MICHMUSIC PERSONAL STUDY QUESTIONNAIRE

Please answer the questions below - we want to get to know the WHOLE you! It’s ok to skip any questions you’d rather not answer at this time; there are only a few that are required.

When finished, scroll to bottom of the questionnaire and press SEND.

ABOUT YOU

Full Name (required)

Nick Name or Name You Prefer

Phone (required)

Email Address (required)

Physical Address

City (required)

State or Country (required)

Your Age Group
Young AdultRoaring 20sScreaming 30sFabulous 40sFantastic 50sOlder than I want to admit

What do you do for a living?

Use a word or two to describe yourself. For example, extroverted, quiet/shy, studious, adventurous, playful, and so on.

How did you hear about MichMusic Personal Study?

MUSICAL BACKGROUND

Have you studied music?
YesNo

Do you play piano?
YesNo

What other instruments do you play?

Have you studied vocal technique?
YesNo

Briefly describe your jazz singing (or piano or arranging) experience.

Briefly describe your performing experience, if any.

What are some of your musical strengths? (For example, vocal technique, good ear, sense of time, vocal tone quality, reading music, composing or arranging music, creativity?)

Name 3 of your favorite singers, pianists, or arrangers.

Have you ever felt blocked in your music growth process? Briefly describe.

GOALS

What is your big picture GOAL in music – if you had all the money and time and talent in the world, what would you be doing in music?

What are your near term, 6-month goals? For example, ‘within 6 months I’d like to be able to play songs on piano from a fakebook,’ or ‘have a demo or full CD recorded,’ or, ‘feel confident about my scat singing on basic tunes,’ or, ‘write an arrangement for my vocal group,’ or, ‘know how to write my own lead sheets and rehearse the rhythm section,’ etc.

What would you like to get out of MichMusic Personal Study sessions? * (This is the most important question.)

YOUR LEARNING STYLE

Select the item(s) that best describe your style of learning.
A visual learner (need to see things)A cognitive learner (need to think and understand things)A kinesthetic learner (need to feel it in my voice or my fingers)An aural learner (need to hear it)

Do you prefer information to be organized and linear (step by step), or do you prefer a less structured learning environment?
Organized and linear (step by step)A less structured learning environment

Which of the following styles of practice habits best applies to you (be honest!)
I'm diligent in my practice, setting goals, and meeting themI try to be on top of things, but slip sometimesIt ‘s sometimes tough to stay motivatedI am so busy and life can be so distracting, it’s often tough to practice at allWhat do you mean by, “practice?”

Name three things that you get excited about or inspire you.

THE MENU: SINGING AND PERFORMING

From the menu items below, rate your level of interest on a scale of 1 (lowest) - 5 (highest). Rate as many as you wish, and feel free to skip over ones that don't apply to you.

Fearless Vocal Improvisation (Level I)
Designed for beginners in vocal improvisation. Covers syllables, feeling rhythm and “groove,” constructing melodic shapes thru motive development, learning to hear chord progressions, and gaining basic fluency in improvisation. Sessions include a combination of simple theory, call and response, and specific exercises.
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Fearless Vocal Improvisation (Level II)
Level II Vocal Improvisation ventures into more advanced melodic territory such as the bebop language, and the art of navigating through more challenging chord progressions. Sessions include specific exercises and singing along with recorded solos.
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Solo Singing I - The Essentials of Jazz Singing
Introduction to solo jazz singing and the creative interpretation of jazz standards. Includes instruction and practice in singing ballads, swing
tunes and bossa novas in a true jazz style. Perfect for singers that are new to jazz and/or coming from a classical background.
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Solo Singing II - Playground for Jazz Singers
Exploration of the finer points of jazz singing, including the most critical element: soulful and creative expression of the emotion behind
the text. We’ll explore the many creative tools available to a jazz singer including deeply feeling the groove, ornamenting the melody and rhythms, inflection, use of vibrato, phrasing, use or word stress, and so on.
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Working with the Rhythm Section
Everything you need to know to get comfortable in working with the rhythm section, including count offs, terminology, what info they need
when you’re sitting in, cueing endings, and so on. This topic will help you gain confidence with the players while also earning their respect.
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Preparing for Your Gig, Concert or Tour
Choosing tunes and creating effective set lists, what you need to find out about the venue before the gig, organizing set up and sound
check time, contacting players and communicating necessary info to them, setting up rehearsals, advertising and so on.
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Performance Essentials
Stage presence and the power of nonverbal messages, cueing rhythm section on stage, talking with the audience in a way that’s genuine and interesting, sound reinforcement basics (including what equipment you need), mic technique, and dealing with stage fright.
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Recording Your Demo or CD
Everything you need to know to prepare for your recording: choosing and preparing the music, contacting the players, finding the right studio and CD duplication house, creating the artwork, the importance of singing freely without self judgment in the studio. Michele has a small pro tools set up so you can practice recording yourself to a track with headphones on, similar to how it would be in the studio.
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THE MENU: THE COMPLETE SINGER-MUSICIAN

Jazz Piano Made Easy (Level I)
Jazz Piano Level I is for singers and other non-jazz pianists (drummers for example) who want to learn to play authentic sounding jazz chords. YOU CAN GO FAR IN JUST 6 MONTHS. Begin by learning chord types and simple 3-note voicings. At that point, you will already be able to open a fake book and play jazz chords. Then, you’ll move on to simple 4-note voicings and apply them to swing and bossa nova styles.
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Jazz Piano Made Easy (Level II)
Level II jazz piano starts where Level I left off, with an exploration of interesting 5-note voicings and extensions, breaking up chords to sound more flowing and pianistic, creating intros, and playing the melody of the tune for solo piano gigs.
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Jazz Piano - Playing With the Rhythm Section
This topic covers what you need to know to play in a rhythm section: comping (rootless chord voicings) and right hand soloing. you’ll also
learn how to harmonize the melody of the tune with a combination of block chords and right hand melodic lines.
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Jazz Ropes - Things You Need to Know
Everyone should select this topic! Covers all the basics that singers and players should know about jazz: chord types, song form, groove
names and characteristics, terminology and definitions, performance format, and so on.
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Lead Sheet Writing 101
Learn to write a clear and easy to read lead sheet in your key with chord symbols, intro, endings, and road map markings such as D.S.
al Coda.
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Creative Rhythm Section Arranging
How to turn your lead sheet into a distinctive and unique arrangement through use of rhythm kicks, written out bass lines, reharmonized chord progressions, interesting structural elements, key changes, tempo changes, and so on.
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Reharmonization Madness
In depth study of the many ways a simple tune can be transformed through reharmonizing the chord progression. Includes study of tritone and common tone subs, diatonic choral movement, approach chords by 1/2 step, by 3rds, interesting vamps, pedal tones, modal concepts, and so on.
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Organizing Your Gig Book
Gather all of your lead sheets into a 3-ring binder gig book, and include a table of contents with songs organized by key, and style. Learn how to deal with 2 and 3 page charts, and organize your book to accommodate a section for holiday(or other) music and more elaborate (concert) arrangements.
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Music Fundamentals
Music fundamentals is for those who have never studied music, or need a refresher course. it covers all of the basics you need to know: treble and bass clefs, key signatures, meter signatures, counting rhythms, simple note reading, and so on.
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Sight Reading/Ear Training
Dig in and refine your sight reading and ear training skills. specific exercises for both, including methods for improving skills in the
fastest and most effective way. Very useful for any musician.
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Building a Music Career You Love
So, you love singing jazz, but how do you do it as a career? We’ll explore and define the steps toward build a unique career that you love. Being in the music business doesn't have to mean you're strictly a performer - there are numerous options for both professional and
semiprofessional music careers, including the business of music, sound reinforcement (live), recording, publishing, promotion, management, writing/arranging, teaching, and so on.
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Vocal Group Arranging (Level I)
Basics of writing a capella and accompanied vocal group charts in 2 and 4 part (four-way close and drop 2.) Covers intros and endings,
creative note, rhythm and chord progression alterations, and overall arrangement structure.
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Vocal Group Arranging (Level II)
Designed for more experienced arrangers. We’ll study arrangements you’ve already written to consider options for refinement. You’ll also write new arrangements and explore various creative chord voicings, reharmonization, arrangement structure, and so on.
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THE MENU: TEACHER TOPICS

Starting a Vocal Jazz Ensemble
For teachers who want to start a vocal jazz program, everything you need to know to get started: auditioning, where to find literature,
preparing for rehearsal, numerous tips on running your rehearsal effectively, working with sound system and rhythm section, and so on.
StartingaVocalJazzEnsemble
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Your Jazz Choir - Raising the Bar
For directors with established vocal jazz programs, tips and techniques for getting the group to sound it’s best: clean up the intonation, balance, blend, sing with a beautiful tone, feel the inner rhythm to really swing, sing dissonant chords with ease, tighten up entrances and releases, and so on. We’ll explore various styles of arrangements and address any questions you may have.
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Teaching Vocal Improvisation and Solo Singing
This topic explores methods of teaching vocal improvisation and solo singing within the jazz choir rehearsal using group activities and games. Because of time limitations you probably have in rehearsal, efficiency will be emphasized, as well as ideas for student activities outside of class.
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Coaching Your Student Rhythm Section
Everything you need to know about working with your student rhythm section: parts of the drum set and how to play common styles, set ups and fills, and how to construct walking bass lines and piano comping chords from chord symbols. Information on how to get your rhythm section to play with strength and consistency as a solid team.
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THE MENU: VOCAL GROUP COACHING

Coaching is available for established professional (local or visiting) and high school or college vocal groups. General feedback on all aspects of the music and performance, fine tuning, tips and so on. Contact Michele for further questions.