Recruiting for the Vocal Jazz Ensemble

Two Broad Principles

The two most important things you can do to recruit for your vocal jazz ensemble should be obvious, since they apply to all sorts of other performing groups as well:

1. Make outstanding music. Pick great repertoire, get a killer rhythm section, sing with great intonation and stylistic understanding. Lock in vertical chords harmonically and rhythmically. Sing independent lines with confidence and style. Rehearse like crazy until the group sounds awesome.

Then, once you’ve made the music attractive…

2. Make it visible. Get the ensemble in front of people. Perform at your school, at other schools, in the community. Go to festivals and apply to conferences. Use social media to publicize the group – not just to promote performances, but to be heard! One idea: upload a great-sounding video clip from rehearsal and get all your group members to share the post.

More Specific Strategies:

I direct a college group, so these tips are tailored to directors at that level. But high school, middle school, and community jazz choirs can adapt these principles to their own situation.

Recruit jazz instrumentalists (to sing, of course!). Students who have experience playing in big bands and combos will naturally approach vocal jazz with a strong understanding of jazz style. Even if an instrumentalist has never sung before, if they have a high jazz IQ and they can match pitch, get them in your group. These will likely be your strongest improvisers and they will play a big role in helping the ensemble develop good style and time feel. Find current students from your school’s jazz studies department, and plan for the future by getting to know high school jazz band directors locally and regionally who can recommend their good players who are considering your school.

Recruit singers (obviously). Your group also needs students who have experience in choirs and vocal groups. You’ll need to teach these jazz-novices a lot about stylistic elements, but their understanding of breathing, vocal production, vowel shapes, and text delivery will be valuable to an ensemble that sings. Just like with instrumentalists, draw these singers from your own school’s choral program, and get on the radar of high school choral directors. Take your group and go sing at some local high schools, for starters.

Recruit a rhythm section. This is probably the most important thing you will do for your group. A strong rhythm section makes a bad jazz choir sound good, and it makes a good one sound incredible. Get the best players you can –  beg, borrow, or steal. Hire local professionals, or have student players take the ensemble as a credit, or pay them, or ask them to volunteer. You won’t regret doing whatever it takes to get the best possible rhythm players behind your group.

Publicize your auditions well. Make sure the very best musicians want to audition for you. Make flyers, video announcements, and post on social media. Flood your musical and educational networks with the audition information. Go into the music classes and choral/jazz rehearsals at your school and plug auditions. Make it sound fun! When you talk to a class or tell people about auditions, play some great vocal jazz recordings and say “this is the sort of music we do.” Don’t let a great student decide not to audition for you without really knowing what vocal jazz is, without ever having heard New York Voices, Take 6, or Kurt Elling.

Visibility. Once your group is up and running, go into those same classes and rehearsals with the ensemble and give informal performances. You can do this to promote an upcoming concert, or just for fun. See above: be visible.

Sell what’s cool about vocal jazz: microphones, performing with rhythm section, the solo opportunities, repertoire based on popular songs, etc. Don’t ignore the appeal of these somewhat superficial elements!

Sell what’s hard about vocal jazz: the complex harmony and rhythm of the jazz language, improvisation, the musical independence required in a small group – developing these skills is incredibly rewarding. Convince your students to embrace and enjoy the challenges of this unique medium.