Vocal Improvisation for Singers

Review: Eight famous scat solos over standards, transcribed and notated with the original verbal syllables over each note. These vocal solos are wonderful pieces to use for the study of phrasing, scat vocabulary, and be-bop lines.

Songlist: Introduction, But Not For Me, Dancing On The Ceiling, Do It The Hard Way, Everything Happens To Me, It Could Happen To You, Just Friends, You Make Me Feel So Young, This Is Always

Review: Vamps are one or more chords repeated over and over again. Since the harmony doesn't change much, you have time to hear ideas and develop a solo as well as find new ways to articulate and build your personal vocabulary. There are eight piano vamps on this practice CD. Each one has a different feel and character and chord progression.

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Review: If you have ever wanted to learn to scat, try this book! Dr. Scott Fredrickson presents the basics of vocal improvisation in his book Scat Singing Method. This detailed book and two accompanying CDs include step by step instructions and exercises on how to use syllables, melody and rhythm for jazz singing. At the end of the method are eight arrangements for voices (solo with back up), piano, bass and drums. This book is great for individuals as well as the classroom. This new approach is based on the technique of theme and variation. By using the elements of vocal improvisation: syllables, melody, and rhythm, and applying the techniques, musical objectives can be met and instant success achieved.

Songlist: Syllables, Melody, Rhythm, Integration, Phrases, Rehearsal Techniques & Ideas, Practice Tunes

Review: This awesome follow-up to the popular book Scat!, Blues Scatitudes is packed full of vocal improvisation techniques on the Blues. Focuses on blues solos in variety of contemporary grooves, while also covering syllable articulation, accents and ties, Blues etudes, and more.

Songlist: Musical Terms, Scat Syllables, Using Accents, Major and Pentatonic Scales, The Blues Scale, Eight Blues Scatitudes

Style: Blues

Review: Bob Stoloff is an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music. This book is a comprehensive how-to on vocal jazz scat technique. Beginning with an introduction to the history of scat and its evolution, it contains a virtual library of scales and exercises. Rhythmic, melodic and harmonic concepts, including modes, are discussed, with recommended methods for practice given. Also, vocal bass and percussion routines are explained. The accompanying CD allows the student to listen to examples, and then work on the exercises with rhythm-section accompaniment. 'Scat!' is an intensive program, based upon application, not dry theory. Fundamental sight-reading ability is required to do the exercises. This book is an excellent resource for the jazz vocalist seeking to develop their style.

Songlist: Rhythmic Considerations, Melodic Considerations, Melodic Solos, Vocal Bass Lines, Vocal Drum Articulations, Solo A Cappella Technique, Sing Along Patterns, Vocal Drum Grooves

Review: Jazz Conception is a method which includes scat singing, jazz phrasing, interpretation and improvisation that helps singers at all levels to learn the language of jazz! This book/CD set features 21 solo etudes based on standard chord progressions and blues, demonstrated by Amy London, accompanied by one of todays finest, swinging New York rhythm sections: Mike LeDonne on piano, Dennis Irwin on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums. See and hear how the solist phrases and articulates, sing along with or without the vocalist on the CD and learn the language of jazz first-hand. Start out fairly easy, then get progressively more difficult. Use the etudes as a bridge to solos of the masters that are usually more complicated and involved. Learn melodies and lines that will give you a solid jazz vocabulary and musicality. The Jazz Conception Series is also perfectly suited for the class room. It can be used to develop younger students jazz style in a big band or small group. In an improvisation class the teacher can use the etudes as studies in improvisation. The Study Guide provides an analysis of each etude, along with practice assignments for each.

Songlist: Groove Blues, Amen, A Doll, Total Blues, Grease, Rose, Joe's Thing, Proxy, Father Song, Ind Line, Miles, Blue Minor, Autumn, Friends, Great Love, Two Plus Two, Lunar, Tunisia, Bird Blue, Somewhere, Passage

Style: Jazz

Review: Approaching the Standards for Jazz Vocalists is an innovative, user-friendly approach to vocal jazz improvisation. Designed for the individual or group and male or female vocalists, this book and sing-along CD contains ten classic jazz songs selected from and correlated to Approaching the Standards Volumes 1, 2 and 3. Included are the same essential features as the instrumental books: CD demo, clearly written improvisation examples, jazz vocabulary, transcription opportunities, informative composer insight and a useful discography. Whether beginning their studies or improving their vocal jazz skills, all serious singers must have this book!

Songlist: Billlie' Bounce, On The Trail, Cantaloupe Island, Summertime, Satin Doll, C Jam Blues, I Got Rhythm

Style: Jazz

Review: Jazz Phrasing is a perfect workbook for all jazz vocalists. It covers: Specific Rhythm Phrasing - interpreting 8th notes, specific rhythm figures; Open Phrasing - exploring tempos and styles, working with ballads; Tips on Performance - choosing a tempo and counting off, telling the song's story, working with your ensemble; and more. The accompanying CD lets you: compare transcriptions to recorded examples, listen to vocal and instrumental examples, sing along with the rhythm section, create backgrounds and analyze arrangements.

Songlist: Specific Rhythm Phrasing, Interpreting Eighth Notes, Specific Rhythm Figures, Open Phrasing, Exploring Different Musical Environments, Ballads, Working on a Complete Arrangement, Anlyzing the Form, About the Solo Section, What Have We Learned About Jazz Phrasing?, Vocal and Instrumental Discography, About the Composers, Lyricists, Musicians, and Authors

Review: Calling all current and would-be jazz musicians - you have some serious reading and woodshedding (practicing) to do, 232 pages worth! A former member of the Grammy-nominated Phil Mattson Singers, Michele Weir currently teaches at UCLA, and has taught at USC, CSU Long Beach and the Phil Mattson School. 'Vocal Improvisation' is designed for singers, students and teachers of vocal jazz. There is a CD that contains vocal examples with rhythm section background. The exercises are appropriate for all levels of experience, from beginning to advanced, and also be useful to instrumentalists for developing jazz articulation. A tremendous resource of information for any jazz musician!

Songlist: Part One: Jazz Fundamentals, Chords and Scales, Chord Progressions and how They Work, Other Basics, Jazz Keyboard, Part Two: Beginning Improvisation, Getting Started, Rhythm and Syllables, Creating Melodies, Diatonic Chord Progressions, Learning to Hear the Changes, Part Three: Intermediate Improvisation Articulation, Melodic Structure, Non-Diatonic Chord Progressions, Hearing the Changes, Part Four: Advanced Improvisation, Other Aspects of Rhythm, More About the Bebop Language, Hearing the Changes Even Better!, Improvising on Jazz Standards, Part Five: Other Considerations, Creating and Retaining Interest, Practice, Part Five: Vocal Improvisation In The Classroom, Working with Groups of Students, Group Activities and Games, Appendix A: Interviews with jazz Singers, Appendix B: Solos for Transcribing, Appendix C: Index of Exercises

Review: How to integrate jazz and to jazz rhythm into chordal and solo repretoire. An exciting an innovative guide to learning to sing jazz. Stephanie Nakasian is listed in the Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz as one of the world's leading jazz singers. She first came to international attention in the mid-80s when she sang and toured with the vocal jazz master Jon Hendricks and Company - her 'vocal jazz apprenticeship.' She teaches jazz voice and vocal jazz improvisation at The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. She has directed and coached vocal jazz ensembles and gives numerous workshops each year to schools and conferences. Find out things like Why an 8th note is not an 8th note, or Where are the hidden rests? A great resource for any jazz singer. Includes sample CD with practice exercises.. 'All musicians (singers and instrumentalists) will sharpen their rhythm skills through this instruction.' Dr. John Kuzmich, Jr. Jazz Educators Journal (IAJE)

Songlist: Outline, Introduction, Defining Jazz, Elements Of Jazz Style, Listening, Vocal Technique Ideas, Improvising And Scat - Getting Started, Examples Of Re-Interpreted - Getting It To Swing, Summary / Conclusion, Exercises Presented In The Accompanying CD

Review: Using some of America's best-loved standards as vehicles for improvisation, Arnie Berle guides today's musician through a step-by-step course in the art of spontaneous creativity. The seemingly magical world of improvisation is explained and broken down into three easy concepts. At every step of the way, Arnie clearly explains and analyzes the challengers provided by each tune. This unique approach covers everything from the manipulation of melody and rhythm to the implementation of chord tones and approach notes. Includes a special section on developing technical facility.

Songlist: Three Steps to Improvisation, Step One: Changing Note Values, Improvising on the Great Standards, "Everything Happens to Me", "Polka Dots and Moonbeams", "Imagination", "Aren't You Glad You're You?", "Its the Talk of the Town", Step Two: Adding Notes to a Melody, Approach Notes, C Scale with Approach Notes, Points to Remember, "Little Brown Jug", "Everything Happens to Me", "Polka Dots and Moonbeams", "Imagination", "Aren't You Glad You're You?", "Its the Talk of the Town", Two Additional Approach Notes, Half-Step Upper Approach Note, The Whole-Step Lower Approach Note, Passing Tones, Diatonic Passing Tones, Chromatic Passing Tones, "Everything Happens to Me", "Polka Dots and Moonbeams", "Imagination", "Aren't You Glad You're You?", "Its the Talk of the Town", Step Three: How to Use Chord Tones, How to Form the Basic Chords, Points to Remember, "Everything Happens to Me", "Polka Dots and Moonbeams", "Imagination", "Aren't You Glad You're You?", "Its the Talk of the Town", Appendix: Approach Tones in the Major Scale, Appendix: Chord Studies, In Conclusion

Review: This book in the Ramon Ricker Jazz Improvization Series is for the Advanced singer. The interval of a fourth is an integral part of jazz Improvisation and the sixty pages of reading and exercises will give the musician a good understanding of the interval's uses. The serious student should use this book as a supplement to aid and expand his harmonic and melodic vocabulary. When fourths mare mastered, They can ce applied directly to jazz improvisation and ultimately increase musicianship.

Songlist: Introduction, Application Of Fourths To Chord Changes, Exercises, Discography

Review: Join acclaimed improvisational vocalist Rhiannon and her all-star circle of friends as she teaches you how to leave the sheet music behind and start 'cutting loose' in the jazz, gospel, Latin, and African traditions. This exciting step-by-step program will take you right to the heart of a cappella singing and vocal improvisation. Have fun while building confidence and skills at your own pace. For singers of all levels. This complete self-study course includes warm-up, free singing, listening skills, vocal instrumentation, and ensemble singing. From basic voicework to improvisation with a six person a cappella ensemble, Flight will take you on a journey of self-discovery! You will learn to tap the richness of your own voice and inner musical landscapes while you sing solo or with friends. Rhiannon will guide you through interactive vocal exercises that show you how. We've included call and response exercises with space for you to sing, a cappella songs to learn as well as background grooves with vocal percussion, bass, and harmony back-up for you to solo over.

Songlist: Taste of Music, Everything Is Breath, Long Tones, Major Ascending / Minor Descending , Soul Song, Call and Response, Alphabet, Personal Language, Transformations, Pattern Duets, Jazz Vamp, Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven, Wings of a Dove, Taste of Music, The Bottom, Home, Fine, Mouth , Serengeti, Shape Shifting, Vuelo, The Circle

Review: Fans of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross specifically, and vocal jazz in general, have long heard about the early sides recorded before the trio came together in 1957. In fact, each member -- Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks, and Annie Ross -- was separately a pioneer in bop-inspired vocal improvisation, the type of vocalizing that concentrated on the most purely musical aspects of singing. The El Records compilation, Improvisations for the Human Voice, compiles 25 of those early sides and provides a terrific complement to their best recordings, the string of LPs they recorded for Columbia between 1959 and 1962 (which were collected on an excellent two-CD compilation, The Hottest New Group in Jazz). These tracks comprise a wealth of seminal vocal sides by the most inventive minds in the art of vocalese.

Songlist: What's This, A Cent and a Half, Perdido, Charge Account, Gussie G, Hawaiian War Chant, Jolly Jo, Twisted, Farmer's Market, Annie's Lament, Jackie, Four Brothers, Cloudburst, Standin' on the Corner (Whistlin' at the Pretty Girls), Two for the Blues, Little Pony, One O'Clock Jump, Fiesta in Blue, Blues Backstage, Tickle-Toe, Doodlin', The Spirit-Feel, Lil' Darlin', Rusty Dusty Blues, Popity Pop