates slow down as they began to sing, but their heartbeats gradually synchronized, eventually beating as one, with the song's tempo as a guide.

“Singing regulates activity in the vagus nerve which is involved in our emotional life and our communication with others and which, for example, affects our vocal timbre," he said in an academy‐released statement. "Songs with long phrases achieve the same effect as breathing exercises in yoga. In other words, through song we can exercise a certain control over mental states."

Vickhoff plans to continue exploring the biological impacts of music on the body and health in a long‐term project called “The Body’s Musical Score." It is hoped that it will lead to new music‐based medical treatments that may be used in rehabilitation and preventive care in the future.


CHAPTER QUARTETS

All In A Chord Bill Ruth, Tenor

Steve Brausa, Lead

Bernie Genzer, Bass

George Seelinger, Baritone

Contact: [email protected]

Cloud 9 Jon Ayers, Tenor

Vinnie Colonna, Lead

John Brolly, Bass

Wayne Lazar, Baritone


Just Duckie Harold Verity, Tenor

Steve Brausa, Lead

Maurice Debar, Bass

George Seelinger , Baritone


Long Island Express Bill Ruth, Tenor

Gene Kammerer, Lead

Joe Massaro, Bass

Bob Roth, Baritone


No Treble At All Bernie Genzer, Tenor

Bill Vesely, Lead

Ken Wunsch, Bass

Wayne Lazar, Baritone


Quatrain Bob Kelly, Tenor

Steve Marrin, Lead

Al Fennell, Bass

Paul Santino, Baritone


Home ‐ where Creaney’s heart (and voice) were at the Long Beach Fall Festival.

A recently reconditioned floor took shape in Winthrop Hall.

AHRC Nassau Associate Executive Director Stanfort Perry accepted a charitable donation

from N‐MI .

Guest Bill McCarthy (blue shirt) learned barbershopping with new friends.

Bob Roth and Dave D’Antonio with fellow barber‐

shoppers sang for their supper (uh lunch) at Roth’s

home in Massapequa.

It was “Post Time” recently with the use of an American Legion Hall for our rehearsal.

Toons’ Chiz Bell was looking and feeling well at an October rehearsal.

Answer to Trivia Question on Page 6.

Sweet Adeline hear it at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sTLqvfpIvs

Five Town College's Facetones quartet (front row left) were quests at a recent rehearsal.

george seelinger, chapter president - long island ... · when i think about how much time i waste...

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