The Voice Foundation

Creating ‘my own version’ of a CCM song workshop: how to teach/add vocal technique with the Singing Performance Chart ™

Having good vocal technique is considered a key aspect when singing contemporary commercial music songs. Many times CCM songs can be highly demanding in terms of vocal range, use of registers and use of expressive resources (belting, vibrato, vocal frying, riffs, etc.) in them.

But, just as important as this, is that the singer is capable of creating his own version of the song, which must be consistent and particular. This, because this particularity makes its interpretation unique and attractive.

But how to decide when to change registration? How many expressive resources would be sufficient to apply and at what moments in the song to do it? Looking to find a support resource to answer these questions and organize interpretation's elements, we propose this workshop in which we will show about and practice the Singing Performance Chart. This graphic is the adaptation of a proven pedagogical tool for vocal performance. The Singing Performance Chart consists of a teaching tool to practice a song. Using chromatic and symbolic cues, the singer can intuitively and clearly create his or her own version of the song through this visual chart.

During the workshop we will work with excerpts from some iconic CCM songs. We will do a brief analysis of its original versions with the Singing Performance Chart. Then we will have a guided practice of some variations to create “my own version.”

The workshop will be led by two vocal researchers: an experienced CCM singing teacher, along with an actress and singer, author of the original pedagogical tool.