THE DORDOGNE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ SUMMER SCHOOL 2020
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VOCAL JAZZ | July 25 - August 1
The Regular jazz vocal course that has been running for the last few years with Paola Vera and Pete Churchill. There are no individual lessons because of lack of time but every singer does get individual attention and coaching on their solo and lead performances from tutors. We aim for a maximum of sixteen vocal students. This programme runs alongside the "Intensive" jazz instrumental course which consists of five workshop bands.
The Classes will explore a wide variety of repertoire and improvisation approaches whilst also dealing with physical vocal technique and song interpretation. Full details below.
The Repertoire will cover a wide range of styles from jazz standards, blues, and latin with an emphasis on improvisation and the jazz idiom from the "Great American Song Book".
Lessons will include
- How to find your ideal key - How to transpose - How to rehearse songs - How to start improvisating from a jazz perspective- How to communicate lyrics - Song interpretation - How to communicate groove - Microphone technique - Choral work with Pete Churchill
Tutors Paola Vera and Pete Churchill
Languages English (primary), French, Spanish
Support staff - professional bass player, drummer and sound engineer
Resources - Fully Equipped Recording Studio, available for hire out of teaching hours | performance stage with PA, Lighting etc.
PAOLA VERA
Professor of Jazz Voice at Bordeaux Conservatoire
"…sings with dark and subtle tones" Jazzwise Magazine
A classically trained professional pianist, composer, arranger as well as an accomplised singer; Paola Vera is now Professor de Chant Jazz et Musique Actuelle at Bordeaux Conservatoire. Paola's teaching experience includes work from school level, through adult education workshops and a stint as tutor on the Trinity Conservatoire jazz summer school alongside respected vocal jazz educators Pete Churchill and Iain Mackenzie. Paola is musical director of Wye Community Groove Choir and is a member of the The British Voice Association. As a fluent Spanish and strong French speaker Paola welcomes applicants from Spain, Latin America and French speaking nations.
"A rare talent with an individual style and sound… she has an astonishing level of sophistication for someone so young." – Norma Winstone
In April 2011 Paola released her debut album, 'Spellbound' a collection of original catchy pop songs which incorporate hints of acid jazz, R&B and soul. Produced by the highly acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Paul Booth (Steve Winwood) and recorded at Wincraft Studios by Grammy nominated producer James Towler.
Paola was trained at Trinity College of Music and The Royal Academy of Music in London after receiving the Elton John Scholarship. Paola was awarded a Yamaha Jazz Award for outstanding young Jazz musician. She has been a member of thes London Vocal Project, and with Norma Winstone on the Edition release 'Mirrors' by Kenny Wheeler. At the Steinway Festival her own material and was broadcast on BBC Radio 3's Jazz Lineup. Paola regularly performs at the most exclusive parties and private events for clientele as diverse as The Times Newspaper to H.R.H King of Thailand!
www.paolavera.com
PETE CHURCHILL
Professor of Jazz Composition Royal Academy of Music
Pete has been a member of both Kenny Wheeler's and Abdullah Ibrahim's vocal projects, travelled extensively as Mark Murphy's accompanist and has collaborated with, amongst others, Norma Winstone, Stan Sulzmann, John Taylor, Cleveland Watkiss, Julian Arguelles, Bobby Wellins and Tina May.
Following 18 years of teaching on the Post Grad Jazz course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Pete is now Professor of Jazz Composition at the Royal Academy of Music in London whilst running the jazz choir at Trinity College of Music.
Much of Pete's time now is taken up with directing his own choir 'The London Vocal Project'. In addition to high profile performances with Cleo Laine, Norma Winstone, Kenny Wheeler and, most recently Bobby McFerrin, this seminal ensemble of young singer/workshop leaders regularly join Pete on his massive educational projects and they are fast gaining a reputation, under his guidance, as the next generation of gifted educators.
Pete Churchill leading Bobby McFerrin & The London Vocal Project @ The Barbican www.londonvocalproject.com
As an educator and choral director, Pete is very much in demand abroad - teaching regularly in Australia (Perth, Sydney, Melbourne), including a spell as visiting Professor at the Kodaly Summer School at the University of Queensland in Brisbane. He has given Jazz workshops for the ABRSM in the Far East (Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore) and closer to home he has been a guest lecturer at the Sibelius Academy in Finland.
www.petechurchill.co.uk
VOCAL JAZZ OPTION
The Classes will explore a wide variety of repertoire and improvisation approaches whilst also dealing with physical vocal technique and song interpretation.
The Repertoire will cover a wide range of styles from jazz standards, blues, latin, the "Great American Song Book".
- How to find your ideal key
- How to transpose
- How to rehearse songs
- How to start improvisating
- How to communicate lyrics
- Song interpretation
- How to communicate groove
- Microphone technique
Vocal techniques
- Introduction to physical warm-ups
- Basic voice production techniques
- Applying voice production technique to performance
- Development of a personal vocal style through technique
- Protecting your voice
- Building stamina
- Rest and re-couperation
VOCAL JAZZ TIMETABLE
VOCAL TIMETABLE Paola and Pete don't religiously stick to the following structure and we try and get students to sing something on stage at least every other night - depending on experience and confidence. There are no individual lessons because of lack of time but every singer does get individual attention and coaching on their solo and lead performances from both Paola Vera and Pete Churchill. We aim for a maximum of sixteen vocal students. There is no time on the week for individual vocal lessons although each student does get individual attention during the day. The day starts at 10am and goes on to 4pm with formal lessons in vocal technique, harmony, song-craft and practising and rehearsing performances for the evening's jam session which begins at 6pm-8.30pm and then after dinner from 9.30pm until late. Both vocal coaches are professional level pianists who can help you develop the appropriate skills in accompaniment and self-accompaniment. You will get the chance to rehearse and lead a full band for a public performance. We also offer an added extra of recording sessions in the fully equipped modern recording studio on site.
DAY 1 (Sunday) Introduction to the course - basic nomenclature of Chords and scales etc. you'll be using - Get you all singing in a small choir - last year's result here.....
DAY 2 (Monday) First look at improvising using the Blues structure - individual and duo performances that evening. Movie example (although they couldn't help but all join in on this one) :
DAY 3 (Tuesday) Learning more complicated songs from the standard repertoire to be performed that night with the bands on the instrumental course. Choosing the right key for your voice. Transposing the charts for the band. Developing a basic arrangement. Performing it. (Vocalists have to share as we only have five bands) :
DAY 4 (Wednesday) Develop individual projects for solo performance. Doesn't have to be pure jazz. Accompaniment by tutors ie: Professionals. Other singers can act as backing vocalists. Group activites are included like the Jazz/Gospel Choir. Some of the instrumentalists join in to give us a complete range of voices bass - treble (soprano). Choir rehearsals involving all students but with vocalists naturally tacking the lead. Here's Pete Churchill with the choir :
DAY 5 (Thursday) Because the last day is dedicated to rehearsing for the big concert this day tends to recap the weeks learning - theory - harmony - transposing - band leading - microphone and studio technique - developing individual songs for that night's performance - which are all covered.
DAY 6 (Friday) Rehearsal for Final Night Grand Concert - will include full choir + performing with an instrumental group from earlier in the week + individual songs. Concert from 8pm - 1amIn addition there are Masterclasses and classes on vocal technique and vocal health throughout the week.
With our nightly jam, you will have the opportunity to showcase your material to a sympathetic audience, gaining valuable experience playing with other musicians as well as performing each night. The jams can continue all-night after dinner in the cave, with additional free concerts by the tutors and other music industry professionals.
We will also teach some more 'crossover' songs such as those sung by Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin. Other areas covered will include the American song book as sung by Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and fusion styles eg. Bebel Gilberto (Bossanova) and Amy Winehouse (Pop/Jazz).
Support staff - professional bass players and drummers (plus work with the instrumental tutors during the band collaboration classes.)
Resources - Fully Equipped Recording Studio, and performance stage with PA, Lighting etc.
In common with all our courses at Monteton; amps, PA's, Keyboards (and access to a rhythm section) are provided. However if you have your own special Microphone please feel free to bring it. Week Two is shared with the DJSS Intensive course and some events such as masterclasses and jam sessions will be held in common. At the end of the week the students perform to a live audience at the showcase event.
MONTETON VOCAL SCHOOL PLAYLIST
Click the link above to go to the booking page.
There are limited places on the jazz summer school. So please book as early as possible.
Rooms will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
If in doubt EMAIL
Or call +44 79 4192 7257
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info@jazzschool-dordogne.co.uk mob +44 79 4192 7257
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