『Sing and Improve! A Cappella Training Book』 to be Released on June 23!

Rittor Music Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director and President: Daisuke Matsumoto), which handles music-related media business under the Impress Group, will release 『Sing and Improve! A Cappella Training Book』 on June 23, 2026.

A training book focusing on harmony, rhythm, and vocalization, brought to you by the authors of 『A Cappella Style』!

This training book is compactly organized with essential knowledge and practice methods for a cappella performance, targeting beginners who want to start a cappella and experienced performers who have already performed on stage.

While singing popular J-POP and enka songs as practice songs, you will learn the basics and techniques of a cappella, focusing on harmony, rhythm, and vocalization. Additionally, you can train with your "eyes and ears" by listening to the reference audio or using the original app for this book, making it a feature that can be used repeatedly many times!

The instructors include Kakuta Aoi and Baratti (Nagie Lane), who have been in charge of the know-how pages in 『A Cappella Style』, as well as Ito Shunsuke, a vocal trainer who also provides vocal guidance to high school a cappella clubs and university/social a cappella circles nationwide. These three, who are well-versed in a cappella, will assist you in improving your a cappella performance skills.

Book Information

Title: Sing and Improve! A Cappella Training Book

Authors: Kakuta Aoi, Baratti (Nagie Lane), Shunsuke Ito

Price: 2,750 yen (2,500 yen + 10% tax)

Release Date: June 23, 2026

Publisher: Rittor Music

Product Information Page: https://www.rittor-music.co.jp/product/detail/3126351003/

Introduction

Welcome to the World of A Cappella!

Preface (Kakuta Aoi, Baratti, Shunsuke Ito)

Experience Harmony with "Happy Birthday to You"!

What is the Formation of an A Cappella Group?

What are the Parts of an A Cappella Group?

Find the Right Part for Your Vocal Range

Lesson 1

Practice Song: "Rouge no Densou" by Yumi Arai

Harmony

1. First of all, "Pitch Matching"!

2. The position of "Do" changes depending on the song, so it's "Movable Do"!

3. Develop relative pitch with scales using "Movable Do"

4. Let's try harmonizing! Cadence using "Movable Do"

5. Try to grasp the tonic that governs the song

Rhythm

1. Basic of Basics! Feel the Tempo

2. Energetic Beat! Clap on 2 & 4

3. Gather the Rhythm Circle!! Everyone Train Together

4. Why isn't the rhythm matching? Check these three points

Vocalization

1. The start of the voice tends to have unnecessary tension

2. Let's get a voice that's easy to harmonize with

3. Try singing firmly with your natural voice

Bass

1. What kind of voice should you make for the bass?

Beatboxing

1. Know the roles of each part of the drum set!

2. Try making each drum sound with your mouth!

3. Master the standard pattern with "Rouge no Densou"!

Lesson 2

Practice Song: "Touch" by Yoshimi Iwazaki

Harmony

1. Experience the feeling of unity with "Syllable Harmony" that's characteristic of a cappella

2. Mood Change?! The Mechanism of Minor Scales

3. When and how should you sight-read?

Rhythm

1. Imagine the Rhythm! The key is Rhythm Elements

2. Understand Rhythm Grids

Vocalization

1. Get a resonant voice without breath leakage!

2. The start of the voice should be soft!

Bass

1. Sing Major and Minor with the Bass Line

Beatboxing

1. Get a powerful beatboxing sound

2. Learn performance techniques that add color to the song!

Lesson 3

Practice Song: "Arigato" by Ikimonogakari

Harmony

1. Try singing through deep accidentals

2. What else can you do besides aligning pitch and rhythm?

Rhythm

1. The mindset to receive rhythm with your body!

2. Grasp the feeling of Down/Up!

3. Feel the rhythm with your whole body!

4. Link your ears and body more!

Vocalization

1. Conquer Long Tones (Part 1)

2. Conquer Long Tones (Part 2)

3. Eliminate "Muffled" and make your voice fly forward!

4. Shift smoothly from choral singing!

5. Control the brightness of your voice!

Bass

1. In a cappella, you can express any bass sound!

Beatboxing

1. The Hi-Hat in Beatboxing is Surprisingly Deep!

Lesson 4

Practice Song: "You are Natural Colors" by Eikichi Yazaki

Harmony

1. How to sing through modulations that drastically change the mood of the song?

2. Emotional expression in clichés woven with the staircase of sounds

Rhythm

1. Try Triplet Rhythm!

2. Bring it on, Shuffle & Triplets

3. Swing, Oh, the Depth of the World

Vocalization

1. Tuning for singing in harmony!

2. Improve your microphone technique and create a voice that cuts through!

Bass

1. Maintain the bass-like quality even with high notes!

Beatboxing

1. Strengthen the shuffle feeling! It's called Ghost Notes

Lesson 5

Practice Song: "Automatic" by Hikaru Utada

Harmony

1. Sing through stylish chords!

2. Solve the puzzle of tension notes!

Rhythm

1. Did you know? There are two types of swing

2. Incorporate body movement into your singing

Vocalization

1. Smoothly switch between chest voice and head voice!

2. Graduate from painful screams! Master mixed voice

3. Manipulate the timbre (character) of your voice freely!

Bass

1. Step out of the sheet music! Challenge improvisation

Beatboxing

1. Add excitement to the beat with random elements!

PROFILE

Kakuta Aoi

Composer and music teacher. Graduated from Ibaraki University and the Graduate School of Music Education (Composition Seminar). Currently teaches general music at Joban Junior College, and composition and arrangement at Shobi Gakuen University and Otsuma Women's University. Also runs a solfège class where you can train your ear while learning music theory. In the a cappella field, provided arrangements and supervision for the 2018 TCMC World A Cappella Championship-winning "Kamere Gakudan", the 2019 Hamonep-winning "Tamuramaro", and the 2019 Akasupi-winning "ho-op", among others. As an educator and researcher, actively pursues the artistic nature of a cappella while expanding its reach.

Baratti (Nagie Lane)

Composer, arranger, and beatboxer. Graduated from Tsukuba University and Berklee College of Music.

In April 2021, appeared as a member of Nagie Lane (Nagie Lane) on TV Asahi's "Kanjyam Complete Burn SHOW". Major debut in September of the same year. As a composer and arranger, provided three songs for Gospelars' album "A Cappella 2" in 2021 (co-composed with Kurokawa Kaoru). In 2022, provided "Voice, Heart, Body & Soul" to the voice actor a cappella project Aopera. Also participated in "RAKUEN" from Yuzu's "SEES" with a talk box.