It's official: Deke (Sharon) and Dylan (Bell) are writing a book on A Cappella Arranging! And we need your help.
About a year ago, Dylan wrote a post on the forum musing that, though there were a few books out there, noone to his knowledge had actually written the Ultimate A Cappella Arranging Book. So he asked why... and publicly called out Deke -- arguably one of the best-known and most prolific arrangers of contemporary a cappella out there -- asking why *he* hadn't written one. Deke's answer: "I've been planning to do it for ages...wanna collaborate?"
We actually got started...then came “The Sing-Off”, the Nylons album Dylan's producing, both guys touring, and the overall life-stuff that obscures a long-range project like writing a book.
Well, Deke's almost finished the Netherlands “Sing-Off”, and Dylan's just about done the Nylons album (coming out next month... keep your ears peeled!). So...
Game on!
If all goes according to plan, this is going to be big, folks. We're dreaming of an "Arranger's Bible", sitting on the bookshelf of every aca-geek from Amherst to Zurich, taught in music schools, you name it. It will be an all-encompassing book, covering just about any arranging topic we can think of, from the Ten Steps to Basic Arranging, to tips on writing a medley, to writing a cappella charts in any style. Complete with examples and recordings.
Who is it for? Short answer... anyone really interested in a cappella music. Long answer:
-Beginners - high-school/collegiate groups learning how to arrange for themselves
-Pros and Semi-Pros - groups looking to freshen up their sound and add more techniques to their arranging toolbox
-Educators - post-secondary teachers looking for a comprehensive arranging textbook
-Producers and Composers - professionals looking for genre-specific tips on writing for unaccompanied voices
We're well on our way, and currently hunting for a publisher (and if you happen to be a multi-national publishing house, by all means, give us a call). But while we're at it, we need information from the most valuable resource out there.
You.
We're writing this for the a cappella community, because of the community, and as a thank-you to the community. So, we want to hear from you about how to make this book the best damn a cappella book out there. What would you want to see in a book on a cappella arranging? What issues/problems do you come up with when you're writing? What would have to be in the book to make you plunk down your hard-earned cash to buy one?
Any and all suggestions are welcome. Just respond to this thread, and let's get a conversation going! If you're reading this on the CASA blog, head on over the forum, and post your thoughts there.
Yours in Harmony,
-Dylan and Deke
About the author:
In a word…multifaceted. Juno-nominated, multiple-CARA-winning Dylan Bell is a performer, composer/arranger, music director and producer/engineer. As an a cappella singer, arranger and producer, Dylan has worked with many of the world's renowned vocal groups including Cadence, the Swingle Singers and the Nylons, as well as his own groups Retrocity and the FreePlay Duo. He’s played stages across the world from his native Toronto, Canada to Stockholm, Sweden, to Calcutta, India, and his compositions and vocal arrangements are performed everywhere from Arnprior to Zurich. Dylan also has a secret life as a freelance multi-instrumentalist, touring internationally as a pianist, bassist, and guitarist. Visit Dylan at www.dylanbell.ca.
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