Vocal Improvisation: An Instru-Vocal Approach for Soloists, Groups, and Choirs

Learn to improvise in jazz, pop, rock, gospel, and rhythm and blues, in this user-friendly guide to vocal improvisation. Regardless of your level of musical training, these discussions, exercises, and games will give you technical knowledge and confidence to improvise expressively and effectively, within a singing group or as a soloist. The accompanying CD provides demonstration and sing-along tracks for practice.

You will learn:

• Icebreaker exercises, to free your creativity and help you become comfortable improvising
• Groove-based improvising ideas, including vocal percussion techniques
• How to use essential scales and modes for building expressive solos
• Scat and other "instru-vocal" techniques
• Group improvisation skills

Bob Stoloff is chair of the voice department at Instituto de Music Contemporanea, Universidad de Quito, Ecuador. He has taught improvisation to thousands of singers worldwide, live and online, and continues to be a distinguished educator and workshop presenter. Other books by Bob Stoloff include: Scat! Vocal Improvisation Techniques (Gerard/Sarzin), Blues Scatitudes (Gerard/Sarzin), and Body Beats (Advance Music).

"Another vocal improvisation masterpiece by Bob Stoloff! Clear, cutting edge and comprehensive, Bob is truly revolutionizing vocal jazz education with his "Instru-Vocal" approach. This book is so much more than just a vocal improvisation method. It's a powerful educational tool for jazz singers on the path to becoming well rounded and deeply evolved musicians. Few educational vocal methods are so holistic in their approach, combining vocal practice with theory, ear training, intensive rhythmic work, instrumental concepts, and more. I think this book will be fantastically helpful for jazz singers."

—Michele Weir (Jazz Musician, Arranger, Educator)

"Bob does it again! He makes vocal improv easy enough for beginners yet challenging enough for veterans to learn more. His techniques will help any one improve their vocal improv style. I might have to steal a few of these for myself!"

—Kevin Mahogany (Jazz Vocalist)

"Wow! I wish this book had been around when I started teaching! Helping students to overcome that initial shyness and hesitation when learning to improvise is one of the hardest things to do. How many times have I had students burst into tears? No more! Bob has come up with an incredible array of simple and fun "ice-breakers," as he calls them, that will have students improvising before they even realize it. I thank you, Bob, as will my future students!"

—Michele Hendricks (Jazz Vocalist, Educator)

"Vocal Improvisation is a treasure trove of accessible and practical information for anyone interested in the art of vocal improvisation. With so much detailed instruction and so many exercises—for both soloists and groups—singers at all levels will be lucky to have this fully realized book as their oracle. I've always been a big fan of Mr. Stoloff. Hopefully, this book will help you jump on the Bob bandwagon too!

—Peter Eldridge (Voice Educator, Vocalist and Composer for the New York Voices)