Vermont A Cappella Summit 2008

Daytime Schedule for the Vermont A Cappella Summit

9:30am
Registration in the lobby of the Center for the Arts

Introduction and Warm Ups
Welcome to the second Vermont A Cappella Summit to be held at Middlebury College. It's going to be a long day of singing, so meet and warm up with everyone to get things started.

10am
Vocal Improvisation with Philip Hamilton.
Hamilton leads a vocal workshop designed to increase participant's ability to improvise sounds in group and solo settings. This workshop also utilizes breathing exercises designed to increase one's awareness of the voice and its range of possibilities. He has worked with some of the leading musical minds of our time including John Cage, Donald Fagen,(Steely Dan) Pat Metheny, Gilberto Gil and Vernon Reid. This is a two hour workshop.

Rehearsal Techniques with The Hyannis Sound
A full summer touring schedule keeps these ten guys busy. To make matters more difficult, they only meet during the summer. Yikes! Listen in as the Sound tels how they get geared up for a busy summer of wowing their adoring fans.

11am
The Business Side with The Hyannis Sound
Every summer, the Hyannis Sound spend three months performing all over the Cape. Hear how they put together a schedule that keeps them busy while making their living.

Noon
Lunch

1-3pm
Masterclass with celebrity panel
Each group will perform 1-2 songs, receive feedback from our celebrity panel (members of the House Jacks, the Hyannis Sound, Francois Clemmons, and others!), perform again, and then hear from the audience. It's an educational experience, on and off the stage.

3pm
Solo Delivery with Roopak Ahuja
You have a beautiful voice, now let's make you the star of the show. Since completing his degree from the Berklee College of Music, Roo has brought this unique R&B fusion sound to New York City where it has received critical acclaim. He has worked with a multitude of award winning producers and writers in the Northeast including Chiba Antoine (Destiny’s Child, Brandy, Beck, Lauryn Hill) and Dave Liang (Bad Boy, Universal/Motown). His voice has also been featured on both major and independent film soundtracks.

Contemporary Arrangement with Deke Sharon
That new song by Fingers Eleven rocks! Deke will use his years of experience to show you how to build a contemporary a cappella arrangement that keeps the original edge.

Contemporary A Cappella Arranging in 10 Steps: Contemporary a cappella has been around for over a decade, resulting in a dynamic and rhythmic sound and style that differentiates it from barbershop, doo wop, close harmony, and other a cappella styles. Learn how to create a great contemporary a cappella arrangement using a tried and true 10 step formula.

While completing a dual program at Tufts University and the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Deke directed the Tufts Beelzebubs, founded the worldwide Contemporary A Cappella Society, started the Ultimate A Cappella Arranging Service, and generally spent too much time singing.

In addition to the Jacks, Deke directs "American Vybe" at Walt Disney World and Groove 66 at Disney's California Adventure, produces a cappella albums, runs seminars, teaches private lessons, runs Total Vocal, and does anything else involving a cappella that doesn't involve running with scissors.

4pm
I Write the Songs... with Austin Willacy
An accomplished vocalist/songwriter who is also a member of Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. recording artists The House Jacks, Austin received a degree in Psychology from Dartmouth College and then moved to San Francisco to refine his songwriting and pursue a career in music. His accomplishments include the following:

• co-wrote "The Last to Know," a B-side on a KAI single (Geffen R&B/Pop).
  
• "them," the lead single on american pi, won 3 consecutive Cage Matches against Neil Young, Travis and The Tragically Hip on San Francisco superstation KFOG.
  
• co-produced "Call to Honor", a song to benefit Transforming Violence and the American Red Cross in the wake of the attack on the World Trade Center.
  

Aspiring singer-songwriters need to attend this workshop and benefit from Austin's experience.

Vocal Percussion with Wes Carroll
Beginning with nothing more than a mouth and an open mind, each participant will be guided through a series of questions and exercises that will result in the ability to perform simple vocal percussion lines, including hi-hat, snare, and kick drum sounds, as well as some additional percussion elements. In addition, each participant will gain a deeper appreciation of how rhythm affects any musical performance.

This seminar has a strong focus on reinforcing fundamentals of basic musicianship and technique, but requires no musical experience other than as a music enthusiast.

Habits acquired here will be of interest to all, and will be vital to those who go on to practice vocal percussion regularly.