Technique & Musicianship

Vocal Technique

A class on vocal conditioning, stamina and maintenance along with ear training and placement for pitch accuracy. Students work on specific exercises to increase both vertical and horizontal ranges and learn to implement dynamics, tone color, vibrato and straight tone. Students learn how to utilize the break in their vocal range and sing with a full voice connection to enhance style and interpretation. Maximum enrollment: 10.

Sections I, II, III open to all.

Section I

SPRING: 4/2 – 6/4 (10 weeks)

Tuesdays 4:45 – 6:15 pm

Raz Kennedy  $365

Section II

SPRING: 4/4 – 6/6 (10 weeks)

Thursdays 11:45 am – 1:15 pm

Joyce Pricco   $365

Section III

SPRING: 4/6 – 6/8 (10 weeks)

Saturdays 1:30 – 3 pm

Joyce Pricco  $365

Vocal Improvisation

Improvisation is a core value in jazz, from taking subtle liberties with a melody to creating something completely new in the moment over the space of many choruses of a song, but it all comes from the same learning path: Listen, Learn, Do. Each class includes Listening (to each other, to live examples, and to recorded examples of the masters), Learning (12-bar blues, “Rhythm” changes, “Autumn Leaves,” writing vocalese lyrics, how to back up a soloist, etc.), and most of all, Doing (taking solos, following a song’s form, phrasing, improvisation etiquette, and laying down and supporting a groove whether you’re the soloist or not). Students are encouraged to bring a recording device.

Maximum class size: 10.
Prerequisite: none. All levels welcome!

SPRING: 4/1 – 6/10 (10 weeks) no class 5/27

Mondays 8:15 – 9:45 pm

Stephen Saxon  $365