<![CDATA[California Choral Directors Association

<![CDATA[California Choral Directors Association - Vocal Jazz]]>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 03:08:53 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Improv boot camp 2.0]]>Mon, 08 Nov 2021 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.calcda.org/vocal-jazz/improv-boot-camp-20Darmon Meader and Rosana are at it again! Vocal Improv Boot Camp 2.0 is here, this time focusing on tunes, tunes, tunes. Three different composer groupings, three classes in each group - a total of 9 classes. Learn about practice techniques, hearing through changes, building language, shaping solos, and more!
Register for one composer group (3 classes for $75), or all three (9 classes for $200). The first class is November 9, but classes can also be viewed on video afterward. The classes are offered ala carte through jazzvoice.com, and registration is open now.

]]><![CDATA[Rosana Eckert]]>Mon, 08 Nov 2021 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.calcda.org/vocal-jazz/rosana-eckertRosana is a fabulous vocalist, arranger, songwriter and educator. Her compositions range from heartfelt to clever and her choral arrangements are by now standard repertoire for MS, HS and collegiate VJ ensembles. Check out her book on song interpretation, Singing with Expression. All through the past year, Rosana, along with Darmon Meader from the New York Voices, offered a monthly zoom class, the Vocal Jazz Improvisation Boot Camp, which received highest marks by students and educators alike. Follow Rosana on social media to find out about upcoming opportunities.

]]><![CDATA[Aimee Nolte]]>Tue, 19 Oct 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.calcda.org/vocal-jazz/aimee-nolteAimee Nolte is a pianist, vocalist, composer, educator and YouTuber. On her channel she offers hundreds of videos on jazz piano, jazz singing, vocal technique, theory, improvisation, interpretation, reharmonization, analyses of songs, solos and harmonic progressions, you name it. Aimee shares stories of becoming and being a jazz musician, she talks about her favorite artists and gives repertoire recommendations. You can watch Aimee’s performances or one of her YouTube Live shows where she takes requests.

]]><![CDATA[Michmusic.com]]>Tue, 07 Sep 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.calcda.org/vocal-jazz/michmusiccomThe fairy godmother of vocal jazz education, Michele Weir has a vast catalogue of arrangements and her instructional books are standard literature all over the world. Michele created ScatAbility, a vocal improvisation practice app (Apple only). She has a well organized collection of instructional videos available on YouTube, where you can also find a podcast and the series Just One Question in which Michele interviews VJ luminaries. Under the name MusicHabit, she offers online courses taught by her and other notable educators.

]]><![CDATA[Kerry Marsh and Julia Dollison clones coming soon!]]>Tue, 17 Aug 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.calcda.org/vocal-jazz/kerry-marsh-and-julia-dollison-clones-coming-soonHas anyone not heard of Kerry Marsh? Kerry is a prolific arranger whose homepage sets new standards in (self-)publishing. Kerry and his wife, Julia Dollison, produce demo recordings for every chart, which you can listen to while perusing the scores. They offer part tracks, minus-one tracks and even sky track mixers, a simplified DAW that allows customization of the mix; a popular service during the pandemic's online instruction period. If they keep their innovations coming, Kerry and Julia might soon be renting out their clones to support your ensembles in live performances.

]]><![CDATA[Kerry Marsh reading session]]>Tue, 17 Aug 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.calcda.org/vocal-jazz/kerry-marsh-reading-session

]]><![CDATA[Sound music publications is now anchor music publications]]>Mon, 16 Aug 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.calcda.org/vocal-jazz/sound-music-publications-is-now-anchor-music-publicationsAfter two decades of providing vocal jazz directors with the finest selection of arrangements, the Don Corleone of collegiate vocal jazz, Frank DeMiero, and his wife Yvonne passed on Sound Music Publications, aka SMP Jazz, to another power couple in the vocal jazz world, Matt & Jessica Falker. Now based in Oceanside, California and under the new name, Anchor Music Publications, this publisher not only appears on top of the list in your local yellow pages but also provides information on VJ festivals in the US and Canada, and a link to the Vocal Jazz Academy (VJA), an educator support institute.

]]><![CDATA[Hello!]]>Sun, 01 Aug 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.calcda.org/vocal-jazz/hello My name is Andreas Preponis, and I am honored to serve as your Vocal Jazz R&R Chair. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions related to repertoire or general teaching resources. I'm happy to help.]]>