The Jazz Singer

There are certain techniques and traits that differentiate ‘jazz’ singers from the rest of the flock.  They do not just sing the given melody – they play with it.  You must also have a grasp of the musical principles underpinning jazz. An approach:

1. Always learn the song as it was written in a ‘real’ or ‘fake’ book rather than learn a song ‘as sung by’ somebody else.
2. Listen to good jazz horn players to get ideas of phrasing and what adventurous things can be done with a melody.
3. Learn good voice production including a wide range of vocal qualities
4. Learn effective warm-ups/warm downs and vocal exercises that concentrate on the ‘trouble-spots’ specific to your voice
5. Ear training: ascertain the sounds of different jazz chords and intervals, and how they relate to each other
6. Learn to recognize and ‘count in’ different tempos, time signatures and feels
7. Learn & practice the ‘modes’ and jazz scales (diminished, blues)
8. Set in place a daily practice and warm-up regime
9. Experiment with all voice qualities and listen to those singers who use their voices as instruments
10. Understand the ‘form’ of jazz tunes: their arrangements and structure.
11. Familiarize yourself with typical ‘intro’s and ‘outtro’s
12. Learn/experiment with ‘scat’ and ‘improvisation’
13. Learn how to put a program together
14. Do some detective work: read autobiographies and biographies of jazz players and singers and read up on the history of jazz
15. Learn the repertoire – jazz ‘standards’ and know what are your keys
16. ENJOY & EXPLORE!