R&B Vocals

Syllabus
Lesson 1: R&B History and Performance Techniques

•Defining R&B

•Introduction of Basic Warm-Ups and Basic Vocal

Technique

•Early R&B Music and Its Relationship to The

Blues

•A Brief Discussion of Key Suitability for Your

Blues

Lesson 2: Early Forms of R&B

•Ribcage Expansion

•The Blues Form and Scale as It Relates to R&B

•Improvisational Styles of Early R&B Artists

•R&B Improvisation Showcase: Ray Charles

•R&B Improvisation Showcase: Jackie Wilson

•R&B Improvisation Showcase: Sam & Dave

•Doo Wop Songs and Groups: The Use Of Legato

and Falsetto

•Doo Wop Showcase: The Platters

Lesson 3: The Motown Era

 •Registers, Releasing the Jaw, and Developing

Range

•Vocal Styles Used in the Motown Era.

•Informal Diction and the Use of Colloquial

Expressions

Lesson 4: Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Soul Music

•Registers, Voice Classifications, and the

Importance of the Chest Voice in R&B

•Characteristics of R&B and the Similarities in

Gospel Singing

•Vocal Improvisation Showcase: Aretha Franklin

•Vocal Style Showcase: James Brown

•The Connection Between Gospel Music of the

1960s and Its Relationship to R&B

Lesson 5: R&B Music of The Early 1970s: Soul and Funk

•Discovering Forward Placement

•Falsetto Singing Spotlight: Marvin Gaye and

Curtis Mayfield

•Falsetto Singers, the Sweet Sopranos, and

Discovering Forward Placement

•Performance and Expression

•Singing Over the Ending Vamp While Using Light

 Textures

Lesson 6: Transforming Pop and Folk songs into R&B

•Using Crescendo

•Vocal Dynamics

•The Groove and The Importance of Accented

Beats and Syllables

•Examples of Song Transformation into R&B

Lesson 7: R&B Music Mid 70s to 80s

•Soul/Disco and Soul/Funk Groove Patterns

•Nuances and Affectations

•Vowel Modification and Sung Speech

•Stevie Wonder

Lesson 8: Gospel Influences in R&B/ Soul and Vice Versa

•Summary of 70's- 80's Gospel artists

•Glissando and Its Usage in Gospel and R&B

•R&B Artists Who Grew Up Singing in Church

Lesson 9: Prince, Michael Jackson, and Adult Contemporary R&B

•The Music of Prince

•Vocal Textures Used by Michael Jackson

•Covered Tone

•Adult Contemporary/Quiet Storm

Lesson 10: New Jack Swing and Pop/R&B

•New Jack Swing

•Whitney Houston

•The Commercialization of Melisma in Popular

Music

•Babyface

Lesson 11: Hip Hop Soul

•Hip Hop Soul

•Crossover Commercial Success of R&B to

Mainstream

Lesson 12: R&B Mid/Late 90's – Current

•Summary of Neo Soul Artists

•Beyoncé

•Putting it into Motion