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.




