<p>I’m a sophomore who wants to join an acapella group this year. I’ve always enjoyed singing, but I have no choral experience because back in high school I was in orchestra. I’ve always preferred singing to playing cello, but for some reason my mom forced me to be in orchestra in HS. I couldn’t make my university’s orchestra last year as a freshman. Oh well. </p>
<p>I have some questions regarding acapella auditions and things of that nature.
- I will be asked to prepare a verse and a chorus. I am a huge fan of R.Kelly (I don’t give a finger in the middle if he’s a criminal) and would like to sing either ignition remix or trapped in the closet. Or one that is more recent. Is it okay to sing a song like that? Or is it totally inappropriate?
- What r&b songs do you recommend for auditions?
- How wide should my vocal range be? I have a perfect pitch, but my range is only two octave, and I am neither tenor nor bass. That’s my primary concern.</p>
<p>I don’t know those songs super well-- make sure they show off a good amount of your range. If you can sing, though, they’ll hear that. (Maybe have another verse & chorus in another style ready to go if they want to hear it?) 2 octaves is cool, I think. Good luck!</p>
<p>if you have a “perfect pitch”, what are you worrying about? BTW, just sing a good Boyz II Men song if you want RnB that will show off during an audition.</p>
<p>It’s an R&B a capella group, correct? If so those songs are fine. If not they are absolutely innapropriate.
If you’re between and tenor and a bass, you’re a baritone. It’ll be fine.</p>
<p>What type of a cappella (2 words, double P double L- you’ll go through the ringer for it if you spell it wrong… at least at my school) group is it? Like silverpebble said, if it’s an R&B group, then you’re fine. If not, I would pick something more in tune with the type of group you’re auditioning for. R Kelly might also work for a Top 40 or pop type group.</p>
<p>Plan to sing whatever song you feel most comfortable singing. If there’s any question about appropriateness (and not every group will care about genre…I saw people audition with everything from Twinkle Twinkle to musicals to pop to Rubber Ducky), make sure you have a back-up. If you really draw a blank, the group probably won’t care if you turn to something standard like the National Anthem or Amazing Grace. Avoid anything too choral, avoid anything that doesn’t showcase your voice (i.e. obviously no rap, preferably nothing too staccato, etc.). I’d also say avoid or at least be careful with the Boyz II Men suggestion because they tend to be very showy/solo-y and you’ll want to show that you can blend (keep anything too solo-y and fancy to a minimum, but don’t be afraid to do it a little bit). If the group has an obvious genre that it sticks to (such as R&B), then play to that. Otherwise, or if it’s just kind of general “pop and whatever we feel like,” do whatever makes you happy.</p>
<p>Most guys are baritones with a slight tenor/bass preference (most girls are mezzos with a slight soprano/alto preference), so your situation isn’t uncommon. The only way it’ll be a problem is if the group desperately needs one true bass and or one true tenor rather than just guys/members in general. The downside to a cappella auditions (well, not necessarily a downside…it can work for you in some cases) is that the outcome is so dependent on what spots need filling. But if you can really sing, you’ll probably be just fine, regardless (leg up since you’re a guy).</p>
<p>What school/groups? Good luck!</p>
<p>ETA: It is two words, but I believe that either one or two p’s is acceptable. Don’t quote me, but this was the result of ongoing battles in my own groups ;)</p>
<p>capella actually means “small goat” in latin. i think only the spelling with 2 p’s is correct.</p>