This comprehensive, step-by-step guide is designed for dedicated singers seeking to enhance their understanding of jazz harmony and music fundamentals. It offers instruction on self-accompaniment, lead sheet composition, music structure comprehension, and scatting improvement. The Jazz Singer's Guidebook encompasses all the instrumental, theoretical, and ear training skills necessary for singers to master their craft. This resource will transform your musical perception, elevate your singing abilities, and equip you with tools to explore new avenues in your vocal journey.
Key topics include:
- Essential piano skills for self-accompaniment
- The harmonic foundation of song melodies
- Techniques for melody variation
- Increased awareness of significant harmonic elements in songs
- Lead sheet writing and chord change evaluation
- Recognizing tensions and chord tones
- Understanding and hearing appropriate chord scales for each chord change
- Improvisation techniques using chord scales
- Intonation improvement for scatting
Additionally, the book provides numerous suggestions and exercises for scatting, composing, transcribing, grasping jazz vocabulary, and enhancing your improvisational skills. It includes a CD download featuring demonstrations of many exercises within the text, spanning 142 pages.
Endorsements from notable figures in the jazz community highlight the book's effectiveness and practicality for singers and educators alike. David Berkman, a prominent jazz pianist and educator, emphasizes the potential for significant musical growth through dedicated practice, making this guide an invaluable resource for aspiring vocalists.
