Phrasing AS Improvisation
with Marianne Solivan

Wednesdays, 6:00–8:30pm · September 16 – November 11, 2025 · Manhattan
Final performance · $900 · Limited to 10 singers · Early bird $850 through August 15

A focused, 10-week series for jazz singers who are ready to explore the creative act hiding inside every melody.

Program Description

Every choice you make in a melody is an act of improvisation. Where you place a note. How you enter a phrase. What you leave out. The breath before the line. Jazz singers have always known this intuitively — but few have been taught to use it intentionally.

Phrasing as Improvisation is a 10-week vocal series built around that idea. Over nine Wednesday evening sessions in Manhattan, we'll dig into phrasing not as decoration but as the primary creative language of the jazz singer — as personal, as spontaneous, and as expressive as any scat solo. The series culminates in a live performance with a full trio at a NYC jazz club.

Key Details Block

What You'll Work On

• Phrasing as a creative and improvisational act
• Where a phrase begins, breathes, and lands — and why it matters
• Using space and silence as expressive tools
• Rhythmic placement and time feel within the melody
• Lyric interpretation and personal storytelling
• Dynamics, color, and committed sound
• Harmony and chord progressions — understanding what the rhythm section is playing and using it expressively
• Repertoire development — finding songs that fit your voice and your story
• Live performance preparation with a full trio

Who this is for 
This series is open to singers at a range of experience levels — from those just finding their way into jazz to singers with years of experience looking to deepen their practice. If you can sing through a jazz standard and have a genuine interest in jazz singing, you belong in this room. What matters most is curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to do the work. This is not the place for complete beginners, but it is absolutely a place for singers who are new to jazz and ready to take it seriously.

Format 
Nine weekly Wednesday evening sessions (6:00–8:30pm) with piano accompaniment, plus a 10th session: a live performance with a full trio at a NYC jazz club. Small group cohort — maximum 10 singers. Enrollment is for the full series.

Commitment 
Enrollment is for the full 10-week series. Missed sessions are not prorated or refunded. Makeup sessions are not available due to the group format.

Tuition & Billing 
$900, paid in full upon enrollment. Early bird pricing of $850 available through August 15. Payment plans are available upon request — reach out before enrolling to discuss. No refunds after the first session, except in special circumstances.