Contemporary and Commercial Music

Carol Joy Sparkman, Contemporary and Commercial

Killing Me Softly

SSAA

Arr. Deke Sharon

08747055 Hal Leonard

This is a piece that is accessible and a favorite with my girls. Inf act, they ask to sing it every year. Roberta Flack recorded it in 1973, but it was covered recently by The Fugees. The beautiful solo line is accompanied by interesting harmonies and a rhythmical bass line. Don’t be afraid to play with the keys. This key felt too low for my students, so I raised it a half step. Do what is best for your group…always.

One Call Away

Three-part with Solo

Arr. Bryan Sharpe

45689 Alfred Publishing

This piece, originally recorded by Charlie Puth, is great for beginning and middle school groups. The ranges are very accessible for middle school and for groups with a limited number of male singers.

Betteracappella.com

This resource provides arrangers a site to place their arrangements for the public to peruse. There are challenges… For instance, you can’t always hear, on the site, the arrangement you are interested in. You may need to Google the performing group or the arranger on YouTube. However, I have found that of the arrangers I have emailed, requesting a few pages of the arrangement, have responded rather quickly.

Acappella Education Association (Facebook and website)

This group is dedicated to promoting the art of a contemporary a cappella and providing resources for directors and members of a cappella groups. A yearly membership is only $39 and gives you access to arrangements and other resources unavailable to non-members.  The listing of state representatives, regional directors, and board members are listed and are available to help you with your group and answer questions regarding your a cappella program.