Minor detail becomes major deal

A typical set list for Truman's female a cappella group Minor Detail includes an eclectic mix of musical transformations, from head-nodding college favorites like Kid Cudi's "Pursuit of Happiness," to slower moving, vocal-heavy tunes like Rufus Wainwright's "Hallelujah," all the way to humorous crowd pleasers like Rebecca Black's "Friday."

In a way, the wide range of influences reflects the group as a whole.

"We're all very different," senior Emily Lewis said. "We try to keep it so we all know what's going on in each other's lives [to] help us connect a little bit more."

Minor Detail brought their musical performances to Truman events in 2002, and recently has been making a push to become more recognized around campus. If their schedule has anything to do with it, they will accomplish that goal — the women are scheduled to perform five times in the next 10 days, including tonight at 7 p.m. when they perform in the Baldwin Auditorium as part of Dance for Diabetes.

Although the group perhaps has been overshadowed in the past by the popular male a cappella group True Men, Music Director junior Delaney Schlake said she thinks they're gaining popularity.

"I think definitely last year we were less well known and sort of people just thought True Men was Truman a cappella," Schlake said. "But I think we're getting a lot more recognition now. We've come a long way since my freshman year musically, and our publicity has grown."

The relationship between Minor Detail and True Men has taken a different feel recently, Schlake said, as the two groups have become closer.

"Those guys are our friends," Schlake said. "So it's not so much that it's a big competition thing anymore because we know each other."

Senior Riley Taylor of True Men, said there haven't always been a lot of warm feelings between the groups, but that it benefits both sides to come together.

Minor Detail recently featured True Men at their spring concert, and they've performed at multiple other events together. In preparation for concerts, they'll often have each other come in and preview the show, offering tips where they see fit.

"It's changed so much in the last year," Taylor said. "They're all really great girls, so we've been happy to grow closer."

Taylor can attest to the strides Minor Detail has made musically.

"The girls that they have in the group currently are incredibly motivated to make the group as good as it can possibly be," Taylor said. "They have so many possible styles represented in the girls they have in the group right now."    

That level of talent and dedication has put the group in a position to gain recognition, but they keep in mind that having fun is a top priority. Light-hearted practices give the girls a chance to take a step away from schoolwork.

"Being a vocal major is really stressful," Lewis said. "A lot of times music just stresses you out and you're tired of it and you don't want to listen to anymore classical, you don't want to do any more analyzing. This is kind of a way for me to remind myself that I enjoy music."

Lewis said Minor Detail has five music majors and a diverse range of personalities ­— they have found success working toward similar goals.

"There's a lot of work," Lewis said. "But we try to keep it fun so no one goes home crankier than when they came in."