NE Voices 2023 WorkshopsWorkshop descriptions for NE Voices 2024 will be available soon, please see below for more information on last year's workshops.
You can also find the list of instructors for this year here. Management
Directing the Comp Set
Jason Luciana
Looking for new and creative ways to create a competition set for your group? In this workshop we'll actively explore how to choose the best, most memorable set through discussion and small group work. Be ready to think outside the box and work with singers from other groups to create a killer set! How to Build a Better Brand
"Nor'Easters
Lauren Garcia Olivia Neville Miguel Aninon Learn how to create and manage a brand that matches your a cappella group’s ever-changing personality and aesthetic through attire, social media, promotional materials, and more! Music Business
Lara Evans
Dreaming about your career? Adult jobs can be boring, but working in the music industry isn’t! Come learn about how many different jobs there are in the business and how they relate to the center of it all: artists. From graphic designers to talent scouts to lawyers, there’s a role in the industry for everyone. Performance
Visual Scoring & Movement
Kat Smith
“Visual Cohesiveness”, “Creativity of Movement”, “Effectiveness of Presentation”... Do you know what the judges want when they go to circle a score? Do they know what they want? How much of your visual score is based on those around you? Is there a standard? Do I need to…… dance? In this workshop, Kat Smith goes over real judge’s experiences when judging choreography. Using testimonials, Kat will break down common flaws in competition choreography, use real life do’s and don’ts, and engage students by thinking about the motivation behind their movements. Going Solo
Alyssa Sposato
Do you have a solo in your a cappella group right now but you're unsure of how to make it your own? Have you always wanted a solo in your group but you never seem to know what to audition for? Through this workshop, learn about how to identify your own vocal strengths, find a song that is right for you to sing and how to use the vocal abilities that you already have to make that solo shine. A Cappella Super Group
Adam Tarpey
Come one, come all to the A Cappella Super-Groupᵗᵐ In this workshop, you'll join other singers from the festival to learn an arrangement and practice ensemble skills like microdynamics and breath management. This is a great opportunity to make connections beyond your group, so come ready to make friends and have some fun! Solo Coachings
Adam Tarpey
We’ve all been in a place where we feel stuck trying to work on our solos and audition songs, just running them over and over without making any real changes. Solo Coachings is designed to help you overcome that feeling and to give you specific practice techniques to take home! Volunteers will sing sections of their solo, and together we'll identify specific areas that need work, before digging in and putting these practice techniques to the test. Intermediate Vocal PercussionNor'Easters
David Schaeffer Josh Timmins Eli Thomas More advanced techniques involved in vocal percussion, including the advanced sounds, common rhythms, writing fills in conjunction with your bass and group, how to notate an advanced line, and how to gain inspiration to write. The Anatomy of A CappellaNate Harms and Liz Schorr
Ever wondered what is happening on the inside when you sing or beatbox? This workshop will address the basics of how your vocal anatomy functions and the fundamentals of creating vocal sounds. Through interactive exercises you’ll walk away from this workshop with a strong understanding of what happens on the inside, from head voice to belting, bass drum to snare. Intro to BeatboxingScott Cobban
In Intro to Beatboxing, we'll cover topics such as how to create basic sounds and variations on those sounds, and how to adjust for different performance environments. Creation
Organic Arranging with Circle Singing
Angelo Knight
In this workshop, students and educators will learn the value in creating arrangements without the necessity of a notated arrangement. This workshop allows the fun of singing to become even more fun by creating your own part to 3 different songs. By obtaining this skill, you will have the opportunity to create your own arrangements to showcase work BY STUDENTS or for a cappella educators that don't arrange for their group. The only way to be successful at this skill, you just have to be able to sing and create. In a looping fashion, we will layer parts together (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, etc.), to lay a foundation for a solo to sing on top of them. Students/Educators will be able to sing their own solos or sing solos of recommended songs. Full of fun and organic melodies and harmonies, this is a great workshop for easy musicianship growth. Songwriting 101
Kayla Liquori
Songwriters, come one come all! We will dive into songwriting strategies, prompts, where to find inspiration, and song analysis. Even if you haven’t written a song before, this workshop is for you - the information we’ll be discussing could be the inspiration for your very first song! If you’re comfortable, feel free to bring in an original that we can listen to :) Intro to Vocal PaintingKari Francis
Are you curious about creating an arrangement on the spot with a choir? Did you get a taste of Circle Singing, and now you want more? In this exploratory workshop, Kari will introduce you to Vocal Painting (VoPa), a practice developed by Jim Daus Hjernøe of the Danish Royal Academy of Music that combines Walter Thompson's Sound Painting gestures with Bobby McFerrin's CircleSongs to create tools for a facilitator to extemporaneously create an arrangement with ensemble members. Intro to ArrangingKari Francis
Want to arrange, but don't know where to start? In this introductory workshop, Kari will walk you through using solfége to navigate common chord progressions, and touch on topics like prose and graphic scores, arranging with a DAW, and notational software. No previous arranging experience required! Deeper Learning
Authenticity in A Cappella
Amber Bates
This class will explore the importance of connecting with members of your group, audiences, and the music you are making. We will explore tools and techniques that can be brought back to your groups or used individually to create a trust that informs stronger rehearsals and performances. Essential Listening
Shannon McNulty
In a time where we are constantly bombarded with music and media, how do we regain our capacity to sit, engage with, and truly be moved by music? Join Shannon for 45 minutes of focused, intentful listening that will help you think about old songs in new ways and hopefully introduce you to some inspiring new music as well. Goosebumps in PerformanceShannon McNulty
You never forget the moments in rehearsal and performance when everything locks in and your entire body vibrates. In this class, you will acquire the tools to not only make these moments possible, but something that happens consistently with your group. Your clinicians, Shannon McNulty and Michael Brisentine bring years of experience working with vocal groups, both choral and contemporary, and will have you out of your seats and experiencing the beauty of a well balanced, blended and connected group. Why A Cappella?Dave Grossman
You go to rehearsal every week and make weird noises with your mouth. You talk about ICHSA sets and everyone around you thinks you sound like a character from Glee. You've had legitimate arguments over a cappella choreography. You can identify at least one friendship that has suffered while figuring out what your group should wear on stage. If any of this sounds a little bit too real, "Why A Cappella?" will help you lead yourself back to why you started doing this weird a cappella thing in the first place, and give you the tools to power through the next time you have an existential crisis over the amount of time you've spent getting the letters p and f to sound like an actual drum. Performing with PassionMeg Mayfield
Explore different performance opportunities that exist outside of school, as well as how to make the most out of your resume and audition package. Music Technology
Essential Plugins and Mixing Techniques
Tim Bongiovanni
Ever find yourself wondering: "How can I make a cappella recordings sound like that?" Or even wondering: "WHY DOESN'T MY A CAPPELLA RECORDING SOUND LIKE THAT!?!" In this course we'll discuss the answers to these questions and more. We'll talk about commonly used techniques, tricks of the trade, and of course, essential plug-ins that can help you take your first steps in mixing contemporary a cappella. We'll also talk about how to learn more, what kinds of tutorials to look for, and when in the process they can be the most useful, so you can navigate the virtual ocean of youtube tutorials and internet courses competing for your time and attention. Editing - Turning Good to Great
Justin Crichfield
We’ll be going behind the Music Production curtain to identify the difference between Vocal Editing and Autotune. Learn how to identify when voices are being tuned on Social Media, “Live” Performances, and more! You’ll even be able to correct people when they say “Can’t you just autotune me? It’ll take 5 seconds!!!” Vocal Effects and Live Performance
Five O'Clock Shadow
For years, Five O'Clock Shadow has been a pioneer in incorporating instrumental effects such as distortion, flanger, phaser, and tremolo, combined with vocal harmony to create a live listening experience unlike any other. Come watch as our headliners share their secrets on how they create their unique sound. Watch as they invite students from the audience to create a live rock band. You may even get a chance to hear a preview of their Saturday showcase set! |