Ilse is an absolute expert and Songbird highly recommended!

My golden find after searching for years for an affordable and convenient way to learn about jazz singing!

This course is absolutely amazing!!!! I am so happy that I found it. I was looking for an in-depth course just like this one. I do like that your tips can help the amateur singer put things into practice and sound much better, but also allows you to dive deeper in and study jazz and learn some music theory along the way. I would give your course a million stars as a rating if I could! Thank you so much for such an amazing course!

Thank you, Ilse! I love your course, your cheerful personality, upbeat teaching style, and of course your beautiful voice! (Have been watching your performances on YouTube). I have been involved in singing Jazz for some time but took a long break and so this is a fabulous refresher to rebuild my confidence and skills!

Such a perfect start to get me back into Jazz singing. I am ready for some new musical adventures!

Ilse is an absolute expert and Songbird highly recommended!

My golden find after searching for years for an affordable and convenient way to learn about jazz singing!

This course is absolutely amazing!!!! I am so happy that I found it. I was looking for an in-depth course just like this one. I do like that your tips can help the amateur singer put things into practice and sound much better, but also allows you to dive deeper in and study jazz and learn some music theory along the way. I would give your course a million stars as a rating if I could! Thank you so much for such an amazing course!

Thank you, Ilse! I love your course, your cheerful personality, upbeat teaching style, and of course your beautiful voice! (Have been watching your performances on YouTube). I have been involved in singing Jazz for some time but took a long break and so this is a fabulous refresher to rebuild my confidence and skills!

Such a perfect start to get me back into Jazz singing. I am ready for some new musical adventures!

As real as it gets!

Singing jazz is a skill. So, though knowledge and insight play a big role, mastering vocal jazz demands practical practice.

Part of Songbird is dedicated to practicing with tailor-made sing-along exercises. Specifically designed as a shortcut to years of practicing through learning new songs and years of listening to jazz.

Optionally you can even practice with a virtual band in any key, tempo or feel! Through the – frankly essential and surprisingly affordable – iRealPro app (iOS & Android).

Contents of Songbird

Over 10 hours of material: text, checklists, pictures and loads of videos.

+ click to expand

How to sing jazz

A step-by-step guide to singing jazz with ease.

Jazz Sound – how to get that jazzy sound
Timing – how to rhythmically place your notes to get the desired effect
Variations – how to make basic variations on the melody
Learning a song – how to get the most out of your repertoire – every facet explained in detail
Technical challenges – how to overcome technical challenges
Improvisations – how to develop a basic feel for improvisation
Your style – how to develop your style to get the most out of your talents

Daily Routine

Keep your voice and skills in shape

Shake, breathe & articulate – Basic voice training – Vocal workout – Vocal health – Ear training & voice exercises

Theory Guide

Tailor-made for jazz singers. No need to learn stuff you’ll never use!

Keys – Major scale – Numbers – The system – More scales – Modes – Intervals – Chord charts – Chord symbols – Notes

iRealPro repertoire (bonus)

50 tried & tested standards for the popular iRealPro app (iOS & Android). If you don’t have this app yet, check it out on your app store. It’s an essential practicing tool!

How to perform

A step-by-step guide to performing with confidence.

Preparation – how to prepare to get carefree performances
Decision – which decisions to make to get carefree performances
Chord charts – what they should be like in order to get the best results
The band – how to work with a band
Stage fright – how to deal with stage fright
Key moments – the crucial moments to get right
Stage presence – what to do and what not to do on stage
Sound – how to get your desired sound from mics and sound systems
Jam session – how to prepare for and act on jam sessions
Concert – how to prepare for and act on concerts
Blah blah – what to say during performances
Reflection – how to get the most out of the aftermath

How to improvise

A step-by-step guide to improvising even by ear.

Make variations on the melody or improvise ‘scat’ solos. Both are quite challenging.

But this is the only (!!!) method available that doesn’t limit your possibilities yet doesn’t require you to master both an instrument – preferably the piano – and highly complex music theory.

This method was developed by Ilse’s husband, jazz pianist and composer Erik van der Luijt. And it is recommended by iRealPro©

Sing-along exercises

150 progressive sing-along exercises with sing-along video.

Sing-along exercises to get a feel for improvising. And boost all vocal jazz skills. At the same time.

You get a simple melody that slowly becomes more complex. This way you get a feel for making variations on the melody as well.

And you’ll improve your pitch, timing and breathing!

Progressive exercises – from simple to complex using the same basic material – have been used in every form of education for every instrument for hundreds of years.

This is the first time they are available to jazz singers!

As a bonus, you’ll get iRealPro files of every exercise. To practice with a simulated band through the popular iRealPro app (iOS & Android). In any key, tempo or feel!

15 blues improvisations

Get a feel and an ear for jazz blues improvisation.

15 blues improvisations sing-along exercises. Created to build a strong foundation for improvising on a jazz blues.

Haunting melodies with lots of repetition. Melodic phrases that will stick. And form a solid foundation on which you can make further variations.

Get unlimited access now for just $99 incl. VAT

24hr full money-back guarantee

Ilse is listed as one of the best jazz singers of all times in “The Jazz Singers, the ultimate guide” by Scott Yanow (Downbeat).

“A nightingale with a golden voice.”

COSMOPOLITAN

“A voice of which other singers only dream.”

NOUVEAU

Wow, what a exceptionally well-crafted course. Perfect! The fog has lifted thanks to Ilse’s crystal clear step-by-step instructions. Easy to apply to any song.

I love this course. Ilse is a thoroughly engaging teacher who leaves out the fluff and gets right to the heart of the subject. If you are new to jazz, you will learn a lot. If you are a singer with some experience, you will still come away with lots of info and ideas to expand your skills. She gives great resources and ideas for you to practice on your own. Very well done–highly recommended!

Really enjoyed how you broke down so many jazz concepts so clearly and demystified so much of the magic in jazz singing for those who would like to understand it and give it a try. Thank you for your upbeat and delightful presentation.”

I love the way Ilse teaches, it’s really fun. Songbird is perfect for me, as a singer and harpist. I’m so glad I found this!

Songbird motivated me from the very beginning because everything is really organized and looks easy. Everything is explained clearly and always with a big smile, which transmits positivity! I am so glad I chose Songbird.

Congratulations on “Songbird”. Splendid. After only five minutes I said to myself: YES, YES, YES this is what I need to make my singing be more and more pleasurable and give it some sort of structure. I am very impressed!