Photo courtesy of Lauren Berryhill
The Naperville Education Foundation (NEF) funded “Off the Cuff Vocal Jazz - Sound Equipment,” an Express Grant written by and awarded to Naperville Central High School choir instructor Lauren Berryhill. The grant funded the purchase of a sound mixer and microphones for Central’s vocal jazz ensemble, Off the Cuff.
The vocal jazz ensemble gives students the opportunity to learn a new style of vocal performance.
“Last year we went to a vocal jazz festival at Niles North High School with the New York Voices and we performed for one of the members and they gave us feedback,” Berryhill said. “The students thought it was the coolest thing they had experienced and we’re doing it again this year. But they weren’t totally prepared because it’s very standard in vocal jazz to have microphones and sound equipment.”
Although it wasn’t possible to get all the technology the students needed last year, coming into this year Berryhill knew she needed a plan and other teachers in the building recommended she try submitting an NEF Express Grant.
“I felt like it was a disservice to students to not have microphones, a sound mixer and monitors in the classroom,” Berryhill said. “From past experience, I knew it was standard for high school ensembles of this type to own that equipment, rehearse on it and perform on it. Teaching students performance technique and microphone technique is really critical, whether they go into music education, vocal performance or would like to do it as a hobby.”
The introduction of the sound mixer has provided opportunities for students to improve their artistry and professionalism in their craft.
“Students are starting to adapt to using the microphone,” Berryhill said. “They’re changing their vocal singing from a choral or musical theatre ‘belty’ style to a more laid-back, light style. They’re really using the mic, letting it do the work for them and letting it capture their authentic sound.”
Students are exploring proper microphone technique, getting used to singing into a mic and learning more about sound mixing.
“I also have a student sound engineer and he is starting to become sensitive to how to mix voices, how to raise and lower levels and how to set up sound equipment,” Berryhill said. “We’ve only had this equipment for a few months but it’s been great to watch him come into his own and become more of a leader and advocate for group needs too.”
Berryhill had a professional jazz singer visit the ensemble during a rehearsal and give a clinic for the students. Having the microphone and mixer in the room was invaluable.
“When she would sing on the mic, you could very clearly understand what she was trying to say with technique,” Berryhill said. “We also had a professional mixer come in to mix the sounds and our student sound engineer got experience with him. Even just watching students hear themselves sing on a mic and say, ‘I sound so much better,’ is so cool.”
The ensemble was introduced at Naperville Central after plenty of student interest.
“When I was interviewing at Central, they asked me what I would bring to the community that they don’t already have,” Berryhill said. “What I said is, ‘what you have is great, but I have some vocal jazz experience from college, it’s an art form I’m really passionate about and it has the potential to be a singing style that’s culturally responsive to students.’”
When Berryhill shared her ideas for the choir program at Central, her now-co-teacher was thrilled, saying that at least 40 students had been begging her to start a vocal jazz ensemble, but that she didn’t have the expertise or time to do so.
Introducing the vocal jazz ensemble also gave students at Central the opportunity to elevate their musicianship.
“Your ears have to be trained to a way higher level to be able to sing vocal jazz accurately and the style is really different from musical theatre or choral singing which our students are really familiar with already,” Berryhill said.
Longterm, Berryhill is planning to record and create a Spotify album with songs students have performed as a ‘digital yearbook.’ They’re also hoping to go to more music festivals.
“We’re just so grateful for NEF’s support,” Berryhill said.
