31 | Recitals with a Rhythm Section
This episode is for teachers who are working with students performing contemporary commercial music (pop, rock, country, jazz, musical theatre). Let’s face it – some contemporary songs just don’t cut it with piano accompaniment. (Friends do NOT let friends play Taylor Swift songs on the piano!) And if you are working on jazz repertoire, you absolutely need that rhythm section to feel that swing. Singing to tracks is an option, but your students will appreciate and benefit from the opportunity to work with a live band. Nikki Loney shares strategies for finding the right musicians, venue, sound systems, and how to help your students prepare for this opportunity. We’ve got plenty of teacher take-a-ways for those of you who are looking to “jazz” up your student recitals.
Getting started:
You can start small (like I did) by asking a talented guitar player to be part of your recital. (Be careful – I ended up marrying the guitar player!) Or you can assemble a small little rhythm section that will make your recital something to remember.
There are many things to consider when working with an ensemble of musicians:
- the venue
- the musicians
- choosing repertoire
- singer pro and lead sheet charts
- group rehearsals
- microphones. YES, MICROPHONES!
- sound systems
- how to cover all the costs
Fear not – the podcast covers it all.
Additional teacher resources:
Music Recitals have a bad reputation for being stressful, long and boring. Not your recital. Your recital is a celebration of musical achievement and students and families leave with big smiles on their faces… Check out our popular podcast episode #5 Hosting Great Student Recitals: https://fullvoicemusic.com/podcast/5-hosting-great-student-recitals/
Not sure about microphones? Michelle Markwart Deveaux has got the information you need: https://thespeakeasycooperative.com/blog/2017/02/
There are several gazillion types of microphones in the live music world; all essential to bringing sound to audiences in a way that can honor the talents of the musicians. It’s sad to say that most performers don’t actually know anything about microphones, or how they work, leading them to miss out on a ton of performance capital. Knowing just a few things about mics can make the difference between a savvy and comfortable performance, and an awkward, unprofessional one. ~ Michelle Markwart Deveaux
