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<p>LAFLIN &#8212; Audiences may enjoy listening to barbershop harmony, Frank Tunney said, but nobody enjoys it more than those who sing it.</p><p>&#8220;You have to experience it and be in the middle of it to understand,&#8221; he said. &#8220;When your voice is combined with those other voices, it&#8217;s kind of unbelievable.&#8221;</p><p>In an effort to help other men experience the fun of a capella singing, the <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/538734/wyoming-valley-barbershop-harmony-chorus-to-present-spring-concert-may-7-at-wyoming-seminarys-buckingham-performing-arts-center-in-kingston" target="_blank">Wyoming Valley Barbershop Harmony Chorus</a>, which counts Tunney, of Scranton, as its secretary, is offering a series of free singing lessons.</p><p>The &#8220;Ready, Set, Sing&#8221; program will be offered at 7 p.m. Mondays Aug. 1 through Sept. 12 at the Irene Raeder Community Center, Wesley Village campus, in Pittston.</p><p>&#8220;Pretty much anyone can sing,&#8221; Tunney said.&#8221;We&#8217;re going to extract that out of you, to help you hear a note and match that note and be able to get the most out of your voice.&#8221;</p><p>Teens are welcome to join the all-male group, as are older men, and it is not necessary to be able to read music.</p><p>&#8220;You can be 15, you can be 55, you can be 85,&#8221; said Justin Davis, of Plymouth, who will conduct the &#8220;Ready, Set, Sing&#8221; program.</p><p>Conductor Davis, who is a junior majoring in music education at Marywood University, will prepare the singers to perform &#8220;The Banana Boat Song,&#8221; which many people remember for its &#8220;Day-O&#8221; refrain.</p><p>Before they start singing about working all night on a drink of rum, singers will warm up with light stretching, breathing exercises and a &#8220;brain warm-up.&#8221;</p><p>Davis explained tongue twisters can make your brain limber, offering &#8220;bubble gum, double bubble gum, triple double bubble gum&#8221; as an example.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a great group of men,&#8221; chorus member Jim Maxwell, of Bear Creek, said. &#8220;There&#8217;s so much camaraderie and support.&#8221;</p><p>At the end of six weeks, he said, the &#8220;Ready, Set, Sing&#8221; participants will be ready to perform for family and friends, and they will be welcome to join the group.</p><p>&#8220;But,&#8221; he said, &#8220;there&#8217;s no pressure to join.&#8221;</p><p>To register, call 570-507-7664.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Members of the Wyoming Valley Barbershop Harmony Chorus are eager to help other men improve their singing skills during a program called &#8216;Ready, Set, Sing.&#8217; </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_barbershipsingers.jpg</photo0><caption0>Members of the Wyoming Valley Barbershop Harmony Chorus are eager to help other men improve their singing skills during a program called &#8216;Ready, Set, Sing.&#8217; </caption0><photoCredit0>Submitted photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Barbershop Harmony Chorus invites men to &#8216;Ready, Set, Sing&#8217;</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p><strong>By Mary Therese Biebel</strong></p><p>mbiebel@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>IF YOU GO</strong></p><p><strong>What:</strong> &#8216;Ready, Set, Sing&#8217; program</p><p><strong>When:</strong> 7 to 8:15 p.m. Mondays Aug. 1 through Sept. 12</p><p><strong>Where:</strong> Irene Raeder Community Center, Wesley Village, 476 Pollock Drive, Pittston</p><p><strong>To register or learn more:</strong> 570-507-7664</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mary Therese Biebel at 570-991-6109 or on Twitter @BiebelMT</p></shirttailMeta></div>