Some people say that music has the ability to bring people together. While this phrase has been overused to the point of gaining cliché status, it’s clear the power that music holds for two of Ohio University’s women’s a cappella groups. Bringing together a diverse range of girls with a spectrum of interests, Tempo Tantrums and Title IX are proving to other organizations you don’t have to come from the same side of the tracks to forge close friendships and be a part of music on this campus.
Tempo Tantrums: A Shared Passion
If you could sum up Tempo Tantrums in one word, it would be attitude. From their song choice to their onstage persona, the group screams personality and charisma with every performance. Much of that character comes from being a group that boasts a variety of girls who come from all kinds of backgrounds on campus.
A good half of the 17-girl group is made up of non-music majors, which is even more impressive when you think of the group’s great musicality. It’s this mix that makes the group stand out for Stephanie Dumais, president of Tempo Tantrums. “I think we can just pull from a variety of experiences,” Dumais said. “Having the people who are music majors, they have a lot of knowledge, but I think a lot of the fun attitude and personality comes from the non-majors.”
Dumais, a senior music education and flute performance double major, goes way back with the group as one its co-founders along with seniors Katie McGonagle and Aleena Bhattacharya. Since its start in winter 2008, Tempo Tantrums has grown into an outlet on campus for girls who don’t have time to commit to School of Music ensembles but want to keep music in their lives.
This is the message that particularly struck non-major Lo Martinez, a sophomore broadcast journalism student who auditioned for Tempo Tantrums as a freshmen to pursue her passion for music. Martinez came to school deeply entrenched in a musical background, but knew she wouldn’t be able to devote time to music classes with all the requirements for her major. For her, finding Tempo Tantrums, which does not require you to take any credit hours at all, was the perfect niche for continuing her love for music, and meeting a group of girls who share that same enthusiasm.
Now in chare of the group’s PR, Martinez strives to spread the group’s message across campus and let other girls know you don’t have to be a music major to still experience music in college. “Tempo Tantrums allows me at least two times a week when I am in my own world with other people who are in that same world of living and loving vocal music,” Martinez said. “I enjoy it more than anything.”
One obstacle to getting the group’s message across can be the lack of recognition as a student organization on campus, especially when it comes to the activity fair. Because they don’t get their own booth, Tempo Tantrums has to sing outside the venue or by walking around College Green. It’s moments like this that make it hard to get the group’s name out there for people coming into OU like Martinez who want to find an extracurricular music outlet.
Martinez has a message to students out there who missing music in their lives who may be interested in Tempo Tantrums, “If there’s anyone out there who wants to be a part of an all female a cappella group, the only requirements are that you sing, love music and that you’re excited to be involved in our organization.”
Title IX: More Than Music
Being a member of Title IX means going beyond music. While music is certainly a focus of the group, Title IX members make it a purpose to center on friendship. From the genuine way Lindsay Cheek, this year’s undergraduate leader, speaks of the group’s frequent girl nights, sleepovers and dinners, it’s clear that Title IX are best friends both on and off stage.
“The way we interact with each other is just with a lot of respect,” said Cheek, a senior music therapy major. “The fact is that we all just like to empower each other and like to empower the women around us.”
A staple on campus for 10 years now, Title IX began and still runs out of the school of music ensemble Women’s Chorale. Seeing how strong the Singing Men of Ohio’s a cappella group Section 8 was going, a couple of leaders within Women’s Chorale decided to start their own a cappella group in 2001. What started as a small endeavor has grown into one of OU’s most sought after singing groups with generally 30-45 girls auditioning each year.
Even though the group is auditioned within the members of Women’s Chorale, more than half the 16-girl group is also made up of non-music majors. Holly Nesbitt, a freshmen physical education and dance double major, came to OU looking for a way to express all her artistic tendencies. Coming from a strong liberal arts high school with involvement in both choir and a cappella music, she auditioned for Title IX knowing right away it was the perfect fit for her college experience. “I really enjoy the consistency it brings in my life,” Nesbitt said. “I’ve always had that music aspect and this is just continuing on, and I’m still growing in a different experience.”
Title IX is also all about female empowerment, from their song choice even down to their name, which is a pun off the 1970s law fighting for equal rights in multiple areas of living for both men and women.
While Cheek may be the undergraduate leader, every member of the group is encouraged to take an active leadership role whether it be arranging music, teaching a song or planning upcoming gigs. Title IX, like Tempo Tantrums, is a group where each girl can contribute something no matter her major or level of musicality.
Even more ingrained into Title IX is their involvement with philanthropic efforts on campus. From singing at events like Take Back the Night and Relay for Life, Cheek stresses that the group tries to delve into as many charitable events on campus as possible. “We love getting involved in things outside of who we are that are just important to be tapped into as a college student and as a human being,” Cheek said.
It seems there’s nothing that can hold Title IX back from growing into a bigger and bigger phenomenon on campus, showing the strength they hold as musicians, friends and women.
While many might see these groups as competing enemies, Tempo Tantrums and Title IX only see each other as allies in forging sisterhood through music. “Even though we’re two different groups, we still want to respect each other,” Dumais said. It’s clear Cheek agrees, “We want nothing more than for Tempo Tantrums to succeed, and we’re so excited for them that they’re a strong group and that they’ve continued these past years.”
In the end, it doesn’t matter whatever your age, your grade or your major may be. When it comes down to it for these two groups, the music and the relationships forged through music are what matter most.