![]() “It doesn’t matter what song you sing,” Prabhu said. Suri Prabhu ’24, a member of the Sings, explained that confidence is key to doing well at auditions. And, if you don’t succeed at joining a group, you have several years to try again. Your first term of college is all about trying new things and having an open mind. While the audition process can be competitive, there is no harm in trying. “But at the end of the day, we care about each other more.” “We care a lot about the music, and we care a lot about the singing,” Avery Fogg ’24, a member of the Decibelles, said. Other members of various a cappella groups also expressed enthusiasm for their respective group, the friends they have met and the sense of belonging a cappella has given them at Dartmouth. “The community of guys that I have been able to meet and the mentors that I’ve been able to get I really look up to,” Thomas said. ![]() He said that he was glad he joined the Brovertones because he thinks it is a great fit for him. After Thomas felt he did not perform his best at his first callback audition, he ended up attending the callback for the Brovertones. Griffin Thomas ’24, a member of the Brovertones, said that he advises students interested in a cappella to trust the audition process and that “trickling down” sometimes works out for the best. Callbacks can have two outcomes: You can be accepted into the group, or if the group does not choose you, you can “trickle down,” or attend the callbacks of another group you were called back to. Callbacks vary from group to group, but generally consist of singing another solo, learning your vocal part of one of their arrangements and, in general, seeing if you vibe with the group. This is where the process gets interesting – you must choose just one group with which you’ll attend callbacks. Every a cappella group will sing and tell you what their group means to them and why you should join their group. Then, you will attend a small showcase with every other auditionee. If you are called back to at least one group, you will receive an email by Sunday night. You could get a callback, which means you have to rehearse a different song to perform at the next round on Sunday night. So, make sure you drink your tea the night before - you could be singing your song up to five times!Īccording to Herman, the entire audition process on Saturday and Sunday takes most of the day, but the adrenaline and nerves won’t end after you sing. Then, auditioners return later in the day to perform a 30-second solo of a song of their choice for all groups they are eligible to join. On these two days, all auditioners perform scales and pitch-matching, with one representative present from each a cappella group. ![]() to 4 p.m, and auditions for the all-male groups and co-ed groups will take place on Sunday, Sept. Auditions for the historically female groups and the co-ed groups will take place on Saturday, Sept. 10 and host open rehearsals to allow incoming students to get to know the different groups from Sept. In an email statement to The Dartmouth, president of the Subtleties Julia Herman ’23 wrote that all a cappella groups will perform in the Orientation week showcase on Sept. We did not have a cappella groups at my high school, so it was my first taste of a cappella aside from “Pitch Perfect.” Last fall, I attended the a cappella preview show during Orientation week and was absolutely enthralled by each group’s talent. Some of the groups have even toured around the country.Īccording to Maddy Spivak ’24, a member of the Subtleties, the number of shows a group performs varies by term and depends on the special events happening around campus, the number of members taking off terms and whether the group is preoccupied doing other things, such as recording their own albums.Īt this point, you might be intrigued by a cappella at Dartmouth and how to get involved. Each group rehearses about six hours a week divided between three days, and regularly performs at different spaces around campus. The Decibelles, the Rockapellas and the Subtleties are historically all-female groups, while the Dodecaphonics and the Sings are co-ed groups. The all-male groups include the Aires, the Brovertones and the Cords. There are eight a cappella groups on campus. However, similar to the strong bonds shared by the protagonists in “Pitch Perfect,” many students who participate in a cappella at Dartmouth shared that these groups have provided them with new friendships, camaraderie and a sense of community on campus. From lavish costumes to bright lights, intense rehearsals, sing-offs and fierce competition, the film certainly paints an intimidating picture of collegiate a cappella. Watching the Barden Bellas defeat the Treblemakers in the film “Pitch Perfect” gave me a slightly unrealistic perception of what a cappella would be like at Dartmouth. This article is featured in the 2022 Freshman special issue.
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