VOCALS 2018 - SYLLABUS SHOWCASE

Get a taster of just some of the exciting new songs featuring on our new Rock & Pop 2018 Vocals syllabus. Session singers Brendan Reilly and Charlotte Lubbock give us their take on songs from the new syllabus and tell you why they think they’re so great to sing. The songs featured are: 'Take Me To Church' by Hozier, 'Nothing Compares 2 U' by Sinéad O’Connor, 'Get Lucky' by Daft Punk, 'Shake It Off' by Taylor Swift, 'Don't Speak' by No Doubt, 'Free Fallin'' by Tom Petty and 'Perfect Day' by Lou Reed.

TECHNICAL FOCUS DEMO VIDEOS

Learn how to master the skills that appear in some of our technical focus songs for Vocals 2018 with professional session singer Charlotte Lubbock. These videos focus on a range of techniques from diction to syncopation. Charlotte is a session singer and pianist, graduating from The BRIT School with the likes of Adele and Katy B. As a session singer, she works with producers and song-writers around the UK and US, providing the vocals to help them successfully promote their songs to record labels.

Swung semiquavers in 'On & On' by Eryka Badu

IMPROVISATION DEMO VIDEOS

Professional musicians Brendan Reilly and Leigh Martyn Thomas take you through a range of different styles and genres, looking at ways to approach vocal improvising. Brendan Reilly is a London-based American singer-songwriter. In addition to his own independent releases he has toured the world with artists including Disclosure, Basement Jaxx and Sam Sparro. Leigh Martyn Thomas is a highly regarded vocalist, singing teacher, performance coach and choir director. Alongside her busy teaching schedule, she regularly performs at functions as a solo artist and in bands.

Improvising in a Ballad Style

ROCK & POP VOCALS SESSIONS

PERFORMANCES BY THE PROFESSIONALS - BRENDAN REILLY

Brendan Reilly is a London-based American singer-songwriter. In addition to his own independent releases over the years, he’s toured the world with artists including Basement Jaxx, Disclosure and Sam Sparro, and is currently touring with Pete Tong & The Heritage Orchestra. He has also worked with artists including Florence and the Machine, Rita Ora and Laura Mvula, and performed at venues and festivals ranging from Ronnie Scott’s to Glastonbury and Coachella, from Madison Square Garden to The Sydney Opera House. Watch him put his spin on:

• 'PERFECT DAY', LOU REED: Watch video
• 'TAKE ME TO CHURCH', HOZIER: Watch video
• 'GET LUCKY', DAFT PUNK: Watch video
• 'FREE FALLIN'', TOM PETTY: Watch video
• 'SUNDAY MORNING', MAROON 5: Watch video

PERFORMANCES BY THE PROFESSIONALS - CHARLOTTE LUBBOCK

Charlotte is a session singer and pianist, graduating from The BRIT School with the likes of Adele and Katy B. As a session singer, she works with producers and song-writers around the UK and US, providing the vocals to help them successfully promote their songs to record labels. Watch her put her spin on:

• 'NOTHING COMPARES 2 U', SINÉAD O'CONNOR: Watch video
• 'SHAKE IT OFF', TAYLOR SWIFT: Watch video
• 'THE TIDE IS HIGH', BLONDIE: Watch video
• 'ROYALS', LORDE: Watch video
• 'DON'T SPEAK', NO DOUBT: Watch video
• 'HOLD ON, WE'RE GOING HOME', DRAKE: Watch video

FURTHER SUPPORT RESOURCES

Explore the wide range of support resources in our Practice Room:

• Watch professional session musicians put their spin on songs in our Rock & Pop Sessions
• Study specific skills and techniques in our Technical Focus Demo Videos
• Work on improvisation through our Improvising in a Style Articles
• Find out what our examiners are looking for in our Meet The Examiner Articles
• Get inspired about building a career in the music industry with our Meet The Musician Articles
• Find out what top tips teachers working with rock and pop students have in our Teaching Tips Articles
• Hear young professional musicians talk about the music industry in our Pro Skills Videos
• Listen to the artist's original versions of the Rock & Pop 2018 for inspiration in our Spotify playlists

TRANSPOSITION TOOL

All songs can be transposed into a different key to suit the range of the performer. Our transposition tool enables songs to be transposed by +/- 5 semitones; the new key versions can be saved to MP3 and used in the exam.

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