A Spectrum of Voices

Now in Paperback! Teaching voice and vocal performance is by nature a subjective pursuit. This is the first book in the field of vocal pedagogy that draws on the brilliance and combined experience represented by an elite group of exemplary voice teachers. This research study and resulting book does not promote one teacher's perspective, nor does it promote one particular approach, but instead distills the best from the best, presenting nearly 30 quoted interviews from teachers of note. "How do the nation's most outstanding voice teachers teach?" The end result is the first book of its kind, based on solid qualitative research design and methodology, written in a lively, understandable and user-friendly way that provides a fascinating survey of comparative pedagogy. Each chapter is arranged in a question and answer format, presenting the question first, then listing the response of each vocal instructor interviewed. Voice teachers offer valuable insight into their teaching philosophies, the kinds of auxiliary training they recommend to their students, and how they structure their lessons. Astute quotes and strategies about posture, breathing, tonal resonance, diction, registration and tension are based on years of professional teaching. A glossary containing definitions, voice performance and pedagogy terminology, and idioms characteristic of the profession is also included. A quick and handy reference for the studio teacher, this book would also serve as a text for vocal pedagogy courses or a supplement for physiology and vocal mechanics. For teachers and students of singing, music educators, musical theatre performers and anyone who aspires to be an outstanding teacher.