Has a cappella hit a ceiling?
In Measure for Measure, A Cappella Blog contributor takes a look at both sides of a controversial issue in collegiate a cappella. Please note that the views expressed by columnists do not necessarily represent those of The ACB as an organization, nor do they necessarily represent the view of individual columnists. The purpose of this piece is to explore issues and further civil, intellectual debate.
*Please note that this will be The A Cappella Blog's final regular post for the 2008 season. We will return with new content in the winter.
This week's topic: While collegiate a cappella is thriving in its current state, it has likely hit a ceiling, and is not likely to reach a broader audience than it already has.
True: If you’re reading this blog, the odds are that you’re a fan of collegiate a cappella. You love the energy. You love the movement. You love the creativity. You love the passionate, committed and quirky community. Above all else, you love the music.
These are all admirable, entertaining pieces of the collegiate a cappella world, and they are all a part of what draw so many people this unique spectacle at shows across the country. Collegiate a cappella isn’t necessarily going anywhere anytime soon. But at the same time, there comes a point where you need to recognize that this art form just isn’t that appealing to a mainstream audience. Many people can’t escape their preconception of old-fashioned a cappella, with goody-two-shoes choirs singing Gospel music, or Oldies. Many find it ‘girly’ and unappealing. Furthermore, it doesn’t have a foothold to build off of. You won’t see the ICCAs on national television, you won’t find BOCA at your local FYE. Right now, collegiate a cappella reaches a very limited audience—current participants, alumni, family, friends and musicians. While this may seem like a sizeable audience, it’s too small and too self-contained to compound itself. This group simply will not grow in a meaningful way.
False: Collegiate a cappella has grown dramatically. There are more groups performing, more groups competing—groups representing new regions, groups representing new interests. And then there’s high school a cappella, where the field is ever expanding and, in competition, we have seen the emergence of perennial powerhouses like the Men of Note and Crimson. There’s no shortage of professional groups making names for themselves, and a cappella has made its mark in pop culture, including comedic cameos in films like The Break Up and TV shows like The Office. Increasingly, a cappella is mainstream.
With greater acknowledgment has come a greater number of groups. Each year, new a cappella groups surface on college campuses across the United States and abroad. With each new group, musicians who may not have been a part of the a cappella community learn that it’s there, get lured in by a friend, or get wowed by their campus group’s performance to the point where they decide to try out the following semester. The addition of these new participants in collegiate a cappella is, in itself, growth. Add in the friends and families who come to see them at shows, or cheer them to victory at competitions—well then, it’s not all that difficult to see how collegiate a cappella will continue to grow for many, many years to come.
Beyond an expansion in collegiate groups, as the Content Manager for The A Cappella Blog, I would remiss not to observe the ever-growing presence of collegiate a cappella on the Internet. There is, of course, Varsity Vocals, the official page for ICCA, ICHSA, and BOCA. There are well-known sites such as CASA and the RARB. Beyond that, most of the groups out there today have their own sites, and you have A Cappella Hosting helping bring all groups up to speed. Many, many individuals have their own websites, and even those who do not are attracting worldwide attention with clips of their performances appearing on YouTube. And then, of course, there are the blogs. In addition to this very page, you have sites like All My Friends Think They’re Instruments, Take Note, and many more throughout the Internet.
When The A Cappella Blog returns from its annual hiatus, we are certain that a cappella and its enthusiasts will not only be there waiting for us—they will have brought along a few friends, to continue the perpetual expansion of the collegiate a cappella community.