Catch a Vibe with the Charleston Vibes
How to join this exclusive ensemble, plus a look into how to fit right in after you’re accepted.
Who are the Charleston Vibes?
The Charleston Vibes is a student-led a capella group at CofC. They describe themselves as “CofC’s elite, co-ed a capella group.” President Marissa Haynes gives an inside look into what being a Charleston Vibes member looks like. Keep reading to learn how to succeed as a member of the Vibes!
How to Join
The Charleston Vibes is a very small group. They hold open auditions every semester, and any CofC student can audition. Not everyone will be accepted, so try your best in the auditions!
So you’re in, now what?
So you’ve just been accepted as a member of the Vibes! Congratulations! According to the Charleston Vibes President Marissa Haynes, the Vibes are a very close-knit group, like a family. You’re probably wondering what to do next! Below, you can find some tips on how to fit in with your new a capella fam.
Tools & Tech
The Charleston Vibes use a variety of applications and technology to share information. Check out the list below for some of the tech you’ll need to know!
- Google Docs
In the interview, Marissa talked about the Google Doc that the Vibes use to share past and present musical arrangements. It is a master document, and contains links to all past Vibes arrangements, as well as the current lineup.
In these screenshots from the Google Doc, all of the Vibes’ arrangements are listed, sorted into categories, and linked. Members who know how to use Google Docs can open this document, find the arrangement they want, click the link, and then they will be able to view that arrangement. Pretty cool, right?
- iMessage
This is a pretty basic one, but it’s still worth mentioning. According to Marissa, most of the communication between members of the Vibes takes place over iMessage, so it’s important to get comfortable with texting if you want to stay in the loop.
- GroupMe
In past years, the Vibes have used GroupMe in addition to iMessage to send major updates. GroupMe is a group messaging app for smartphones, and it’s used by a lot of clubs on campus. GroupMe comes in handy when there is a large group of people, especially when some of them might not have iPhones. iMessage groups can get weird when someone has a different kind of smartphone, so GroupMe solves that problem for the Vibes. You can read more about it on the GroupMe official webpage.
Like most other clubs on campus, the Vibes uses Instagram to self-promote and engage with the CofC community. The content they post ranges from birthday shout-outs to group photos to concert announcements. Follow them on Instagram @TheCharlestonVibes to stay in the loop, so that you don’t miss any important updates!
According to Marissa, the Charleston Vibes occasionally rely on Facebook groups to communicate. They have a private Facebook group where they share info and important documents with each other. They also have a Facebook group for alumni, plus a public Facebook page where they share updates like they do on Instagram.
- Noteflight
Marissa also mentioned that Noteflight is the main application that the Charleston Vibes use to create and share arrangements. This is what they use to practice their music in rehearsal, and it’s also what you’ll need to use to practice on your own.
In the top left corner, you’ll notice a play button. If you hit that button, you can play through the arrangement, and you can stop and restart when you need to. Members can follow along with their line on the screen.
Noteflight is one of the key ways that Charleston Vibes members communicate. It makes it easy to create and share their musical arrangements.
Other Skills
- Music notation
The Charleston Vibes write all of their own arrangements, and work with sheet music often. To succeed in this group, you’ll want to be familiar with the basics of music theory and music notation.
Roles & Rules
It’s important to know who’s who in the Vibes, so check out this list of all of the exec board members. For more detailed info on these positions, see the Charleston Vibes constitution and bylaws, which you can find here on CougarConnect.
Roles
- President
- Vice President
- Musical Director
- Section Leaders
- Treasurer
- PR Director
- Event Coordinator
- Dance Chair
Rules
- Be there!
Rehearsals are held twice a week, and if you miss rehearsals, you might miss out on important information and the chance to learn your music. After three absences, you won’t be allowed to be in the big concert, so you should plan to attend rehearsal.
- Know your music!
One of the understood expectations in the Vibes is that you memorize your music. According to Marissa, because the group is so small, this is extra important, and it is upsetting to other members of the group when one person does not know their music. Sheet music is shared in a Google Doc that is posted in the private Facebook group. Group members are expected to find the music and practice it often.
Notes for Newbies
- Seniority matters.
According to Marissa, the senior members of the vibes tend to take more of a leadership role than new members. To avoid causing conflict, do your best to stay in your lane and avoid overstepping a senior’s authority. Remember, you’ll get your time to shine eventually.
- Share your feedback!
Marissa emphasized that the Charleston Vibes is a really close-knit group, like a family. And in that family, all members are encouraged to participate and share feedback, so don’t be afraid to reach out!