31	Join an a cappella group

Fans of the TV series Glee know that there’s almost nothing more fun than gathering some friends, composing tight harmonies, and performing in front of an audience. If you’re a fan of musical performances, channel your inner songbird and join your school’s a cappella group.

A cappella groups are basically crews of singers who adapt or write original music and present it without instruments. The vocal parts becomesing the instruments. A cappella groups come in all shapes and sizes, from comedic to gospel to those that adapt pop or R&B songs. If they’re good, they can be very, very impressive to watch.

Sure, some a cappella groups have a reputation for being corny. And sure, you may wonder how on earth you wound up onstage singing a medley of Madonna’s greatest hits. But the corniness and camp are part of the fun, especially since you’ll be with friends. Plus, while you’re onstage having fun, you’ll also be honing your singing, music theory, and theatrical skills.

HOW TO DO IT

Depending on your university, there are probably at least a handful of a cappella groups you can join. Take your time and choose the right one for you. If you only want to sing soul, you probably don’t want to join the barbershop quartet. Or, if you’re dead serious about a cappella music, you might not want to join the group focused on making hilarious viral videos.

Once you’ve found your group, you may have to audition in front of a panel of current members. They’ll probably want you to have at least some singing and music-reading skills, or they might only be looking for a very particular vocal classification (soprano, tenor, alto, etc.). Choose an audition song you’re comfortable with—one that easily falls into your vocal range—so the group can determine if you’re a good fit.

Finding your range

Maybe you’re a great singer, but you’ve never classified your vocal range. Don’t worry—it’s easy to do. You will need a bit of music knowledge and a keyboard (or a keyboard app) to find it.

The scientific pitch notation key is designed to find out how high and how low you can comfortably sing. Use it to find out where you stand.

Soprano: C4 – A5

Mezzo-soprano: A3 – F5

Alto: F3 – D5

Tenor: B2 – D5

Baritone: G2 – E4

Bass: E2 – C4

C4 = middle C on a standard piano

A4 = the A above middle C

B3 = the note directly below middle C

As with any extra activity, make sure you’re up for the commitment. Some groups participate in a cappella tournaments and have rehearsals several times a week. Others are loose and informal and only meet once in a while.

If you’re not a singer but want to help with composition, why not contact the group and see if it could use another scribe? Wannabe singers are a dime a dozen, but good composers are a cappella holy grails.