Jazz Vocal Workshop

Course Description

Summary

Students will gain a better understanding of jazz vocal styles by listening to recordings and studying the backgrounds of influential jazz singers. Students will learn and perform jazz vocal literature while receiving guidance from two faculty members, jazz pianist Bruce Williamson and vocal coach Kerry Ryer-Parke. Musical styles covered will include ballads, swing, blues Latin. Emphasis will be on healthy tone production, phrasing, microphone technique, and finding a personal approach to chosen songs. In addition, students will learn how to find appropriate keys of songs to fit one’s vocal range, transpose notate lead sheets, and how to use common jazz terminology. Due to safety precautions, performance sessions will use multiple spaces, allowing for some time all together showing progress in class, some remote singing from other rooms (with audio feed to the primary classroom) and individual coaching times. Students will write responses to listening assignments on Populi and also prepare a presentation on an influential jazz singer. There are hopes that we will be able to offer some ensemble singing and improvisation exercises as well and aim for a virtual or in-person May cabaret performance. Curiosity, enthusiasm and a willingness to try new approaches to vocal performance are encouraged.