MDC JAZZ VOICE PATHWAY
Jazz & Contemporary Applied Voice
Project Description
Transcribe melody/harmony, rhythms, and syllables from a vocalist’s solo. Incorporate these syllables into your own solo. Then, record one song from your repertoire. Transcribe yourself and analyze your melodic/harmonic, rhythmic, and syllable choices. Continue this practice each semester.
Objective: The student will gain a better understanding of their own skill level (use of melody, harmony, rhythms, and syllables). Students will analyze and explain other vocalists' language and style characteristics.
Practical Application: The student will apply harmonies, melodies, rhythms, and syllables from the vocalist study. They will use the analysis of their own performance to identify habits and expand their own vocabulary.
LEVEL 171: The Syllable-Solo Project
LEVEL 172: The Vocalist Comparison Project
LEVEL 273: The Layer Project
LEVEL 274: The Gig-Competition Project
LEVEL 373: The Marketing Project
LEVEL 374: The Performance Analysis Project
LEVEL 473: The Senior & Promo Project
LEVEL 474: The Senior Recital Project
Project Description
Choose two vocalists to compare and analyze. Then, record a tune using characteristics from both vocalists. Present and describe the vocalists you chose.
Objective: The student will gain a better understanding of their own skill level (use of melody, harmony, rhythms, and syllables). Students will analyze and explain other vocalists' language and style characteristics.
Practical Application: The student will apply harmonies, melodies, rhythms, and syllables from the vocalist study to develop their own skills.
Project Description
Record a tune with multiple layers (bass line, harmonies, etc.). Listen to templates. Also, book at least one gig, video the performance, and submit the video.
Objective: The student will assess their own performance, both aurally and visually.
Practical Application: The student will identify habits in their performances and formulate strategies for improvement.
Project Description
Book a gig. Video the performance. Analyze the video. Submit the video and analysis for a grade. Record yourself for a grade. You may email it, post it to your own social media site and/or post it on FB Transcription of the Week site. Submit the results to a competition (Downbeat, Sarah Vaughan). Continue this practice each semester.
Objective: The student will assess their own performance, both aurally and visually. The student will publicize their performance for feedback or simply for experience using social media as a platform for marketing.
Practical Application: The student will use their analysis to improve their performances and begin marketing themselves through online media and/or competition.
Project Description
1) Brainstorm/research ways to build a fanbase/clientele as a musician. You may use your mind, the internet, other musicians, and other research. Present a list of ways you will explore.
2) Book a minimum of 2 gigs at the same location. After performing the first gig, conduct a marketing research experiment, by experimenting with a minimum of 2 advertising/marketing strategies (social media, radio, television, posters, word of mouth, email list etc.). At the 2nd gig, assess whether your experiment worked and explore other ways to build a fanbase.
3) Submit your results in written format for a grade.
Bonus: For a more detailed analysis/results, at each gig, leave survey cards at each table, asking people why they are at the restaurant (the food, the music, other (with blank to explain why), if they enjoyed the music, if they would come hear you again (why), and to provide their email if they are interested in joining your email list
Objective: The student will conduct their own marketing research using experiments at two gigs in order to gain a better understanding of how the market works for a gigging musician.
Practical Application: The student will use the results of their experiments to become more effective promoters for their own performances.
Project Description
1) Watch an entire concert performance of a respected/admired jazz vocalist. Assess their demeanor, stage presence, speaking, content, and other elements you could incorporate into your own performance. Submit a list of your observations.
2) Apply some of these principles to your own performance and video the performance.
3) Assess your own performance. Submit a list of your observations. Submit a list of your observations. Include both positive critiques and constructive criticism.
Objective: The student will observe and analyze a performance and evaluate what makes the performance successful. They will find aspects that they can implement in their own performances.
Practical Application: The student will use the performance aspects observed to improve their own performances.
Project Description
1) Record 2-3 songs from your repertoire as a demo for yourself. These may include tunes from your recital. 2) Have headshots taken. These may be used to promote your senior recital or other gigs.
Objective: The student will complete their Senior Project through the MSU School of Music. They will create a promotional packet.
Practical Application: The student will create a packet he or she can use to promote their senior recital and other upcoming shows.
Project Description
The student must promote, perform, and record their senior recital. The student is responsible for choosing a date and location that is acceptable to all recital committee members, band members, and their instructor.
Objective: The student will complete their Senior Recital through the MSU School of Music.
Practical Application: The performance will serve as a record of their improvement during their time at MSU and their skill level upon completion of the program. Recorded performances may be useful for graduate school applications, gig demos, or other auditions.