Brandied eggnog may seem like the perfect offering for strolling carolers on a cool winter night.
But confidence in a cup for one singer could mean slurring instead of singing for the next.
“That’s an individual call,” says Jill DeLage, director of the Last Note Singers, a Denver-area grass-roots a cappella group.
Trained entertainers and amateurs come together in this 25-year-old troupe simply for the pleasure of music. They begin rehearsing in September for a season of singing that includes performances at nursing homes, outdoor festivals and the airport. “We memorize 12 songs each season,” she says. “Then on top of that, we do the traditional carols” like “White Christmas” and “Frosty the Snowman.”
The holidays are hectic for the Last Note Singers, so DeLage is well-suited to offer a few Christmas caroling tips.
A quick holiday cocktail before singing can help curb performance anxiety, DeLage says. On the other hand, “Some people forget all their words after one drink.”
Still, there are concrete caroling guidelines. Among them:
Have printed song lyrics on hand for each caroler.
Dress similarly, festively, and warmly for the outdoors.
Designate someone to start and stop each song. A good, crisp beginning and ending will mask other mistakes.
Have fun, and let it show it in your faces and body language. Swaying is a plus, and helps the group keep time.
“We just try to make eye contact with the crowd and really feel the music that you’re singing,” DeLage says. “If you’re having fun, it comes through in your voice.”
Elana Ashanti Jefferson
