For the 74 students enrolled in the MSU Women’s Glee Club, it’s more than a class — it’s a sisterhood.
As the classroom in the Music Practice Building began to fill up on Wednesday, each of the members grabbed a red Solo cup and took it to a seat.
MSU Women's Glee Club allows students a chance to learn music
Spanish senior Sarah Greer sings during a Women’s Glee Club practice Feb. 5, 2014, at the Music Practice Building. There are 74 women in the class. The club technically is a class, but can be taken multiple times. Julia Nagy/The State News
Some began fidgeting with the cups that would be used during their warmup routine, while others looked over music selections.
The girls are a part of MSU’s one-credit singing class MUS 125, better known as the MSU Women’s Glee Club.
The club is a non-audition singing group where students of all singing levels work together to produce and sing classical a capella songs. It is divided into four pitches — first soprano, second soprano, first alto and second alto.
“I love being in front of this group,” said Randi Bolding, ?the glee club director. “It’s a nice place to come relax, sing and produce wonderful music.”
Practices are filled with warm-ups, clapping to maintain the beat, note reading and most importantly, harmonizing notes to make the perfect pitch.
Immediately after warmups, members brought out their red cups. “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons filled the room and the girls began clapping, patting and strategically moving the cups to match the rhythm of the song.
Every semester, the group does a musical number ?that is dramatically different from the other pieces to experiment with other sounds, said ?apparel and textiles junior Emily Pletcher, who is president of the club.
This year, the group is tackling Anna Kendrick’s “Cups” from the movie “Pitch Perfect.”
Every rehearsal, Bolding chooses a different song and the girls use the same cup beat to master the technique.
Members of the club learn how to read and sing to different kinds of music, said Bolding.
At the end of each semester, the club joins with the MSU Men’s Glee Club for a final performance at the Wharton Center.
Supply chain management junior Marisa Mancinotti, who sings first soprano, said the glee club is a way for her to de-stress and have fun.
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“It’s putting yourself out on the limb and doing something fun,” Mancinotti said.
The club has about 30 percent of its members return each semester, so fresh singers ?are constantly added to the mix, Bolding said. Some members join freshman year and refuse to leave before graduating.
Pletcher, who has been ?a part of the club for six semesters now, said it gives an opportunity to either learn something new or keep ?practicing a passion.
“It’s a fun place to get that extracurricular credit but?still a place where it’s fun and meet a lot of people,” Pletcher said. “It’s a sisterhood.”
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