I.
Vocal Clusters
Slowly sing up and down the mixolydian scale (major scale with flattened 7th) a few times, till the feel of it is scecure. Use numbers or solfa.
As you descend ask your singers to each stop and sustain on any note. What harmonic sound do they create? What if they all sang the same vowel sound eg. 'oo' when they sustain their note?
What other scales could you try this with?
II.
Jazz Chords
Sing the mixolydian scale again starting on B flat. Now ask you singers to follow the patterns below. What chord do you create?
Part 1: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - b7 - 8 - 9
Part 2: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - b7
Part 3: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 4 - 3
Part 4: 1
If you have an added note
chord in a piece, this type of exercise can help them get used to the
sound of the chord, and how their note/part sits within in it. This
example above relates to the final chord in "Straighten Up and Fly
Right" from Popular Voiceworks. When I did this exercise I started with
Part 3 and worked backwards adding to Part 1. Part 4 is optional or your
pianist could play the chord underneath (jazz hands optional!)
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