Where is Anna Kendrick?

If anyone has watched the Pitch Perfect movies, chances are they have, at some point, fantasized about being a Barden Bella themselves. When I got to campus, I dreamed of winning the ICCA National A Cappella Championship or starring in a real life riff off. So I knew I wanted to audition for the a cappella groups here on campus. And oh boy, was I in for a treat. 

While I have a background in musical theater and glee club, I’d never tried a cappella. The idea of using my voice without the support of a band or sheet music was a foreign concept, but I wanted to step outside my comfort zone. I always thought the movies dramatized the audition process, but no, they were actually warnings. The process was intense, but it was also incredibly fun. Everyone I met was so kind and talented, which made the whole experience a lot less intimidating.

I auditioned for a few different groups:

• The Bacchanate, the official a cappella group of Barnard College.
• The Cleft Hangers, an all-gender a cappella group with both undergraduate and graduate students.
• The Metrotones, Columbia’s SSAA a cappella group for women and gender minorities.
• The Notes and Keys, Columbia’s oldest coed a cappella group. 
• Nonsequitur, Columbia’s co-ed, mixed voice acappella group.

Before my auditions, I did my homework. I stalked the groups’ Instagram pages, listened to their covers on YouTube, and was so impressed by how talented they all were. I was really excited to give it a shot.

The audition process was well-organized. Prospective singers waited in a common room, and when a group was ready for you, they’d call your name. You’d then go into a separate room with a few members of that group. The audition itself typically involved three parts:

1. Your Audition Song: You prepare a 16-bar cut, usually a verse and chorus, which lasts about a minute. I chose “Vienna” by Billy Joel. I’m not sure how well I did, but everyone seemed to like the song choice, which was a small win!
2. Scales: They’ll have you do scales to test your vocal range. As an alto, I know my range pretty well. I can also sing tenor, and sometimes mezzo, but I’m most comfortable as an alto. I was so nervous during my first audition that my voice was shaking, and I had to apologize and explain that I could sing higher. I also happened to be a little sick, which didn’t help.
3. Note Matching: This was what tripped me up. They play a few notes, and you have to sing them back from memory without humming along. Coming from a musical theater background, I’m used to reading music, so I hadn’t thought to practice this. It’s a different skill—reproducing notes you just heard without any visual cues. I think this is where I fell off in my auditions.

The auditions were on a Tuesday, and they were supposed to give us callback results on Thursday. To be brutally honest, I didn’t get a callback from any of the groups.

At first, it was a bit disappointing. But I’m trying to have grace with it: I’m a new freshman, I was nervous, and a bit sick. There is also the understanding it’s not just about how well you can sing; it’s about how your voice fits into a group. A group might desperately need a soprano to replace a graduating senior, and as an alto, I just can’t fill that role. My voice type might not have been what they were looking for, and that’s okay. It’s not a matter of talent; it’s a matter of fit. However, I’m also very big on self-reflection and self-improvement, so now I know I need to work on my ability to hear and then reproduce notes. Despite not getting a callback, I really enjoyed the experience. The people were so sweet, the process was well-organized, and the vibes were great. They told us we can always re-audition in the spring or even next year, which I’m still considering. 

So, would I audition for a cappella again? I think so. It was a really fun experience, and my main advice to anyone thinking about it is this: just try to calm your nerves—everyone there is so kind and supportive. Also, I didn’t end up puking in front of everyone like in the movie, so that’s a plus! You really can’t lose anything by trying.

Pitch Perfect via Bwarchives