Fieldwork Observations 10/5

Ethnomusicology fieldwork project notes

10/5/08
I have made arrangements to attend rehearsals of Awkappella. Awkappella is, according to the group’s Facebook page, “An a cappella group for people you [sic] LOVE to sing, but aren't really that good. But they're always willing to give it a wail and see what happens.” I have never seen Awkappella perform live; I know of them by reputation only, and I have watched videos of their performances on YouTube. Early in the fall I saw flyers for Awkappella around campus, and on the flyers was a contact e-mail address. I got in touch with Gavin Crynes, who seems to be one of the leaders of the group. I made arrangements with him to attend their rehearsal on Sunday, Oct 5 from 5-6 pm.

I arrived at Caswell House at around 4:50. The group rehearses in a lounge in the basement of Caswell House. I met up with Gavin outside, and he let me into the building. I wanted to avoid any formal interviews for my first experience with group, so that I could get an overall idea of how the group worked, but I thought that it would be a good idea to get a basic history of the group from Gavin. Following are my notes from my brief conversation with Gavin and from the rehearsal.

Gavin Crynes ‘10
Started idea with brother, Christian, and friend, Hannah
Walking along singing “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi
- singing different parts (beat box, lyrics, “wah wah”)
- thought “this would be great w/more people”
- called some friends, put together arrangement: “surprisingly easy,” just assigned different parts to people
Feb 2007-ish. That year they had 12 people max, attendance sketchy.
Two concerts that year, one at a study break and one at Wayland.

Group had about 8 people last year, only one performance during spring reading period.
Tried to do more, but sort of degenerated.
This year got about 6 new people.

Group started based largely around crew (rowing) — 3 originals, most of initial members were friends in men or women’s crew, but new people who showed up this year are random group. No auditions, anyone who wanted to join could.

So far this year, they had an initial meeting for new members who wanted to join, and they’ve had two rehearsals since. At the first they taught “It’s My Life,” their signature piece. At second they taught “Everybody Dance Now”

Initially they just rehearsed in peoples’ rooms, as the original members were all friends, but now that there are new people they’re rehearsing in a more “neutral space,” the lounge.

For first concert, they sang
- “It’s My Life” – Bon Jovi
- “Build Me Up Buttercup” – The Foundations
- “Man, I Feel Like a Woman” – Shania Twain
- “We like to Party” – Vengaboys
- “Don’t Stop Believing” – Journey

At this point, my discussion with Gavin stops as the other members of the group start to arrive.

People begin to arrive. When there are 9 people (6 men, 3 women), they begin rehearsal. Warm-ups are led by Moira Kyveluk. I am surprised to find that Moira is a member of the group, as she is a friend of mine from freshman year, and I didn’t know she was involved with Awkappella. I don’t know any of the other members who show up.
Gavin asks her to lead warm-ups.
“Are we doing a cappella warm-ups?”
“Do we divide by soprano/alto?...by men and women?”
“Am I leading this”
She seems surprised by the fact that she is being asked to lead warm-ups. She also does not seem entirely clear on normal procedure for the group.
They run through some arpeggio warm-ups on various vowel sounds, though they disorganized, and many members of the group seem unfamiliar with this method of warm-ups. They do their best to copy Moira as she demonstrates.
Two more women arrive.

At this point, the seem to be trying to decide on a new song to learn.
“Is anyone a fan of John Lennon?” – Gavin
Gavin explains to me that they are at a loss for some of their main members/soloists right now, so they’re picking new songs.
They play several songs on a laptop to gauge the other members’ opinions.
Christian plays a slow gospel number. The group seems to generally like it.
One girl requests “Earl” by the Dixie Chicks
- Gavin suggests that it wouldn’t suit the group – it’s mostly just vocals, not enough parts for people to sing
Moira suggests “I’m a Bitch” by Meredith Brooks
- People seem to generally like this idea, they decide to try the song.

Working on a song: “I’m A Bitch”
Next they try to decide who will sing the solo for “I’m a Bitch.”
Gender dynamics – women suggest that men sing solos in “I’m a Bitch,” they seem to be suggesting that this would achieve good comedic effect.
Gavin asks if Moira will do solo. She would like to do it w/someone else.
They play first 20 secs of song on laptop, start working out parts.
Christian and Moira seem to be leading this part of rehearsal, though it is only moderately structured. At first, many people are making noise at once, working out percussion/background/chorus parts.
They decide to try singing the first bit of the song w/the recording:
- One woman seems pre-assigned to do beat-boxing for the song. She bounces in place, hands partially over her mouth as she makes percussive sounds.
- Moira sings the solo. The rest do a soft “bum bum-bum” imitation of the guitar part.
- Christian takes over the solo partway through at Moira’s insistence.
- Several people sing along when they get to the chorus.
“Who wants the guitar solo?”
“How are we going to do it [the backing guitar part]?” – Christian
Someone suggests “waw, waw-waw”
“Yeah, more twang.” – Hoops (woman in the group)
Gavin joins the girl who is on percussion. He does a “shoop, shoop” sound.
“How many people should do the chorus?”
- They settle on 3 (Moira plus two other women)
Gavin gets into the music, mimes playing a drum set.
Some soloists red the lyrics off of a laptop.
They all listen to it again to hear the background parts.
“It goes down a little, then up a little, then back to the middle” [in reference to the guitar]
Beatboxing woman: “I might pass out during the performance”
They try to get someone to do the guitar solo. Hoops volunteers.
They listen to it. Solo is relatively straightforward, but ends with an intricate line.
“Awww shit”
Hoops tries to copy it.
Gavin says “you can basically do whatever you want [for the guitar solo]

Moira makes sure that everyone has a part to sing.
Most of them seem to have a decent sense of pitch.

Moira tells me several times throughout this process that “this is just about having fun,” not meant to be too intense. She asks if I’m going to observe the Chattertocks, Higher Keys, etc. I reply that I am only observing Awkappella.

They run through it again w/o the recording.
Beatboxer is rocking out.
All of them moving to the beat to greater or lesser extent.
When guitar solo starts Moira encourages Hoops: “more power!”

At this point the parts are not perfected, but the assignment is mostly settled. It breaks down to:
One woman + Gavin: percussion, beatboxing
Moira: solo
+ 2 women on chorus
Christian: Background guitar + solo leading into chorus
Hoops: background guitar + guitar solo
3 other women and 1 other man: background guitar

They have been rehearsing more or less in a semi-circle around the laptop, with soloists in the front and percussion in the back.
It is all very informal. Some people lean against furniture. Very laid-back.

At this point they decide that they are done with “I’m a Bitch” for they day.
They want to show my “It’s My Life,” their signature number.
They arrange themselves for the start of the song. They all have assigned places and seem to know their positions. It’s has an air of rehearsal and organization, more than I expected given the way some were downplaying their seriousness.

4 women sitting on floor in front. Rest are in semi-circle behind them
“someone want to take over for beatbox?”
- they listen to a recording to hear the drumbeat, one man volunteers to do it
They start song, go for 20 seconds, but decide that something’s not right. They restart.
Solo: Christian (standing in center of semi-circle)
“Wah wah”: 4 people standing on either side of Christian
Perc: guy on the end
“Ma ma ma ma”: background part, woman on other end of semi-circle
4 women of the ground do high “ooooo” part

The performance also has choreography!
4 women sitting on ground have faces down, raise them on “ooooo”
Christian starts w/back to audience, turns and comes forward for solo
4 on either side star facing him, turn upper torso out for “wah wah”
Christian + 4 on either side of him sing chorus together, do dance with hands waving

All in all, I am quite impressed by their performance. It is quite planned out, and they have at least 4-5 different parts going on. It is definitely much more sophisticated than I expected given the way they emphasize that they’re “just about having fun”.
There are definitely pitch problems and most of them seem to not have much singing training, they generally have a decent sense of pitch. I am very intrigued.

I will be returning for their next rehearsal. Next Monday, 5-6 pm.