AHB Preparedness Qualification Process Explanation
Updated July 31, 2023
Responsibilities of a Checker
The AHB Preparedness Checkers (“Checkers”) are present at our Harmony Brigade to ensure the highest level of quality of all participants at the Brigade. Brigade members, candidates, and guests are all responsible to be accurate on their music with regard to notes, rhythms, and interpretation in order to participate fully in a Brigade weekend, which includes:
The Checker is the last line of defense to not only guarantee the quality of our public performances, but to also guarantee the quartetting experience is satisfying for all those who took the time to be properly prepared.
Checking the Checkers
At the beginning of a Brigade weekend, every Checker should be checked themselves before any quartetting begins in order to make sure they are accurate. Each Checker will be checked on two (2) pieces of music as determined by the Music VP by other Checkers using sheet music. This will be in an isolated area away from the remainder of quartetters so that the Checkers can focus on getting checked as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Note to Rally Participants
Every effort will be made to have an adequate amount of Checkers on each voice part, both for checking Checkers and for spreading Checkers out during the checking period. The entire process for checking participants should be completed as quickly as possible to allow the checkers to go back to purely singing for their own enjoyment. The process for “passing” the process is outlined below.
Note to AHB Members
AHB Members are expected to be good hosts and sing with 1st time Guests and Returning Non-Members while getting checked themselves.
The Process for Checking
The AHB Preparedness Checkers (“Checkers”) are present at our Harmony Brigade to ensure the highest level of quality of all participants at the Brigade. Brigade members, candidates, and guests are all responsible to be accurate on their music with regard to notes, rhythms, and interpretation in order to participate fully in a Brigade weekend, which includes:
- Quartetting
- Participation in the Brigade Contests
- Participation in the Big Show
The Checker is the last line of defense to not only guarantee the quality of our public performances, but to also guarantee the quartetting experience is satisfying for all those who took the time to be properly prepared.
Checking the Checkers
At the beginning of a Brigade weekend, every Checker should be checked themselves before any quartetting begins in order to make sure they are accurate. Each Checker will be checked on two (2) pieces of music as determined by the Music VP by other Checkers using sheet music. This will be in an isolated area away from the remainder of quartetters so that the Checkers can focus on getting checked as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Note to Rally Participants
Every effort will be made to have an adequate amount of Checkers on each voice part, both for checking Checkers and for spreading Checkers out during the checking period. The entire process for checking participants should be completed as quickly as possible to allow the checkers to go back to purely singing for their own enjoyment. The process for “passing” the process is outlined below.
Note to AHB Members
AHB Members are expected to be good hosts and sing with 1st time Guests and Returning Non-Members while getting checked themselves.
The Process for Checking
- Each participant will be required to be checked on and pass two (2) randomly selected Rally songs
- Each Checker may only sign off on one (1) song per participant.
- Checkers will make themselves readily identifiable to AHB participants so that all singers can be checked quickly. Checkers have been asked to stay focused on checking others (vs filling out their own Dance cards) until Friday dinner.
- Checkers should focus on one (1) person at a time for purposes of checking.
- Checkers should have sheet music on their person to ensure the most accurate of checking. Checkers should be listening for accuracy of words, notes, rhythms, and pitch.
- If the participant is checked and found to be accurate, the Checker signs their name on the participant’s checker pass to indicate that they passed.
- To pass, participants must make no more than three (3) obvious errors per song being checked. Not passing on any song the first time will be indicated on the participant’s checker card.
- An obvious error consists of items such as:
- Forgetting or singing a wrong word on a note equal to or longer than an eighth note (swallowed or glossed over syllables can be forgiven).
- Singing a note that is more than a major 2nd away from the note on the chart.
- Singing a rhythm that is longer or shorter than what is written by a half beat.
- Singing out of pitch enough to cause a chord to be discordant.
- Should a participant have three (3) or more obvious errors, they will be given the opportunity to look at the score and get rechecked on the same song, but only by a different Checker. (Caveat: should a song experience a “meltdown” where it is not clear that the person(s) being checked are responsible for the error, the Checker may ask the quartet to perform the song/section again. If the error persists, see above.
- If the participant, after reviewing a score and attempting to be re-checked by a new Checker, fails to be accurate, said participant will be considered as “Not Prepared” on that song, and that status will be indicated on their pass. A required third song will be added to their card by the Head Checker.
- Any participant found to be “Not Prepared” on two of their three checked songs, will be ineligible to participate in the Brigade Contests and the Big Show. Further, the following year, they may not be considered for candidacy in the AHB.
- Once the participant has passed two songs, they should seek out the Music VP or Head Checker to hand in their checker pass to indicate they no longer need to be checked.