The Pitch Pipe - October 2008 - (Page 29) chorus beat Gerry Papageorge Coaches Barbershop Chorus Groups in Japan T The Tokyo Chorus and other Japanese Chorus groups had a tremendous experience this past May. Gerry Papageorge, the mentor for the Tokyo Chapter, was invited to Japan. We had two full days of training at BumB (a multi-purpose facility) on May 24 and 25. More than 50 members from the Japanese consolidated choruses, Tokyo Chorus, Aoyama Harmony, Sweet Adelines Urayasu and Yokohama Bay Harmony, participated and focused on what Gerry was teaching. For many of us, it was the first time to experience real barbershop training. We had never had long hours of coaching before our mentor visited. Gerry told us ways to improve our harmony, and it came directly to our hearts and gave us a strong wish to make our harmony better. Her past achievements in the Sweet Adelines world added more realities to her training technique. The Tokyo Chorus worked more than two years for this visit to come to life with a plan for two days with the combined cho- ruses and then several more days with just the Tokyo Chapter. It began mainly with Hisako Denda, a member who knows Gerry and her coaching talents very well. After obtaining Board approval, Hisako was very busy forwarding the project step by step. She made many flights to the U.S., far from Tokyo, and exchanged many e-mails and telephone calls. With her restless efforts and cooperation of many other members, we were able to make this dream come true. Our mentor started her coaching from the very basics. We learned postures and how to stand and walk like a “Queen,” and at the same time, discover the spaces between each vertebrae, therefore, feeling a little bit taller, like a puppet hanging from the ceiling. Among some new findings, the overtone was one of the very exciting aspects, and how correct singing can create them. In other words, “She who rings the most chords wins!” She worked with each section separately and taught us about our different jobs in the barbershop style. Gerry Papageorge (center) shares her love of barbershop with members in Japan. The coaching was centered around the exciting opportunity to sing on the Tuesday night show in Hawaii at the International Convention, 2008. We will sing four songs. This will be an experience for us that will make us feel connected to all other Sweet Adelines. Gerry taught us that in order to be the first class chorus that is in our hearts, each member has to make her utmost efforts to be mentally and physically recognized as one body that feels emotions together, moves together and has goals together. Needless to say, it will not be achieved in one quick manner, but will be made step by step. Besides working so many hours with us and then coaching the Aoyama chorus and two quartets, we had the opportunity to take Gerry on some sightseeing. Each afterContinued on page 30 October 2008 29
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