Summary
Point Blank's unique Singing & Songwriting Summer School is the insiders guide to writing and performing hit songs. You will spend five days (Mon to Fri) learning with a vocalist and songwriter who has worked alongside some of the biggest names in the business including Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Robbie Williams and Chaka Khan. The course reveals professional songwriting and vocal techniques used by recording artists including former Point Blank student Leona Lewis. Whatever style of music inspires you, we'll show you how to deliver a great performance on stage and in the studio. At the end of the week you will have the opportunity to record your song in our studios and take a copy home with you on CD. You could even get it signed to our label and sell your track on iTunes and other leading digital stores. Age Range: 14 to 19
Content
Breathing & Diction
- Posture and breathing exercises
- Intonation and tone. Loud and soft attack
- Dynamics: crescendo & diminuendo
- Ear training: classic singers and their style
Song Structure
- Groove and rhythm
- Structure and arrangement
- Verse, chorus, bridge and middle 8
Lyric Writing
- Deciding on a title
- Where to find lyrical inspiration
- Lyric writing concepts - "types" of song
- Rhyming structures
Vocal Arrangements and Rhythm
- Major pentatonic scales
- Time signatures and basic rhythm notation
- Intonation, tone and ad libs
- Vocal harmony and double tracking
Live Performance
- Rehearsal and planning
- Voice projection techniques
- Confidence, image and stage presence
- Types of microphone: Dynamic vs Condenser
The Recording Session
- Recording lead and backing vocals, ad libs and harmonies
- Adding ad libs and extra parts to your recording
- Setting up your headphone mix
- Compiling and editing vocal "takes". Double tracking
