Stormy Monday - T Bone Walker
Stormy Monday - Eva Cassidy
Stormy Monday - Lou Rawls
Stormy Monday - Dianne Reeves, David Peaston & David Sanborn
Jazz and Pop Singing and Techniques
Workshop Proposal: Presented by Anton Browne
Workshop Overview
Jazz and Pop Singing and Techniques is a one-day, immersive experience for intermediate and advanced singers who want to refine their vocal skills, explore new techniques, and apply practical tools for stylistic expression and performance.
Target Audience
Intermediate to advanced singers
All genres welcome
Vocalists seeking technique, improvisation, and performance growth
Key Objectives
Understand and apply vocal techniques suited to your voice and genre
Analyse your natural vocal traits for personalised development
Improve aural skills, phrasing, and stylistic improvisation
Develop efficient and effective practice habits
Learn essential microphone and PA usage for live performance
Workshop Structure (One Day - we may not cover all aspects below, due to time constraints. We can choose the most beneficial aspects according to participants requirements.)
1. Voice Analysis
Understand your natural vocal tone through speech analysis
2. Range, Registers & Transitions
Techniques for smooth shifts between chest, head, and mix voice
3. Bel Canto to Screamo
Honest breakdown of vocal exercises: useful or not?
4. Aural Skills – Hearing the Blues
Train ears for intervals, chords, and stylistic recognition
Applied music theory using a prescribed jazz/blues song
5. Phrasing & Rhythm
Apply natural speech rhythms to phrasing in singing
Work with jazz and pop standards
6. Ad-Libs, Riffs, Scat & Rapping
Practical tools for improvisation and creative expression
7. Microphone Technique & PA
Hands-on practice with live performance tools
Instructor Bio
Anton is a seasoned vocalist, educator, and performance coach with many years of experience across genres. With a foundation in jazz and pop technique, live performance, recording etc, He has trained artists from emerging singers to touring professionals. His approach emphasizes real, lasting progress through experiential learning.
‘Whilst working as Professor of Jazz Voice at Trinity College of Music in London for a number of years, I especially enjoyed working with ‘second study’ classical singers, they were superb musicians who wanted to explore jazz and popular styles. They knew their voices well and the value of practice but were somewhat flummoxed by the unfamiliar demands of singing jazz and pop styles.
I have been teaching at The BRIT School since it opened in 1991 and more recently, ELAM (East London Arts & Music) - these are the two top performing arts / music schools in London. In 2023, I started teaching at The University of Cambridge on a new course, (APPS) along with The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. I was also a vocal coach on tour with BBC Television’s The Voice UK Series 1, Some years ago, I co-wrote the first Pop Singing grade exams in the UK.
The Singers I work with range from musical theatre through jazz, pop, rap etc. to death metal and I (and hopefully my students) have learnt a lot about techniques for these diverse vocal styles along the way. This workshop is suitable for all (intermediate and above level) singers wishing to explore or improve jazz and popular styles.’
Logistics
Date: Friday 15th August 10am-4pm
Location: Le Mas, 5 Route du Mas, Orival 16210
Duration: One Day
Cost: 100€ including lunch - 50€ deposit, please
Contact: Penfoldjanet@gmail.com
- Please Note: The accompanist is a fluent French speaker.
What Makes This Workshop Unique?
No fluff: all content is practical and applicable
Exercises are provable, not abstract
Participants leave with measurable improvements
Personalised feedback in a supportive environment
- Prescribed Standard: Now each individual can put this together using the prescribed song. Please prepare the blues song ‘Stormy Monday, there are examples below, or prepare any blues song you enjoy. We will explore keys, grooves and styles.
- Individual Standard: It’s time to apply the above to the individual songs. Please prepare two differing songs of your choice and bring the chord charts for accompaniment - if you have difficulty we can help.
- Question & Answer: A Q&A session and a final brush-up before…
- A Performance: In a local bar.
Things to be Aware of…
- Once we get down to it, you’ll discover there is a huge amount to explore. Depending on participants, we may not cover all of it and the timetable may change. If there’s a particular aspect you’d like to cover, please let me know.
- A Wi-Fi enabled device for recording and playing audio and or video is a useful tool (most current phones) but maybe make sure you know how to use it! And you have ample memory and sufficient charge.
- Solo singers by definition will be singing on their own, so please understand the need for patience as each singer goes through their song... more than once! It’s the nature of the beast.
- Clothing is entirely up to you but we might make a video of your performance - unless you don’t want that - so maybe bring something you’re happy to wear for that eventuality.
Ultimate Guitar is a good source of chords for pop songs - though sometimes wrong!
iReal Pro is a great app for chords - mostly jazz but increasingly other genres. It costs about £15 and takes a bit of getting used to. You have to download charts from the forum once purchased but once you get sorted it’s great. It will also play a cheesy backing in any key or tempo, for you to practice to.
