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Step into Real Confidence when you Improvise with Your Voice . . . (berkeley)
offered in person
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in-the-moment, and more risk-taking. And it will take the guesswork out of improvising,
no matter if you're a beginner or an experienced vocalist. You'll get lot's of new approaches
*and their musical vocabulary* so you can apply any of them in any situation. Instrumentalists
and songwriters will also find this series catalytic because of how quickly you'll absorb new techniques though your voice & rhythm first.
Held in a super resonant space that’s ideal for unamplified singing with live percussion,
keyboard & Indian drone to help guide you. Hand-outs & resources come with every session.
July 10th — Rhythm
(meters, sub-pulse, gospel/funk/swing + Brasilian/Cuban/Mali grooves, vocal percussion)
July 17th — Melody
(step vs. leap, dynamics, register contrast, pentatonic/major/minor scales, personal language)
July 24th — Melody + Harmony
(swung vs. non-swung, phrasing types, harmonizing intervals)
July 31st — Harmony
(hearing key centers, scale-to-chords options, one-to-one vs. indep. lines, circle singing)
Friday nights 6:45-9:15pm
Pre-paid series $200 / Drop-in $60 per session cash or PayPal / email for location
Michael Smolens has taught improvisation to vocalists for over five decades
in a wide variety of settings, and has performed or recorded with Bobby McFerrin
collaborators Rhiannon, Raz Kennedy, Dave Worm & Bryan Dyer along with
Claudia Schmidt & Pollyanna Bush. His instrumental credits include Stefon Harris,
Paul McCandless, Zakir Hussain, Akira Tana, Sheldon Brown & David Balakrishnan.