Combining soaring leads, smooth harmonies, and a thumping rhythm section, transit demonstrates the power, versatility, and emotion of the most natural instrument of all, the human voice.
Formed in 2005, transit is a dynamic vocal band that emphasizes engaging live performances, inspiring recordings, and the continual innovation of their art form. From beautiful ballads to soul-shaking funk, transit performs a wide variety of music sure to entertain any audience.
transit’s very first single, “Hide and Seek,” received a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) nomination in the Best Contemporary Pop/Rock Cover category. Their 2007 self-titled debut album won CARAs for Best Contemporary Pop/Rock Album, Best Contemporary Pop/Rock Cover, and a Runner-Up designation in the Best Contemporary Pop/Rock Original category. “Gimme A Beat” and “Little of Your Time,” both featured on transit’s latest album, En Route, received CARA nominations in the Best Pop/Rock Song category.
transit has performed for audiences of up to 40,000 people in venues across the US. Our cast of professional musicians has educated and entertained over 800 school audiences since its inception in 2005, and has experience teaching K-12 as well as college level students.
Audiences of all ages often leave a transit live performance in amazement and disbelief. “How can they possibly be doing all that without any instruments?” Using nothing more than their mouths and microphones, transit brings to the stage the thumping rhythm of a drum set, the rumbling vibrations of an electric bass, funky guitar riffs, soulful horns, and the sounds of many other common instruments.
april.mctaggart@gmail.com
http://www.transitvocalband.com
435 Bendemeer Lane
Wake
9196002611
In the “Evolution of A Cappella” program, students will: 1) compare and contrast the characteristic sounds of various early forms of a cappella music (e.g. chant, madrigals, classical, barbershop, doo-wop) as they have evolved throughout history; 2) become familiar with the historical and cultural context imperative to the development of the aforementioned a cappella forms; 3) learn to replicate specific improvisational vocal techniques used to imitate different instrument sounds (e.g. drums, cello, flute, electric guitar); 4) discover the creative process by which vocalists can create an all-vocal arrangement of a currently popular song using only the human voice and 5) define common a cappella terms (e.g. harmony, pitch, tempo). In “The Evolution of A Cappella”, transit utilizes demonstration, sing along, call and response, and Q&A to engage the student audience.
April McTaggart
9196002611
april.mctaggart@gmail.com
transit is available for assembly performances, residencies, and workshops throughout the Fall, Spring, and Summer.
transit is available for assembly performances, residencies, and workshops at all times during the day.
transit provides all sound gear needed for assembly performances, residencies, and workshops, including speakers, a sound board, and microphones. Schools are asked to provide the following: 1) one six-foot folding table; 2) access to reliable power outlets and 3) at least twelve bottles of water
transit is available for assembly performances, residencies, and workshops throughout all of North Carolina.
Per Performance: $1200 + $150 travel fee. 2 Performances, Same Day and School: $1850 + $150 travel fee. 3 Performances, Same Day and School: $2500 + $150 travel fee. Per Performance, Same Day, Different School: $1200 + $150 travel fee
L3 – Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening. Specifically, during transit’s program, students learn how to utilize basic phonemes and letter components to create beatbox and vocal percussion sounds and rhythms.
R3 – Analyze how and why individuals; events; and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text. transit’s program teaches students about the history and development of the a cappella art form through explanations and demonstrations of various vocal music styles, from Gregorian Chant in the Middle Ages to the contemporary vocal band sound.
SL2 – Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally. Specifically, transit’s performance and explanation of various a cappella styles helps students to develop listening skills and to recognize how different musical formats fit within a line of historical development.
From the Arts Education, Music Standards:
K-8/B/I/P/A.ML.3 – Create music using a variety of sound and notational sources. Specifically, transit teaches students about the specific voice parts and vocal instruments used in the vocal band style. transit also teaches students how to produce simple and complex rhythmic patterns using basic beatbox/vocal percussion sounds.
K-8/B/I/P/A.CR.1 – Understand global, interdisciplinary, and 21st century connections with music. transit’s program helps students to understand global, interdisciplinary, and 21st century connections with music by tracing the historical roots and development of a cappella music, as well as the cultural context surrounding each style of a cappella music presented. In describing Gregorian Chant, for example, transit outlines the use of this early a cappella style in religious and church prayer life. Similarly, in describing Doo Wop, transit explains this styles roots in urban African American communities.
K-8/B/I/P/A.MR.1 – Understand the interacting elements to respond to music and music performances. transit’s program helps students to understand interacting elements and respond to music and music performances by outlining and demonstrating the different qualities and voice range placement of the different voice parts used to create a cappella music. transit’s program also demonstrates the various historical settings and contexts in which different a cappella styles have been used.
Please contact transit directly for cancellation information.