Piano-Accompanying Techniques for Vocalists

Course Number
ILVC-260
Description

In this course, students acquire the essential piano skills to self-accompany while singing. Students are encouraged to perform tunes from all genres for peer review, analyzing the most common voicings for each style and choosing what is genre-appropriate. Students evaluate key signatures to find which key works best for a given song, transposing and arranging a tune to highlight vocals, as well as adding intros, interludes, and codas. They also strategize about practicing and performing more difficult genres, such as r&b, which involve potentially complicated bass lines and rhythmic figures. Students examine tempos and how they effect a given song. Students also learn about stage performance and posture, practicing how to avoid looking at the keys; pedal use; optimum microphone position; and avoiding tension in the neck and shoulders or vocal strain during performance or practice.

Credits
1
Prerequisites
PIVC-112
Required Of
None
Electable By
Voice principals
Major Elective for
Music Education
Music Production and Engineering
Performance
Songwriting
Semesters Offered
Spring Only
Location
Boston
Department
VOICE
Course Chair
Anne Peckham
Courses may not be offered at the listed locations or taught by the listed faculty for every semester. Consult my.berklee.edu to find course information for a specific semester.

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