UC Berkeley Noteworthy

Noteworthy is one of a number of a cappella groups at UC Berkeley, but the all male group has the unusual stance of focusing its repertoire on original music. Music Manager David Poland took the time to answer questions from A Cappella Blog co-founder Mike Chin.

A Cappella Blog (ACB): Noteworthy has the unique distinction of focusing on original music. Who writes music for the group? From where do the composers derive their inspiration?

David Poland (DP): Primarily it is members of the group interested in trying their hand at music composition who write for the group. We also encourage submissions from people outside the group, and are happy to take a look at any new compositions. People of course draw their inspiration from many sources, though we seem to have an overabundance of songs about girls.

ACB: For the few covers that Noteworthy does perform, how do you go about choosing them?

DP: We just choose whatever seems like fun. This year I arranged Cobra Starship's "Snakes on a Plane" theme because we all liked it and we thought we could work it into our shows.

ACB: Your group performs every Friday at Sproul Plaza. Can you describe these shows? How does performing weekly affect the group, and do you find it challenging to do so?

DP: We meet up about an hour beforehand to run our set. Then we head on out to Sproul Plaza and start singing. We usually have a few fans waiting for us, and then a crowd starts building up as people pass by. We typically sing around 8-10 songs (roughly half an hour). Performing every week definitely keeps us on our toes, but also provides a good venue to test out new songs and choreography.

ACB: As an all-male group, what advantages does Noteworthy enjoy? What challenges does the nature of the group present?

DP: Having an all-male group means we get to experiment more with close harmonies and barbershop styles, which can be a lot of fun. Of course, it also means that we have a much smaller pool of auditionees than we would have otherwise, so there are trade-offs.

ACB: What can we expect to see from Noteworthy in the future? Any new songs in the works? Any upcoming gigs of note?

DP: We had an "Oregon Trail" themed show in the fall, which was well-received and showcased a new original. We'll hopefully be premiering a number of new songs in the spring.

ACB: What is the audition process like for Noteworthy?

DP: We audition new members at the beginning of the Fall semester, and at the end of the Spring semester. The auditions involve singing an a cappella solo, sight reading, identifying chords and intervals by ear, and singing with other members of the group so we can hear how well they blend.

ACB: What drew you, personally, to collegiate a cappella in the first place?

DP: I came to Berkeley as a grad student, and I had done some singing before but had never tried a cappella. It seemed like a great way to meet people and to try something new.

If you would like to learn more about Noteworthy, you can visit the group online at http://ucchoral.berkeley.edu/ucchoral/nworthy.