How do you get the most out of your voice? How do you effectively manage an a cappella group? Where is the money in a cappella, and how can you use it effectively once you have it? Practical A Cappella explores these topics and many more, to help you and your group reach the next level and sustain your success.

Believe it or not, you do not need to formally compose or buy sheet music for your a cappella group. The old-fashioned way is to make it up! Improv-ing songs is all about the "out-of-thin-air" singing method. This song puzzle process is the science of pulling notes out of nowhere, singing off the top of your head and jamming on your toes…whatever you want to call it, I'm here to tell you it is possible even if you don't understand a lick of musical theory. The technical, proper way to improv a song is to follow the chord progressions, then layer loops of the rhythm line. Next you add riff phrases, create harmonies and complete it with someone singing the lead. If your members do not come from extensive musical backgrounds, that procedure is too complex. My approach below will train your ears and give you the skills of reflection, mocking, matching, copying, pretending and duplicating…basically, you're about to become a professionally aca-certified kickass copy-cat.