Teaching

Michele Teaching 1 Michele has delivered hundreds of workshops, lectures and clinics in over 20 countries. When at home, she maintains a busy private teaching studio and serves on the faculty at U.C.L.A. Michele is on the road several months out of each year as clinician, conductor, and performer. Download a listing of Michele's past clinics/workshops.


Books

JAZZ PIANO HANDBOOK

Essential Jazz Piano Skills
for All Musicians

Book/CD Set (Alfred Publications)

If you're a jazz singer, instrumentalist or teacher and don't already have basic skills in jazz piano: now is the time! Piano skills are the gateway to understanding chords and progressions, checking lead seets for accuracy, learning new tunes, arranging, writing your own tunes, becoming a better improviser and so on. This book outlines and easy step-by-step process for learning basic jazz piano. Available at the MichMusic Store and your local music store.

See sample pages from Jazz Piano Handbook.

Section I, "The Essentials," is the study and practice of basic voicings and their application to songs.

Section II, "Above and Beyond," will expand your skills and knowledge with the addition of more sophisticated voicings, color notes, a more pianistic style of playing, and skills to harmonize a melody.

Here's what you will learn:

The CD that comes with the book provides a model for how the exercises should sound when played correctly, musically and with good piano technique. Also included in the book is 14 jazz piano etudes, a catalog of chord symbols and color notes, and a glossary.

Jazz Singer's Handbook Cover JAZZ SINGER'S HANDBOOK

The Artistry and Mastery of Singing Jazz

Book/CD Set (Alfred Publications)

This book/CD set is designed for solo jazz singers, teachers, and is ideal for classroom use. Available for sale now at the MichMusic Store.

See sample pages from
Jazz Singer's Handbook.

Section I, "The Artistry" explores the creative and expressive possibilities in jazz singing such as communicating emotion through the text, personalizing the song, coloring the melody, phrasing, elements of style, swing feel and other rhythmic grooves.

Section II, "The Mastery" provides information necessary to prepare for performance as a professional such as repertoire development, writing a lead sheet, transposing, creating an arrangement, organizing a gig book, rehearsing a rhythm section, a sitting in, and understanding jazz styles.

Chapter topics include:
  • Text Delivery
  • The ABCs of Swing
  • Coloring the Melody
  • Organizing a Gig Book
  • Phrasing is your Friend!
  • Rehearsing a Rhythm Section
  • Preparing to Sing a New Tune
  • Rhythmic Grooves and Playing Styles
  • Writing a Lead Sheet
  • Creating an Arrangement
  • Professional Resource Guide
  • Jazz Chords Library
The practice CD includes sing-along tracks for standard songs, many of which are in two keys for different voice ranges, plus recorded examples of the performance and arranging concepts presented in the text. Demonstrations by Peter Eldridge of New York Voices, and Michele. Also included in the book is jazz standard song lists, recommended CD's by 20 great jazz singers, and a thorough index/glossary of terms and concepts.

Vocal Improvisation cover VOCAL IMPROVISATION

Vocal Improvisation (Advance Music) is currently being used as a text at notable universities including the University of Southern California, University of North Texas, Berklee College of Music and many others.

See sample pages from Vocal Improvisation.

This book/CD set can be used by any jazz musician or aspiring jazz musician, regardless of age or experience. The beginning level exercises would be suitable for a younger age group, for example as a fun introduction to jazz for elementary school kids or a high school jazz choir. Jazz band directors can use the CD and exercises to work with horn players on concepts of jazz style and articulation. Professional singers who wish to improve their skills in improvisation can benefit from working through the more advanced exercises and studying the Jazz Fundamentals chapter.

Features of the Book:

Past Clinics & Workshops

Michele is highly sought after vocal jazz teacher, clinician, and conductor, making frequent appearances all over the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia and South America. Notable clinics include the World Choral Symposium, the National American Choral Directors Association (A.C.D.A.) Convention, the International Association for Jazz Education (I.A.J.E.), and many others. Download a listing of Michele's past clinics and workshops. See upcoming events on the Calendar page.

Michele's past educational events through 2008.

CLINICS & PERFORMANCES

INTERNATIONAL

SUMMER WORKSHOPS & EVENTS

CONFERENCE & SPECIAL EVENT PRESENTATIONS

ALL-STATE JAZZ CHOIRS