2020 SEASON - Hello? It's me, the Universe.

Bridge Over Troubled Water
We started to work on this song in the last rehearsal before social restrictions were enforced. We'd like you to keep working on learning your parts for this and let us know how you're going with it at the next catch up.
Vocal tracks and music, plus a youtube clip of the song bing performed are below:
Lovely Blue Sky Recording
Please find the Lovely Blue Sky Resources below.
Voctave Virtual Choir resources
AVC SINGS WITH VOCTAVE
Well-known a cappella group Voctave are inviting singers around the world to be involved in their next virtual choir! We have decided that this would be a perfect thing to do as part of AVC so that we can stay singing and connected, and continue to make art in this weird world. The song is one of our favs, You Will Be Found from Dear Evan Hansen.
We know that lots of families are overwhelmed with homeschooling and working from home, so there’s absolutely no pressure to do this! Please opt in if you want to, and let us know if you do. Rachel will be recording her part to include, I wonder if we can convince Paul to have a go…
WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO:
All the learning materials are below.
Choose and learn your part using the rehearsal tracks and then record as per the instructions. Let us know if you need help with that!
We have until Friday 1 May to upload the tracks.
Let us know if you need help with making this happen 🙂
REHEARSAL TRACKS
Baritone only | Baritone with piano
Soprano 1 only | Soprano 1 with piano
Soprano 2 only | Soprano 2 with piano
Week 5 Notes
Good evening, Rabble! Thanks for a LOUD but productive rehearsal.
It was so great to welcome Liam and Fearghus tonight. We're so excited to have them with us!
The backing tracks for World In Union and We Are Australian are available below. As we don't have a lot of rehearsal time before our performance, it's important that you listen to the tracks and practise in your own time.
Practise hard, we want these sounding totally fab next week.
P&R
I Am Australian - Sheet Music
w. Bruce Woodley AO & Dobe Newton. arr. Steven Hodgson & Alex Garsden



Week 4 Notes
Here's the playlist for Hello? It's me, the Universe.
Please listen to it a couple of times before next rehearsal and let us know if you have any trouble accessing the songs.
CLICK HERE FOR THE HIMTU PLAYLIST
Or use the player below:
Week 2 Notes
There was some great work at this week's rehearsal but still too much talking!
Remember the Big Nib Marker Expectations:
Minimise chatter | Concentrate and listen | Feel the love | Take notes | Be respectful | Take responsibility for your work
Social Gathering
Due to popular demand we'd like to hold a social gathering - details TBA.
Participation isn't compulsory but we'd love to see all come along.
Prep for Week 3
Practice all the songs that we went over at the rehearsal:
- You're the Voice
- Wake Up
- Sound of Silence
- Don't Stop Me Now
- I Sing the Body Electric
All the resources you should need are available now.
You're the Voice - Sheet Music
By Keith Reid, Chris Thompson, Maggie Ryder. Arr. Kirby Shaw
Sound of Silence - Performed by Pentatonix
Spotify Track Sound of Silence - Performed by Pentatonix
Don't Stop Me Now - Performed by Queen
Spotify Track Don't Stop Me Now - Performed by Queen
I Sing The Body Electric - Sheet Music
Music - Michael Gore | Lyrics - Dean Pitchford | Arr. Ed Lojeski
I Sing The Body Electric – Performed by PLHS Combined Choirs



WELCOME TO 2020!
It was so great to see everybody back for the new year and to welcome our new faces!
Below is the sheet music for the three songs we covered at rehearsal as well as the YouTube clip of the performance of The Body Electric performed by PLHS Combined Choirs.
This is a pretty straight-laced version of the song. Our version is going to be so funktastic it'll move into a house at number 1 Funk Street.
I Sing The Body Electric - Sheet Music
Music - Michael Gore | Lyrics - Dean Pitchford | Arr. Ed Lojeski
I Sing The Body Electric – Performed by PLHS Combined Choirs
2019 SEASON -- STILL, WE RISE
Word Crimes
We will be learning a new song for The ACT Writers Centre end of year party on 5 December.
Below is the original recording and the lyrics. Please familiarise yourself with them before Wednesday's rehearsal.
Word Crimes Lyrics
by Weird Al Yankovic
Everybody shut up
Everyone listen up (Hey, hey, hey... hey, hey, hey... hey, hey, hey)
If you can't write in the proper way
If you don't know how to conjugate
Maybe you flunked that class
And maybe now you find
That people mock you online
Okay now here's the deal, I'll try to educate ya
Gonna familiarise you with the nomenclature
You'll learn the definitions of nouns and prepositions
Literacy's your mission
And that's why we think it's a good time
To learn some grammar (what)
Now did I stammer?
Work on that grammar
You should know when it's less or it's fewer
Like people who were
Never raised in a sewer
I hate these word crimes
Like "I could care less"
That means you do care
At least a little
Because you’re writers
You'd better slow down and use the right pronoun
Show the world you're no clown
Say you got an I-T followed by apostrophe S
Now, what does that mean?
You would not use "it's" in this case as a possessive (no no no)
It's a contraction (yeah yeah yeah)
What's a contraction?
"Well, it's the shortening of a word or group of words by omission of a sound or letter"
Okay now here's some notes:
Syntax you're always manglin'
No "x" in espresso
Your participle's danglin'
But I don't want your drama
If you really wanna, leave out that Oxford comma
Just keep in mind that be, see, are, you...
Are words, not letters
Get it together, use your spell checker
You should never
Write words using numbers
Unless you're seven, or your name is Prince
I hate these word crimes
You really need a full-time proofreader
I’ll put out some feelers
‘Cause, you should hire
Some cunning linguist
To help you distinguish what is proper English
One thing I ask of you
The time to learn your homophones is past due
Learn to diagram a sentence too
Always say "to whom"; don't ever say "to who"
And listen up when I tell you this
I hope you never use quotation marks for emphasis
You finished second grade; I hope you can tell
If you're doing good or doing well
Better figure out the difference
Irony is not coincidence
And I thought that you'd gotten it through your skull
'Bout what's figurative and what's literal
Oh, but just now (just now) you said (you said)
You "literally couldn't get out of bed" (what)
That really makes me wanna literally
Bang the wall with my pedantic head
I read your e-mail (yeah yeah)
It's quite apparent your grammar's errant
You're incoherent
Saw your blog post (hey hey)
I'm enthusiastic
That was sarcastic... (aw psych!) it's not fantastic
I hate these word crimes
Your prose has hope we
know you don’t only write in Emoji
You're not a lost cause
Go back to high school, or maybe pre-school
We know you’re no fool
Never mind, I give up
Really now, I give up
(Hey hey hey)
(Hey hey hey)
(Go away)
ADDITIONAL Still, We Rise Backing Tracks
We now have all the backing tracks from Alex. Please download and listen to them below.
Also, there are two vocal tracks for you to help you for My Shot (Rise Up) and Malala.
Still, We Rise Backing Tracks
Download or listen to the tracks below.
Rise Up (My Shot) lyrics and track
Rise up
If you livin' on your knees, you rise up
Tell your brother that he's gotta rise up
Tell your sister that she's gotta rise up
When are folks like me and you gonna rise up?
Every city, every hood, we need to rise up
All my soldiers, what's good? We need to rise up
We ain't got no other choice, we need to rise up
Rise up!
Rise Up (My Shot) Spotify Track
Performed by Busta Rhymes, Joell Ortiz, Nate Ruess, The Roots
Week 7
See below for the link to Why We Build the Wall.
FEARLESS
Thanks for your great work last night as we unveiled our song 'Fearless' for the Fearless Comedy Gala.
This is AVC's first major performance and we want it to be amazing! So... you WILL need to practise the song outside of our Wednesday rehearsals.
Remember the comedy from this song comes from the deadpan delivery of young people singing outrageous things. Deadpan doesn't mean robotic, it means serious, no smiles, like you're singing the national anthem. There's passion and belief, but it's not over the top.
Please also remember to keep this song under wraps. We want the whole audience to be surprised (including your parents).
Below are some resources to help you practice. We've included the sheet music as well as some backing tracks with the parts separated to help you along.


Week 5-6
Dear AVC Performers!
Thanks for a great week 5 rehearsal everyone.

Week 3
Dear AVC Performers!
Thanks for a great week 2 rehearsal. It was great to see you all together for the first time. Please familiarise yourself with the Spotify tracks and sheet music below and come prepared next week.
I Know Where I've Been - Sheet Music
Music by Marc Shaiman, Lyrics by Marc Shaiman & Scot Wittman, Arr. Mac Huff
Royals - Sheet Music
Words and Music by Joel Little & Ella Yelich-O'Connor Arr. Roger Emerson
Blame It On The Boogie - Sheet Music
Words & Music by Michael Jackson-Clark, David Jackson-Rich, Thomas Meyer, Elmar Krohn and Hans Kampschroer Arr. Mac Huff


2018 SEASON
Week 6
Hi Team,
Absolutely fabulous rehearsal last night! Thank you all for working so hard, and for being ready to give each other feedback and work together to make AVC the amazing thing it is!
For next rehearsal:
- please learn Seasons of Love off by heart, and focus on your pitch. Sing to the backing track which is linked below.
- Practise Royals without music
- Practise Stand by Me
Busking Songs:
- Royals
- Stand by Me
- Pokarekare Ana
- Seasons of Love
- Life Support
Please bring any polished items like duets we could include in the busking song set list.
Can't wait for next Wednesday!
Rachel and Paul



Composer-in-Residence Chloe Sinclair joins us for rehearsal 6
Week 5
Dear AVC Performers!
How amazing is the video that Paul made? I think it captures not only your amazing sound, but how much fun we have had working together so far. When I saw it for the first time, I (Rachel) cried. We're so proud of you all. If you haven't seen it yet, you can watch it below.
This week is shaping up to be a big one! We will be starting one of your suggestions - The Longest Time. Check out the Spotify link below, and please download or print the music.
Our two goals for this term are the recording, and busking. We're excited to let you know that we have locked some dates in!
The recording will be held on Sun 2 December, 9.45am to 12.30pm, at SilverSun Pictures in Watson. We will be recording the parts separately, but would like everyone to be there to drink in the whole experience!
Busking - we'd like to do this the following weekend on Saturday 8 December in the morning. We'll be going into the city at a few locations.
What we need you to do - please let us know that you can make it to both gigs.
Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday.
Rachel and Paul
Seasons of Love Video
Week 4
Fabulous rehearsal last week - so great to have Connor there, and to keep up the amazing work we've been doing. Paul and I are so excited to see AVC becoming a reality, and whenever we hear you we know there's huge things in store!
We're close to finalising the recording date, and we'll keep you posted. Studio time will be so awesome!
Tomorrow Paul and I would like to have a little time of reflection, so please come prepared to talk about:
- Things to keep
Things to change
Your ultimate song wish.
Here are the lyrics to Pokarekare Ana, and a little translation. Looking forward to teaching you the next bit tomorrow.
Pōkarekare ana, ngā wai o Waiapu
Whiti atu koe hine, marino ana e.
E hine e, hoki mai ra
Ka mate ahau i te aroha e.
They are agitated
the waters of Waiapu,
But when you cross over girl
they will be calm.
Oh girl
return to me,
I could die
of love for you.
Week 3
Thanks for a great second rehearsal on Wednesday. Just like our pots of sunflowers, AVC is growing as a group and we sense great things for AVC!
Could you please do the following for next week:
- Listen to Secret for the Mad
- Learn Seasons of Love off by heart
- Practise Royals
- Practise You Will Be Found
- Listen to Somebody to Love (Glee Version)
Because of the issues with sheet music last week, we've made that available for download here as well. So, if you need to reprint it, feel free.
We're coming at our repertoire fast and furious, but with our goals in mind - the recording, and busking in December. You guys are sounding fabulous and I'm loving the teamwork I am seeing in rehearsal.
Looking forward to welcoming Connor on Wednesday!
Week 3
Thanks for a great second rehearsal on Wednesday. Just like our pots of sunflowers, AVC is growing as a group and we sense great things for AVC!
Could you please do the following for next week:
- Listen to Secret for the Mad
- Learn Seasons of Love off by heart
- Practise Royals
- Practise You Will Be Found
- Listen to Somebody to Love (Glee Version)
Because of the issues with sheet music last week, we've made that available for download here as well. So, if you need to reprint it, feel free.
We're coming at our repertoire fast and furious, but with our goals in mind - the recording, and busking in December. You guys are sounding fabulous and I'm loving the teamwork I am seeing in rehearsal.
Looking forward to welcoming Connor on Wednesday!
Week 2
What a wonderful first rehearsal last week. We were so excited when we heard you sing together—what a fabulous sound! Those of you who knew each other already made the others so welcome. Thank you!
And how excited is Rachel about watering!?!
Below are some links to some songs on Spotify. Have a listen to them and familiarise yourselves with the music and lyrics.
Below are the links to the backing tracks we used in Week 1. Use these to practice with before the next rehearsal.



Week 1
Please download the music below in preparation for the first rehearsal.