Sara has given workshops in North and Central America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. If you are interested in having Sara visit your school or organization, please email with information about what you’re looking for. If you are bringing Sara’s jazz band as well, you may request a concert attached to the workshop, as well as vocal critiques of students. In this case, please have students prepared to sing and bring their sheet music with them. Sara is happy to prepare a specific workshop tailored your the clients’ needs, or feel free to choose from the list of workshops is below:
Singing Healthfully – (All levels, especially beginners)
- How to take a proper singing breath.
- Breath support and breath control.
- Study and exercise habits.
- Vocal warmups for specific voice techniques/problems.
- Where to take a breath.
Vocal Riffs/Runs/Melismata (Intermediate and Advanced students)
- The blues scale and its permutations.
- Overuse of riffs–when is riffing appropriate and when is it overkill?
- Learning some typical riffs/runs.
- Transcribing riffs/runs.
- How to practice singing riffs/runs accurately.
- How to create your own riffs and runs.
Singing Necessities for the Working Songwriter
- How to take a singing breath
- What *IS* the diaphragm and how it helps with breath control.
- How to find the “sweet spot” in your voice and expand it.
- How to find the best key for your song.
- Developing a strong “mix” range, and blending the chest and head voices.
Jazz Improvisation (Beginning and intermediate students)
- 3rds and 7ths, writing guide tone lines.
- Singing guide tone lines
- Recognizing and following basic jazz forms.
- The 11-7 V7 I Maj7 chord progression.
- Creating and singing musical motifs and rhythmic patterns.
- “Trading” jazz phrases.
Jazz Improvisation (Intermediate and Advanced students)
- 7th chords.
- Learning extensions and appropriate use of them.
- Blues, rhythm changes, and following jazz forms.
- 11-7 V7 I maj7 licks.
- Creating musical motifs.
- “Trading” jazz phrases.
How To Lead a Jazz Band (Beginning and Intermediate students)
- Swing feel – what is it, how to feel it, execute it, and write it.
- Writing charts.
- Introductions and cutoffs.
- How to count off a song.
- Blues, rhythm changes, and following jazz forms