FAQs

Do I need to have singing experience to join?

No.  We have members who once sang in their high school choir or in a community or church choir, but a lot of our members only sang in the shower before joining us.  What we all have in common is that we love to sing.  And we are drawn to this particular type of singing by the wonderful four part harmonies.

Do I need to be able to read music to join?

No. A number of our members don't read music.  For learning purposes, digital recordings are made available for each song, along with the sheet music. There is always a digital recording of each individual part, as well as a recording of the full four-part mix.  We are expected to learn the songs by memory, so that we can perform them without using the sheet music. 

What sort of time commitment should I expect?

We rehearse every Thursday evening from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  Three or four times a year, we have an all day coaching session on a Saturday or Sunday with an outside coach.  These are valuable and fun sessions which aim to teach us more about barbershop singing, improve our chorus sound, and improve our individual singing skills. The last weekend in May, we compete in our Harmony, Inc. Area Five Contest, held right here in Toronto, with the goal of improving our scores from the previous year and qualifying for International Competition in November.  We are a performing chorus, not just a competing one, so we also accept 1 and 2 hour performing gigs from time to time through the year, especially closer to Christmas.

How much time we spend at home working on our music varies.  The ideal would be to spend half an hour every day reviewing our songs and practising our singing skills. But we all know that's just an "ideal", because life often gets in the way.  We do have to make a little time for reviewing what we are going to be working on before going to rehearsal each week. And we might receive 2 or 3 new songs to learn over the course of the year.

What is the cost involved?

There is an annual fee of around $250 to belong to the chorus.  All our coaching sessions, rehearsal hall rent, music and costumes are paid for through these fees and the generous amount we receive from volunteering at the Kennedy Road Charitable Gaming Centre. When we go to our Area Contest in May, however, there is a participation fee of between $150 and $200 for the weekend and each member is obliged to book a room in the hotel for one night. Up to four people can share the room, to lessen the cost, and either stay overnight or just use the room during the day for changing costumes, etc

What is Harmony, Inc.?

Founded in 1959, Harmony, Inc. currently has over 65 chapters (choruses) and over 2,000 members.  It is divided into six geographical areas within Canada and the United States.  We belong to Area Five, which covers all of Ontario with its 14 choruses and 20 registered quartets.  Harmony, Inc. promotes friendship and personal growth through music and music education, and makes available numerous educational programs and resources. It sponsors area chorus and quartet contests every spring and an International Contest in November, which alternates its location each year between Canada and the United States.