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This course will offer an opportunity for students to perform R&B, Soul, and Funk music in an ensemble setting. Students will gain experience through transcribing and creating simple arrangements, expanding musicality, developing performance skills, and group cooperation.

The R&B ensemble will work initially with charts (music) provided by the instructor. Students will then have the opportunity to submit their own choices for songs to be approached throughout the term. The instructor will help choose appropriate material. Students will gain experience in performing both early and contemporary R&B, Soul, and Funk arrangements. Specific attention will be paid to melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic accuracy, as well as genre/style integrity.

This ensemble will explore the music of these genres made popular by artists such as Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Frank Ocean, Marvin Gaye, Bobby Caldwell, Earth Wind & Fire, Tower of Power, En Vogue, The Temptations, Floetry, KC and the Sunshine Band, D鈥橝ngelo, Musiq Soulchild, Chaka Khan, among others.鈥� 鈥� Dr. Ricketts

Instrumentation will include up to 24 singers and Two (2) instrumentalists (focus on keyboardist/bassist/electric guitarist)

Vocal Soul Ensemble will provide an appreciation of cultural and historic traditions defining 鈥淪oul鈥� music as a varied musical art expression.  Through critical listening and musical experimentation, we鈥檒l fosters a sense of community between musicians, artist collaborators, and audiences alike.鈥� 鈥� Dr. Ricketts