| Preface, 12
UNIT 1
Lessons Contained in Unit 1, 13
Unit 1 Obejectives, 14
2. Correct Sitting Posture
Quotations on Posture, 15
Correct Sitting Posture, 16
Posture Problems, 16
Objectives of Good Posture, 16
Rules for Good Singing Posture, 16
3. Correct Standing Posture
Correct Standing Posture, 17
Fundamentals of Good Standing Posture for Singers, 17
A Description of Correct Posture, 17
Body Movements to Help You Assume Good Singing Posture, 18
4. The Breathing Mechanism
Quotations on Breathing, 19
The Breathing Mechanism, 20
Antagonistic Muscles, 20
Major Muscles of Inspiration, 20
The Diaphragm, 20
The External Intercostals, 20
How the Diaphragm Functions During the Breathing Process, 20
Major Muscles of Expiration, 21
Abdominal Muscles, 21
Internal Intercostal Muscless, 21
Key Concepts, 21
Remember, 21
5. Controlled Breathing
Controlled Breathing, 22
The Breath-Control Relationship, 22
Effects of Muscular Imbalance on Singing, 22
Muscles of Expiration Too Strong, 22
Resistance of Muscles of Inspiration Too Strong, 22
Three Key Breath Control Concepts, 22
Five Singing Errors to Avoid, 23
Six Suggestions for Breath Economy, 23
Five Practice Techniques for Improving Breath Control, 23
6. Voice-Part Classifications
Quotations on Voice-Part Classification, 24
Voice-Part Classifications, 25
Mature Voices Are Classified in Two Ways, 25
Choir Members Should Know the Part for which Their Voice Is Best Suited, 25
Factors with Determine Voice Classifications, 25
7. Vocal Ranges
Quotations on Vocal Ranges, 26
Vocal Ranges, 27
Note-Numbering System, 27
Average "Good Ranges," 27
Average Tessituras, 28
8. The Reed-Flute Tone Continuum
Quotations on The Reed-Flute Tone Continuum, 29
The Reed-Flue Tone Continuum, 30
Voice Classifications: Reed, Flute, Mixed, 30
Choir Members Should Recognize Reed, Flute, and Mixed Tone, 30
An Objective of Vocal Training, 30
9. Change-of-Color Points
Quotations on Change-of-Color Points, 31
Change-of-Color Points, 32
Usual Locations of Vocal Mechanism Adjustments, 32
Why Change-of-Color Points Are Important, 32
Locating Change-of-Color Points, 33
Hints on Locating Change-of-Color Points, 33
10. Audition Preparation
Quotations on Audition Preparation, 34
Audition Preparation, 35
What Choir Directors Listen for in a Voice Conference, 35
How to Prepare for an Audition or Voice Conference, 35
Audition Criteria, 36
Why Choir Directors Hold Voice Conferences, 36
What Choir Directors Listen for in a Voice Conference, 36
Vocal Ability, 36
Personality, 36
Musicianship, 36
How to Prepare for an Audition or Voice Conference, 36
Unit 2
Lessons Contained in Unit 2, 37
Unit 2 Objectives, 38
11. Objectives of Vocal Training
Quotations on The Objectives of Vocal Training, 39
Objectives of Vocal Training, 40
1. Freedom. 2. Controlled Breathing. 3. Quality Tone Interpretation.
4. Diction. 5. Technique. 6. Musicianship. 7. Range. 8. Expressive.
9. Knowledge of Musical Styles. 10. Stage Presence., 40
How to Grow in Musical Ability, 40
Correcting Choral Problems, 40
12. The Singing Mechanism
Quotations on The Singing Mechanism, 41
The Singing Mechanism, 42
Parts of the Singing Mechanism, 42
Resonating Cavaties, 42
Two Singing Adjustments, 42
When Singing in the Heavy Mechanism, 42
When Singing in the Light Mechanism, 42
13. Open Throat
Quotations on Open Throat, 43
Open Throat, 44
Definitions, 44
Characteristics of an Open Throat, 44
How Throat Tension Affects Tone Quality, 44
Ways the Body Opens the Throat Naturally, 44
14. Personal Warmup
Quotations on Personal Warmup, 45
Personal Warmup, 46
The Importance of Personal Warming Up before Singing, 46
Objectives of a Personal Warmup, 46
Learn This Ten-step Personal Warmup Routine, 46
1. Shoulders; 2. Hands; 3. Head; 4. Jaw; 5. Neck, 46
6. Posture; 7. Breathing Exercises; 8. Open Throat, 47
9. Lips and Tongue; 10. Basic Exercises, 47
17. Care of the Voice
Quotations on Care of the Voice, 48
Care of the Voice (Part 1), 49
Vocal Abuse, 49
Head Colds, 50
Laryngitits, 50
Allergies, 50
Care of the Voice (Part 2), 51
Tonsillitis, 51
Smoking, 51
Correct Speech Level, 52
16. Vocal Resonance
Quotations on Vocal Resonance, 53
Vocal Resonance, 54
Musical Sound, 54
The Harmonic Series, 54
17. Good Singing Tone
Quotations on Good Singing Tone, 55
Good Singing Tone, 56
The Tonal Ideal, 56
Ten Elements of Good Singing Tone, 56
Production of Good Singing Tone Described, 56
Sounds, Feelings and Mentals Images of Good Singing Tone, 56
Singer's Mental Images, 56
18. Tone Color
Tone Color, 57
Bright, Medium and Dark Tone, 57
Vibrato, Tremelo, Straight Tone, 57
19. Attacks and Releases
Attacks and Releases, 58
Precision, 58
Correct Attacks, 58
Incorrect Attacks, 58
Correct Releases, 58
20. Effective Practice
Effective Practice, 59
The Importance of Goals and Practice, 59
Areas Where Practice Can Bring Improvement, 59
Need for Balanced and Varied Practice, 59
Unit 3
Lessons Contained in Unit 3, 61
Unit 3 Objectives, 62
21. Dynamic Levels
Quotations on Dynamic Levels, 63
Dynamic Levels, 64
"Dynamics" Defined, 64
The Six-stage Loudness Scale, 64
To Sing Loudly, 64
To Sing Softly, 64
22. Extending Vocal Ranges
Quotations on Extending Vocal Ranges, 65
Extending Vocal Ranges, 66
Physical Aspects of Range Development, 66
To Sing High, 66
To Sing Low, 66
Caution, 66
23. Head Resonance and Head Tone
Quotations on Head Resonance and Head Tone, 67
Head Resonance and Head Tone, 68
Head Resonance, 68
Nasality and Nasal Resonance, 68
Head Voice, 68
Heavy and Light Mechanism, 69
24. Humming
Quotations on Humming, 70
Humming, 71
How to Hum, 71
Values of Humming in Learning to Sing, 72
Uses of Humming in Performance, 72
25. Basic Musical Styles
Quotations on Basic Musical Styles, 73
Basic Musical Styles, 74
Characteristics of Good and Poor Performance, 74
Legato, 74
Staccato, 74
Marcato, 75
Rubato, 75
26. Correct Phrasing
Quotations on Correct Phrasing, 76
Correct Phrasing, 77
Definition of a Phrase, 77
Basic Phrasing Rules, 77
Singing Long Phrases, 77
Catch-breaths and Staggered Breathing, 77
27. Vocal Flexibility
Quotations on Vocal Flexibility, 78
Vocal Flexibility, 79
Flexibility, 79
Vocal Agility, 79
Practicing Vocal Flexibility, 79
28. Intonation
Quotations on Intonation, 80
Intonation, 81
Key Concepts About Intonation, 81
General and Specific Tuning, 81
Intonation Problems from Incorrect Vocal Techniques, 82
Intonation Problems from Mental Laziness and Fatigue, 84
29. Introduction to the Phonetic Alphabet
Quotations on the Phonetic Alphabet, 85
The International Phonetic Alphabet Symbols for the English Language, 86
Vowels, 86
Consonants (Same as English Alphabet), 86
Consonants (Different than English Alphabet), 86
The Phonetic Alphabet, 87
Phonetics and the International Phonetic Alphabet, 87
Vowels and the Schwa, 87
Consonants, 87
Unit 4
Lesons Contained in Unit 4, 89
Unit 4 Objectives, 90
30. Balance and Blend
Quotations on Balance and Blend, 91
Balance and Blend, 92
Unity in Choral Performance, 92
Definitions, 92
Balance, 92
Blend, 92
Approaches to Achieving Blend, 93
Bright and Dark Tone, 93
To Produce Bright Tone, 93
To Produce Dark Tone, 93
31. Singing Vowels
Quotations on Singing Vowels, 94
Tongue Positions for Singing the Vowels, 95
Tongue Positions, 95
Diaphragm of Tongue Positions for Vowels (The Vowel Triangle), 95
Vowel Classification and Modifications, 95
Lip Positions for Singing the Vowels, 96
Drawaings of Lip Positions for Singing Vowels, 96
32. Diphthongs
Quotations on Diphthongs, 97
Diphthongs, 98
Diphthongs, 98
Compound Vowels, 98
Semi-Vowels, 99
Common Performance Errors, 99
Triphthongs, 99
Quadthongs, 99
33. Articulation
Quotations on Articulation, 100
Singing Consonants, 101
Articulation, 101
Causes for Poor Articulation, 101
Voiced and Voiceless Consonants, 101
Good Diciton, 102
Projection, 102
Bad Sounds, 102
34. Enunciation
Quotations on Enunciation, 103
Enunciation, 104
Good Diction, 104
Projection, 104
Bad Sounds, 104
35. Pronunciation
Quotations on Pronunciation, 105
Pronunciation, 106
Pronunciation, 106
General Pronunciation Rule, 106
Types of Pronunciation Errors, 106
Error Examples, 106
Consonant and Vowel Rules, 107
The "r" Sounds, 107
Unit Reviews
Unit 1 Review Ideas, 111
Unit 2 Review Ideas, 115
Unit 3 Review Ideas, 119
Unit 4 Review Ideas, 121
Index, 125
About the Author, 127
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