The Peninsulaires Men’s Barbershop Chorus is always looking for enthusiastic music lovers to sing four part harmony with us. Guests are welcome to join us anytime at our open rehearsals. We meet Thursday evenings 7:30 pm at the Sunnyvale Elks Lodge at 375 N. Pastoria Ave. You’ll make new friends and enjoy life experiences you won’t find anywhere else.
Guests are always welcome to join us on the risers at our rehearsals. At any given time, the chorus may be learning new music, preparing for community sing-outs at farmers markets or holiday events, or rehearsing for our next performance at a Peninsulaires show or Barbershop Harmony Society contest! Check our Meetup page for updates on our rehearsal schedule.
Most of our members have no professional musical training. We have members from a wide range of occupations including painters, teachers, lawyers, doctors, and engineers. Don’t let a lack of singing experience deter you! Knowing how to read music is a plus, but it is not required. We will help you learn what you need to know to join us in song. It is rewarding to feel the satisfaction, camaraderie and experience of being part of a group of men coming together from all walks of life to create such a powerful sound that is truly unique to this American musical form.
What to Expect at Your First Rehearsal
The rehearsal begins at 7:30, but we encourage you to show up about 15 minutes earlier, which will give you a chance to sign in and get prepared to actively participate in the rehearsal, if you choose to do so. Our doors actually open at 6:30, and you’re welcome to come in any time after that. If you’d like to connect before the rehearsal, maybe to tell us about yourself or ask questions, feel free to join our Meetup page, where you can RSVP or send us a message (or you can just show up).
When you arrive, head over to the guest table, and a member of our Guest Welcome team will get you signed in and provide you with a name badge and one of our guest song books that you can use for the evening. We’ll place you in one of the 4 voice-part sections: bass, baritone, lead, or tenor, based on your vocal range and experience. We’ll also get you paired with a “buddy” in your section, who will guide you and answer any questions you may have. Showing up early will give you a chance to socialize with chorus members, and maybe experience Barbershop harmony by singing a tag (a few measures from the end of a song that can be learned quickly without music, and produce beautiful ringing chords).
The rehearsal begins at 7:30 with a 20-to-30-minute warmup, aimed at preparing your voice for singing, helping the entire group blend voices to produce a full rich sound, and working on important vocal techniques that we apply throughout the rehearsal. Once we’re warmed up, we go through the core rehearsal, learning new tunes, practicing and perfecting songs we already know, or preparing for an upcoming show or contest. We also spend time working on quartet singing, which really helps individuals perfect their singing skills and mastery of harmony. We mix in a few announcements that are relevant to the chorus, sing Happy Birthday to members celebrating birthdays that week, and take a break or two, during which we socialize and sing tags. The rehearsal finishes at 10:00.
Returning as a Guest
If you’ve enjoyed your rehearsal with The Peninsulaires, we encourage you to return as a guest and consider working toward transitioning to being a member of the chorus. The decision to advance toward membership and its timing are entirely up to you; you will not be pressured into becoming a member.
As a returning guest, we give you access to a virtual guest book that contains the same sheet music as is in the guest song book you used during rehearsal as well as learning tracks for you to sing along with if you wish to practice at home. We also email you the weekly rehearsal plan so, if you choose to, you can practice up and make the most out of the upcoming rehearsal.