Piano-Accompanying Techniques for Vocalists

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.