The professional vocalist needs to be ready to sing whatever the gig calls for. Whether you’re working as a studio musician, gigging in a GB band, or out on the road as a backup singer, you will need to be comfortable singing in a wide range of styles. The Vocal Styles Specialist Certificate will develop your skills and technique in the key genres of Jazz, R&B, and Pop/Rock, and leave you prepared to take on any set list that comes your way.

You will begin the program with Jazz Voice. In this course, you will explore the techniques, concepts and approaches that make vocal jazz so unique. You will develop skills for melodic and rhythmic phrasing, improvisation, and conversational delivery, and learn how to approach jazz styles like uptempo swing, ballads, bossa nova and more. Through the study of vocal jazz masters like Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra, you will learn to recognize and incorporate their approaches to jazz with your own unique voice.

The program continues with R&B Vocals. This course will cover artists and repertoire from classic to contemporary, and will teach you how to approach R&B music with the right style and attitude. You will learn to understand and use R&B phrasing, and develop the techniques of improvisation, including use of blues and pentatonic scales, that give R&B so much of its character. As you practice these concepts, you will work on developing your vocal technique so that you can effortlessly belt, slur, and riff your way through any R&B tune.

The certificate concludes with Pop and Rock Vocals. In this course, you will cover styles from light pop to hard rock, and continue to practice good vocal technique to get as much power from your voice as possible without causing it strain. You will also develop your physical stage presence and storytelling abilities through eye contact, hand gestures, and movement on the stage. By studying artists and songs from early rock to the present, you will develop an understanding of the devices and techniques that are particular to pop and rock, and learn to incorporate those into your own singing.

By the end of this program, you will have an understanding of vocal techniques and approaches for a wide range of musical genres, and you will possess the technical skills that you need to put on an authentic performance in any style. Whether you are a professional vocalist looking to expand your repertoire and reach, or a hobbyist who wants to sing more effectively, the Vocal Styles Specialist Certificate will give you the tools you need to succeed.