So You Want to Sing A Capella. A Guide for Performers

From amateur collegiate a cappella groups to professional ensembles like Straight No Chaser and Pentatonix, contemporary a cappella has exploded onto the world pop music scene. In So You Want to Sing A Cappella, Deke Sharon combines historical context and a comprehensive look at the a cappella community with a detailed discussion of vocal techniques, rehearsal practices, and live audio support needed to sing great a cappella. Additional contributed chapters examine singing and voice science, vocal health, vocal percussion, and audio technology.

The So You Want to Sing series is produced in partnership with the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and each book features online supplemental material on the NATS website. Please visit www.nats.org to access style-specific exercises, audio and video files, and additional resources.


Introduction
Online Supplement Note
Who: The Styles and Groups that Set the Stage for Contemporary A Cappella
1. Precontemporary A Cappella
2. Contemporary A Cappella: A Personal History

What: The Original and Most Powerful Instrument: The Human Voice
3. Singing and Voice Science, Scott McCoy
Anatomy of an A Cappella Group, Deke Sharon
4. Vocal Health for the A Cappella Singer, Wendy LeBorgne
A Cappella Group Health, Deke Sharon

How: Contemporary A Cappella?s Extended Vocal Techniques and Practices
5. Vocal Techniques and Vocal Instruments
6. Vocal Percussion for Everyone, Kari Francis
7. Blend
8. Rehearsal Techniques
9. Using Audio Enhancement Technology, Matthew Edwards
10. A Cappella Audio Tech, Tony Huerta

When: Sing for Your Life: A Cappella Ensembles for All Ages
11. Scholastic A Cappella
12. Professional A Cappella
13. Recreational A Cappella

Where: Careers: Opportunities for Full and Part-Time Employment in A Cappella
14. In the Theater
15. In the Recording Studio
16. In the Rehearsal Room
17. Behind the Scenes
Why: The Reason A Cappella Matters
18. Harmony through Harmony
19. Conclusion

Appendix: List of A Cappella Festivals around the World
Further Reading: A Cappella Books and Resources
Index


Deke Sharon, heralded as "The Father of Contemporary A Cappella," (Entertainment Weekly), is responsible for the current sound of modern a cappella, having created the dense vocal-instrumental sound in college. He produces The Sing-Off in four countries and was arranger, on-site music director, and vocal producer for the Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2 movies. Sharon founded the Contemporary A Cappella Society and was the founder, director, and arranger for the House Jacks. He has arranged more than two thousand a cappella songs, produced dozens of award-winning a cappella albums, and created a cappella groups for Disneyland and Disneyworld. Stay up to date on his news and his touring activities at www.dekesharon.com, on Twitter @dekesharon and on Facebook.