Why is a cappella such a thing on campus?

[Anonymous]

My CS kid spends as much time rehearsing/performing/recording/traveling with her a cappella group as she does working in her AI lab (15 hours per week). Apparently this is the norm? And it’s super selective to even get into a group?

[Anonymous]

There was a popular movie a few years ago that inspired a bunch of these clubs.

[Anonymous]

Some schools have a long history of a capella groups, but the movie Pitch Perfect inspired a wider interest.

[Anonymous]

Yikes...my kid is intending on joining one when she starts in Sept. Hope it isn't really that intense. She is in one in her HS, and there were a lot of rehearsals, but it was manageable.

[Anonymous]

They are insanely popular and highly visible at almost every school we visited. Much to my DH’s dismay. Kids seem to really love doing it from what we’ve seen.

[Anonymous]

Proficiency in music is a skill that can be enjoyed for life.

Honestly, the time in the AI lab matters fkk all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was a popular movie a few years ago that inspired a bunch of these clubs.

a cappella was huge in the 90s. My SLAC had at least a dozen groups and it was a huge part of our social scene and culture.

[Anonymous]

Tons of a capella groups at Penn in the 90s as well. John Stephens (aka John Legend) was a classmate in one of them before he made it big after college. All different musical styles, parody groups. They were a big part of the campus traditions and entertainment.

[Anonymous]

It's basically a whole subculture.

[Anonymous]

Because it's fun and builds community. Making music together is good for the soul.

[Anonymous]

I think it is a status signal. It seems to be a thing at schools with money like SLACs. I can't recall if we had ones at my Midwestern state school in the 90s. Though we did have an excellent choir.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tons of a capella groups at Penn in the 90s as well. John Stephens (aka John Legend) was a classmate in one of them before he made it big after college. All different musical styles, parody groups. They were a big part of the campus traditions and entertainment.

I think I went to school with you! Acapella has always been a big prep school and ivy thing. I did it in high school, college, and grad school. Still going as a law firm partner lol

[Anonymous]

That's a lot of time but it doesn't seem that much more than a job which lots of kids do. In college my husband was in an improv group that rehearsed 20 hours a week and I worked a job that was 20 hours a week. We both had plenty of time to get our school work done.

[Anonymous]

At my school, some dudes joined the A cappella octet in order to pull wool. Some gals seemed to be into their goofy antics, judging by the oohs and aahs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tons of a capella groups at Penn in the 90s as well. John Stephens (aka John Legend) was a classmate in one of them before he made it big after college. All different musical styles, parody groups. They were a big part of the campus traditions and entertainment.

Penn Masala...

Mostly CS and pre-med kids singing Bollywood + American Pop.