By Melanie Barker

1. Barbershop By Melanie Barker

2. Barbershop frees you from yourself When I sing barbershop, I completely let go of my surroundings and embrace my voice and the voices around me. Nobody judges you if you make a mistake or if you’re too loud because everyone is there to do the same thing: sing.

3. It lets you be who you want to be You can do all the things you would never do in a million years in your day to day life. Through the crazy animated faces and the sometimes embarrassing choreography, you can find yourself and unleash your inner you.

4. It is there for you when nothing else is No matter what you’re going through in your life, you can always count on going to chorus every week and being surrounded by amazing and strong women. They are the best support system and girl could wish for.

5. Its an escape from reality When you hear the pitch of a song being blown from the risers, a surge of energy ignites in your body and electrifies every inch of you. The second the director starts, you’re flying off the risers. You’re not thinking about errands or other obligations, you’re thinking about performing and only that until you finish with an incredible tag and an erupting applause.

6. It forever enriches your life I cannot describe how much I have gained personally from singing barbershop with Sweet Adelines .The women alone have effected me in so many countless ways. But the music itself is such a pure and beautiful blend of harmonies that you can’t help putting all of your emotions into it. The experiences you have in Sweet Adelines will stay with you forever.

7. Its beauty will amaze you After listening to barbershop, you will never be the same. It is true that some people say they don’t like it, but I’m willing to bet that there is SOMETHING out there, whether it be a quartet or a chorus, that will touch you in some way. Its simply too phenomenal not to!

8. You can be all you want to be In reality, if you want to make it as a singer you have to have a great voice or a perfect range or something that makes you as an individual something special. The great thing about barbershop is that you can be any type of singer and be great because you are never alone. What you lack, your bass might possess. When you’re nervous, they’re there. Everyone is a star.

9. It gives you the ability to better yourself In barbershop, there are always new standards being made, higher goals to be set, and fun new ways to sing four part. You are always learning and improving. There’s always something you can do better. Something new you can try. Someone new you can sing with. It never ends 

10. It is an inspiration Most people in life have idols in the celebrity world. All of my idols, however, live in the barbershop world. My favorite singers live in quartets. Mainly, they are the leads (because that is what I sing). The power and sheer beauty I have witnessed from watching quartets will forever be in my heart. The wash of goose bumps over your body, a swell of a tear in your eye, the smile that lights up your face when you see them sing…is beautiful.

11. It is my life So much of who I am today is due to what I’ve become through barbershop. I have had a lot of struggles in my life, but barbershop has somehow made them seem meaningless in comparison. The community is so warm and will embrace you in any state. The emotions I hold toward barbershop are indescribable and I am forever thankful that I found it. Or rather, that it found me. And I’m never letting it go 