Hi, I was wondering what the a cappella scene is like at amherst. I know that at Yale, it’s very big, and there’s like, “A cappella rush” and everyone’ very close with their a cappella group. I like to sing and I think it would be a great way to make close friends. I’m more of a dancer, but there’s no real dance group besides Amherst Dance, which seems like it’s very big, and since it’s non audition it’s not a real group, if that makes sense. Are people normally close with their a cappella group?
The following link is an a capella blog with lists of a capella groups from colleges everywhere. It is sorted by location so you can find Amherst’s groups on the first two pages with links to many of the groups’ web pages.
The groups that I see listed are:
Route 9 - http://route9.webs.com/
Sabrinas - link broken
Sh’ma Cappella - no link
Terras Irradient - https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/studentgroups/terras_irradient
Zumbyes - http://www3.amherst.edu/~zumbyes/
Bluestockings - http://www3.amherst.edu/~bluesox/
DQ - http://www.thedq.org/
Madrigals - http://www3.amherst.edu/~madrigal/
In addition there was Instrumentally Challenged (no link) which looks like it is open to the Five Colleges.
Amherst College is known as The Singing College - perhaps others can tell you more about why.
Take a look at this post for more:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/amherst-college/626226-is-amherst-really-the-singing-college.html
Though I’m not involved in a capella myself, “a capella rush” sounds like a pretty apt way to describe the process my friends went through.
I’ve never heard of Sh’ma Capella at all, and the Madrigals–which I’ve only heard mentioned a couple times–are more of a student-directed choir than an a capella group per se.
All the a capella groups have a significant social component, and that strikes me as a plus, not a minus.
Besides Amherst Dance, you should check out DASAC (“Dance and Stepping at Amherst College”). Really active group that puts on a couple very well-attended shows throughout the semester.
@yungjeff I’m more of a ballet and contemporary dancer, so I don’t think DASAC would be right for me. Thank you though 
I’ll probably just end up taking classes through the dance and theater department.
Do you know anything about the process of getting into an a cappella group? I know obviously there will be auditions, but is it based on more than just how well you can sing (like how well you can fit into the group for example)?