The Human Drum Kit: How to Master Vocal Percussion for an Acapella Group

When you listen to a great contemporary acapella group, what is the secret engine driving the entire performance forward? It is not just the lush harmonies or the soaring lead vocals—it is the vocal percussionist (often called the VP or the human beatbox).

Laying down the groove, driving the tempo, and mimicking everything from a crisp snare drum to a subterranean bass guitar with nothing more than your mouth and a microphone is both an art and a science.