The 5s

The 5s: Five Books for the A Cappella Enthusiast on Your Holiday Shopping List

By Mike Chin on November 30, 2012 in The 5s

In The 5s, an ACB contributor breaks down an a cappella related institution by breaking it into lists of 5. In this edition, we discuss five a cappella books you may want to give to the a cappella enthusiast on your holiday shopping list.

Author’s Note: Some of the books listed here are recent enough that I have not been able to read them fully. Please consider this post to be one that makes you aware of different options, but not necessarily as an endorsement of any given text.

1. The A Cappella Book by Mike Chin and Mike Scalise
What it is: As a co-author, I am, of course, biased in favor of this particular volume. Nonetheless, if you like The A Cappella Blog, you’re sure to enjoy the in-depth ponderings of the site’s co-founders, including chapters on singing a solo, event planning, marketing, choreography, and much more.
Whom it’s for: This book is a great introduction to a cappella for someone just getting into the form, and also provides great food for thought to people who are heavily entrenched in the field. Worth noting: the book is far more philosophical than hands on (e.g., the book discusses philosophies and best practices in arranging, but does not discuss the rudiments to actually doing so for the first time).
Where to buy it: The book is available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

2. A Cappella Arranging by Deke Sharon and Dylan Bell
What it is: If you’re looking for a more technical book on a cappella, there is probably no greater mentor in the form than “the father of contemporary a cappella,” Deke Sharon. The book is intended to be accessible for anyone from beginners to old pros and ranges from nuts-and-bolts advice on how to arrange a song to Sharon’s thoughts on how to get the most out of the creative process.
Whom it’s for: This book is for people who are actively practicing in the a cappella world, and (perhaps obviously) particularly those who are writing their own arrangements.
Where to buy it: The book is available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

The 5s: Why Team Building Is Important to Your Group’s Success

By Mike Chin on September 1, 2012 in The 5s

With the start of the new academic year, scholastic a cappella groups around the world are coming back together after the summer apart, holding auditions, and, of course, welcoming new voices into the fold. In a post inspired by our friends over at Uplift Events (http://www.upliftevents.com.au/), today we’re looking at five reasons why team building is essential to your group’s success.

The 5s: The A Cappella Book

By Mike Chin on February 17, 2012 in The 5s

In The 5s, an ACB contributor breaks down an a cappella related institution by breaking it into lists of 5. In this edition, we consider Five Reasons You Should Make a Pledge to The A Cappella Book Kickstarter campaign.

1. It’s like the blog, but bigger and better. If you’ve enjoyed reading ACB event reviews, interviews, and columns, you’re going to love this 200+ page manuscript about the ins and outs of a cappella performance, networking, group management, and more. We’re pulling on all of our experience attending shows, talking to people in the know and ruminating on the many facets of a cappella. This book will truly be our manifesto and masterpiece. You won’t regret helping to make it happen.

2. Get it before anyone else and for less money. One of the great parts about donating through Kickstarter rather than just giving us money is the rewards component. Do you think you would buy The A Cappella Book when it comes out anyway? For just $10, you’ll get an e-copy, and get it before the official release date. Pledge five bucks more, and we’ll throw in a bargain, early edition hard copy to boot. Bump up the pledge to $35 and you’ll get two copies, both of them autographed, both in plenty of time to make awesome Christmas gifts for friends and loved ones.

3. Be in the book. At the $35 pledge level, you get not only the two signed books and the e-copy, but also will have your name or your group’s name permanently added to the a cappella canon by appearing in the acknowledgements of the book. $100 will get you or your group a black and white photo in the book—a far lower price than advertising in Varsity Vocals or most festival program books, and a chance for your face to become a permanent image in the history of a cappella. Really big spenders also have shots at getting whole chapters written about them, or even being pictured on the cover!

The 5s: Five ICCA Quarterfinals to Keep an Eye on in 2012

By Mike Chin on January 27, 2012 in The 5s

In The 5s, an ACB contributor breaks down an a cappella related institution by breaking it into lists of 5. In this edition, we’re gearing up for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, which kicks off this Saturday in St. Louis. We present to you (in chronological order) Five ICCA quarterfinals to keep an eye on in 2012.

1. January 28, Washington University of St. Louis The ICCA season is slated to kick off with a serious bang at WashU. This quarterfinal will include perennial ICCA threats like University of Illinois No Strings Attached and University of Minnesota 7 Days. In addition, those in attendance will hear the reigning Midwest ICCA champions, The Stereotypes, at home as they begin to defend their regional crowns and set their sights on a return trip to the biggest stage in collegiate a cappella—the ICCA Finals. The twist in our story? A little all-male outfit from Nebraska known as Rocktavo. The group competed in its first year in existence back in 2007 and not only won the ICCA Midwest, but placed second in The Finals. Now, the guys return to the tournament for the first time since that debut year. The entire group should have turned over by now, but the institutional memory should remain, which likely means we’re in for an opening round shoot-out wild, wild (mid)west.

The 5s: Five Songs to Convince a Non-Believer

By Mike Chin on January 26, 2012 in The 5s

In The 5s, an ACB contributor breaks down an a cappella related institution by breaking it into lists of 5. We recognize some of you are looking to recruit new a cappella fans to join you for an upcoming ICCA quarterfinal. We’ve got your hook up. In this edition, we’re gearing up for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, which kicks off this Saturday in St. Louis, and presenting you with five songs to convince a non-believer to that a cappella is cool.

Hit them with the bad boys of collegiate a cappella…

“Through With You” by Rutgers University Casual Harmony, Spring 2005

… come at them with the drama…

“Crazy Ever After” by The University of Southern California SoCal VoCals, Spring 2010

The 5s: What To Do and What to Avoid in the ICCAs

By Mike Chin on January 24, 2012 in The 5s

In The 5s, an ACB contributor breaks down an a cappella related institution by breaking it into lists of 5. In this edition, we’re gearing up for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, which kicks off this Saturday in St. Louis. We present to you Five Points to Avoid in the ICCAs and Five Keys to Success in the ICCAs.

Five Points to Avoid in the ICCAs

1. Don’t imitate. YouTube is the devil. Now that virtually every winning ICCA set from the past year is online, it’s tempting to look up every past success story, mold your set after it, and expect the same results. The thing is, champions aren’t made based on any individual song selection, choreography choice, or arrangement—they are built upon the gestalt of these factors, and tailoring them to the precise talents of the group at hand. Groups that try to emulate what others have done before saddle themselves with the disadvantages of drawing immediate comparisons, and limiting themselves to, at best, a Xerox of the original. Regardless of the quality of your photocopier, that copy will never shine quite as bright.

Pages