If you're a vocalist, an improvisor, or someone who just loves to sing, yet you lack some confidence, you're going to want more than just one or two avenues to build your skills. How about four?
This class will enable you to sing with much more ease by bringing together two vital sources of VOCAL TECHNIQUE—
1) North Indian raga-style
2) Western European approaches
together with two different formats for VOCAL IMPROVISATION—
3) solo
4) group
You'll feel how each technique approach will strengthen your voice in different ways, just as each type of improvisation will give you a variety of ways to vocally 'play.' We'll work on some of these areas separately, and then combine them. You'll hear how catalytic the results will be when they interact, and you'll enjoy the confidence and freedom that you've been looking for. You'll also learn how to practice more creatively and effectively at home.
* breathing + posture
* mask + chest resonance
* new scales + new vocal colors
* syncopation + polyrhythms
* instrument imitation + vocal percussion
* 'scatting' + accompanying vocally
* stories into songs + improvised lyrics
* vocals + percussion instruments
* solo electronic looping + group CircleSinging
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Michael Smolens has taught individuals and groups since 1974 and is adjunct faculty at Sonoma State and JFK Universities. He has been a vocal consultant for the A Capella Summit, College of Marin, City College of S.F., the award-winning "SoVoSo", Sue Walden's "Flash Family" Theater Company, and various festivals throughout the country. Michael has also performed and recorded with members of Bobby McFerrin's "Voicestra." He brings a unique combination of improvisational influences (jazz/theater/world musics) and technical approaches (Western/ North Indian) to create powerful, individualized results. As a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Michael leads five different project bands, including the ground-breaking vocal "Mirabai Ensemble." His compositions have been recorded by jazz legends Stefon Harris (vibes), Paul McCandless (reeds/winds), and Zakir Hussain (tabla).
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