As the Musical Director and Beat-Boxer for Divisi, senior Hayley Valoppi leads her all-female a cappella group to international success. Beginning her sophomore year at the University of Oregon, Valoppi’s experience with Divisi helped her become one of the best college beat-boxers in Oregon.
How did you get involved with Divisi?
I first got introduced to On the Rocks and Divisi when I was in 6th grade and my choir director took me and a lot of kids to see them and I just fell in love with it. At the end of my freshman year, the spring of 2011, I auditioned for Divisi and I got in and it’s been my life ever since.
What do you do as the Musical Director?
I lead rehearsals. I sit here and we rehearse for two and a half house. Outside of rehearsal I spend a lot more time than anyone else does cause I’m not just learning one part. I’m making sure I know everyone’s part so I can help anyone who needs help, know what it’s actually supposed to sound like, and be able to hear trouble spots.
How did you start beat-boxing?
It was my first year in the group and I just spent hours in my bedroom making weird noises. I was so bad. There is this video that I recorded of me practicing so I could look back and hear it. That will never see the light of day but it’s really funny to watch cause you can see how much I’m concentrating and how my entire body is trying to make these sounds that I understood but actually executing it was a completely different story. After my first year, the main beat-boxer graduated and I just took over. That summer I definitely practiced a lot and I’ve been doing it ever since.
What is the most challenging part about beat-boxing?
I think that the most challenging thing is getting out of your way. It’s hard when you get to a point where you think you’re kind of good to understand that you don’t have to show everything you can do in one song. Songs don’t always need to have the most complex beats. Some songs are better off with a simple rhythm and I definitely think that’s a challenge for me to remember that.
The most rewarding?
It’s been cool finding a passion for something I didn’t know I had a passion for. I taught myself how to do it so it’s been cool to hone a craft that I did for myself. Everyone’s mouth is different too so no one makes the same noise. It’s unique to the individual.
Thank you.