Do you do jazz? The answer is yes! Choral educators are incorporating elements of vocal jazz into performance and classroom learning even more than last year.*
Last week we asked you what you thought – here are your responses!
The extent you incorporate vocal jazz elements into the classroom music curriculum:
More than 20% (28% of respondents)
16-20% (14% of respondents
11-15% (16% of respondents)
The extent you incorporate vocal jazz elements into performance:
more than 20% (21% of respondents)
16-20% (19% of respondents)
11-15% (16% of respondents)
*according to an informal MENC poll.
A few tips from last year’s responses to encourage you to try vocal jazz in your classes:
Listen to great jazz performances; echo what you hear. Start with only 5 minutes per class/rehearsal and build confidence in what you can do. For younger ones, sing familiar songs in a “jazzy” style – try scatting some simple songs and see if they can guess what the song is, then encourage them to scat a song they know.
Don’t be afraid of knowing nothing. Jump in and try it. You will learn as you go.
— Sue Rarus, April 22, 2011 © National Association for Music Education
