A Cappella Pop - KMEA 2014

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

brody.mcdonald@ketteringschools.org

brody.mcdonald@wright.edu

(937) 603-7256

www.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