One introductory session featuring fun group exercises

Three sessions with breaks for meals, about 9:30 AM to 7 PM

Morning and afternoon sessions with potluck lunch break,
usually runs 10 AM to 2 PM

Toast & Jam Residency or Intensive Program
 

Two to three workshops/days for two to five days, ends with an Open Jam / Concert. This program is ideal for College Intersessions, school vacation programs, summer camps, music camps, etc.

January Term 1998
Hampshsire College
Nick, Silka, Brett, Suna, Ann, Justin, Heather (center), and Alexis (front)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This highly flexible program addresses the needs of your particular group. Exercises to improve blending and sound quality, building repertoire, adding improv to rehearsals, warm-ups, etc.

Susanne Barkan performs solo, presenting her folk repertoire and improvisation on voice and guitar. Susanne Barkan and The Toast & Jam Vocal Band; presenting both improvised and arranged music.

Building harmony and team spirit in the workplace, a chance to experience the value of every voice. Playful musical adventures to relieve stress, build confidence and laugh.

Susanne is available to work with singers individually at her studio near Shelburne Falls. Fees range from $15 - $35, barter arrangements are sometimes possible. Call for information (413) 625-8633.

• Program Fees range from $75 to $1500
• For bookings and more information: (413) 625-8633 Monday through Saturday 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM (EST) or write to us at
• Toast & Jam Vocal Improv Workshops

336 Peckville Road, Shelburne, MA 01370-9642 USA

Why is it called "Toast & Jam"?

Jam is what most musicians call 'getting together to make music' or, instead of planning what to play or sing, someone might say 'let's just jam and see what happens'. So I've borrowed the concept of jamming and applied it to the solo voice. Often we forget that even the best improvisers require a context, a foundation, a background of trust and exploration. That's where the "Toast" comes in. I like to think of improvisation, solo or group, as a collaborative experience. Jam is messy without some Toast under it, Toast is just warm bread until we spread something on top. They're both important. Musically, it's about having the security to try new things, having enough support to take a risk, trusting the Toast to be there while you're Jamming.

No, in fact I really don't gear the work to any specific musical style. Most people do relate to Jamming and solos in a Jazz context, so we play a little with some jazz forms. However, Toast & Jam deals more with free form improvisation. We broaden our singing to embrace all kinds of vocalizing and collaborating such as chants, purely rhythmic structures, drones and interpretive projects. Besides, the goal of the workshop is not to create the next Ella Fitzgerald. It's to broaden each singer's musical palette, to enhance the expressive quality of each voice, to give singers an opportunity to be arrangers, conductors, back-up singers and lead singers.

As many kinds as we can dream up! The projects are all opportunities to bring your ears to the moment and let your heart open. Some of our exercises are for large groups, some for small ensembles and solos. We set up scenarios, situations, characteristics and story lines and say: now sing. All of our projects involve collaborations of some kind, whether we are telling a story or expressing an emotion.

Listening skills, confidence in their own intuition, experience expressing ideas and emotions with their voice (with and without words), a broader sense of what is possible with their own singing.