I got a question from a mum who's 13 year old son loves to sing, loves barbershop and knows all of the Real Group's albums by heart (well...something like that anyway).

She asked me what I thought he should do to be able to sing more acappella. The only obvious answer I could come up with was to try and find a choir somewhere in the neighbourhood, just to get some plain choral training (which was the way I got in to this "business").

But it got me thinking; I can't recall that I've heard about a vocal group (

What area of the country are we talking about? Because obviously if he is 13, he can't be touring or moving around to find other groups...

My best advice? Ask a teacher.

I started my first a cappella group at age 11, by asking my grade school music teacher for help. She helped me find three like-minded kids, and was willing to coach us after school a few times a week. We learned some simple barbershop arrangements borrowed from my uncle's chorus, and sang as a featured act in several of the school music programs.

I'll bet this woman's son already knows a few kids his age who could sing with him; all he needs is a little structure to put it together.