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A Cappella Pop: Choral Book

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A Cappella Pop: Choral Book

A Complete Guide to Contemporary A Cappella Singing

By Brody McDonald

Item: 00-38006

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Description
A Cappella pop singing . . . it's the hottest trend in the nation! Author Brody McDonald's award-winning ensemble, Eleventh Hour, was the first high school group to appear on NBC's The Sing-Off, and now you can similarly challenge your top high school and collegiate age singers with this book! With a foreword by Deke Sharon, topics include forming your ensemble, music selection, rehearsal techniques, sound reinforcement, vocal percussion, and much more!

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Additional Details
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 204
ISBN10: 0-7390-8627-8
ISBN13: 978-0-7390-8627-8
UPC: 038081424781
SKU: 00-38006

More about this title

About the Composer: Brody McDonald

Brody McDonald founded Eleventh Hour, a high school a cappella ensemble that made history as the first secondary school group to compete on NBC's The Sing-Off. His work directing this award-winning ensemble established him as a leader in contemporary vocal music and demonstrated that high school singers could perform at professional levels in the a cappella idiom.

McDonald's experience building and directing a competitive a cappella program from the ground up informs every page of this resource. His insights into ensemble formation, arrangement selection, and rehearsal methodology reflect years of practical work with developing singers.

Why we love this

This book moves beyond generic a cappella advice by drawing directly from McDonald's proven track record building a nationally recognized high school ensemble. The inclusion of Deke Sharon's foreword (a foundational voice in modern a cappella education) signals serious pedagogical grounding. Rather than rehashing performance tips, McDonald addresses the real operational challenges directors face: how to form an ensemble, choose repertoire that works, structure rehearsals for vocal percussion and blend, and handle amplification without losing musicality.

What to expect

Contemporary, energetic, and grounded in real classroom experience. This reads like advice from someone who has actually stood in front of developing singers and solved problems in real time, not theoretical guidance from outside the rehearsal room.

Who it's for

High school and college directors launching or expanding a cappella programs, especially those who want practical frameworks rather than theoretical discussions. Experienced directors seeking fresh approaches to arrangement selection, rehearsal pacing, and vocal percussion integration will also find concrete strategies.

How to get the most out of it

  • Study the vocal percussion techniques in detail before rehearsals begin; your rhythm section anchors everything, and their confidence directly affects ensemble precision.
  • Select arrangements that match your singers' current abilities rather than their aspirational abilities; even with McDonald's guidance, overreaching on difficulty creates frustration instead of artistry.
  • Use the sound reinforcement section to understand what amplification does to blend and intonation; many young singers perform differently once they hear themselves amplified.

How to use it

Use this as both a curriculum guide for launching an a cappella track and a reference manual for directors already running programs. The chapters on ensemble formation and music selection work best early in the season, while the rehearsal technique sections support ongoing refinement throughout the year.

Skills your students will build

  • Tuning and blend without instrumental reference
  • Vocal percussion techniques (beat boxing, mouth percussion)
  • Reading and performing contemporary pop arrangements
  • Ensemble cohesion and communication in a cappella context
  • Microphone technique and amplified performance awareness
  • Rhythmic precision in non-traditional vocal settings

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