So! If you’re in the Boston area: I’d like to invite you to come see my group, Common Sound, perform it’s first major holiday concert perfectly timed with the first night of Hanukkah! Hope to see you there.

Common Sound Holiday Concert

When: December 11, 7:30pm
Where: St. Paul’s Church (Brookline, MA)
Suggested Donation: $5
Register: Click here to RSVP on Facebook

Click here to listen to a recording our set. I solo on the last song, “I’m Yours.” (Alternatively, if anyone knows how I can embed the player into this blog post, that would be awesome.)


I would love to hear your thoughts! Note: We don’t use any amplification. It’s all natural echo from the high-ceiling church that we sing in.

Also, we are always looking to perform more, as well as audition new members–especially since our wonderful tenor is leaving! On our website, you can invite us to sing at your event or request a singing audition to join the group. Check it out or pass on the word.

Thank you so much. <3

Feel free to check out the presentation below.

Ben’s making a new album that will be entirely a cappella versions of his songs, and he’s asking college a cappella groups across the US to record themselves singing their favorite Ben Folds tune and upload it to YouTube. He will then select 12-15 groups to perform on the album.

And guess what? My old college group Chordially Yours is giving it a shot with their rendition of Underground!

So pick my girls, Mr. Folds! How could you not? :)

First, CHECK OUT THESE AMAZING HALLOWEEN ICONS FOR TWITTER. I am absolutely obsessed. I discovered them when @DieLaughing mentioned them in a Tweet, but I have no clue who the creator is. Show yourself!

Second, Adam Lasnik sent me a super cool 64-voice a cappella version of Thriller. The sounds in the beginning are pretty nuts, but the guy needs to work on his pitch (and falsetto) a bit. I give him a B- for vocal ability and an A+ for effort and creativity.

Enjoy and Happy Halloween!

Common Sound!

I’m really pleased. We put a lot of thought into it.  For example, it reflects our shared common love for singing and a cappella. It’s a reference to the Boston Common. Also, the genres we’ve been singing lately have been quite eclectic. (Our music director is teaching us some Mozart for a warm up.) Perhaps in that sense, “common” could refer to any common type of music people enjoy.

Anyhow, I feel like it really fits. I’m happy we finally figured it out.

And now… we need to choose a URL! Of course, www.commonsound.com is taken. So what’s next best? The group will obviously make the final decision, but I’d still love your feedback.

Ideas so far:

www.commonsoundmusic.com
www.commonsoundboston.com
www.commonsoundacappella.com

Thoughts? Other ideas?

—–

UPDATE: Thanks everyone for your suggestions. We decided on www.commonsoundboston.com! No page up yet, but we’re working on it.

Also… I thought I’d take this as an opportunity to remind everyone the audition details. (I know, I know. Here I go again.)

I’d really, really appreciate it if you could help spread the word to any of your singer folk friends. This is going to be an incredible and exciting group once it’s officially formed, and we want to find as much talent as possible to be a part of it.

When: Monday, July 28th 7-9:30pm.

Where: St. Paul’s Church (15 Saint Paul St, Brookline, MA)

How to Prep: Be ready to sing a verse and a chorus of your favorite song, a cappella style. Other tests include a call and response exercise and sight reading.

Appointments: Auditions will be held in 10-minute intervals between 7-9:30pm. We suggest emailing prior to the audition day to schedule an appointment. Otherwise, walk-ins are absolutely welcome.

Thank you so much to those of you who have been incredibly supportive throughout this whole process. You guys are the best. We’ll sing for you whenever you want :)

And.. now for something silly!–This is from my old group, Boston University’s Chordially Yours. I’ve tweeted about this video before, but I still think it’s a lot of fun. I mean… do YOU sing on the T?

Auditions are in exactly two weeks. I’ve been getting a great response from people wanting to try out, and I think there will be a pretty decent crowd. (Feel free to spread the word to any fellow Boston singers who might like to join a group. Please.)

I cannot wait until I start singing regularly again, in a formal rehearsal. As cheesy as it is, I whole-heartedly believe I would be a completely different person if I didn’t/couldn’t sing. I mean… I do it all the time. For example, my new apartment is entirely hardwood floors, and one of my favorite things to do is sing really, really loud while no one is home and echo through the hallways. Another prime singing time is dish washing. Or whenever I enter/exit a vestibule. Or while I blow dry my hair. (Don’t ask.)

When I was younger (we’re talking age seven or eight and in elementary school), I would swing on the swings and make up songs. For hours. At eight years old. Now, mind you, I also didn’t have very many friends at the time. But still, it’s really fun to think about how ingrained singing is in my life, even from day one. Do most people have something like this? Am I just lucky?

The other day while I was talking to my Mom, she told me that my grandmother had an incredible voice. Her dream was to travel overseas to sing for the WWII troops. I had no idea. Although both my parents took piano lessons when they were younger, I don’t have a very musical family (at least, immediate family), and I always wondered where “my voice” came from. It’s really cool to think that possibly my talent came from her.

Anyhow, let it be known that I am not the best singer in the world. I don’t think that at all, and that’s not the point. What I’m trying to emphasize is how important it is to be thankful for any special thing you can do. It’s a bit cliché and lame, but it’s true. What we do defines us. So why not do it well and be proud of it?

What really makes this thing cool is I can search by word AND geographic location. For example, I used a custom search operator looking for “music” near:”boston”, which showed me everyone in my area who is tweeting about music. Or you can use the super easy advanced search.

Think! I could potentially use this to find real a cappella singing Twitterers who live close enough to me to form an actual group.

Also, I did a simple search on “a cappella”. As you can see, I’m currently dominating the conversation. So speak up, a cappella lovers! We must unite and make beautiful, beautiful music.

Anyhow. Amazing or what? I’m in love.

It is my goal to start a professional a cappella group.

But. It’s turning out to be a bit more difficult than I thought.

I am researching and researching, but I can’t seem to find any a cappella people actively “hanging out” anywhere online.

Naturally, I posted messages on just about every relevant Facebook group I could find. I mean, that makes sense. Right? College kids/recent professionals hang out on Facebook. I also checked out a million a cappella web sites, but the majority were dedicated to selling CDs or promoting concerts– not any type of creative collaboration. Most useful space I found was the CASA forum.

Even craigslist, which I thought would be quit effective, hasn’t been. Twitter could end up being alright, but I’m pretty sure 98.8% of the people following me are not singers (I don’t think).

I even directly emailed a handful of ensembles that used to perform with my old group. So far? Nothing.

And this is where I attempt to be thoughtful.

As much as I love social-media-everything, I’m not sure it can help all the time. It’s great for linking up with awesome PR professionals, professors or fellow nerds– but what if your audience isn’t active online? How do you reach a community of strangers, if they’re not eBunching together? I’m frustrated.

So, this is when this post becomes a blatant request for your help to spread the word. If you know anyone in the Boston area who likes to sing and might be interested in joining an a cappella group, please let me know.

Alternate advice on how to find singer types is welcome as well.