<p>Does anyone know how selective the a capella groups are at Yale? I'm a pretty good singer, but I'm not particularly talented. What are the auditions like?</p>
<p>Rigorous. Yale is known for the quality of its art programs.</p>
<p>Are they part of the music department? I thought they were clubs...</p>
<p>(random thought)
gorbachev- i love a capella singing too! let's make this happen</p>
<p>they are clubs, not part of the music department. however, undergraduate a cappella started at yale so the university has a rich history of it. there are many different groups (i think around 10...) with different styles. i think they are pretty selective, but not to the point where singing must be the only thing in your life.</p>
<p>First off, definitely come to Yale if you can - it's awesome. Coming here was unquestionably the best choice I've ever made.</p>
<p>To answer your questions: The Yale a cappella groups are all student-run, and receive no funding from the university. There are also lots of school-run, school-supported singing groups like the Glee Club, Collegium Musicum, and Schola Cantorum. Basically, Yale is a wonderful place to be if you're looking for opportunities in the fine arts, but this is especially true for singing. There's a huge tradition of singing at Yale, and this is largely just a reflection of how much the student body here appreciates music, theater, and the arts. </p>
<p>The process to get into the a cappella groups is highly organized, and is called A Cappella Rush. I was one of the rush managers this year for the Alley Cats, and I'm happy to answer any specific questions you have. I'd also encourage you to look at our website, which will give you an idea of what the Yale a cappella groups (or at least one of them) are about: <a href="http://www.yalealleycats.com%5B/url%5D">http://www.yalealleycats.com</a></p>
<p>Eric</p>
<p>Believe me, if I'm admitted, I'll be there. Yale's so amazing!</p>
<p>I'm familiar with a cappella rush...such a great tradition! I'm just worried that I won't stand a chance against the bevy of super-talented singers that I'm sure is admitted to Yale every year. I have a good range and pretty good technique, and I've sung some pretty challenging pieces (Mozart's Requiem, Habanera from "Carmen", etc.), but I'm no Aretha Franklin. How talented are most of the people who rush? Do you look for people who have really impressive, distinctive voices or people whose voices can blend really easily into a chorus? Have many people had voice lessons?</p>
<p>By the way, I definitely won't be rushing the Alley Cats...despite the misleading screen name, I'm actually a girl. :)</p>
<p>The short answer is this: it doesn't matter if you're trained or not. For example, some of the Alley Cats (including myself) had never had a formal voice lesson before joining the group, but other members of the group had record labels in NYC, were professional opera singers, or had turned down Julliard. All of the groups have diversity in how experienced or trained their members are.</p>
<p>Auditions and callbacks are designed to help learn about the rushee's voice in all aspects, including soloing, blend, and musicality. Obviously, every group wants great soloists who are also great "shoe singers," and vice versa. Perhaps the best advice I can give you is to not worry about a cappella rush until you find yourself at either Bulldog Days or the Freshman Bazaar in late August. But get excited, because Yale is awesome.</p>
<p>Incidentally, a great way to get comfortable with auditions and receive helpful feedback is to rush a group of the opposite sex, and sign up for an early audition. We have several female rushees every year, and I rushed an all-female group last year.</p>
<p>Hahahaha.....I guess I'm really counting my chickens aren't I?
Just the other day I caught myself starting a sentence with "When I get into Yale" instead of "If." Eeek! :)</p>
<p>Well, I imagine I'll rush a cappella if I get in. Do you know about what percentage of rushees get tapped?</p>
<p>hey- my brother is at yale and he's been w/ the spizzwinks and now he's a whiffenpoof
i think he told me that there are like 5 to6 diff groups that audition so if u'r pretty good u should be able to find one that's right for u</p>