Here’s a track you can use for rehearsal and/or performance of a 12-bar blues song, plus a chart in case you have a live accompanist on keyboard or guitar! It’s from the CD that comes with the book, “Musical Direction for Improv and Sketch Comedy.” The 12-bar blues is a great platform for improvising both the singing and the accompaniment – lots of room for vocal and instrumental fun, using a framework that is so easy to
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I think it’s particularly hilarious when improvisers do a truly heartfelt pop ballad, bound to contain deliciously-absurd lyrics. Here’s another track and chart from “Musical Direction for Improv and Sketch Comedy” that I hope you’ll enjoy using for any accompaniment purpose you wish – you can learn the roadmap of the music and improvise complete songs to match, or just play around and sing to the music in bits and pieces. The possibilities for melody-creation are vast and this is a style that every improv singer should have in his or her
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From concept to finished product, this unique guide shows the way to create lyrics that make audiences laugh. Clear, friendly style of instruction is entertaining and easy to understand.
It was written expressly for comedy writers who need to know how to build solidly-crafted lyrics that any composer can readily set to music. It also explains exactly how to proceed if you’re not already a comedy expert.
This is a cool gift for any aspiring or professional songwriter, and an unusual addition to any lyricist’s library.
Below is the table of contents and an exerpt of the book
Chapter One
What If the President Had
Continue reading How to Write Funny Lyrics: The Comedy Songwriting Manual
This book uses clear, everyday language to clarify each element of an improvised song. Simple building blocks are combined with performance tips to bring your musical improvisation to its highest level.
The included CD provides 47 tracks of examples, exercises and practice accompaniments, featuring the author at the piano and cast members from Improv Olympic West’s Opening Night: The Improvised Musical.
Improvise a solo based on any audience suggestion
Create a song in any musical style
Play musical improv games with expertise
Perform in duets, trios, quartets and ensemble numbers
Listen to samples from the included CD:
Backup vocals Example
Backup Vocals Example
Ballad practice accompaniment
Ballad practice accompaniment
Blues practice
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Clear, friendly explanations and recorded examples introduce each musical principle and encourage individual creativity. Masteryear Publishing is proud to present this guide to musical skills long considered mysterious and practically unteachable.
Step by step, author Michael Pollock explains the thinking process behind comedy accompaniment and musical direction in clear, simple language. Each concept is illustrated by audio examples, featuring actors from The Second City Los Angeles and Michael at the keys.
The best comedy troupes in the world have live keyboardists. The musicians who can provide this kind of expert accompaniment and direction are relatively rare. Want to learn? Get the ony
Continue reading Musical Direction for Improv and Sketch Comedy
