While a performance student in my bachelor’s and master’s degree, I had access to so many wonderful books, recordings, videos, and music. As a student, I spent considerable time in the music library just listening to my favorite recordings, translating all of my repertoire, and looking for ever challenging music that I would some day sing.
Now as a private teacher, I want my students to have access to the same resources I had, and I want to keep an eye out for the latest in technique and performance preparation writings to keep my teaching fresh and on pointe. I have compiled a list of books that include some of the classic standbys, along with some new literature. In my first article, I will focus on studio management, and technique development. If you are currently teaching voice, and have found a resource that you think is particularly valuable that is not listed here, please post it in the comment box below. The art of singing and the teaching of singing are ever evolving, and so should this list!
Studio Management
The Private Voice Studio Handbook: A practical guide to all aspects of teaching by Joan Frey Boytim
This is an excellent source for beginning and seasoned teachers. Boytim is the author of the beloved “First Books.†She covers many aspects of the voice studio, from creating your studio’s mission statement, organizing the studio, accepting new students, creating effective practice regimens, preparing students for competition, exploring repertoire for beginners and intermediates, and outlining vocalises to troubleshoot problems.
The Singer’s Life: Goals and Roles by Clifton Ware
For many voice teachers, we not only teach many students during the week, but participate in professional singing ventures as well. This book addresses the great balancing act of wearing the hats of vocal athlete, vocal technician, business manager and pedagogue. While not addressing the specifics of how to run a studio, this book is a must read for singers who feel overwhelmed by all the hats they are putting on.
The Private Music Instruction Manual: A Guide for the Independent Music Educator by Rebecca Osborn
The Private Music Instruction Manual is an invaluable guide for any musician who is an independent music educator. Organized in an easy-to follow textbook format, this manual offers professional advice concerning business plans, studio policies and lesson dynamics. Much needed explanations of fiscal and legal issues that come with running a small business are also included. The Private Music Instruction Manual enables those of us who always think educationally to approach the teaching of private music lessons in a businesslike manner
Student Technique Development
Evoling Sound, The Choral Warmup: Method, Procedures, Planning and Core Vocal Exercises by James Jordan
Yes, I know, what does a choral warm-up book have to do with solo singing? Jordan’s warm up book has a vast array of exercises to troubleshoot a wide variety of vocal challenges. I also love that many of the exercises have corresponding physical movements, which help the student connect to the musical idea more quickly. This book comes with a CD, which accompanies the exercises. Many of my high school students have a copy of the CD to warm up to during the week, and though the warm up is very elementary, the basics they are learning are fundamental, and the fact that they can warm up without questioning what they are doing seems to give them peace of mind.
Human Anatomy Coloring Book by Margaret Matt
The voice is such an abstract instrument- most of the muscles we use in singing are deep in our bodies. Understanding our anatomy, and how the body works for us while we are singing, is invaluable to our success as consistent singers. This book has great illustrations of the face, sinuses, throat, rib cage, lungs and diaphragm. It’s great to show to students when you are talking about particular technical goals.
The Breathing Book: Good Health and Vitality Through Essential Breath Work by Donna Farhi
Many professional singers swear by practicing yoga, using a variety of poses and exercises to allow for maximum inhalation and focused exhalation. Farhi’s book is a yoga-based book, with a variety of breathing exercises. I like to start each of my lessons with a breathing exercise to get the student focused on the breath even during the vocalizing and singing of repertoire.
Teaching Kids to Sing by Kenneth H. Phillips
With Idol-mania, so many children are embarking on voice lessons at too tender an age. I have used techniques in this book to help some of my teen and adult students with the basic principles of breathing and releasing a tone. This is also a terrific resource for any classroom music teacher.
The Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults: A Manual for Teachers of Singing and for Choir Directors by James C. McKinney
McKinney teaching lineage can be traced back to the great William Vennard. This book is a resource for the fundamental and thorough knowledge of singing – how to spot and correct vocal faults. Written for teachers, but in a style that students will also understand and benefit from.
The Structure of Singing: System and Art in Vocal Technique by Richard Miller
This book is not recommended for beginners. Combining the physical, technical, and artistic aspects of singing, Miller applies current findings in medicine, acoustics, phonetics, and speech therapy to the singer’s needs. This source demonstrates the scientific basis of exercises and vocalises, covering all major areas of vocal technique.
Stay tuned for my next arcticle covering resources concerning diction, style and repertoire, and artistic development.
About the Author
Nebraska native Sarah Luebke completed her MM in vocal performance at the University of Kentucky, and her BM in vocal performance at St. Olaf College. Recently she has been seen performing the female lead, Jane McDowell, in "The Stephen Foster Story" and the ensemble of "Big River" with Stephen Foster Productions. Other performances include the soprano soloist of Bach's St. John Passion, La Fee in Massenet's "Cendrillon" at the Intermezzo Opera Festival, Najade in "Ariadne auf Naxos" at the Brevard Music Festival, Monica in "The Medium", Rose Maybud in "Ruddigore", and Fiordiligi in "Cosi fan tutte". She currently resides with her husband in Florida, teaching a studio of 40 students and auditioning and performing locally.
This series is a great idea! I would like to add to your list of books on studio management (all of them are on my bookshelf!) a few others that I've found useful: "Promoting your Teaching Studio" by Philip Johnston is directed more towards the private piano studio, but it is full of wonderful ideas on promotion and publicity. His other book "The Practice Revolution" is chock full of brilliant and sometimes bizarre ideas of how to get "great results from the six days between music lessons". Both books get a lot of use from me and my colleagues. Another one in the same vein as the Osborn is "Making Money Teaching Music" by David and Barbara Newsam. It's a bit older (1995) but contains information on finding/making teaching opportunities, designing a home studio, time and financial management etc.
In the category of technique and development, well, I have WAY too many books! I must admit to being a bit of an addict when it comes to acquiring vocal pedagogy books! I'll limit myself to "Classical" technique.
Tops on my list are the books by Richard Miller. As you say they are not for most young or beginning students to read, however I have found that some of the essays in "Solutions for Singers" and "On the Art of Singing", are entertaining and informative for high school age and older singers. A small book packed full of accessible and useful information is "The Performer's Voice" by Meribeth Bunch Dayme. "Singing for Dummies" comes with a CD and provides an introduction to all kinds of singing, not just classical. It also emphasizes healthy singing and because it's in the "Dummies" series, the information is clear, precise and accurate.
For breathing, I find that I'm constantly referring to Barbara Conable's "The Structures and Movement of Breathing" which contains some of the best descriptions and illustrations of breathing I have come across. The last book that I'll mention is "The Singer's Handbook" by Anne Peckham. This is a tiny (40 pages) booklet from the "In the Pocket" series from Berklee Press which is a remarkable distillation of the basics of becoming a singer: alignment, breathing, vocalizing, song study and vocal health.
Looking forward to the next installment!
by Craig Tompkins — Sat Jan 26, 2008 @ 3:15 pm
www.findingmysingingvoice.com
by Catherine Brown / www.findingmysingingvoice.com — Sun Aug 17, 2008 @ 2:02 pm