Class and club directors provide insight into the methods that gives their Sing Song acts an edge in the competition.
Senior class director Nick Tatum, family studies major from Plano, said, “With our class, we spend a lot of time focusing on developing good communication between the director and the singers. The better a group can communicate with each other on stage, the more control the director is ultimately going to have during a performance. More importantly, we try to have as much fun as possible when preparing for Sing Song. If we enjoy what we are doing, the audience is going to be able to tell through our performance.”
Sub-T director Vance Cato, junior business management major from Amarillo, said, “The men on Sub T-16 meet no more than two times before Sing Song dress rehearsals and run-throughs. No need for weekly practices. Our practices typically run about 30 minutes long. We’re natural performers, practice is overkill. We try to create a relaxed and creative atmosphere at practice. We think up our rigorous choreography routines as a group and we try to get most people involved. The big thing that gives us the edge we need to compete is our deep talent pool. We have been so blessed this year to have so many musically gifted guys in our club. Without that talent, we would need to practice 8 hours a week like all the other acts. We want that trophy.”
Zeta Rho director Janessa Beach, sophomore math education major from Van Alstyne, said, “It’s important for my girls to remember we are not doing this by ourselves, but it is by the gifts and talents God has given us. We want to serve and glorify him in our time together doing Sing Song. Each practice starts with a prayer and a worship song to remind us to serve God in all that we do. We usually end our time in a worship song together as well.”
International students director Kenyon Jackson, senior psychology major from Oxnard, Calif., said, “We have natural energy and have fun in our performances. The ability to perform in a way that feels suitable to our culture makes this a strong group and very powerful.”
Junior class director Caroline Nikolaus, psychology major from O’Fallon, Ill., said, “We do warm ups, there’s usually some dancing involved, getting people relaxed but excited to practice. Our team is superb- and our act -the people participating- is amazing. Simply, we have all become family, I truly enjoy being a part of Sing Song, and I leave every practice in a better mood, feeling blessed and extremely excited.”
GATA director Corinne Morris, senior electronic media major from Abilene, said, “Regarding specific training, I’m sure we didn’t do anything too different from other groups. We did sectionals to learn the music, we learned choreography, we worked on diction and dynamics. However, one thing we did do differently from other groups is always have fun. That was my goal from the very beginning of practices, because after all is said and done, the point of Sing Song is bonding with the people around you and having a memorable experience that will stay with you forever.”
