Syncopated rhythms in jazz
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use inspiration from jazz to create syncopated vocal improvisation.
Key learning points
- Jazz grew from the music and experiences of enslaved Africans and their descendants.
- Jazz blends African music traditions with European instruments and newer American influences.
- Syncopation can be used to make the same melody sound and feel very different.
- We can take inspiration from jazz to create short syncopated rhythms using scat singing and improvisation.
Keywords
Jazz - a music genre that originated in the African American communities of New Orleans, blending elements of blues, African rhythms, and European harmonic structures
Influences influences - musical traits such as rhythm and melody that inspire a musician’s work
Improvisation - to create new musical ideas in the moment
Scat singing - a vocal jazz technique where singers improvise melodies and rhythms using wordless syllables instead of lyrics
Common misconception
Improvisation in music is only done on instruments and not the voice.
Scat singing, from jazz music is one type of vocal improvisation. Other types include the sargams of Hindustani and Carnatic music from India, freestyle rap, even yodelling!
Teacher tip
Build pupils' confidence with scat singing by lots of singing around one note in pairs first, before moving to a bigger group.
Licence
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