Six things that make the art of Jazz Singing stand out
I often hear singers presenting themselves as jazz vocalists or claiming that they are singing jazz. Yet, I realize that they are unaware of the basic characteristics of Jazz Singing, and how to approach this art form correctly, for them to develop and evolve in it. There is this impression that singing jazz means singing […]
Use your voice as an improvising instrument
Jazz Singing is a priceless educational process, in which the singer is getting to know his/her voice, appreciates its multiple expressive potentials, and learns to use it as an improvising instrument. Meanwhile, he/she discovers the magic of jazz music and enjoys the unique experience of artistic expression and freedom! Jazz is a universal language and, […]
Musical personality in jazz – shaping your musical identity
There is an increasingly active conversation within jazz circuits about this crucial subject: “find your own voice, your own musical identity” and so on. There are one or more reasons for that, of course. Along with the technological evolution (internet, social media) and the rise in popularity of jazz educational institutions (conservatories, music schools, etc) […]
Master Research Exposition “Phrasing and Interplay from the vocal point of view”
Free access to my Master Research Exposition (2018) entitled “Phrasing & Interplay from the vocal point of view – phrasing as the vocalist’s tool to stimulate interplay within a jazz combo”. Now you can visit and read my complete Master Research Exposition as it was published in the Research Portal of The Royal Conservatoire of […]
Swing feel and syncopation
At the very beginning of one’s jazz studies, swing feel is the first and most basic thing, which the student comes in contact with. The musician learns what the swing feel is, analyzing the triplet eighths, in order to understand the origin and the certain “feel” that the swing eighth notes have and begins to further deepen into the concepts […]
Improvisation from the cradle
It is a quite common belief, that improvising in jazz music is something that requires knowledge, maturity, experience, aesthetics, etc. That’s the truth and this assumption is absolutely correct. Nevertheless, I would like to get straight to the topic of this article and explain what I mean by the title “Improvisation from the cradle”. […]
Singing and psychism
Singing is one of the most archetypal human forms of expression whether these might have been vocalizations and yodels or more sophisticated improvisations and melodies along with words. However in our modern culture, people, especially those living in big cities, scarcely use this means of expression in their everyday life. Modern lifestyle along with any […]
The appropriate teacher
Exactly like any other field of knowledge, the quality of the music learning process depends largely on the role of the teacher. Elements such as stimuli, information, tips, the technique of the instrument, general musical knowledge, the cultivation of aesthetic criterion, the opening-up of the thirsty spirit and its redirection towards wealthier sources, the love […]
Jazz means improvisation
Throughout its recent history, evolution, and contemporary route, jazz music has been identified with improvisation. One point in which jazz differentiates against other musical idioms (that also share the element of improvisation) is that improvisation in jazz is not a static “snapshot” nor is a purpose. We could say that improvisation is the very language of jazz. The jazz musician deals with […]
Power And Homogeneity
The cornerstone, the center of gravity or however you call the mask in the process of singing, becomes immediately apparent how extremely important it is for the quality, power, and homogeneity of sound. The control of support in breathing (read more at the article about breathing), while the sound finds an “open space” within the oropharyngeal cavity (read more at the article […]