Introduction to Singing Contemporary Commercial Music: Application & Strategies

The field of vocal pedagogy faces a transformation as we move further into the 21st century. There has long been a demand for vocal training that addresses the needs of the contemporary singer and the music of our times. More and more, music educators are programming a wider variety of repertoire that includes popular music. The majority of professional vocalists are expected to be highly versatile in a variety of contemporary commercial music (CCM) styles in order to be marketable and gainfully employed. However, the majority of choir directors and vocal teachers in the U.S. have not been trained in how to teach, much less perform, popular styles of music. This has left a considerable void in the knowledge and methods necessary to effectively train singers in CCM styles. An awareness must be cultivated not only to genre and style, but in the implementation of vocal technique that is congruent with these same elements.

If you’ve felt insecure or apprehensive about the prospect of teaching more CCM/popular music styles, or you’re ready to expand the programming of CCM genres into your choir or voice studio, this course will lay the groundwork for new skills that are essential to teaching singers and music outside of the realm of traditional classical styles.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Gain knowledge of the main genres falling under CCM including jazz and musical theatre
• Gain insight into the historical and cultural roots of gospel, blues, jazz and rock music
• Identify the distinction between classical vocal training and functional vocal training
• Understand the scientific definitions of chest and head register as they relate to contemporary singing
• Practice and sing a piece of repertoire from a CCM or popular music genre
• Incorporate extended methods for teaching CCM repertoire through use of new technology
• Gain knowledge for using a basic sound system for student performances (i.e., mic, monitors, speakers)
• Gain awareness of established methodologies for CCM singing as well as current research in voice science