Empowering the Ensemble: Followership Practices in Collegiate Student-Led A Cappella - JCAPS Vol. 8 Issue 1

This scholarship-to-practice paper examines a popular campus activity: collegiate student-led a cappella. As musical groups that sing without instrumental accompaniment, collegiate a cappella groups are often student-run without the direction of faculty or staff. While a formative opportunity for students to develop skills of self-authorship and community building, a cappella groups can face challenges in leadership. Guided by the premise that understanding the importance of leader and follower interaction, this paper explores a workshop designed to empower the development of followers within a cappella groups.