Pop and Rock Vocals

Authored by Didi Stewart | Course Code:

OVOIC-241
Syllabus

Lesson 1 Belting Techniques: 1950s Pop/Rock Roots

The Great American Melting Pot: Pop/Rock Roots

The Pentatonic Scale
Country Music
Pop Music Roots
Spotlight: Notable 1950s Pop and Rock Vocalists
How Pop/Rock Vocalizing Differs from Classical and Music Theater
Styles
Technique of the Week: Breath Support for Pop/Rock Singing and
Belting

Lesson 2 Flexibility, Melisma, and Vibrato: Early 1960s Pop/Rock

Early 1960s Pop/Rock Styles

The Conversational Tone
Melisma
Vibrato
Falsetto
Technique of the Week: Practice Schedule of Warm-Ups for Pop/Rock
Singers
Spotlight: Notable Early 1960s Vocalists

Lesson 3 Dynamics, Attitude, and Rock 'n Roll Role-Playing: The British
Invasion

British Invasion Artists and Styles

Spotlight: Notable British Invasion Vocalists
Dynamics
 Glissando
Attitude
The Concept of Tension/Release
Technique of the Week: Jaw Relaxation

Lesson 4 Communication in Performance: Folk-Rock

Folk-Rock Artists and Styles

Spotlight: Notable Folk-Rock Artists
Technique of the Week: Eye Contact and Facial Expressiveness
Dealing With Stage Fright: It's the Song Not the Singer
Observation of People in Conversation

Lesson 5 Vocal Stylizations, Phrasing, and Hand Gestures: Motown, Stax,

and Muscle Shoals

Motown/Stax/ Muscle Shoals Artists and Styles

Spotlight: Notable Motown, Stax, and Muscle Shoals Vocalists
Phrasing
Improvisation
Technique of the Week: Hand Gestures and Stationary Body
Movement
Mirror Exercises

Lesson 6 Projection and Enunciation: Psychedelia, Progressive Rock, and

Art Rock

Psychedelic, Progressive, and Art Rock Artists and Styles

Projection
Enunciation
Spotlight: Notable Psych/Progressive/Art Rock Vocalists
Technique of the Week: Forward Placement

Lesson 7 Breath Management and Resonance: Country/Roots Rock, Soft

Rock, and Power Pop

Country/Roots Rock, Soft Rock, and Power Pop Artists and Styles
 Country-Rock Vocal Characteristics
Creating Resonance
Technique of the Week: Breath Management

Lesson 8 Interpretation: 1970s Singer-Songwriters

Singer-Songwriter Artists and Styles

Interpretation
Nuance
Inflection
Connecting with Your Lyrics
Storytelling
Journaling Songs

Lesson 9 Register Balancing and Singing with the Whole Body: 1970s
Hard Rock, Glam, Punk, and New Wave

Hard Rock, Glam, Punk, and New Wave Artists and Styles
Register Balancing and the Hard Truth about Hard Rock Singing
Spotlight: Notable Hard Rock and Punk/New Wave Vocalists
Singing with the Whole Body

Lesson 10 Syncopation, Emphasis, Movement: 1980s Rock and Dance Pop

1980s Rock and Dance Pop Artists and Styles

Spotlight: Notable 1980s Rock and Dance Pop Vocalists
Syncopation
Technique of the Week: Basic Movement—Responding Physically to
Your Music
Traveling: Moving from Point A to Point B

Lesson 11 Unconventional and Virtuoso Vocal Sounds: Alternative Rock

and Diva Pop

Alternative Pop/Rock Artists and Styles

Character Devices Common to Alternative Pop/Rock
Spotlight: Notable Alternative Pop/Rock and Diva Pop Vocalists
 Exploring Quirky Vocal Sounds
Diva-Style Melismatic Runs
Technique of the Week: Creating a Character Using Unconventional
Vocal Sounds

Lesson 12 Pulling It All Together: Contemporary Pop and Rock

Contemporary Pop/Rock Artists and Styles

Music for Pleasure: Why We Sing
Putting What You've Learned into Practice
Review: Techniques for Pop/Rock Singing and Belting
Review: Interpretation