Bandleading Workshop for Singers

Saturday, May 23, 2026
Cadenza Music
Led by Katia Cardenas with support from Tommy Boynton

 
 

Demo: Singing a jazz standard, with keys

Overview: Singing a Jazz Standard

  • Know your the song, lyrics and the key

  • Share the Tempo/feel

  • Discuss intro

  • Open up for solos

  • Lead endingSing the head in and out

How to Sing a Jazz Standard with a Combo

  • Call the tune & Key

  • Discuss intro

  • Count it off

  • Sing the head

  • Sing the chorus again, add new ideas

  • Solo section

    • Scat

      • at the top

      • before the final chorus

      • in the middle, with the other melodic instruments

    • Keep track of the form

    • Determine length of solo section/how many solo

      • Order of solos: Melodic instruments (horns), Chordal instruments (guitar, keys), Rhythm section (bass, drums)

    • Decide if you want to PLAY

      • Trading 4s 

        • with one instrument - pick one!

        • “Around the world”

    • Communicate (non-verbally) about taking solos throughout

      • Eye contact, quick nod or shake

      • No eye contact, just let it happen

      • Just come back in! 

  • Sing The Head Out

  • Cue the ending

Demo: Singing a jazz standard, with combo

Intros

  • 2-4 bar vamp, repeat as needed

  • Last 8 bars

  • Once through the A Section

  • “Right on it” - GIVE A NOTE FIRST

  • Once through the form

Endings

  • Types of endings

    • Triple Tag

    • Single tag

    • Ritard

  • How to lead with clear signals

    • Ritard - Hand up

    • Tag/Turn Around

      • Hold up 3 fingers (triple tag)

      • “turn around” signal, like a circle, with finger or hand

    • Last time - Fist or hand up

    • Go to the end/take it out - thumb “back” 

  • BAND: how to play/listen for them

What does the singer need from the band?

  • Clarity of the rhythm and melody throughout the solo section

  • Horn players, fill the spaces, don’t play over them

  • Stay in the form

  • Listen, follow their dynamics

  • Follow them for the ending

  • Support their moment to be featured: this is likely only song they’ll sing all night, if they choose to take more choruses, great!

This is a lot for singers to do, and not everyone knows what to do

What if they don’t do all these things?

  • Follow them

    • If they get off track, go where they go 

    • Or if you see them about to “mess up” help them get back on track

    • Don’t fight them, they likely won’t know what’s wrong

  • Listen for subtle ending cues

    • Note cues

    • Slowing down

  • Mind your face!

    • Your face can tell a lot about what you’re thinking/feeling

    • The audience won’t know what you don’t tell them

Participation: Practice playing with a band!

Discussion: Why don’t youth singers know how to about jazz as youth instrumentalists do?

  • It’s not taught in most school choir or jazz programs, so singers are years behind their peers in general music education and theory

  • Limited opportunities to learn about it, community music schools don’t offer opportunities

  • Opportunities for soloing is limited to a feature with a big band or vocal jazz groups with occasional solos.

  • At the education level (high school, community college, university) there’s disagreement about how to teach it, what to prioritize

  • Most examples of jazz singers are sensationalized (e.g. Jessica Rabbit), but it’s more than just the aesthetic and the vibe, it’s a craft that needs to be learned and practiced to be performed

How to learn more

  • Go to Jazz Jams. Reference my HOW TO GUIDE for singers

    • Tuesdays @ Whitey’s Old Town Saloon

    • Tuesdays at Wiliebski’s Blues Saloon

    • Wednesdays @ Berlin

    • Explore non-jazz spaces can be a great place to practice getting onstage

      • Mondays at Minnesota Music Cafe

      • Thursdays at Green Room

    • Second Sundays at Duel Citizen Brewery

  • Seek out vocal jazz artists, ask for advice

  • Watch videos and listen to records of famous jazz singers

  • Attend live shows, meet the band, and network with attendees

  • Follow working jazz singers online, social media

    • Alyssa Allgood @allgoodjazz is a great Chicago-based artist who poss lots of “how to” and other insightful videos

  • Learn music theory, many online resources exist for this

  • Take private lessons

  • Put a combo together and practice

  • Find a local Jazz education organizations:

    • Northstar Jazz Workshop - Tommy Boynton & Anya Menck teach twice monthly sessions on this topic for adults

    • JazzWire

    • Monday Night Performance Workshop with MN Hard Bop Collective

    • Regional Jazz Camps

    • If an org or school doesn’t offer it, express your interest in it, and maybe they’ll do it!!

  • Contact Katia Cardenas for One-on-One coaching and consultaion. Heck, maybe I’ll start something…