online jazz vocal course Songbird

Want to learn to sing jazz? Take your current skills to the next level and beyond? Improvise? Perform with a band? Enter jam sessions?

In my online vocal jazz course ‘Songbird’ I show you all the tips, tricks, insights, and exercises that have proven themselves to be effective in my over 25 years of experience coaching and performing worldwide. I’ll take you through all of vocal jazz: singing, improvising and performing. Step by step. From scratch to pro. You can do the course on your own and set your own tempo.

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Get unlimited access now for just $99 incl. VAT

24hr full money-back guarantee

By Sheila Jordan, vocal jazz legend -

Ilse is an absolute expert and Songbird highly recommended!

By Melody Maduorie-Jones, UK -

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

By Lea Tieri, USA -

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!

By Susanne Fitzgerald, USA -

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!

By Laurie Stringer, New Zealand -

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

By Sheila Jordan, vocal jazz legend -

Ilse is an absolute expert and Songbird highly recommended!

By Melody Maduorie-Jones, UK -

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

By Lea Tieri, USA -

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!

By Susanne Fitzgerald, USA -

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!

By Laurie Stringer, New Zealand -

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

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!

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

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 exercisesfrom simple to complex using the same basic materialhave 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

Ingrid Smeenk

By Ingrid Smeenk, The Netherlands -

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.

Patty Ann Economos

By Patty Ann Economos, USA -

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!

Doc Stull

By Doc Stull, USA -

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.”

Annika Passmann

By Annika Passmann, Germany -

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!

Ingrid Alcalde

By Ingrid Alcalde, Spain -

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.

Adriaan Smeekes

By Adriaan Smeekes, The Netherlands -

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!

Ingrid Smeenk

By Ingrid Smeenk, The Netherlands -

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.

Patty Ann Economos

By Patty Ann Economos, USA -

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!

Doc Stull

By Doc Stull, USA -

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.”

Annika Passmann

By Annika Passmann, Germany -

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!

Ingrid Alcalde

By Ingrid Alcalde, Spain -

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.

Adriaan Smeekes

By Adriaan Smeekes, The Netherlands -

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!

Get unlimited access now for just $99 incl. VAT

24hr full money-back guarantee