Peculiarities of Teaching Jazz Improvisation for Pop Singers of Music Colleges

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to reveal the historical aspects of the formation of jazz as one of the directions of musical art; to find out the meaning and essence of the concepts "improvisation" and "vocal improvisation" in modern musicology and music-pedagogical literature; to determine the pedagogical conditions that contribute to the successful formation of jazz improvisation skills among music college students in the pop vocal class; to identify, theoretically justify, and describe the pedagogical conditions for the formation of jazz improvisation skills among music college students in the pop vocal class. The research methodology consists in the application of such methods as empirical method, analogy method, axiomatic method, elementary-theoretical method, and method of systematisation. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that for the first time the problem of formation of jazz improvisation skills among students of music colleges specialising in pop singing is revealed. Conclusions. The theoretical analysis of the research problem and the results of the research work made it possible to draw the following conclusions. The analysis of scientific literature made it possible to reveal such concepts as "improvisation", "improvisation of pop singer", "sket". Improvisation is a simultaneous performance of music without prior preparation, a spontaneous musical expression, and a direct, instant realisation of a musical thought. The definition of pop vocalist improvisation has also been given. It is a creative process of forming a musical and artistic image at the moment of direct vocal-syllabic intonation of a musical and literary text (sket singing), the essence of which is the knowledge, reproduction and dissemination of objectively and subjectively new use of generally accepted compositional combinations and the introduction of original scat-vocal compositions, original jazz phrasing, swing, accentuation and new articulation. The specificity of this process consists in special methods of sound creation, the use of a wide range of timbre colours and sound imitation elements within the framework of the structural scheme of the work. Research work has shown that the formation of jazz improvisation skills among students of a music college in the class of pop vocals is impossible without the creation of appropriate conditions, in this case pedagogical ones. These conditions include teacher-student communication, various methods, and exercises that affect the quality of formation of jazz skills improvisations. Thus, the inclusion of students in creative activities, the use of various methods in working with students contributes to the manifestation of positive dynamics in the formation of jazz improvisation skills among music college students in the pop vocal class. High indicators are associated with the successful organisation of classes, the use of various methods aimed at the formation of jazz improvisation skills among music college students in the pop vocal class.

Key words: vocal pedagogy, vocal improvisation, pop music, jazz, improvisation, swing, pop singing.