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Arranging A Cappella Music for Ensemble Groups

You are viewing an Expert Village Video Series:

Learn how to arrange a capella music for ensemble singing, including tips and techniques for voicing and for choosing a musical style and a brief lesson in music history with expert music tips in this free online a cappella based video series.

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Views: 26,009 Videos in Series: 15

Tags: jazz, vocal, singing, instructional, sing, a, capella, choir, hymn, church

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Summary: A cappella music, literally like in the chapel, is defined as singing without instruments. This style of strictly vocal performance got its start in European religious services as far back as the late 1400s. Over the years, a cappella has kept to its roots, as it is still predominantly found in religious music, from Christian chants and hymns, to Jewish zemirot and sefirah, to Muslim anasheed. Yet, in modern times a cappella style has found its way into popular music, with doo-wop groups like the King's Singers and Boyz II Men, soloists such as Bobby McFerrin, and rap artists like Jay-Z. Some would argue that rap itself is a style of music entirely based upon the principle of a cappella.

In this free instructional video series, learn how to arrange a cappella music for a male, female, or mixed ensemble, with tips and techniques for your a cappella group. Our expert includes lessons covering different styles of singing, like hymns, and chants, and how they affect a voice arrangement, considerations for voicing and vocal range within a group, and even a video on writing a jazz arrangement.

About the Expert

Contact: duanemcarter.com

Expert: Duane Carter is a musician/writer/librarian from Los Angeles, California. He studied trumpet at Locke High School with jazz greats Bobby Bryant, Sr. and Oscar Brashear. Duane has performed with and arranged for many jazz, r&b, and classical ensembles. He traveled extensively throughout South and Central America as a trumpet soloist and arranger with the Army Band. Duane earned a B.A. in music performance from California State University, Los Angeles, a M.A. in interdisciplinary studies (music, theatre, and English) from California State University, San Bernardino, and a M.S. in information studies from the University of Texas at Austin.

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