A curated collection of tools, databases, recordings, and books for vocalists serious about learning the Great American Songbook. These are the resources Maye uses and recommends in her workshops.
For songs not in the workshop archive, these are the most reliable sources for lead sheets and chord charts. Always check the key before printing — many online charts are in concert pitch or an unusual transposition.
The best jazz vocal education happens through active listening. Before you perform any standard, know how the great singers approached it — their phrasing, their tempos, their interpretive choices. These resources make research easy.
A working knowledge of jazz harmony makes you a more confident performer and a more valuable collaborator for rhythm section players. These resources are accessible to singers without classical music training.
These are books Maye returns to regularly and recommends to students. They cover vocal technique, repertoire history, and the art of jazz performance from multiple perspectives.
A note from Maye: The most important resource for a jazz singer is a good rhythm section and a lot of hours singing. No book or app replaces the experience of working through a tune with a pianist, bassist, and drummer who are listening to you — and to each other. If you're looking for opportunities to play with live musicians in the Bay Area, reach out. Connecting singers with players is part of what this archive is for.
Free lead sheets, lyric sheets, and practice tracks for fourteen composers of the Great American Songbook.