For the first time in history, a world renown beatbox “ensemble” has won a major contemporary a cappella competition. Beatbox skills alone don’t account for their win. Arranging played a pivotal role. Spiderhorse, the 2019 Aca-Open Champions will break down their unique arranging style. Texture, register and harmonic choices all play a part in creating impactful arrangements under their approach. This is a class that’s as appropriate for beginners as it is for advanced students.
No words. Just an entire class of meditative drone and shimmering, soaring harmonics to lift the spirits. All participants and teachers will be singing together.
(Ok. There might be just a few words…)
Some bass technique. Some vocal percussion. And most importantly, the insane skill of doing both at the same time. Whether you learn it for bragging rights, just for a hot moment in your show, or to pay one less person in your pro group, this is a skill worth having! Learn the ins and outs of this art form from Sebastian Rilton, founder and one-man rhythm section of the award winning Swedish powerhouse, Riltons Vanner.
Live Looping allows performers to expand what a soloist can do and what “in the moment” really means. Using simple technology, any sung line can be repeated, or looped, allowing the singer to harmonize with herself. This process allows a single performer to create a dense, multi-layered performance without the need for pre-recorded tracks or additional singers. Come see how the award-winning composer/performer Grace McLean approaches this unique art form!
Famed composer Jason Robert Brown describes Grace McLean as “unlike anything I have ever experienced in a theater in my life. At every moment, there is a fierce pioneering inventiveness.” Huff Post calls her “Electrifying!” Fans know her from Broadway musical, “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812″ as well as her season-long run at Lincoln Center starring in the original musical which she composed, “In the Green”. She is the 2017 recipient of the Hunt Family Emerging Artist Award through Lincoln Center. Manhattan User’s Guide writes, “This pop and jazz singer writes seriously infectious melodies with seriously antic lyrics. Her voice can raise the roof, or she can slide off a note and break your heart.” Compared to artists like Kimbra and Julia Easterlin, once McLean begins, you won’t be able to take your eyes off her for a moment.
Beatbox
Arranging is hard enough when it’s only about notes. Add syllables in and you face a completely separate challenge. What’s too busy? What’s too plain? What’s off-putting? What enhances the music and what distracts? John David Maybury leads an interactive class that explores emotional intention and artistry as drivers behind the selection and performance of background syllables. So come on! Get’s doo-doo-doo this! Feel free to bring YOUR arrangements for coaching as part of the class! Heartfelt are on board to share their arrangements! Maybe you will too!
Pro Show 3 with pro artists and more!
The Weekend’s Performers: http://newyork.singstrong.org/performers.html
The Concert Schedule: http://newyork.singstrong.org/concert-schedule.html
Doors open 30 minutes in advance. Stadium seating.