Sing Like A Horn

Learn to enjoy vocal improvisation from a master, while developing musicianship skills, from Master Trumpet Sebastian Sołdrzyński.

Sunday 18 July , 10am – 4.00pm
$30.00 (or Koha for unwaged and beneficiaries).

This is a mixed ability environment for anyone interested in vocal improvisation!
Why learn vocal improvisation from a horn player?  Because vocalists work predominantly with words it can be hard for us sometimes to switch easily to using our voice “as an instrument” when we want to improvise. By mimicking the trumpet which has no words we can have greater access to the freedoms and fun of improvisation.
Sebastian works initially with the blues scale because it is well known to our ears and a simple place to start to learn how to approach improvisation because you only need to learn six notes!
It has been said many times that Ella Fitzgeralds (pictured above with Lois Armstrong) power as an improvising vocalist came from her ability to “sing like a horn”. Using live band backing tracks (and of course his trumpet!)  Sebastian will demonstrate the approach horns take to creating powerful lines. Remember you only need six notes! And all six will be taught in the class!
A key focus is learning how to utilise practice and musicianship techniques relied on by horn players and apply it to vocals. Which notes? Time. Rhythm. Phrasing etc. 

• Sebastian will work with each individual for while the remainder of the group observes.  Sebastian will work through several drills and some fun improvisation in this time.
• Insights from each individual session will be written on the whiteboard. At the end of each hour we will review the collective insights and list the practice techniques we can apply at home in our own vocal practice. 
• Then a jam session will be invited and facilitated.
• If you are still wondering if you are ready for this simply check out the notes of the blues scale in C: C-Eb-F-Gb-G--Bb-C. These are the only six you will need! They may be sung at different pitches during the course but the sound of this scale is what we work with. If on the day you can only manage one note from this scale you will still learn. You will surprise what you can do with one note!

About The Tutor
SEBASTIAN SOLDRZYNSKI is a session musician from Poland with an incredible passion for teaching.
He plays all over Christchurch with everyone from session musicians to supporting new comers at Open Mic nights.
He has an extraordinary ability to reveal the mysteries of music to his students never failing to return to the importance of fun and expression.
It is Sebastian’s excellence as a professional musician combined with his passion for teaching that makes him the perfect person to help us incorporate both effective practice techniques and the confidence and freedom to improvise! Express! And enjoy!