Vocal music isn’t all about arrangements and vocal parts; Most world cultures have a tradition of a cappella singing that relies on nothing but your ear and your voice. In this seminar you’ll learn the fundamentals of improvising pop songs, how to sing a “circle song,” and how to improvise a piece of music without any rules or boundaries.

I) Fear

a) Comfort with self & audience

DISCUSSION: What’s the most embarrassed you’ve ever been in front of an audience?

EXERCISE: What’s the worst thing that can happen if you don’t improvise well? Imagine it clearly and accept it as if it has happened.

b) Willingness to go “out on a limb”

EXERCISE: Stand up and give a 2 minute speech about a topic you know nothing about.

II) Almost Limitless Possibilities

a) Music theory and rules follow innovation

DISCUSSION: Name your favorite musician, and how that person breaks “the rules”

b) Range of Human Voice

EXERCISE: Make 5 sounds that reflect the range of the human voice

c) Inherent aural understanding

DISCUSSION: Can you, or anyone, summarize all the rules of your native language? Of music theory? Of communication? Aesthetics?

III) Communication

a) Idea = motif

EXERCISE: Make a short spoken statement. Now, create a musical phrase or combination of sounds that reflects that statement

b) Essay form & Hero’s Journey: statement, development, conclusion

EXERCISE: Tell a story (from your own life, or fiction) in three sentences: One to set up the characters and situation, one to present the conflict, and one to resolve the conflict.

c) Conversation

EXERCISE: Choose a partner. Have a conversation entirely in nonsense language. Listen, and respond accordingly.

d) Pre-existing conventions (in language, speech, vocal sounds, facial expressions, etc.)

EXERCISE: Come up with a list of 10 ways to say “hello” using any possible means of expression (voice, hands, facial expressions, body language, etc.)

IV) 12 Bar Blues Form

EXERCISE: Vamp 12 bar blues and improvise over it, trying a variety of different possibilities

V) Circle Song

EXERCISE: Create a Circle song first with 4 assigned parts, and then with no assigned parts

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