Between the Lines: "The Chorus Room Blues," by David Lantz III

Some days, you just gotta sing the blues—even in the chorus room! This tongue-in-cheek chart is a great tool for teaching jazz style. Extensive instructions for optional scat singing (on pentatonic and blues scales) provide a framework for vocal improvisation. If you've got a rhythm section handy, be sure to check out the optional SoundPax!

Composer David Lantz III is a full time vocal music teacher in a public school system in Pennsylvania. He is also a prolific composer with approximately 500 published compositions. He has written for orchestra, symphonic band, jazz ensemble, and chamber groups. In addition, he is also an accomplished music editor and engraver, church choir director, and regularly performing bassist/vocalist in the pop and jazz idioms.

What inspired you to write The Chorus Room Blues?

I wrote this because I felt the need for approachable blues type repertoire for high school choirs. The idea for the novelty type text came to me out of the blue. Every student can relate to wanting to be chosen for the solo!

What teaching suggestions do you have to share for The Chorus Room Blues?

Teach your students the pentatonic scale and then the blues scale. (they are included in the piece, by the way). Either or both of these scales will give your students a great start with the optional improvisation.

What message do you have for singers learning this piece?

Listen to well known vocal jazz groups and pay attention to style: minimal use of vibrato, dynamics, swing feel, etc. Also listen to well-known scat singers to get ideas.