I was inspired by the acapella performance done by former KAS students. Thus, I reached out and talk to the cadenza president Lina about how we should also start a acapella team. We contacted a few suitable people individually and asked if they were interested. Then, we managed to filter down to these people: Lina, Tim, Arielle, Ryan, Amos, Tina, Allison, and I. We adjusted our schedule for our first meeting. We have been practicing from the winter break til now. We are planning to perform in the fund-raising performance that the Cadenza and Z club will be hosting. Due to Covid-19, we have been constantly practicing during break time and spare time that we are allowed to meet in school. This experience fits under this strand of service and creativity.
First few practice clips:
We did not realize how difficult acapella is. Especially for eight people, everyone has to pitch-perfect, inhale, and exhale at the same pace. For the first time, our pitch matched a little, and we were so happy about that. Our confidence was boosted. However, when we had improved, and we looked back at those clips, we realized how big of a difference we are comparing to the original song.
The original song by Pentatonix:
Due to Covid-19, our practice time was limited. I was worried because for a long time we did not have a chance for 8 people to unite and practice, but acapella is about listening to other people and matching the pitch with each other. In other words, everyone plays a crucial role in this team. However, we adjusted our schedule and decided to meet every break time in school. We had the chance to practice the song 2 times during the break. We meet 5 days a week, thus the frequency increases. I was responsible for recording every of our practice. When I looked back now, I realized how much we had improved.
After practicing for 2 months:
I could not hear my own voice when I am singing. Therefore, I reflected with those clips. I realized my voice did not blend well with others. I reached out to Tina who had been in a professional choir during college. She advised me on how to use voice from the stomach instead of throat. During the practice, I found a segregation between my head voice and chest voice. I had to practice blending them, so it does not sound odd when pitching with other people.
The final practice clip demonstrates all of our growth. Comparing to the first few practices, our voice was clearly more blended and mixed together now. I also learned to look at other people and adjust my voice during the singing. For instance, when Allison runs out of breath, I can continue holding my note until her next inhale. We have to assist each other and rotate our breathing. Acappella is a collaborative work, and this could apply to other situations as well. Especially in college, collaborative skills would be critical in group assignment. I used to sing by myself during past performances, and this is my first time singing in a large group of eight. This experience shaped my new understanding of music. I recognized how my interest in singing could be a collaborative work.