Scat Singing Method [Paperback]

Scott Fredrickson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2003

Vocal improvisation can be easily and effectively learned by singers or taught in a classroom situation. For choral ensembles, it is educationally valid as a supplement to the total choral musical curriculum by increasing creativity in individual students, and by enhancing the over-all musicianship of entire ensembles. For individual singers, it can increase vocal skill, musicianship, and performance confidence. This new approach is based on the technique of theme and variation. By using the elements of vocal improvisation: syllables, melody, and rhythm, and applying the following techniques, musical objectives can be met and instant success achieved. In other words, you can learn to improvise right now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It is perhaps the only method available which takes a vocal, rather than instrumental approach to improvisation." -- Dan Schwartz - Jersey City, NJ

"The Scat Singing Method is the finest tool of its kind I have seen in all my years of teaching." -- Bill Anschutz - Salina, KS

"This method should be THE GUIDE for vocal students and choral directors." -- Doug Anderson, Troutlake, WA

About the Author

Dr. Scott Fredrickson is a composer, arranger, director, and performer. He is President of Scott Music Publications and the former editor of Pop, Jazz & Show Choir Magazine. He is the author of the Scat Singing Method and a new choral education text entitled Popular Choral Handbook.

Product Details

• Paperback: 108 pages
• Publisher: Scott Music Publications (December 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962017701
• ISBN-13: 978-0962017704
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #742,347 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive scat singing resource, January 30, 2004

By 

Carl A Jacobson (Manchester, NH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scat Singing Method (Paperback)

I first used this book myself and found it extremely easy to learn the concepts and quickly become proficient scat singing with any tune. I previously tried other vocal improvisation books, but they all were scale/chord/theory based. This method uses an aural/melodic approach which is basically theme and variation. You basically listen to a melody and learn to alter the syllables, melody, and rhythm of any tune and get you scat singing almost instantly. I especially enjoyed practicing with the recorded rhythm section on the 2 CDs.

I later used the method in a classroom situation with my choral students. They loved how quickly they could learn to scat sing on any tune. I plan on using this method in my general music classes. These concepts will help me give an improvisation experience to non-musicians. I highly recommend this book for developing individual skills as well as a teaching method in a classroom situation.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Scat Singing Method purchased from Amazon.com, September 20, 2010

By 

Michelle D. McKinney - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Scat Singing Method (Paperback)

I have enjoyed working with the Scat Singing Method. It is very analytical, and allows one to focus on one element of scatting at a time. The writer/teacher is a very good scatsinger. I suppose there were copyright issues - that's why he changed the title of some jazz standards and created tunes that suggested the standard. The knockoffs were a bit dorky, and I suppose I am to scatsing over the singers. I would recommend this book to anyone who does not have a real jam session near her or him to attend or who wants to think about scatsinging and approach it intelligently from within first before going out to bare his/her soul to the 'world.' Just don't forget to listen and transcribe / memorize if possible those professional scatters out there who learned from listening and doing (e.g. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Bobby McFerrin, Jon Hendricks, etc.). Thumbs up!