Let's SCAT! from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learn to scat - the easy way. for singers of jazz.
Learn or refresh your jazz scat vocabulary
Get loads of ideas to vary rhythmically and melodically

Scat with ilse: "trading fours"
No complex scales or instrument needed, just your ears!

Learn to scat - the easy way. for singers of jazz.
Learn or refresh your jazz scat vocabulary
Get loads of ideas to vary rhythmically and melodically
Scat with ilse: "trading fours"
No complex scales or instrument needed, just your ears!

Syllabus

You will know the itinerary of this course

Welcome to Let's Scat! Great that you joined us! I look forward to helping you with loads of ideas for your improvisation.

I've been teaching vocal improvisation for over 20 years, and I always noticed that for singers, it's harder. We don't push buttons or play strings to know that we hit a certain chord or note.

That's why I designed Let's SCAT. I wanted to make it easier for you. No complicated scales Just imagine - no need to think: "Shall I sing a Mixolydian scale over G7b9, or shall I use a blues scale, but hey, what if I use a very dissonant Phrygian or Locrian... STOP!"

For this course, you can just rely on your ears. Yay!

In this video, I take you through the outline of Let's SCAT!

Handy: sheetmusic, the app iRealpro, a speakerbox, pen & notebook

Melody and Scat language

Learning the basic melody and the lyrics is always my number one step for you, where ever you go, whatever you do.

In this video, I sing Gershwin's I Got Rhythm in the key of C, at tempo 120 bpm, style jazz swing.

The key in which I sing in this course, C, is a comfortable key for most female jazz singers.

If you're a male singer, try to sing the song in Eb or F, or any other key that works for you (Use the app iRealpro for that.)

I sing the basic melody without any personal artistic choices, so you get to know the tune the way it was written originally. After listening, replay and sing along with me, or sing it yourself with the subtitles I added in the extra chorus for you.

In this video, you will learn or refresh your scat vocabulary. First, I take you thru a little ABC of scat language - you can copy me completely as we scat over a blues.

Then, we'll scat over the harmony of the song. I added subtitles for you, when you get to sing it.

Learn to play with the timing: lazy, hasty, sooner, later

Playing with the timing is one of the biggest joys, I think. There's a world of wonder waiting for you. Singing in time, or being a tiny bit too late, or a wee bit in a hurry can create beautiful effects.

Can't wait for you to experience that. Indulge!

Ideas to play with the melody

Using the melody as your source of inspiration. Taking out a few notes from that melody will have a direct effect on your timing and phrasing. Hope you'll enjoy doing this as much as I do! It's playing time!

In this lecture, we are going to play with the notes we just took out. Yeeha. Enjoy!

Big Band Inspiration - Big Band Hacks

Big Bands arrangements are masterpieces for you to study. Listen to them closely and 'steal' a few fragments that you like. Copy and adjust. (Of course, be aware of the key in which you sing)

I took some fragments of I Got Rhythm Big Band performances by Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Darin and Lena Horne for you. Fasten your seatbelts!

(You can find the performances I took my inspiration from on Youtube, I added a shortlist for you to download)

If you want to further your skills in singing semitones, I added an extra exercise for you at the end of this lecture. Just sing along!

Practice your scatting skills, plus be aware of 4 bars each time

Yes! Yay! It's just you and me. We will scat together. Trading fours. Four bars for me, four bars for you. Four bars for me, four bars for you... etc, etc.

Trading fours happens a lot in live situations. It's something you just have to do a LOT to become completely at ease with it. (I remember trembling myself the first time I dared doing it in public :))

So, in this lecture, we will be fooling around together. Have fun!

You did it!

Fantastic! Woo-hoo! Congratulations on finishing my course Let's SCAT! Well done!

Keep an open ear for songs and improvisations you like, come back to the course now and then to practice, and keep on singing and scatting!

I added a list of songs for jazz singers, (taken from my Udemy course Sing Jazz For Beginners) - find it at downloadable materials.

These songs you can use to practice your new scatting skills. Practice your timing, take out notes from the melody, listen to Big Bands, steal, adjust and have FUN!

Lots of love, Ilse

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on scatting techniques tailored for singers, addressing the unique challenges they face compared to instrumentalists, such as relying primarily on their ears

Provides a foundation in scat improvisation without requiring knowledge of complex music theory, scales, or instrumental skills, making it accessible to a wider range of singers

Encourages learners to listen to and draw inspiration from big band arrangements and performances by iconic scat singers like Ella Fitzgerald, fostering a deeper understanding of jazz tradition

Recommends using the iReal Pro app to change keys, which may require learners to purchase a subscription to the app if they do not already have one

Uses Gershwin's 'I Got Rhythm' as a central example, which may not appeal to learners interested in exploring a wider range of jazz standards and styles

Features a 'trading fours' section, which offers valuable practice in improvisational interaction and real-time musical communication, simulating live performance scenarios

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Let's SCAT! with these activities:

Review Basic Music Theory

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Strengthen your understanding of fundamental music concepts like rhythm, melody, and harmony to provide a solid foundation for scat improvisation.

Browse courses on Music Theory

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Review scales and chords.
Practice identifying intervals by ear.
Study basic rhythmic patterns.

Reference 'Singing Jazz'

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Broaden your understanding of jazz vocal techniques and performance practices to inform your scatting.

View Alter Ego on Amazon

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Read chapters on phrasing and rhythm.
Listen to the recommended recordings.
Experiment with different vocal styles.

Explore 'The Jazz Singer's Handbook'

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Deepen your understanding of jazz vocal techniques and improvisation strategies to enhance your scatting abilities.

View Jazz singer's handbook on Amazon

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Read chapters on improvisation and phrasing.
Practice the vocal exercises in the book.
Analyze the transcribed solos.

Four other activities

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Scatting over Blues Progressions

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Refine your scatting skills by practicing over common blues chord progressions, focusing on incorporating rhythmic and melodic variations.

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Find backing tracks for blues in C, F, and Bb.
Improvise using the scat syllables learned in the course.
Record yourself and analyze your performance.

Trading Fours with a Friend

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Enhance your improvisational skills and timing by practicing 'trading fours' with a fellow musician or singer.

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Find a friend who is also interested in jazz improvisation.
Choose a backing track or chord progression.
Take turns improvising four-bar phrases.
Provide each other with feedback.

Transcribe and Analyze a Scat Solo

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Improve your understanding of scatting techniques by transcribing a solo by a famous scat singer and analyzing their melodic and rhythmic choices.

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Choose a scat solo by Ella Fitzgerald or Louis Armstrong.
Transcribe the solo note-for-note.
Analyze the use of scat syllables and rhythmic patterns.
Identify melodic motifs and variations.

Compose a Scat Solo

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Solidify your understanding of scatting by composing your own solo over a jazz standard, incorporating the techniques learned in the course.

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Choose a jazz standard you are familiar with.
Write out a scat solo using the syllables and techniques learned.
Practice performing the solo.
Record yourself and evaluate your performance.

Career center

Learners who complete Let's SCAT! will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Jazz Singer

A jazz singer uses their voice as an instrument to improvise and interpret jazz standards, requiring a strong understanding of harmony, rhythm, and improvisation techniques. This course, explicitly designed for jazz singers, helps them refresh their scat vocabulary and explore methods for rhythmic and melodic variation, skills that are paramount in jazz performance. A jazz singer will benefit from the 'trading fours' section, a practical exercise that simulates live performance scenarios and enhances improvisational confidence.

See salaries and explore the career path for Jazz Singer

Vocalist

A vocalist captivates audiences with their voice, delivering melodies and lyrics with precision and emotion. This course, designed for singers without instrumental proficiency, provides a treasure trove of ideas for improvisation, which may be very useful. The course offers instruction in scatting, rhythmic variation, and melodic play, all of which contribute to a vocalist's versatility and performance quality. A vocalist will find the 'trading fours' section particularly beneficial for developing improvisational skills and stage presence.

See salaries and explore the career path for Vocalist

A Cappella Singer

An a cappella singer performs music without instrumental accompaniment, relying solely on vocal harmonies and rhythmic patterns. This course helps a cappella singers explore vocal improvisation and rhythmic variation, enriching their group's sound and performance quality. The course's emphasis on ear training and accessible techniques allows a cappella singers to develop their improvisational skills and explore new vocal textures. The 'trading fours' exercise encourages collaboration and creativity within the ensemble, enhancing their ability to create intricate and dynamic vocal arrangements.

See salaries and explore the career path for A Cappella Singer

Voice Actor

A voice actor provides voices for animated characters, commercials, audiobooks, and other media, requiring versatility, creativity, and strong vocal control. This course helps a voice actor enhance their vocal dexterity and improvisational skills, allowing them to create more dynamic and engaging character voices. The course's emphasis on rhythmic variation and melodic play helps the actor to develop unique vocal textures and characterizations. The 'trading fours' section enables the voice actor to improve improvisational confidence and performance skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Voice Actor

Jazz Band Leader

A jazz band leader directs a jazz ensemble, arranging music, conducting rehearsals, and leading performances. This course helps a jazz band leader enhance their understanding of vocal improvisation and scatting, enabling them to better guide and inspire their vocalists. The course's focus on accessible techniques and ear training can help the band leader to communicate effectively with singers and foster a collaborative environment. The 'big band inspiration' section may provide valuable insights into arranging for vocalists within a big band setting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Jazz Band Leader

Background Vocalist

A background vocalist provides harmonies and vocal support for lead singers in live performances or recordings. This course helps a background vocalist develop their improvisational skills and vocal dexterity, making them adaptable in various musical settings. By learning to refresh their scat vocabulary and play with timing, a background vocalist can contribute more creatively to arrangements. The course's emphasis on ear training is especially valuable, enabling background vocalists to quickly adapt to diverse harmonic structures and performance styles.

See salaries and explore the career path for Background Vocalist

Cruise Ship Singer

A cruise ship singer entertains audiences on cruise ships, performing a wide range of musical genres and styles. This course may be useful for a cruise ship singer looking to diversify their repertoire and engage audiences with improvisational performances. The course's instruction in scatting, rhythmic variation, and melodic play helps the singer to create unique and engaging performances. The 'trading fours' section is particularly beneficial for developing improvisational skills and stage presence, essential qualities for a successful cruise ship singer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cruise Ship Singer

Music Therapist

A music therapist uses music and musical interventions to address patients' emotional, physical, and cognitive needs. This course may be useful for a music therapist seeking new methods for engaging patients in vocal expression and improvisation. The course's emphasis on accessible techniques and ear training can help the therapist to introduce improvisation to patients of varying abilities. The 'trading fours' exercise may be adapted for therapeutic settings, encouraging patients to express themselves creatively and interact with others.

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Session Singer

A session singer performs vocals for recordings, typically in studio environments, requiring versatility, adaptability, and the ability to quickly learn and execute vocal parts. This course may be useful for a session singer aiming to broaden their skill set and marketability, particularly in genres that incorporate improvisation or scatting. The course's focus on rhythmic variation and melodic play helps the session singer to enhance their creativity and deliver distinctive performances. The 'big band inspiration' section may be especially relevant, as it exposes the singer to diverse musical styles and arrangements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Session Singer

Musical Theatre Performer

A musical theatre performer combines singing, acting, and dancing to bring characters to life on stage. This course may be useful for a musical theatre performer aiming to enhance their vocal improvisation skills and explore new performance techniques. While scatting is not always a core element of musical theatre, the course's focus on rhythmic variation and melodic play can add depth and creativity to their vocal performances. The 'trading fours' section may also prove beneficial for improving improvisational confidence and stage presence.

See salaries and explore the career path for Musical Theatre Performer

Music Educator

A music educator imparts musical knowledge and skills to students of all ages, fostering a love for music and developing their students' abilities. This course may be useful for a music educator seeking to expand their repertoire and teaching methods, especially in vocal improvisation. The course's focus on accessible techniques, devoid of complex musical theory, helps the music educator to introduce scatting and improvisation to students without instrumental backgrounds, and the educator may integrate elements of the course into their curriculum.

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Choir Director

A choir director leads and guides a group of singers, shaping their collective sound and performance. This course may be helpful for a choir director looking to introduce elements of improvisation and scatting into their choral arrangements. The course's emphasis on ear training and accessible techniques can help choir members to develop their improvisational skills and explore new vocal textures. The choir director may adapt the 'trading fours' exercise for group settings, fostering collaboration and creativity within the choir.

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Voice Coach

A voice coach works with singers to improve their vocal technique, performance skills, and overall vocal health. This course may be helpful for a voice coach seeking new methods for teaching improvisation and scatting to their students. The course's emphasis on ear training and accessible techniques allows the voice coach to introduce these concepts to singers of varying skill levels. The voice coach could integrate the 'trading fours' exercise into their lessons, encouraging students to develop their improvisational confidence and stage presence.

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Wedding Singer

A wedding singer performs at wedding ceremonies and receptions, providing musical entertainment for the couple and their guests. This course may be useful for a wedding singer looking to diversify their repertoire and add improvisational elements to their performances. While scatting may not be appropriate for all wedding songs, the course's focus on rhythmic variation and melodic play can enhance the singer's ability to personalize performances and engage the audience. The wedding singer may also choose to use 'trading fours' with other musicians.

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Radio Personality

A radio personality engages listeners through on-air broadcasting, providing news, entertainment, and commentary. This course may be useful for a radio personality wanting to add musical elements to their broadcasts, such as vocal improvisations or scatting. The course's emphasis on accessible techniques, devoid of complex musical theory, helps the personality to incorporate these elements into their existing format. The improvement of improvisation is helpful, because radio is often unscripted.

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