A Cappella Harmony Styles
Ellen RobinsonSing a cappella in a variety of vocal styles:
1. Folk songs - parallel three part harmony
2. Swing tunes - tight jazz chords
3. Doo wop - lead melody with a strong bass line and back up harmonies
4. Partner songs - singing more than one song at a time and creating instant harmonyThis is a session for adventuresome and fun seeking singers who love harmony and who want to learn some new ways to create harmony.
In addition to her own jazz performance dates and recording projects, Ellen is currently the Director of the Anything Goes Choruses in San Francisco (Community Music Center, http://www.sfcmc.org) and Oakland (First Congregational Church, http://www.firstoakland.org). These are community choruses for men and women that she founded in 1980. She also directs two women's performing ensembles called Girlfriendz and Treble Makers, and teaches a beginning singing class for women called Swingshift Singers. Ellen has worked with literally thousands of students throughout her life and continues to be a gifted and dedicated vocal coach. Ellen's musical journey has led her through many genres: folk, rock, bluegrass, an Andrew Sisters type trio called The Spoolie Sisters, cabaret venues, a women's a cappella sextet from 1989-2005 called Vocolot (http://www.vocolot.com), and currently jazz. Her CD "Mercy! Ellen Robinson Live" released in 2006, captures those one-of-a-kind performances in a compilation of songs selected from concerts performed since her last CD "On My Way to You" released in 2001. She produced both of these recordings on her own EMR MUSIC label with jazz radio personality and drummer, Bud Spangler.
Ellen is a member of National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS, http://www.nats.org). She has been a Vocal Instructor for adults at U.C. Berkeley Extension, a Choral Director for teenagers in the Oakland Youth Chorus, and a Music Instructor for children at Walden Center School in Berkeley and Beacon School in Oakland.
