workshops

Singing Your Song

Vancouver Community College
(Dates to be announced)

For more information, contact: help!

A Two-day Workshop for Beginning and Intermediate Level Singers with an interest in Jazz Repertoire and Vocal Improvisation.

The purpose of this workshop is to introduce and upgrade essential skills for the contemporary vocalist. The workshop culminates with a performance by participants of repertoire learned in the workshop setting.

Enrollment

Enrollment Fee: $230
To enroll, contact Vancouver Community College Music Department 604.871.7297
Enrollment is limited to 10 students.

Overview of Workshop

Faculty: Kate Hammett-Vaughan, Grace McNab
Level 1: Beginners
Level 2: Intermediate

Day 1

Warming Up: 10:00 - 11:15 · Levels 1 & 2 · GMcN & KHV; Relaxation and breathing techniques for singers. Essential warm-up exercises for the voice and body.
Piano Skills for Singers: 11:30 - 12:30 · Level 2 · GMcN; Piano skills for singers with a basic knowledge of the keyboard and chord structure. Simple chord voicings and ways to learn your tunes will be emphasized.
Repertoire 1: 11:30 - 12:30 · Level 1 · KHV; An introduction to suggested repertoire for the weekend, including an introduction to song form, choosing keys, tempos, etc.
Piano Skills for Singers: 1:00 - 2:00 · Level 1 · GMcN; An overview of basic piano skills for singers at a starting level. Simple chord structures and ways to learn your tunes will be emphasized.
Repertoire 2: 1:00 - 2:00 · Level 2 · KHV; An introduction to suggested repertoire for the weekend, including a look at more advanced song form, choosing keys, tempos, etc.
Vocal Improv Session: 2:15 - 3:30 · Levels 1 & 2 · GMcN & KHV; Your voice is an instrument. This lighthearted class explores the range of textures and sounds available to you through games and simple structures for improvisation.

Break

Song Analysis: 5:00 - 6:00 · Level 2 · GMcN; A look at simple and effective ways to analyze your tunes. Includes keys, modulations, recognizing common chord patterns, and more.
What’s a Lead Sheet?: 5:00 - 6:00 · Level 1 · KHV; An introduction to basic chart (or lead-sheet) writing skills. This includes song form, intros, endings, key selection and more.
Performance & Question Period: 6:30 - 7:30 · Levels 1 & 2 · GMcN & KHV; A performance of jazz standards included in the workshop repertoire. An opportunity to ask questions directly related to the tunes and performing.

Day 2

Warming Up: 11:00 - 12:00 · Levels 1 & 2 · GMcN & KHV; Relaxation and breathing techniques for singers. Essential warm-up exercises for the voice and body.
Transcribing A Jazz Solo: 12:00 - 1:00 · Levels 1 & 2 · GMcN & KHV; Learn some easy and fun approaches to aural transcription (learning a great jazz solo by ear).
Improvising Over Chord Changes: 1:00 - 2:00 · Levels 1 & 2 · GMcN & KHV; “Scat Singing 101” Using your ears and musical instincts to create new melodies over existing chord changes. This class takes the intimidation out of improvising and puts the fun back in.
Intros & Endings: 2:30 - 3:30 · Levels 1 & 2 · GMcN & KHV; Essential information for all singers! Acquire the basic skills that make everything you sing sound professionally arranged.

Break

Rehearsal for Performance: 4:30 - 5:30 · Level 1 · GMcN & KHV; Run a simple rehearsal of your tune in preparation for your performance. Learn to “count in” your song and “call your coda”.
Rehearsal for Performance: 5:30 - 6:30 · Level 2 · GMcN & KHV; Run a simple rehearsal of your tune in preparation for your performance.
Performance!: 7:30 - 9:00; All workshop participants perform their new tune!

About the Teachers

Kate Hammett-Vaughan is one of Canada’s most acclaimed jazz vocalists, both for her interpretation of jazz standards and for her contemporary vocal explorations with groups like the NOW Orchestra. She has received three JUNO nominatios for Best Jazz Vocal Performance. Her deep knowledge and love of the standard repertoire and its classic performers fuel her passion for teaching this tradition. A dedicated teacher and experienced clinician, Kate is on faculty at Vancouver Community College and Capilano College, and teaches private lessons as well.

Grace McNab, Coordinator of Jazz Studies at Cap College, is known primarily for her imaginative theory teaching and versatile musicianship. Her broad training/ professional experience includes a Master’s in Music Theory and work in classical piano performance, architecture, and composition. A college/university lecturer for some twenty years, Grace’s love of jazz (which pre-dates all of this) combined with a lifelong fascination with harmony and musical structure, has made her recent classical-jazz crossover only a matter of time!