Singing & Songwriting Summer School

Summary

Point Blank's unique Singing & Songwriting Summer School is the insiders guide to writing and performing hit songs. You will spend a week 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. Who knows - 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

If you have any questions about our Singing and Songwriting Summer Course, please feel free to call us on Tel: 020 7729 4884 and one of our course advisors will be happy to help.