by Jonathan Minkoff 

This article isn't about being the most technically proficient a cappella group. You already know how to do that. This article is about winning. Embrace these ten truths, and don't let them become your ten a cappella competition mistakes!

1. Your Performance Begins the Instant You Step Out on Stage.
The Rules of nearly all a cappella competitions state that the timing begins when you blow the first pitch, begin choreography or start talking. That’s timing. But when does the judging really begin?

Jonathan Minkoff © 2007, 2014

Carefully, patiently dissecting the urge to perform yields the unexpected anatomy of our truest motivations. What are these factors that drive us? They may be obvious or obtuse, noble or base. They may appear in one guise, only to be exposed later in truer form. They often take a bit of coaxing before revealing themselves. But if, as Socrates believed, the unexamined life is not worth living, then this part of life, this sliver we share with so many others, is perhaps most worthy of our unfaltering gaze. Why do we perform?

© 2013 Jonathan Minkoff

Arrangers, especially in a cappella music, are always looking for songs to arrange. And once they make an arrangement, especially a good one, those arrangers are often asked for copies. What should they do?

Some give away the arrangements, some sell the arrangements. But, unless the arranger has permission from a composer, selling or gifting copies of arrangements is illegal. 

Thankfully, there is an exception: The Public Domain.

Works in the Public Domain are free for anyone to use in any way they choose. You won't need to make any payments, and you won't need anyone's permission. The trick is knowing whether a particular published song is actually in the Public Domain or not. 

The chart below can go a long way towards helping you determine the answer. All you need to know to begin, is when the work was first published. Once you have that, you're off!

Everyone has heard the warnings not to illegally copy music, but many do. After all, what’s the harm?

Some believe that it’s a victimless crime. Some believe that only businesses get sued, not users. Some believe that computers make them too anonymous to sue. 

That turns out to be wrong on all counts, as a defeated 20-something recently found out to the tune of over half a million dollars in damages and tens of thousands more in legal fees.

© 9-12-2013 Jonathan Minkoff (some portions © 2012, 2013 and 2015)

This article discusses the best practices for providing credits on a cappella recordings. 

If you only take away only one lesson, make it this: credit all composers and do not confuse composers with "original" artists. As of the writing of this article, this is the most common and egregious error in a cappella liner notes.

Additionally, this article will include many customs unique to the a cappella community while also debunking legally dubious or nonsensical omissions that have grown more commonplace, particularly in collegiate and high school a cappella.  

The complete article is extensive, so to assist those seeking quick answers, we begin with two lists: 

1. minimal credits; and 
2. best credits. 
   

The two lists obviously overlap since "best" includes "least." These reference lists do leave many issues unaddressed, and so they are followed by a section focused on underlying principles, debated issues and in-depth discussion. Read on for everything you ever wanted to know about credits!

By Jonathan Minkoff

Singing may be free, but studio time, touring, attending the big aca-events like SingStrong -and of course, throwing the ultimate after-parties all require cash in hand. You need the green, so here are 27 ways to make it rain:

Most a cappella groups perform songs written by other artists. These are called "covers". The Copyright Act gives you the right to record these “cover” songs by means of a compulsory license. Compulsory means you don’t need anyone’s permission. All you need to do is

Fair Use: Using Others' Works Without Permission or Payment
By Jonathan Minkoff ©2009, ©2012

Fair Use is a concept in copyright law that allows you, under certain limited circumstances, to use someone else's copyrighted work without paying them any fees or obtaining their permission. 

The Legality of Arranging
By Jonathan Minkoff ©2009

WHERE DOES THE RIGHT TO MAKE MUSICAL ARRANGEMENTS COME FROM?
The constitution of the United States gives 

Artists have learned that giving away "free" music can be a successful way to advertise. Sometimes a group does this to build a fan base. Sometimes a studio does this to demonstrate their production skills to potential clients. Occasionally a fan does this to help "spread the love" for great music. 

But is it legal? 

It turns out the answer is "Only if ..."

Assuming you haven't actually contacted the copyright holders to negotiate a special license, here's a handy list for what you can and can't do with published, non-public domain songs, and the answer for exactly how to legally give music away for free:

Take the Poll! 

Technology is a pervasive and growing part of live performance for a cappella groups, but how much is too much? At what point do you feel that you're just not watching a live a cappella group anymore? 

Take the poll and let the world know where you draw the line.

You just heard some fantastic a cappella group perform and now you want to sing! 

You have two choices: join a group or start a group. 

If you have the vision, the skills and the tireless energy to create your own group, then by all means create your masterpiece. (These articles will help.)

But for everyone else, you'll want to find an existing or newly forming group and audition. This article shows you how to find a cappella groups in your area.