All Male A Capella – Elon University

All Male A Capella - Elon University is AbOUT Rip_Chord, the leading and first all male A Capella group on Elon University's Campus.

All Male A Capella, Elon University

Student entertainment makes college more interesting. One of the most meaningful and contemporary activities in American college life is A Capella singling [1 ]. Elon University in Central North Carolina is no exception to this trend. The first and leading all male a capella group on the Elon University campus Rip_Chord is an example of this genre. Rip_Chord describes its style as “putting the funk in dysfunctional” [ 4]. Their sound is strong and has been characterized as thunderous [ 5]. The group has a large number of loyal fans both on and off the Elon University campus [3 ]. The A Capella group Rip_Chord addresses the needs of both performers and audiences.

History

The group has a comparatively short history. Founded in the fall of 2006, Rip_Chord is Elon University’s first and only all male capella group on campus. It was founded by five young men who planned the project over the summer and held auditions in the fall of 2006 [ 5]. The group, which released their first album, Resisting A Rest, last year, uses no instruments—only vocal percussion and voices [ 5]. Rip_Chord is the youngest A Capella group on campus.

Organization and Structure

Rip_Chord is organized to provide continuity and administrative effectiveness. It is an all male A Capella group that typically includes 12-16 members on their roster and annually auditions new members [4 ]. Rip_Chord’s larger relative size is driven by necessity, as the group tends to see high turnover year after year, due to graduation and other student commitments. The relatively large number of members allows groups to maintain continuity without major reorganization or diminishment as each year passes[4 ]. Rip_Chord is a self sustaining group that is run by the students that comprise its membership. Currently, the offices of President, and four Vice-President’s in charge of Music, Programming, Finance, and Communications administer the interests of Rip_Chord[7 ]. This structure is reflective of a capella groups overall [ 2]. Rip_Chord is structured as an independent student organization on Elon University’s campus.

Musical Repertoire

The music of the group is upbeat and lively. Rip_Chord’s repertoire consists mainly of popular songs arranged for a cappella by members and alumni of the group, and span multiple genres, including pop, rock, hip-hop and R&B[5 ]. . The group’s vocal makeup consists of multiple parts. Depending on levels of talent and cross-section blend of vocal ranges, Rip_Chord is often able to perform arrangements with sometimes more than a dozen separate parts. The group mirrors one of the most widely practiced vocal structures found in college A Capella, with a vocal percussionist and typically a 6-8 part harmony style[1 ]. The sound is complete without the assistance of instruments.

== Rip_Chord’s first CD “Resisting A_Rest “ was released early in 2009 , Pendulum March 18, 2009[5 ].

• Songs featured on "Resisting A_Rest" include some crowd favorites and Rip_Chord classics [ 5]:
• Trashing the Camp, Phil Collins & ‘N Sync
• Chasing Cars, Snow Patrol
• Gavin's Song, Marc Broussard
• Apologize, OneRepublic & Timbaland
• Ain't No Sunshine, Bill Withers
• Happy Together, The Turtles
• Absolutely (Story of a Girl), Nine Days
• Mad World, Gary Jules
• Drops of Jupiter, Train
• Instant Pleasure, Rufus Wainwright

Rip_Chord is a group of collegiate men with who have come together for enjoyment and the entertainment of others. The group serves both recreational and artistice needs of members. Like other collegiate A Capella groups they are close nit and supportive of each other [2 ]. Although the group changes each year with graduations and entering freshmen, they have remained and integral part of college life at Elon University .

Elon University

• Location: Elon, North Carolina (Central North Carolina) [ 6].
• Enrollment: 5,600[6 ].
• 71 % of students study abroad at least once before graduating [6 ].
• Number 1 Nation’s top “School to Watch”
  • —U.S.News & World Report[ 6].
• 150 -Number of student organizations, including other A Capella groups Sweet Signatures and Twisted **Measure [ 6].

References

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External links

• Elon University http://www.elon.edu/home/
• Elon University Pendulum http://www.elon.edu/pendulum/Default.aspx