A New Handbook for Singers and Teachers

The practices of singing and teaching singing are inextricable, joined to each other through the necessity of understanding the vocal art and craft. Just as singers must understand the physical functions of voice in order to become musically proficient and artistically mature, teachers too need to have a similar mastery of these ideas - and the ability to explain them to their students - in order to effectively guide their musical and artistic growth. With this singer-instructor relationship in mind, Richard and Ann Alderson's A New Handbook for Singers and Teachers presents a fresh, detailed guide about how to sing and how to teach singing. It systematically explores all aspects of the vocal technique - respiration, phonation, resonance, and articulation - with each chapter containing exercises aimed at applying and teaching these principles. Beyond basic vocal anatomy and singing fundamentals, the handbook also covers such understudied topics as the young voice, the changing voice, and the aging voice, along with helpful chapters for teachers about how to organize vocal lessons and training plans. Thoughtfully and comprehensively crafted by two authors with decades of singing and teaching experience between them, A New Handbook for Singers and Teachers will prove an invaluable resource for singers and teachers at all stages of their vocal and pedagogical careers.

Dr. Richard Alderson, professor emeritus of voice and opera, served thirty years in the School of Music of Northwestern University. Dr. Alderson has also been an active professional opera director, conductor, and singer. He is also a well-known authority on vocal techniques and styles. He received his Doctor of Music degree in Voice and Opera from Northwestern University. Dr. Ann Alderson has been a professional singer and voice teacher for over thirty years. Dr. Alderson holds a Doctor of Music in Voice and Opera from Northwestern University. As well as being an active professional singer and conductor, she has been a frequent adjudicator for vocal and choral competitions at all levels, including the Metropolitan Opera Auditions and Society of American Musicians.

PART ONE: HOW TO SING Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Respiration Physical Elements of the Vocal Mechanism Breathing to Sing Types of Breathing Develop Coordinated Breathing Breathing and the Musical Phrase Symptoms of Improper Breathing Additional Breathing Exercises Helpful Sports Analogies Other Useful Analogies Chapter 3: Phonation Making the Proper Sound Coordinating Respiration with Phonation Initiating the Tone Sustaining the Tone Moving from Note to Note Releasing the Tone Finding and Refining the Proper Tone Dealing with Nasality Exercise Remedies for Nasality Vocalises for Nasality Vibrato History of Vibrato Dealing with Vibrato Breathiness Hoarseness or Huskiness Harshness or Stridency Muffled or Swallowed Tone Hollow or Hooty Quality Other Analogies Chapter 4: Resonance Types of Resonance Vocal Resonators Developing a Rich Voice Respiration--Phonation--Resonance Resonance Exercises Chapter 5: The Singing Vowel Instrumental Characteristics of Vowels The Fixed Formant Theory of Vowels Making a Proper Vowel Sound Vowel Unification Vocalises for all Voices Vowel Migration Vowel Modification Chapter 6: Registers and Registration Dealing with Registers Dealing with Registration Changing Registers Smoothly: Males Changing Registers Smoothly: Females Chapter 7: Articulation Making Sense out of Sound Sung Language vs. Spoken Articulation Exercises and Vocalises The trouble with /R/ Special Problems of Articulation Chapter 8: Fundamental Diction for Singers Italian Diction Rules of Pronunciation Latin Diction Rules of Pronunciation French Diction Vowels Nasal Vowels Semi-vowels and Glides Consonants Special Rules of Pronunciation German Diction Vowels Diphthongs Consonants Some General Rules in Singing The Glottal Attack Ach-Laut and Ich-Laut Special Rules for the Letter /G/ Chapter 9: Audition Strategies General Principles Physical Strategies Psychological Strategies Final Suggestions PART TWO: HOW TO TEACH SINGING Chapter 10: Basic Concepts of Voice Teaching General Vocal Pedagogy A Broad Technical Base Instructional Cue Card Using the Cue Card Choosing Literature Two Golden Rules Style and Musicianship Reinforcement Expectations If the Student is not Making Progress Logistics Length of Lesson Setting a Price Chapter 11: Organizing a Training Program Determine the Level of the Singer Listen to the Singer and Analyze the Performance Apply Four Key Principles Determine a General Training Plan Determine a Logical Starting Point Constructing Coordinated Lesson Plans The Individual Lesson Plan Communicating Information General Benefits of Lesson Plans Teaching Aids Summary Chapter 12: Basic Vocal Exercises Using Basic Vocal Exercises Warm-up Exercises Skill Exercises Selecting Exercises Assigning Exercises Incorporating Exercises and General Training Specific Lesson Organization Chapter 13: Teaching Breathing Techniques A Concise Explanation of the Singing Breath: For Beginners A Logical Presentation of the Breathing Process A Concise Explanation of Interrelated Functions A Sample Discussion of Inhalation A Sample Discussion of Exhalation Teaching the Techniques of Proper Respiration Relating the Functions of the Singing Breath Analyzing a Singer's Breathing Skills Discussing Various Types of Breathing Applying Appropriate Breathing Techniques Correcting Errors Breathing Exercises and Correlated Use Chapter 14: Teaching Phonation Skills Teaching Techniques of Phonation: Basic Principles Vocal Registers Teaching Different Genders Further Considerations How to Analyze Vocal Sound How to Design a Training Program Solutions Related to Visual Clues Solutions Related to Audible Clues Other Common Phonation Errors Sample Phonation Exercises Chapter 15: Training the Resonators The Resonating System Adapting the Resonators Types of Resonance Applying Vowel Modification Vowel Modification Exercise Charts Constructing the Charts Establishing Register Changes Applying Resonance Principles Respiration Plus Resonance Using Repertory to Train the Resonators Resonance Problems and Solutions Chapter 16: Teaching Articulation Techniques Respiration + Phonation + Resonance + Articulation Identifying Articulators and Specific Types of Movement Importance of Training Articulation Elements of Articulation Teaching Articulation Techniques Diction Considerations Training the Articulators Articulation Problems and Solutions Final Elements of Articulation Training Chapter 17: Teaching Young Changing Voices Normal Angst Principles for Teaching Young Singers Fundamental Concepts Repertory Peer Reinforcement Young Male Voices Countertenors or Male Altos Exercises Specific to Boys' Voices Young Female Voices Exercises Specific to Girls' Voices Assigning Repertory Chapter 18: Teaching Aging Voices General Considerations Physical Factors of Aging Voices Psychological Elements Related to Singing Specific Aspects of the Aging Voice Technical Adaptations Exercises and Correctives Physical Fitness and Vocal Fitness Final Considerations