Concentrated “voice-on” events to help you find a unique and joyful place from which to sing.

Welcome.

As a singing instructor, it is my job to help you meet your singing goals – whether you are a new singer looking for places to practice and meet other singers or a regular performer looking to build new skills. Group singing events give us chances to sing, play and collaborate with others. I have seen first hand how much singers in a group can learn from one another.

My vocal workshops provide space and practice for singers who want to sing and express themselves in a variety of ways. I will teach my next series of workshops this summer  (May/June 2016). Scroll down to view the workshops I currently teach. If you would like to invite me to teach a workshop for your organization, choir or students, please contact me.

If you have any questions about the workshops, feel free to get in touch.

As always, I hope to sing with you soon!

singingly,
sg

Sarah M. Greer
Artistry Through Improvisation
608-338-6840

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Workshop Offerings

Jazz Fundamentals I: Starting to Scat Sing

WORKSHOP SKILLS: melodic development, lyric embellishment and improvisation, trading bars, soloing and building solo arc, improvising stories

Practice and improve your jazz vocals and scat singing with the aid of experienced coaches and other supportive singers. We continue to practice the skills taught in previous Fundamentals workshops while adding more advanced elements of jazz vocals, including rhythmic variety, melodic development, lyric interpretation and adding personal style through vocal techniques.

Jazz Fundamentals II: More Scat Singing Skills

WORKSHOP SKILLS: melodic development, lyric embellishment, counting bars, singing over changes, song form,

This second scat singing workshop provides time and space for more advanced practice and exploration. Guest instructor, fantastic vocalist and jazz pianist Jennifer Parker co-instructs this workshop as we continue to practice the skills taught in Scat Singing Fundamentals I (vocal colors, personal language, front/back phrasing, etc.).

In Fundamentals II, we add working with song forms, specifically the 12-bar blues and rhythm changes.

Jazz Fundamentals III: Mastering Jazz Vocals

WORKSHOP SKILLS: melodic development, lyric embellishment and improvisation, trading bars, soloing and building solo arc, lyric improvisation, improvising stories

In the third installment of the Fundamentals series, we continue to practice the skills taught in previous workshops – vocal colors, personal language, front/back phrasing, counting bars, song form, etc. – and we begin to work with more advanced elements of jazz vocals, including rhythmic variety, changing meter and groove, melodic development, lyric interpretation and adding personal style through vocal techniques.

Participants practice and improve jazz vocals and scat singing with the aid of experienced coaches and other supportive singers.

Working with the Rhythm Section

WORKSHOP SKILLS: giving tempos and cues, showing “feel” and groove, leading dynamic changes, setting up intros and outros, using a microphone and PA

A 3-hour workshop that provides time and space to sing songs (including scat singing ideas) and practice leading a band. Participants will practice the skills needed for building good musical relationships with instrumentalists — giving clear cues, showing tempo and “feel,” leading dynamic changes — while working with a rhythm section versed in a variety of musical genres. Includes a question and answer session with the band.

Circle Singing Improv Workshop

WORKSHOP SKILLS: a cappella singing, melody, harmony, counterpoint, improvisation, intonation, blend, personal language development, rhythm and syncopation

This 3-hour singing workshop borrows from my vocal improv studies over the past decade and builds the fundamentals of good musicianship – including melody, harmony and counterpoint, maintaining a tonal center and deep listening. We use songs, patterns, games and structured improvisations to sing together and invent beautiful, spontaneous vocal music.

This a great workshop for folks who want to strengthen their vocal and harmony skills or are interested in starting their own singing circles.