"As a professional singer I'd always considered myself self-taught. But as I started teaching 10 years ago I realized I wasn't self-taught at all, but that my "teachers" were the great jazz singers: Ella, Billie, Frank, Carmen...etc. All that I've learned from these and other great singer's recordings and 30 years of working in the profession, I share with my students." Greta

Private Studies (Gift Certificates are available)
I teach from my home in West Seattle. All levels. Men and women ages 12 and up. We work on repertoire, phrasing, scat, rhythm and improvisation as well as the proper vocal techniques of breathing, support and range. I help students develop a practice routine that is fun, builds strength and produces results. Many of my students have gone on to work locally and many have won awards at various vocal competitions.

I know over 2,000 jazz standards, and work with students using a series of accompaniment recordings of over 300 well-known standard songs from the great American songbook (see list). These songs can be modified to each student's key and tempo preference. I also have the digital technology to remove the vocals from some existing commercial cd's to make custom rehearsal cd's. Each lesson will be recorded to a cd for easy practice access. In addition to your practice cd you will hear at each lesson a compilation of various great jazz singers recordings of the songs you're working on! This is in keeping with my philosophy that learning from the Great's is always a part of jazz!

Also, for those singers wishing to pursue a career in music I share vocational advice from my experience in many areas of the music business: getting gigs, private parties, night clubs, recording demos, advertising work, etc.

MONEY SAVING TIPS: I do encourage private students to "share" a lesson". Split the cost of an hour lesson by having a friend join you: 2 students/$30ea. 3 students/$20 ea. etc. Also remember I do NOT require students to sign up for "regular" weekly or monthly lessons. Students may schedule on a lesson to lesson basis.
Lessons are $60 an hour. Times are available on weekdays, evenings and weekends.

Lessons by mail  $60 ( Gift certificates are available) Order you own private customized lesson on CD Today!!

( A great way to learn without attending regular lessons)

I’m now able to offer lessons by mail!!

Here’s how it works:

You can review my available accompaniment song titles on my website (see list) and choose 8 songs . Give me an idea of your highest and lowest comfortable notes (your range.). I’ll choose a key and will record an accompaniment track for you w/ multiple choruses on a CD.

I will also record for you a guide melody. You can request a "virtual jam session" where I will give examples of improvised melody and, or scat 8 bars at a time and you and I will "trade lines". This has proven to be a great way to jump start your freedom of expression.

I will send you the cd and the sheet music.

This type of lesson will not replace private one on one lessons at my studio, as I’ll need to hear you to help you, however, for many it's a great way to add to your repertoire and stay in practice.

I advise students to schedule a private lesson with me after working on your own w/ the cd.

Rhythm Section/Performance Workshops (How to work with a band!)

( Gift Certificates are available)
This recurring workshop is a rare opportunity for singers to work with one of the top rhythm sections in the Northwest jazz scene. Each series includes four, half-hour sessions (Tuesday nights) with piano, bass and drums and myself. The students will work up 4 songs for the performance .We work on communication with the instrumentalists, song form, solos, arrangements, mic technique and stage presence. Students are encouraged to stay as long as they like and watch the other participants. Each four-week session ends with a performance at Seattle's premiere jazz club, Tula's, where singers have the option of recording themselves or showcasing for gigs..and of course inviting their friends and family to see them!!

Workshops are generally every month. The cost is $300.

Other options for the rhythm section workshops include:

Double workshops

I'm also offering a "double" workshop! This allows you to perform 8 songs at Tula's. You'd have 4, 1 hour rehearsals w/ the band and myself. You can ask to make any month a "DOUBLE". The cost is $600 and subject to space availability.

Instrumental students

Although the workshops were started primarily as a forum for vocal students, we have recently had pianists, saxophonists, guitarists and a violinist take the workshop as well.

The band will offer to share the wisdom they have to budding instrumentalists who join us and wish to work on their comping, soloing and improvisation skills. They may also wish to augment their time in the workshop with some private lessons with the bandmember of their choice.

Workshops are planned every month, please inquire. 206 937-1262, greta@gretamatassa.com

      

Scat intensive workshop with Greta Matassa
I have developed a scat/improve workshop and I want you to be the first to know about it!
Here's how it works:
A four week workshop at my house, usually tuesday evenings for 3 hours and a performance at Tula's at the end of the month . Limited to 5 students!!!
We will cover scat using approx 10-12 songs:
Major tunes like Bye Bye Blackbird and Let's fall in love
Minor tunes like Summertime, Lullaby of birdland
Uptempo swing like I got rhythmn
Blues at various tempos
Slow swing like Just squeeze me, Alone together
waltz : Moon river,. Bluesette
Latin, One note samba, Meditation
Each tuesday for 3 hours I will work with you individually, paired off as well as in a group. We
will cover harmonic improvisation, arrpegiation, rythmic patterns, syllable choices, melodic ideas, theme and variation, song structure (ways to keep track of where you are!!)
Each of you will also be asked to learn a section of an existing scat solo.
Utimately you will perform 3-4 songs you've been practicing and are encouraged to have scatting duets at Tula's.
The workshop will be accompanied by my CD catalog and digital system (providing keys changes and the opprotunity to learn to scat these songs in multiple keys!)
The performance at Tula's will be accompanied by my band (Darin, Clip and Mark)

The cost is $200

Next available workshop August and September. Please enquire

"I loved this workshop! The progress I made was tremendous because for one month I solely focused on mastering Greta's step by step approach to scat improv. The workshop was extremely well conceived and conducted: the volume of input was quadrupled with all the different issues each of us brought up. It was great fun and I cannot wait for Scat Improve II"

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Martine

"Thank youuuu.That was so great. I'm guessing you're going to have continued success with this class. You have a gift for breaking down the learning/understanding process of this art.This would be a great pre-cursor to the rhythm section workshop, as it focuses on understanding the songs in terms of comping and song structure. Nice class size too."

                                                                                                                                                                                                  Nicole

"Oh, what a night! I was buzzed up like I used to be in the early days. Greta, you are relaxed in your teaching, coaching and support"

                                                                                                                                                                                                  Dorothy

Singers Jam's at Tula's 7:30pm

The 1st and 3rd monday of every month. Singers are encouraged to try out their material at Seattle's premier jazz club.

Be accompanied by some of the best instrumentalists in town. Sign up early (prior to 7pm) to be assured of a space.

"I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the vocal jam this week. I wanted to say hello, but I could only stay for one set, and you were up to your neck in excited singers. It was wonderful to see the emerging confidence of the older singers; it can really be life- changing in ways that go way beyond music. Some of your students have real talent. The atmosphere was as relaxed as it can be for first- timers. Randy did a fabulous job coping with the chaos. Thanks for a great set"

                                                                                                                                                                                                    Fred

$8 cover

Greta's Singer's Club

Oprah has her Book Club, and I think it's high time we created a Singer's Club. A discussion group that meets once a month or so to talk about and share some of your favorite singers and why you love them! As I've told many of you in the past I'm a "self-taught" singer. That is to say, almost everything I've learned and made a career out of singing, came from studying and learning from the Great Jazz Singers. I'd like to have the opportunity to share with you some of my favorite recordings of these singers and talk about what I've learned specifically from them. I'll share with you some of my own techniques of creative listening and observation. Some way's of using these recordings for practice and problem solving in your own jazz singing. The cost is $20 per session. These sessions are at least an hour and possibly more once we get talking! You can record the whole discussion! Please feel free to bring in your favorite recordings and we'll open the whole thing up for listening, discussing, laughter, argument, enlightenment and possibly some wine! (with the exception of you minors!) If you'd like to participate, please email me and we'll set up an evening (probably sunday's) ASAP. Limit 5 people per session.

Master Classes, Clinics and School Programs also available; please inquire.