Standards for Two: Vocal Book & CD

Sophisticated and conversational. These are songs built for two voices to trade lines, respond to each other, and create playful musical dialogue. The settings sparkle with swing-era charm and warm, accessible harmonies that feel both polished and unpretentious.

High school and community singers comfortable with the jazz standard idiom and ready to navigate blend, balance, and the intimate give-and-take of duet singing. This collection works equally well for private studio singers building duet experience or for small vocal ensembles rounding out a concert with accessible pop-jazz repertoire.

• Listen to the CD arrangement before your first rehearsal together so singers hear the song's character and how the piano sits in the texture.
• Work the duet from the piano score first to lock the musical line, then gradually shift weight toward the singers' ears for their entrance cues.
• Mark breath points and phrase shapes in pencil during early rehearsals; jazz standards thrive on conversational phrasing between singers.

Ideal for a vocal recital segment featuring two to four duet performances, or as featured numbers in a concert celebrating American songbook standards. The recorded accompaniments make these especially useful for competitions or cabaret-style programs where live accompaniment may not be available.

• Navigating jazz phrasing and swing articulation
• Balancing blend and tone between two independent vocal lines
• Following a lead vocalist while maintaining your own musical phrase
• Reading and performing standard jazz harmony
• Responding to accompaniment cues from keyboard or ensemble