Jazz vocals. Jazz vocal training

Music can be both instrumental and vocal, but historically, man's first instrument was undoubtedly his voice.

Jazz has its own characteristics of singing, which gradually changed in parallel with the general evolution of jazz. Jazz vocals are one of the essential means jazz expressiveness. First participation human voice in jazz was a somewhat anomalous phenomenon, because instead of free improvisation (like an instrumentalist), the performer only had a sample text. However, they (voice and music) may have equivalents - for example, jazz and the singing of Louis Armstrong, from whom in the 20s. in fact, jazz vocals began (not without reason the famous history book, dedicated to the famous jazz singers of America, is called “Children of Louis”, 1984).

Although in reality there is no strict definition of jazz vocals, if you name its most distinctive characteristics, then it will be clear what we are talking about we're talking about, what is in the center (but at the same time, like any music, you mainly need to listen to it, which is what jazz singers do, learning from each other).

Jazz vocals are determined by the individual qualities of the singer (as well as the musician), this includes a jazz style of performance, characteristic vocal timbres, unique tonal qualities and, in addition, jazz phrasing, jazz “attack”.

Over time in the process of development jazz music vocalists increasingly tried to imitate instrumentalists in their improvisations, which was most clearly manifested in the manner of so-called “scat singing” (i.e. phonetic improvisation, when the performer uses not words or phrases, but simply individual syllables).
Singing with "phonemes" is also the most important distinctive feature jazz vocals. The beginning of “scat” was, as the story goes, back in 1926 by the same Louis Armstrong, being both a singer and an instrumentalist, since on his trumpet he played almost the same notes and phrases that he sang, and vice versa .

During the 40s, in connection with the advent of the “bop” style, jazz singing became significantly more complex, receiving the name “bop-scat”, which was greatly facilitated by Ella Fitzgerald.

Historically, the specificity of jazz vocals is largely determined by its connection with the folklore of North American blacks, and primarily with the blues. Therefore, it is characterized by an expansion of means of expression compared to traditional European technique, manifested in the use of glissando, falsetto, vibration, nasal guttural sounds, whispering or sharp acceleration of notes, as well as other external sound effects.

The blues had both spiritual and secular roots in African-American vocal history, but the early folk blues singers are now as different from the modern jazz vocalists as a poor man's shack is from a Hollywood villa.

But all modern jazz vocals are still inextricably linked with the blues, which runs like a red thread through the entire history of jazz and is its cornerstone. Over the course of many decades of our century, there have been (and are) thousands of vocalists (singers and singers) in jazz, as well as instrumentalists, so it is unrealistic and impossible to mention all of them even in the most complete “Encyclopedia of Jazz”. Let's name at least a few names.

After the great Bessie Smith (20s), the “Empress of the Blues,” Billie Holiday was considered an equally great jazz singer, a role model for all subsequent generations and the first standard of jazz vocals (1915-1959).

Then long years The "First Lady of Jazz" was the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald (1918-1996).

A special position was occupied by the inimitable jazz singer Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990) was the kind of singer who only appears perhaps once every hundred years or more.

The most magnificent vocalist was the white singer Anita O'Day, who performed with the orchestras of Gene Krupa, Stan Kenton and other large and small ensembles (b. 1919), as well as the unique “star” of gospel music (gospel songs) Mahelia Jackson (1911-1972).

Among the male singers who stood (independently from Louis Armstrong) both at the origins of jazz vocals and popular music America as a whole, first of all, one should name the great “crooner” Bing Crosby (1904-1977) - obviously the most famous vocalist of the country from the late 20s to the end of the 70s. But already in the early 40s, he was noticeably displaced on the honorary pedestal of fame by the then young Frank Sinatra (1915-1998), nicknamed “The Voice,” whose era continued until his 80th birthday.

He was a truly outstanding singer who set new standards for modern vocals. A truly unique figure in both jazz and popular music was the black pianist and vocalist Nat "King" Cole (1917-1965), whose daughter Natalie Cole now also became famous singer with your own merits.

Familiar to the whole world Ray Charles(1932-2004) as a performer of rhythm and blues, gospel, country, soul music, jazz and popular songs, pianist, organist and vocalist, who went on tour in Moscow in the summer of 1994. And for many years Joe Williams (1918-1999), a performer of modern blues and jazz standards, remained an equally incomparable vocalist, mainly with the Count Basie Orchestra.

In the history of jazz vocals of the 20th century, there were also numerous vocal ensembles and groups (i.e. trios, quartets, etc., homogeneous or mixed) that were not directly part of jazz at first. Back then these were usually bands performing modern popular songs. But in subsequent years, the tendency of such groups to include professional jazzmen in their composition significantly increased the level of harmonic essence of their performances.

These groups gradually fully comprehended the vocal phrasing of techniques in the manner modern jazz and were accepted to equal rights in jazz circles, whereas their predecessors were more associated with the field of popular music (both on their own and through big bands).

IN chronological order such compositions were female vocal groups - the Boswell Sisters Trio (from 1931), then the Andrews Sisters Trio, the McGuire Sisters Trio, the Clark Sisters Quartet (performing with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in the 40s under the name "Sentimentalists"), the King Sisters Quartet .

Among the early men's ensembles, the most famous were the Mills Brothers (a black vocal quartet with guitar) in the 30s and 40s, the Four Freshman Quartet in the early 50s, and the Hi-Los Quartet from the mid-50s. Great interest was aroused by the appearance in 1958 of a new, undoubtedly jazz group - the mixed vocal trio Lambert - Hendrix - Ross, which for the first time released a record using recording overdubbing technically.
It is necessary to mention the unique French group “Swingle Singers” of 8 people (something like a “third movement”, who sang the themes of J. S. Bach, accompanied by bass and drums). Nowadays there are vocal ensembles like more popular destination(Ray Conniff's choir of 16 people), and purely jazz - quartets "Singers Unlimited", "Manhattan Transfer", etc.

Jazz is one of the genres of music that arose at the end of the 19th century in the United States as a result of the merging of the cultures of Europe and Africa. The main “three pillars” of jazz are:

Polyrhythm
Improvisation
Swing

Based on this, it becomes clear that jazz vocals imply not only having perfect pitch and voice, but also the ability to improvise. At the same time, vocal mobility and the ability to harmoniously modify the performance, connecting your understanding of the melody with the form of the work, are important. Also, a coherent partnership, expressed in a sensitive understanding and grasp of an improvised performance on the fly, plays a huge role in jazz performance.

The ancestors " classical jazz"there were Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Bassie Smith and others. Over time, new ones began to appear musical styles, which were still based on jazz: blues, soul, funk, etc. Therefore, with the development of jazz, the methodology for teaching jazz vocals also noticeably evolved. Special attention focuses not only on presentation and phrasing, but also on teaching the basic techniques used in jazz.

Basic techniques of jazz vocals:

Glissando
Guttural (nasal) singing
Vibrations
Falsetto
Abrupt change in notes
Whisper, etc.

Who can learn jazz vocals?

Paramount this direction preference should be given to people who have at least primary musical education who know the capabilities of their voice. But this does not mean that there is no place for a beginner here. If you love jazz, then no one dares stand in your way. Jazz is the world of learning your voice, jazz is improvisation and an emotional outburst of your understanding of music. Vocal teachers of the legendary School of Rock Music “Krasny Khimik” will be able to make your desires come true, revealing all the capabilities of your voice, teaching you basic vocal techniques and revealing all the secrets of vocal mastery. There are no age restrictions for vocal training at the Krasny Khimik School.

The jazz vocal course consists of:

Studying the theory of jazz style
Voice and breathing patterns
Developing clear diction and articulation
Revealing the secrets and techniques of jazz vocals
Studying exercises to increase the endurance of the vocal apparatus
Range extensions
Public performance and vocal improvisation
Emancipation and development of emotional freedom, etc.

Why is it better to study jazz vocals at the Krasny Khimik school?

Our school's teaching staff includes professionals who are actively involved in singing activities. The Krasny Khimik school and its teachers are awarded with the best side Methodists from ( Russian Academy music named after Gnessins). Most of Our students, after completing the courses, enter the vocal departments of leading music educational institutions. Our teachers will not only raise your professional level, but they will also do everything so that you can continue to engage in concert and studio activities.

The cost of training per month is 9,000 rubles: these are 4 lessons of practical vocals and 4 lessons of music theory and solfeggio. Classes are held both individually and in groups. One practical lesson you receive as a gift when you pay for the first month.

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Our graduates

lead singer of the group "Slot"

Daria Stavrovich (Nuki) was born into the family of a teacher and doctor on February 1, 1986 (Velsk, Arkhangelsk region). Dariya graduated from school in Arzamas, after which she entered the Nizhny Novgorod music school. Upon arrival in Moscow, Stavrovich graduated from the Krasny Khimik vocal school, where Arnold Manukyan taught her lessons.

Alina Perova was born on March 15, 1982 in Nizhny Novgorod. Alina connected her entire adult life with music, considering the stage to be a kind of drug. Constantly working on herself and her skills, Alina moved to Moscow, where she continued her studies. One of the institutions where Alina took vocal lessons was the Krasny Khimik school. Her teacher was Arnold Manukyan.

Ranel Bogdanov was born on April 26, 2005 in Kazan. WITH early childhood the boy had expressed good hearing, so his parents took care of him musical education. Ranel took part in the Children's Festival in 2014 New wave", where he became a quarter-finalist. Previously, he took part in various Russian and international music competitions, where he became the winner more than once.

The topic of this article is (English jazz vocals). Creativity in the form of singing appeared a very long time ago. When it wasn't musical instruments, for creating musical sounds the man used his voice. Even then one could observe a variety of vocal techniques.

Jazz vocals in modern world is not very popular, but despite this fact, the sound of the corresponding voice under jazz compositions is always expressive and beautiful. TopSound

The basis of jazz singing

One of the first types of performance to emerge was jazz vocals. In this technique important role were playing individual characteristics the singer's voice and special style of singing. Tonal characteristics and vocal timbre had to match jazz music and its sound. By the way, in many ways jazz singing intersects with the blues style.

Prices for recording services
Service	Payment method	Price
Voice recording	Hourly	750 rub/hour
Mixing and mastering	Hourly	750 rub.
RAP minus	Fixed	3000 rub.
RAP minus "Premium" (with additional effects)	Fixed	4000 rub
Song with minus "Light" (1 hour of recording + processing without tuning)	Fixed	3000 rub.
Song with minus "Premium" (1 hour of recording + processing and deep tuning)	Fixed	5000 rub.

Of course, no one belittles the importance of performing at concerts. But we can say with certainty that in our time the main channel for distributing music is the Internet. And in order to use this channel, you need to come to the studio and record your song.

The Origins of Jazz Vocals

- Founder of jazz vocal technique Louis Armstrong is considered to be. It was he who, in the 20s, began to sing in a special manner and style of voice to musical jazz compositions. In the process of evolution of jazz vocals, another special technique– scat vocals. She was characterized the performer's imitation of the instrumental performance of the melody.

Songs with minus POP

Example 1.
The song “We have no one to blame” minus + mixing

Example 2.
Song “More than Love” with minus + mixing

Example 3.
Song “Forgive me, goodbye” with minus + mixing

Example 4.
The song “Crying” with minus + mixing

Example 5.
Song “New Year” with minus + mixing

Example 6.
Song “On the beat” with minus + mixing

Jazz vocals and studio recording

Our recording studio TopZvuk successfully records vocals in different styles. We have everything for this necessary equipment: top Neumann microphones, high-quality tube preamp, high-quality ADC and specially prepared rooms (vocal and control room). At the same time, we can invite a vocal teacher to the recording, who will rehearse the song with you so that it sounds the best way. We work seven days a week and are waiting for you any day to make an appointment. jazz vocals. Call us now!

Pop-jazz vocals are a special branch pop vocals. It helps to reveal the individual musical abilities of each vocalist. It is improvisation and unpredictability that gives that enchanting beauty that has made such singing popular and mesmerizing.

Professional jazz vocal lessons for children and adults

One of characteristic features The jazz style of singing is an imitation of the sound of musical instruments. Professional performers, replacing part of the words with individual syllables, as if they are reproducing instrumental music with their voice.

Jazz vocal training for adults and children at our music school involves mastering a whole range of skills. Our experienced teachers will help the student:

Work out perfect feeling rhythm;
Develop vocal mobility;
Learn to improvise when performing a composition;
Master the vocal techniques of pop-jazz vocals, characteristic of the jazz style of performance;
Develop your own style and ability to harmoniously and beautifully present a melodramatic theme;
Gain a sense of partnership between musicians.

Who can do jazz vocals?

Often, beginning musicians who admire the inspired, eccentric performance style of jazz vocalists doubt the own capabilities in mastering this difficult skill. Indeed, beautiful male and female jazz vocals need good ear for music performer and correctly delivered voice. However, the professional path begins with small steps. For beginner students, we offer simple, but at the same time effective techniques disclosure and development of musical data.

Regular classes will help each student gradually master the skill of professional jazz singer. In our music school you can learn the structure of jazz music and learn how to convey the most complex musical rhythm and mood. Under the guidance of competent teachers, you will begin to perform real vocal masterpieces, harmoniously weaving your voice into the melody being played.

Jazz vocal lessons

You can fulfill your dream of beautiful jazz singing by signing up for classes at our music school. Vocal lessons are conducted individually in Moscow seven days a week at any time convenient for you. A flexible lesson schedule will help you easily combine music learning with your daily routine.