Basics of Vocal Pedagogy

Preface

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1 - Philosophy of Singing

Origin and Nature of the Singing Gesture/Aesthetics in Singing/Tonal Preferences/Status of Popular and Classical Singing/Benefits of Voice Study

Chapter 2 - Psychology of Singing

Gaining Psychological Insight/Perceptual and Conceptual Aspects/Coping with Complexity and Contradiction/The goal and the Journey as One/Realistic goals and expectations

Chapter 3 - Body-Mind Integration

The Vocal Athlete/Role and Function of Muscles/Exercise and Fitness/Diet and Nutrition/Managing Stress/Body-Mind Strategies/Physical/Vocal Exercises/ Efficient Body Alignment

Chapter 4 - The Vocal Process: Making Connections

Understanding Voice Science/The Vocal Process: How the Voice Works/Mind/Body Connections/The Speech to Singing Connection/From Speech to Singing Using Physical/Vocal exercises/Exercises for Coordinating Breath, Phonation, and Resonation

Chapter 5- Respiration: Managing Breath

Role and Benefits of Breathing/Anatomy and Physiology of the Respiration System/Methods of Breathing/Factors Affecting Efficient Breathing/Breathing Exercises/Breath Coordination and Management/Breath-Tone Coordination Exercises

Chapter 6 - Phonation: Producing Tone

Characteristics and Production of Vocal Tone/Principal Anatomy Involved in Phonation/Initiating Vocal Tone/Exercises for developing Efficient Phonation

Chapter 7 - Registration: Connecting Voice Levels

Explanation and Description of Vocal Registers/ Historical Survey of Registration Terminology/Voice Registers Theories/Registration Physiology/ Classifying Register Transitions/ Negotiating Register Transitions/Exercises for Coordinating Vocal registers

Chapter 8 - Resonation: Optimizing Tone Quality

Acoustics—The Science of Sound/Properties and Characteristics of Sound/ Resonance/Vocal Resonators/Maximizing Vocal Resonance/Vocal Efficiency/Techniques for Enhancing Vocal Efficiency

Chapter 9 - Articulation: Voicing Vowels and Consonants

Communicating Through Language/Linguistic Terminology/Primary Singing Languages/Introduction to Vowels/Vowel Modification and Efficiency/Introduction to Consonants/ Chart of Consonants/Sounding Consonants/Suggestions for Improving Diction

Chapter 10 - Coordination: Unifying The Vocal Process

What is Vocal Coordination?/Elements of Dynamic Vocalism/Classification of the Singing Voice/Professional Singing Voice Categories/ Reconciliation of Opposites

Chapter 11- The Singer’s Instrument: Use, Pathology, and Care

The Vocal Instrument and Stress/Identifying and Classifying Vocal Disorders/The Vocal Organ Under Stress/Contributing Factors to Vocal Misuse and Abuse/Aging and Hormonal Effects/Voice Irritants/Upper Respiratory Tract Disorders/Serious Vocal Disorders/Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention/Treatment and Prevention of Vocal Disorders/Auditory Disorders: Prevention and Cure/Some Do’s and Don’ts of Vocal Health

Chapter 12 - Solo Vocal Performance

Selection and Preparation of Solo Vocal Repertoire/Interpretation and Expression/Vocal Performance Dynamics/Vocal Performance Options and Opportunities

Chapter 13 - Teaching Singing

History of Vocal Pedagogy/Foundations of Effective Teaching/Instructional Strategies, Techniques, and Tools/Life-Span Voice Teaching/Modes of Instruction