This is not only for show and jazz choirs, but for concert choirs as well. In her comprehensive 100-page book, the best-selling author reflects on her career as a music educator, dancer and musician, and shares her valuable knowledge and experience, including humorous anecdotes. Full of tips and suggestions for successful auditions, choreography, scenery and props, staging and lights, costumes, programming, rehearsal suggestions, budgeting, public relations and more, this fun-to-read resource is a must for every choir director!

For the first time ever, the real story behind the fascinating world of show choirs is told in this entertaining book. Featuring more than 100 competitive show choirs from around the United States in photos, quotations, and stories, the book details the many influences of pop and musical theater culture responsible for the show choir phenomenon. Take a step behind the hit TV series "Glee" and learn about the real drama, the hard work, the sweat, and the tears. Find out what it takes to build an award-winning competition set, and about the branding, the budgets, the strategy and the performance. Meet the characters, learn the lingo, and join the fun and excitement of show choirs!

In the preface to her complete volume on vocal jazz, Michelle Weir writes "Jazz improvisation can be one of the most creative, adventurous, meaningful, and intrinsically rewarding things you can do in music." Not only is she passionate about the art form, she has developed a step-by-step method that develops basic skills, teaches about hearing the changes, examines music theory, suggests group activities and provides a state-of-the-art recording with some of the best singers currently active in vocal jazz. Interviews with 19 singers include Bobby McFerrin and Darmon Meader. For singers, voice teachers, choral directors or students wanting to hone their skills or start from the beginning, this book is an absolute must.

Dedicated to choral directors and instrumental directors with a jazz background, this compendium of techniques and organizational tips brings the entire vocal jazz experience into focus. From the selection of repertoire, training singers and working with soloists to live sound reinforcement and successful live performance, it's all here with clear objectives and musical examples in print and sound excerpts. This is sure to become a close friend of the choral director through many years of satisfying performance!

What is it about some musicians and performers who consistently achieve success? Are they the best performers? Did they have the best teachers? Do they have the best professional contacts and connections? Is it just coincidence? Of course not! Dr. Steve Zegree, choral arranger and conductor of Western Michigan University's prestigious vocal jazz group Gold Company, has developed this practical guide for performers, students, teachers and parents which offers fundamental philosophies and concepts that are essential to a person's growth and development and will contribute to a successful professional life in music. More than just the basics, more than a prescribed curriculum, and more than just getting in front of an audience to go through the motions of what you did in rehearsal - call it "The Wow Factor" - there is something for everyone in this book! And, as a special bonus, it includes interviews with great performers from all facets of the music industry, including Simon Carrington, Nick Lachey, Ward Swingle, Roger Emerson, Mac Huff, Liza Minnelli, and many more! Chapters include: 1. The Wow Factor: The Framework; 2. How to Practice and Rehearse for The Wow Factor; 3. How to Prepare a "Wow" Audition; 4. Ifs, Ands or Buts - and Rules to Live By; 5. Don't Go to Your Face: Putting the Polish on Your Performance; 6. How to Educate and Entertain; 7. How to Win on NBC's Clash of the Choirs; 8. "Wow" Perspectives: The Interviews; 9. Coda.