Pay a visit to the new kid on the block in choral music education – the Acappella Education Association. They’re a team made up mainly of high school music teachers who are passionate about a acappella music, and they’re already making some big strides in helping other music teachers succeed. Their goal is “to reach teachers who are not currently involved, and help them get in the game”, according to founding member and treasurer Ben Spalding. “By starting from scratch, being formed BY teachers FOR teachers, we will help alleviate any concerns teachers naturally have about getting involved in new styles of music”. We can’t think of a worthier goal!
A glance at the “Membership” section of their site will give you an idea of the resources they offer their members. Even free members receive substantial benefits – articles, video tutorials, and sheet music. But they’re also organizing workshops, festivals with discounts for members. We’d say it’s well worth becoming a free member at the very least!
Acappella has been trending recently: only a couple examples are the rise of TV shows like “The Sing-Off” and the popularity of acappella videos on Youtube. So it’s great to see that not only are there more performing groups and presenters, but there are also new organizations like the AEA providing networking and education in this growing community. Props!
