If you’ve ever yearned to sing with the sound of a Big Band behind you, then here’s your chance.
STANDARD: IMPROVER, CONFIDENT, SKILFUL
Resident: £836 Non-Resident: £660 (25% off for under 27s) Code: 24/504
Booking for Members opens at 11am on Wednesday 28 February 2024
Non-Member and online booking opens at 11am on Wednesday 20 March 2024
For details on how to become a Member to take advantage of early booking, see here.
What is the course about?
Working under the guidance of Anton Browne and Jenny Howe, two of the finest Big Band singers around, you’ll explore and develop vocal techniques relevant to the genre, study the art of stagecraft and presentation, discover how to make a well-known song your own, and learn about microphone technique and improvisation. We’d like you to prepare two jazz standard songs and to bring along chord charts, we can allocate a big band song from our library or you can bring your own arrangement. A recording and playback device will also prove useful.
We begin at 6.30 pm on the first day and finish after breakfast on the final day. Entry to the A Night of Jazz concert on the Wednesday evening is included in the course fee. Please note a pre- course pack will be sent out to all applicants in advance of the course with more details.
Tutor website: www.thesingthing.com
What will we cover?
Vocal Technique
Phrasing
Song Structures
Appropriate stylistic vocal skills
Stage performance
Microphone technique
Additionally, small band singing
What will we accomplish? By the end of this course you will be able to…
Feel confident singing with a big band
Be in a position to progress with newly acquired skills
Feel confident communicating with musicians
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Experience of singing to upper intermediate standard is desirable.
How will the course be taught, and will any preparation be required?
We’d like you to prepare two jazz standard songs and to bring along chord charts, we can allocate a big band song from our library or you can bring your own arrangement.
Will music be provided in advance of the course?
No. We’d like you to prepare two jazz standard songs and to bring along chord charts, we can allocate a big band song from our library or you can bring your own arrangement.
Is there anything I need to bring?
For the most part, dress is casual but there is the tutors’ concert - to which students are warmly invited, along with the paying public – and the student concerts. Singers will perform with the big band and also a small band which comprises members of the big band. This is free to the public and you’re encouraged to invite all and sundry. We mention the above as you might like to bring some glad rags! Up to you. A wi-fi playback and recording device will be useful (phone?).
What previous participants said about this course…
“Not just a chance to perform with a Big Band but also to understand more about the genre and craft of Jazz performance through small ensembles and big band. Includes advice on vocal warm-ups, microphones and mic technique, vocal technique, improv and performance / managing a small ensemble.”