a cappella pop - kmea 2014
DESCRIPTION
Brody McDonald presents A Cappella Pop: A Complete Guide to Contemporary A Cappella Singing (Alfred Publishing)TRANSCRIPT
Brody McDonaldDirector of Choirs
Kettering Fairmont High Schoolwith demonstration group
• What is contemporary a cappella?• Where to find music• How to pick music• Stylistic considerations• What about the bass?• Vocal Percussion• Visual tips• Sound tech• Student ownership and a cappella culture• More resources
• It is the creation of a “vocal band”– Voicing: Male, Female or Mixed– Size:
• Anything that works for you• Usually 5-16• Smaller groups usually one singer per
microphone• Larger groups can use zone/solo
microphone combos or none
How about some live a cappella?
• Off-the-rack charts• Custom charts• Self-arranged
• Affordable• Accessible• Trusted source• Reference
recording
• Directly contact arrangers– Credits of albums– Collegiate or pro group websites
• www.betteracappella.com• www.acappellaeducators.com
• Listen to the original• Make it a weekly
assignment– Notate the solo– Notate the bass line– Fill in backing vocals
(chance to improv)• Record your “jam
sessions” to capture brilliant moments
• Pick the soloist first• OR… section solos / pass-
around• Student input• Check it
• Listen to the original (a lot)• Determine the character of
each section (especially for the drummer)
• Don’t be afraid to experiment• For performance• As a training exercise
Section Volume V.P. Vibe/Style CherriesIntroduction
Verse 1
Chorus 1
Verse 2
Chorus 2
Bridge
Chorus 3
mf
mf
mp
mf
f
mp-f build
ff
Hi-hat
Light rock
Heavy rock
Light rock
Heavy rock
Half-time
Heavy rock
Mysterious
Intense
Strong
Sassy
In-your-face
funk
Assault
Female trio chords
Solo and drums
Bass feature
High harmony
Section Volume V.P. Vibe/Style Cherries
• The basses are singing the bass guitar part most times
• Even if syllables are written, it will sound more like a band if the bass part is neutral (guitar sound)
• Use mostly a closed sound and eat the microphone
Tech Toys
• Bass octave pedal
• Thumper throat microphone
• Distortion pedal
• Wireless microphones• If they are too expensive for all, try one or two
for soloists
• Basic Sounds• Kick• Snare• Cymbal
• Good beats are more important than good sounds
• Don’t have too much SPM• Have a concept for each section• Know when to add fills
• Always drum full-out to build stamina
• Don’t depend on the VP for time• Time is everyone’s job• Put movement in your body
• Resources• Humanbeatbox.com• Videos (DVD, YouTube)
Vocal Percussion part 1• Basic Sounds
• Kick
• Snare
• Cymbal
• Good beats are more important than good sounds
• Don’t have too much SPM
• Have a concept for each section (form)
• Know when to add fills
Vocal Percussion part 2• Always drum full-out to build stamina• Don’t depend on the VP for time – practice
without your VP so everyone keeps time• Put movement in your body
• Resources• Humanbeatbox.com• Videos for sale at a-cappella.com• Youtube videos• Open-mic time for vocal play
SOUND GEAR
• Kettering National A Cappella Festival• November, 2014 (leaning toward Nov. 8 –
acafest.org)• Complete list of other festivals can be
found at www.acappellaeducators.com• CARAs – Contemporary A Cappella Recording
Awards• BOHSA – Best of High School A Cappella• SING – prestigious compilation open to HS• ICHSA – International Championship of HS A
Cappella
• Best bang for your buck– SING series– BOCA / BOHSA
• Digital Downloads– Acatunes.com– Itunes.com
• PLEASE NOTE: artists get more $ from a direct sale or acatunes than from itunes
• ACappellaEducators.com• CASA.org• Humanbeatbox.com• CampAcappella.com• BrodyMcDonald.com
Make a Recording• Self-awareness: hearing your voice in isolation
is eye-opening• Public awareness: • “They must be good; they have a CD.”• You will get gigs from people hearing your CD• Use cuts as promotional material and for web clips.
• Group awareness: • Recordings allow us to capture a group at its better
than its best. • We then create the cycle of virtual improvement