Book Description
What do Michael Jackson, Anita Baker, Natalie Cole and hundreds of other professionals have in common? They all study voice with Hollywood's leading vocal coach, Seth Riggs. You can learn to sing like the pros with this complete program for training the voice.
Customer Reviews:
Worst Book I've Bought.......2007-09-26
This is one of the worst purchase I've ever bought ... I ignored some of the negative reviews that Seth's book got, and bought it anyway just to give it a try.
Singing For The Stars have around 100 pages more or less (don't remember cause I gave the book away 3 days after I bought it), and the fist half of the book is NOTHING but SELF-PROPS (I'm NOT exaggerating). The other half of the book have some informations and some, yet again, self-props. To put it all together, almost every page in this book have some kind of self-props. I skipped all the self-props and finished the book in about 15 minutes. I also found it funny how Seth criticized other competing books and he ended up doing the same thing ... throwing out things without fully explaining it.
The CDs are just ok. This book CD combo is really an exercise program to help you increase your vocal range, so IMHO it will not make you a better singer. To sing good, you'll need more than just hitting the notes. The exercises in his CDs are incomplete ... it goes up in scales but not down.
For beginners: I would not buy this book. Go get voice lessons. This book (even though it have some useful exercises), will NOT make you a better singer. A good personal instructor can and will make you a better singer. If you don't want to spend the $ for an instructor, then search for "voice lessons" on Google & you'll find plenty of lessons for FREE. And yes, these free lessons on the internet (youtube for examble) have the same exercises as Seth's CDs.
For advanced singer: I noticed some reviews said this book is really for the intermediate/advance singers. Probably true ... but if you're at that level, you'll either can play some kind of instruments or know someone that does. You can record variety of scales on your PC and burn it to a CD for around 20c or less (if you buy blank CDs in bulk). Do it yourself CD will not only have better coverage than Seth's CD but will cost less.
One book, one teacher not nearly enough.......2007-07-26
In my opinion, this book has too much self-congratulation in it. It's the mark of insecurity, isn't it? The voice has registers that you have to learn how to smoothly connect; Riggs is quite right about that. Manuel Garcia, the legendary Spanish teacher, wrote about that 150 years ago! Also, the Englishman, Herbert-Cesari wrote brilliantly about these vocal qualities in the 1950's.
Life is short and art is long; and no one teacher or school of thought has a corner on the market of wisdom. Seth Riggs is most likely one of thousands of people on the planet who could give you helpful feedback about your voice. The main thing is to start singing along with studying. Then you learn by doing! Remember a singer sings and doesn't need anybody's approval or permission to do so.
You accumulate knowledge and skill by networking with others, not by getting addicted to hypnotic suggestions that an "exclusive" method guaratees success, or becoming in turn addicted to the personality of a charismatic teacher who may, in part, exploit your dreams; or you may exploit the teacher because you want to dream.
In any case, a real living teacher that you can afford to see regularly can help much. Seek knowledge without looking for magic-wand, short-term solutions or letting yourself be dominated by any fanaticism regarding method. Whether or not you achieve something depends on yourself in the end.
I live and work in Europe as a professional singer. I've sung opera, art songs, negro spirituals, jazz, Irish, etc...
I've also had a chance to get to know a lot of great singers. And since they've walked the walk and not just talked the talk, they have much good to say. They have integrated what they've been taught by others, but also what they learned themselves. They're superteachers!
Singing is about soul...and connectedness to the music and the words. It's also a lot of work to keep the voice healthy and stretched, and the rest of your body too. I have studied in my life with at least 20 teachers. They've all taught me something valuable. I've taken classes at universities, read scores of books and had countless conversations with fellow musicians about music. There's just so much to learn and nobody will be or should pretend to be your fairy god mother. It's a life-long, self-motivated project qua passion.
Very motivating.......2007-07-16
Bought the book to supplement a 'living teacher', and am not disapointerd in the presentation of the concepts. Honestly, most things are better done with a living teacher, but this is good extra material.
Really found the incesant placement of famous people's pictures with their testimonials to be insulting. Name dropping does not a good teacher make unless he/she is teaching name dropping.
Seth Riggs is a Master Teacher.......2007-06-08
The lessons in this collection would cost thousands if you were to pay a voice teacher for them. Seth Riggs offers them for a great price and you can use them forever! This is the best deal!
Unusable for people without extensive background.......2007-03-26
I found the CD unusable because of the speed of the exercises. A friend to whom I gave the book had a similar experience -- frustration, boredom, no results. I had high hopes for this product when I bought it, but I have gone back to Roger Love's book (Set Your Voice Free). I understand that he was a student of Riggs, and perhaps that is the source of his ideas; but I at least found his book much, much more usable. I have taken singing lessons since then from a professional voice coach, and I must say that her approach (which has given me excellent results) is a lot more accessible than Riggs, as well. So, if you are a semi-professional singer with years of experience and the ability to sing very fast scales, this book may be quite useful. For other people, I would say strongly: give it a miss.
Customer Reviews:
to a singer.......2007-06-22
This book is to a singer what pornography is to an adolesant teenage boy. a must have! all the info that would turn any singer on, and you don't have to hide it from mom!
A Must Read for Voice Teachers.......2005-11-02
At first I was turned off by this book's textbook appearance, once however I successfully pushed myself past the cover I was fascinated. Like most voice teachers, I've read my share of "This is the Only Way to Teach Singing" books. I have found that the more truly knowledgeable a person is, the more they recognize how many variables exist and how many approaches may be necessary in order to arrive at the desired destination. Rather than pontificating on his particular brand of vocal technique, Richard Alderson focuses on indisputable physical activities and his discovery of vocal mechanics through experiences with his students. Alternating between descriptions of functional concepts and first-hand stories of their application, this book was a pleasure to read. I often found myself unable to put it down. - Okay, but what can I say... I love voice :-)
Where's your tongue at?.......2005-10-10
I find this book really helpful and insightful regarding all the aspects of singing, breathing, producing sound in general, etc. It not only helps with singing, but it for instance also helps you learn better breathing habits. I'd recommend this book to anyone.
I should probably also add that to learn to sing you need a teacher too, but for as far as books go, this is possibly one that I would have to put on my list of favorites. I find it hard to imagine that any other book will provide more insight.
For people who need to do without a teacher I'd most certainly recommend this book. You might want to search for CD's or DVD's as an extra learning aid too, to help you visualise/audiolise things if you find this hard to do. An instrument might be nice. You probably need something to produce the desired notes so you can sing along with them. This will be a great help when doing the suggested exercises. But even without such help, the book contains plenty of practical info.
A good, reliable handbook on teaching voice.......2005-08-30
This book is another of the many great books out there on vocal pedagogy.
Richard Alderson, a professional singer voice teacher and choral director taught at Northwestern University. Taking a very practical approach, Alderson introduces the principles of voice teaching. Later chapters cover breathing, voice production, resonance, vowels, registers, articulation, and several chapters on choral voices and changing voices (boys' and girls').
Alderson is informed about proper vocal technique, and the book's bibliography demonstrates his reliance on the best sources. Alderson's book seems much more pragmatic than other books on vocal pedagogy like Richard Miller and others. Alderson also makes many analogies to many other fields, especially athletics. Many teachers will find this helpful--it can be very difficult to explain to students what they should try to do to correct their singing.
At the expense of his practical explanation, some voice teachers may miss some of the "nuts and bolts" as to what is really going on in the voice. This handbook does not explain all of the inner workings of vocal production. Better sources can be found in books by Clifton Ware, Richard Miller, and Oren Brown.
Fans of good aesthetics will probably also wish this book had a different cover (this one shouts, "Welcome to the 1970s!").
All that aside, this is a useful book and voice teachers will find it helpful. I would also recommend James McKinney's book as another great resource. Enjoy!
Excellent Book.......2004-07-18
Here we have a book on vocal production and training that is just that: a book on vocal training. Yes, it contains exercises and other things, and great detailed explanations as to what things mean in vocal pedegogy. One would actually learn more about singing and voice production from this book, and doing it correctly, than from all the "singing for dummies" sort of books out there. The only draw back with the book is it is long, and it is not that exciting to read. He is not wordy, he is just to the point, all of the points of singing.
I would recommend this book for anyone seriously wanting to learn to sing, and I mean sing. Study it, read it, get an understanding of what singing is all about, and what you should be fixing as a goal in learning how to sing. Most books on singing don't give enough information so you could actually fix any realistic goals about singing, or what to expect from your own progress, or out of a lesson, or even from your teacher. People buy these other books, learn a few things, sing a few notes better than they did before, and think they are on their way to stardom.
Well, people, get real. Read this book and you will get a better understanding of what singing is all about. And on the first pages you will learn one important thing -- you will never hear your voice correctly, so no matter how wonderful you think it is sounding, you will need the ears of someone else (if not a teacher, at least someone with a good ear for quality sound) to let you know what you really sound like.
However, if you read this book carefully, you can also save yourself a ton of grief when choosing a teacher. There are tons of teachers out there who, quite frankly, have no business teaching at all. A former singing career, or the ability to sing oneself, is NO indication the person can actually teach what they know, or even that they understand what they did (Joan Sutherland is a perfect example; she sang wonderfully but would never consider teaching as she openly admits she has no clue how it all works). Reading this book will not make you an expert on the subject whatever, but it will give you enough information that you won't be led up the garden path. You will have a great idea of what to expect, what to anticipate, and what should be happening in any voice lesson you have. If your teacher doesn't cover any of these points, then you will have an idea they aren't a real voice teacher and that they don't really know much. Perhaps it would be better to seek out someone else's advice.
The advice in this book is excellent, but again, no book can teach you to sing, they can only enlighten you to what to consider and look for in learning technique.
Book Description
While many texts and courses on the art of singing offer comprehensive overviews of technique and performance, few have time to delve into the specific questions they spawn. Solutions for Singers explores these unanswered questions, filling in gaps that professional performers, students of singing, and voice teachers have long sought to close. Fielding over 200 questions, distinguished teacher and performer Richard Miller tackles problems raised during hundreds of his master classes and pedagogy courses. He deliberately avoids abstract generalities, concentrating instead on specific, recurring questions: What are some good exercises to loosen or relax tension in the back of the tongue? Do you apply the same principles regarding breathing to a younger student that you do to older students? What is meant by voiced and unvoiced consonants? Is there a female falsetto? Through such specialized questions, Miller probes the very essence of artistic expression. The questions are organized under ten broad topics, which Miller considers from various angles. He couples traditional and modern philosophies to present the most relevant and precise solutions. The result is an invaluable handbook for singers, which, read either sequentially or selectively, provides a unique and pragmatic approach to vocal artistry and technique.
Customer Reviews:
Semplicemente fantastico.......2007-06-11
Un'opera seria e approfondita per gli insegnanti di canto. Da non perdere. Ho ordinato anche il libro sulla tecnica vocale di Richard Miller.
Like attending a master class.......2007-03-09
There is just nothing like sitting at the feet of a master of his craft, and Richard Miller is nothing if not that. He has so much accumulated knowledge and understanding of the ins and outs of singing and singers that just a few moments can help unlock stubborn problems. This book is one that is easy to pick up and refer to for vocal questions without having to read the entire thing. He includes some questions that assume a certain amount of knowledge but also some that let you know that no question is a bad one. I enjoyed his conversational tone and his wry, subtle humor. I expect to refer to this book often as I think about some of my students and their struggles to understand and master the thrillingly complex, elusively and deceptively simple craft of good singing.
It came when I needed it the most.......2007-01-14
The books was wonderful, and it came when I really needed it to teach my new voice students.
Great info, but a tough read.......2005-08-04
Richard Miller presents excellent and very useful information for both singer and teacher, but his language is complex. As someone who has extensively studied the inner workings of the voice, I understood all of his terminology, but the excess of it slowed my overall comprehension. Why say "Enlarge the buccopharyngeal cavity" when you can just say "open the mouth?"
Miller's best book.......2005-01-08
Richard Miller has written a library of works for singers, teachers, coaches, and anyone interested in the science of singing. The one thing that has always been missing, though, is an easy-to-use guide to much of his information, in the form of the Q&A, or to use the computer-literate term, an FAQ.
Well, here it is!
In this book, Miller addresses series of questions (gleaned from master class students and teachers over his many years of teaching) individually and specifically, giving the curious or troubled artists an opportunity to find an answer quickly and easily.
Of course, Miller cannot possibly address every conceivable question; I, for one, have a question about the female secondo passaggio and bridging the lower and upper mechanisms more efficiently; but a good read will glean the answers to many many other questions, plus give the aspiring student with little knowledge of vocal pedagogy a jumping-off point to dive into Miller's other works (The Structure of Singing, Teaching Soprano Voices, Teaching Tenor Voices, just to name a few fine ones).
This library is far cheaper than the Caldwell Publishing series, which is far easier to digest as a student, but simply out of the financial reach of everyone BUT tenured voice teachers (If you're listening, Robert Caldwell, we would love to buy them!, but it isn't possible at $600 for the series), and though it is fairly technical in its language and might require some background in the physiology of the larynx to completely comprehend, Miller's books are the rarest of beasts in voice ped: affordable, comprehensive, and helpful.
Customer Reviews:
The converging point!.......2006-03-03
Since I have been doing extensive research on the voice lately, I have found that most authorities often mention this book. Vennard's widely-respected compendium will prove to be useful for every singer, beginner or full-fledged.
Simply none better.......2004-04-15
This book remains one of THE fundamental must-reads for all serious vocalists. Read it slowly and fully absorb it-even if you have to read it again and again.
The best and most complete.......2002-06-03
The title is misspelled here, it is Technic - not Technical.
Despite all the voice-teaching publications since 1967, this remains the clearest, the most common-sense, and the best learning-to-teach-voice tool besides the actual experience of teaching. No other publication on the voice even comes close.
Required Reading for Singing Teachers........2000-05-02
Mr. Vennard was the head of the voice department at USC. His book is fascinating reading for singers interested in understanding their vocal instruments, but it is essential study for voice teachers.
Voice teachers necessarily employ metaphor in teaching because so much of the human voice is controlled unconsciously. But such metaphors should be grounded in the facts of reality - in the known sciences that apply to vocal production. For instance, when a teacher tells a student, `don't swallow your tone', and is met only with a look of blank stupor, that teacher needs to be able to start talking facts instead of fantasy.
Mr. Vennard demystifies the metaphors. He systematically anchors the art of the teacher to the known sciences of tone, timbre and resonance, and especially to the physiognomy of the larynx, the breathing muscles, and the upper respiratory tract. After covering the basics, he includes extensive discussions of vowel and consonant production, as well as a number of important vocal exercises. He closes with a brief discussion of the technique of messa di voce. I say it is brief, but it is really the ultimate subject of the entire book.
Messa di voce is an ancient vocal exercise done on one note and on one breath: a long crescendo followed by a long diminuendo. But this simple exercise involves a fantastically complex coordination of muscles, and, while the student need not understand more than a tenth of the science behind it, his teacher should understand as much as possible.
Many teachers of singing, and perhaps most of them, do not feel the need for such tools as are available in Mr. Vennard's book, but I believe the best teachers do.
The ultimate, understandable source for voice production.......1998-06-17
This book demystifies the art of singing. You'll understand how centuries of well-meaning but unscientific voice teachers have confused students to this day. Get the facts now. All your questions answered. This book helped me smooth out four octaves with no break! Diagrams and throat photos are great. This book is indespensible for any voice coach or instructor or student.
Book Description
Ah, there’s just nothing better than singing in the shower. The acoustics are perfect and you don’t sound half bad, if you do say so yourself. In fact, with a little practice you could be the next “American Idol” platinum-selling recording artist, or stage sensation. It’s time for Pavarotti to step down and for you to step up as monarch of songdom.
Whether you’re a beginning vocalist or a seasoned songster, Singing for Dummies makes it easy for you to achieve your songbird dreams. Singing for Dummies gives you step-by-step instructions and lots of helpful tips, hints, vocal exercises, reminders, and warnings for both men and women, including advice on:
- The mechanics of singing
- Discovering your singing voice
- Developing technique
- Singing in performance
- Maintaining vocal health
- Performing like a pro
Singing for Dummies is written by Dr. Pamelia Phillips, Chair of Voice and Music at New York University’s Undergraduate Drama Department. Dr. Phillips shares all of her professional expertise to help you sing your way to the top. She gives you all the information you need to know about:
- Proper posture and breathing
- Perfecting your articulation
- Finding the right voice teacher for you
- How to train for singing
- Selecting your music materials
- Acting the song
- Overcoming stage fright
- Auditioning for musical theater
In addition to Dr. Phillips’ wisdom, Singing for Dummies comes with a CD packed full of useful instruction and songs, including:
- Demonstrations of proper technique
- Exercises to develop technique and strength
- Scales and pitch drills
- Practice songs for beginning, intermediate, and advanced singers
Singing for Dummies contains all the information, practices, techniques, and expert advice you need to hone your vocal skills with ease.
Customer Reviews:
Good place to start.......2007-08-29
I sure you've heard it before but don't be fooled by the title.This is a very good place to start if you have never had any training before.One thing I like is the fact that she doesn't play the piano too loudly for the exersizes.The two vocalists sound good too.Allthough the book addresses some pop techniques it seems more geared towards classical.I'm suspicious of methods that try to combine the two,such as Seth Riggs, since they are so completely different.I'm looking forward to Singing for Dummies II.The audio could be a bit louder but I am using a laptop.No big deal.You won't find all the silly endorsments like in the Riggs books.5 stars all the way.
Exactly what I needed.......2007-05-29
I am taking Bengali folk singing lessons. Bengali folk songs demand strong voice and wide vocal range. I tried quite a few different ways to increase my vocal range. Following the suggested instructions in this book, I have gained two notes in the upper side of the range in three weeks. I am also singing much better in the lower range. I feel that I'll continue to make improvements, if I continue to follow Pamelia S. Phillips' suggested techniques. Even though I am more familiar with Bengali music than Western music, I did not have any problem understanding this book. As a matter fact this book has taught me a lot of terms used in Western music. Accompanying CD is a big help.
Great for beginners.......2007-03-17
If you don't have the courage or money to go to a teacher, this is a great book. The exercises are easy and encouraging. Although I found that some of the exercises hindered more than opened my range, I know that not every exercise will work for every person and so I skip one here and there and move on. I did learn a great deal from this book and I would buy it again. Although I wouldn't take it as Bible, it is a great starting point. I am not an expert so I really can't give a more thorough review BUT I would recommend that you buy a few books to get more points of view and take something from each.
The biggest problem I have is that the 'for dummies' series does not sell or give replacement cd's. If you lose the CD, you must buy the entire book again. This is ridiculous. If you buy a book with a CD, make plenty of copies so that you have a back up or three.
GREAT BOOK OVERALL.......2007-03-09
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK OVERALL. AS AN ACTOR I HAVE FOUND THE TECHNIQUES HELPFUL FOR MY ACTING. THERE'S A LOT OF THEORY THOUGH (AS WITH ALL DUMMIES BOOKS) SO BE PREPARED.
JAY MADHAV, HOLLYWOOD
amateur's delight.......2007-01-12
I joined a choir...I love to sing but needed help with voice exercises and breathing. I play the cd while I'm driving & do the vocal workouts then. The book is filled with helpful instructions.
Customer Reviews:
excellent resource.......2006-05-04
I highly recommend this book for anyone who teaches singing- especially those who work with groups of inexperienced singers. Phillips goes a long way in demystifying singing technique and causes for singing problems as well as providing ideas for remediation in older inexperienced singers. The fact that Phillips approaches singing in a very objective manner makes singing an attainable skill for anyone who is willing to put in the physical work. The exercises in this book are intended for group use and when used consistently they really work! Many people ask me how I get my 4th and 5th grade boys to sing so willingly and I really think a lot of it has to do with the information that I have taken to my music classroom from this book. Some of the exercises may sound a little silly at first, but give it a try!
Overall approach to effective vocal production in youth........1998-05-26
This book explores the history behind American vocal training, describing how different attitudes towards school singing has affected the choral sound as we know it today. The author also effectively presents how singing is a psychomotor process, and one that is not always easily taught or learned. He reviews the vocal parameters of younger and developing voices, and explains the difficulty with the adolescent voice change (especially with boys). He also encourages teachers to express singing as a "sport", one that requires physical involvement of the body! The second half of the book is dedicated to 90 specific exercise methods for teachers to use in developing their choir. He has broken it into three age levels so that teachers anywhere within the grades 1-12 spectrum can use it effectively, or just use it to supplement a program they may already use and like. The exercises develop repiration, phonation, resonance, diction, and expression within choirs. Eighteen wonderful vocal exercises are explained for each of these areas. This would make an excellent reference book for any music teacher who is involved with teaching singing to any age level. The exercises are specific and help coordinate the students' overall approach to singing.
Book Description
For anyone who wants to turn his dreams of singing into reality, for anyone who is self-conscious about speaking or singing in public, for anyone who hates the sound of her own voice on answering machines-SET YOUR VOICE FREE offers the solution. With innovative techniques and enjoyable exercises that have worked wonders with his professional clients, the internationally acclaimed vocal coach Roger Love demonstrates how to carry a tune, expand vocal range, and speak with ease, confidence, and effectiveness. - Roger Love is one of the foremost vocal and singing authorities in the world, having coached leading actors, celebrity speakers, and musicians, including Billy Baldwin; Mtley Cre; Earth, Wind Fire; Billy Idol; the Jacksons; Martin Landau; Def Leppard; Phish; Iggy Pop; and Anthony Robbins.
Customer Reviews:
Handle with care! Please!.......2007-05-27
I am dismayed by reading all of the praise for this book! Coming from the perspective of a voice teacher and professional vocalist, I am concerned at the number of people following blindly into the potentially damaging advice in the book. I have an old one from 1999, along with instruction CD's, and Love demonstrates his glottal action (which is the technical term for his "gluggs" that he tells you to do). I think I rated as low as I did simply to attempt to lower the overall rating and get people to pay attention to the potential danger.
It is true that glottle action helps to develop a more forward voice, and that is why songs with glotal emphasis can be valuable. However, to spend as much time doing these exercises as Lov recommends, can cause permanent damage. As the vocal folds are repeatedly slapped against one another, the abrasion will quickly cause fatigue and irritation within the vocal apparatus, particularily the delicate vocal folds. Over time, your skin will become calloused and you will not feel the abraision anymore, but that's only because of the long-term damage that has occurred.
Rather than this, I recommend The Vocal Coach by Chris & Carol Beaty (published by Star Song). They have a wide range of instructional tools, and a phenominal daily workout series for all voice types.
Great Book.......2007-05-17
This book is incredible. I had no idea I ever had the potential to improve my speaking voice. I do the exercises almost every night, and can see serious results in my singing voice. I'm now working on incorporating the singing voice into my every day speech (they are really one and the same), and feel much more optimistic about using the incredible instrument of my voice to get my message across to people in a much more efficient and pleasant way in the future.
Thank you, Roger Love.
Very informative.......2007-05-14
I am a music director at a local church resposible for teaching vocals. I can not sing, but because of the information in this book I can teach and instruct the vocalist. This book is a must if you want to teach correct breathing control and diaphramic breathing.
The bible of pop singing.......2007-05-09
Play the included CD in your car for the next 3 months and sing along. If after those exercises you don't have good voice control, you're doing something wrong because the exercises DO put you in the proper position for maximum flow and you eventually develop a continuous, steady, vocal pressure.
I had to learn sing with a jazz band a year ago , and without this book and CD I would have been lost. There are lots of people who will give you their opinion as to the proper way to sing, but few who know the mechanics behind it.
Though the book has a bit of hype related to the name-dropping, it is nonetheless an excellent text on how to sing pop music, properly.
Would have liked some guidance on how to sing properly with microphones as I found that the next problem one faces in pop music
Review of Set Your Voice Free.......2007-01-05
I found it to very helpful, although as a "Basso Profundo" I found it difficult at times "Setting my voice free" in the higher head tones.
Book Description
A time-tested classroom performer! In this text the authors place sight singing in the context of musicianship as a whole, offering readers a coordinated body of carefully graded melodies, duets, and short pieces for voice and piano while reinforcing their comprehension of tonal and post-tonal harmony. The flexible structure of this new Fourth Edition and the wealth of material it contains combine to make the book completely adaptable to the individual needs of today's developing musicians. A brand new chapter contains over 150 melodies from the standard classical and folk repertories, providing a transition from sight-singing exercises to the literature students will encounter throughout their careers in music.
Customer Reviews:
Order in advance.......2007-09-28
The item was perfect but the time it took to get here was a bit disconcerting. Be sure your not ordering this book from the UK. Delivery is a bit slow. No fault of the seller, just buyer beware to order it in plenty of time.
Not such a great approach to Sight Singing.......2006-05-23
I am a music student at the University of Miami and this has been the required text for three levels of ear training. I must say that I found this text less than helpful in teaching you how to sight read. It was full of complicated melodies--but no suggestions or hints on how to become a better sight singer. If you're looking for a book of exercises that make no sense--go for it. But if you're looking for a teaching tool--this is not the text to turn to.
A Not so New Approach to Sight Singing.......2005-09-14
The text is really quite old. I didn't see anything especially novel in it. In the end, if you want to learn something you have to exert an effort.
Too much money for an exercise book........2005-08-12
This book HAS ONLY NOTES IN IT. The instructions are just on a few pages. I think the author could have spent some hours more in writing (and this is true EXPECIALLY IF WE LOOK AT THE PRICE).
I'm at intermediate level in sight singing, and quite advanced in sight reading, I bought this book to improve my skills.
I'll try to study on this book, I won't just let it "rust" on a shelf, but I EXPECTED MORE INSTRUCTIONS. MAY BE THIS CAN BE A WONDERFUL BOOK IF YOU PRACTICE ON IT CONSTALNTLY, but in these days, where self-teaching is more important than in the past I think this book has an OBSOLETE-APPROACH.
THIS IS A BOOK FOR A SIGHT-SINGING CLASS IN SOME INSTITUTE. PERIOD.
Great book, but older editions better.......2004-12-04
I bought this book mainly because I was using an older
edition of the book I borrowed from library. Comparing
that to the available literature, I found it extremely
educational and well organized. It is a great book
that takes you slowly through different skills of
sight singing, with plenty of exercises for each one.
The exercises are sorted from easy to more complex
ones. The book is fit for people both singing in
chorus or solo. The rest of the book are exercises
that are more like music pieces (rather than
exercises) and come with piano accompaniment and one
chapter is dedicated to duos.
However to me it seems that this edition is a little
more simplified and less serious than the previous
ones. Also I think for the price you pay, you deserve
a more decent cover than plastic comb (the earlier
editions are hardcover).
Customer Reviews:
Great for finding Voice- Freedom.........2007-03-09
It's no secret singing is a personal universe of mystery that somehow remains unveiled no matter teachers, discipline, technique, etc. With all other instruments you can actually SEE what's going on in the process of learning. With the voice, everything is how "you feel" about it. You can not see your vocal chords to realize you have a good or bad habit...
The secret is then how to LEARN to recognize if what you feel is right about the way you sing or not. It shouldn't be so hard; you either -for example- feel exhausted after singing an aria or whatever, or feel you can keep on singing for the rest of the day without fatigue. That should indicate something! But the problem is to be able to reproduce great singing sensations in an everyday basis. That can certainly be a lifetime challenge. This book helps pointing out towards sensations associated with freedom and flow of a natural voice; Brown is all about this, in search of a more "primal" sound, connected to the way we speak. Not everything is as simple as that, and singing, depending on the repertoire, etc, etc, needs to a certain extent, some kind of artifice beyond the speaking natural sound of our voices. But this book will put you on the right track if you have been wondering about tensions with the way your vocal production occurs. Highly recommended for connecting singing with a more mundane experience in which emotions need to be part of your singing. Great simple exercises can reveal so much, and in that respect it is a fantastic book. Highly recommended.
The best explanation of how the voice works.......2007-01-20
Mr. Brown has written a powerfully informative book about all aspects of the voice. His book provides many interesting case studies, is very enjoyable to read, and includes factoids like "the Western and European singing style uses a low larynx." My one gripe is that the CD is not usable as a practice aid. Every exercise is demonstrated so briefly that you won't get a warm-up at all after singing along. If you don't have a piano, and you want to practice vocalizing at home with a piano recorded on a CD and exercises that methodically start on consecutive pitches, try the Jeffrey Allen book/CD set. That set includes techniques such as messa di voce, also demonstrated (more briefly) in Mr. Brown's CD.
Excellent for beginners.......2006-04-04
I have been wanting to teach myself to sing for several years, since I can't afford voice lessons, and have tried several books on the subject. This one is by far the best. I first tried books by William Vennard and Richard Miller and found that they were meant for advanced students, not beginners. There are other books for beginners, but they aren't usually meant for classical singing, more for pop (and I find that the authors don't really seem to have much of an understanding of the human voice). I don't know how he does it, but Brown manages to make normally difficult concepts easy to understand. Part of that is because of the CD that comes with it. It helps give a better understanding of what he's trying to explain. I would highly recommend this book for anyone trying to learn how to sing classically.
The plain truth about singing........2006-03-08
This book is glorious.
Never could I have imagined that the (singing) voice was so clear to understand. Brown almost performs the miracle of "a book teaching somebody to sing". This is, as we all know, not true. However, just by simply reading this book, you will start to have wonderful insights about your own voice, which this book is all about.
A Great Read.......2005-11-02
Wow, I really like this book! As a voice teacher and vocal coach of popular music, students frequently come to me with damaged voices in need of repair. Reading Mr. Brown's stories, I knew I found an author who shared my dedication to healthy singing. Orin L. Brown's warm and direct writing style conveys his true passion for healthy vocal use and his desire to share his great knowledge with both vocalists and teachers. This book is filled with descriptive stories that tell the tales of Mr. Brown's experiences with, discoveries of and solutions for ailing vocal students.
Book Description
Stop straining to hit those high notes! Unlock your true potential and start singing easily and effortlessly with this book/2-CD pack by Musicians Institute vocal instructor Dena Murray. She teaches how to: breathe naturally; improve your speaking voice; stop holding, pushing and squeezing; develop your natural three-octave range; place your chest and head voices; and bridge the registers to sound like one voice. Includes two CDs with demonstrations, guided exercises, and plenty of practice tracks.
Customer Reviews:
Great Method.......2007-08-23
Explanation of the singing process is concise and helpful. CD is very good. I saw noticable results immediately. Highly recommend.
Classical training light with five pages of technique taged on........2007-04-09
Some people will not like my review of this book. However, that doesn't change the truth of what I'm about to explain. Dena Murray's book is marketed as a "vocal technique" book for contemporary music, however the "technique" this book does focus on is more the classical training: Keep your larynx low, you're throat open, focus on placement of the Italian vowel sounds, and practice scales to improve pitch and work the registers. This is nothing new, this is the formula that has been applied to train opera singers for many generations and if you want this information then Dena's book does an ok job of putting that form of traditional training together in a nice package here. I say 'ok' because I believe there are better books out there; the techniques that helped me the most are not found here.
Considering that this book is marketed towards popular music vocalist and not traditional/classical singers, I'm giving this two stars. My problem with this book is outside of theater, I think the classical approach, while proven- has become a bit stale. Modern research by Thomas Appell and others have shown the science behind the human voice, we all do not have two registers as Dena states. This is probably what she was told years and years ago and that's why she teaches it, but if you read Appeal's book you'll discover a detailed report of the science of the human voice. Dena seems to dodge middle voice altogether, in this book she says "there is a middle voice, but you need to develop chest and head first". this is the classical training school of thought. Dena's approach is what you want for opera and theater vocals. It's also ok foundation. If your practice the scales she provides and the techniques she presents you're voice will improve. But that's not the bottom line here. There are other systems that will get you there faster, more modern techniques that teach style along with technique.
Dena's classical roots are also revealed in her classification of the registers, you simply calls the head register "falsetto", which implies ignorance. Since falsetto implies a technique (low tension which blows the chords appart to produce an light airy sound), head voice can most certainly also be full voice and not falsetto. This was one of a few red flags found in this book to me. Ms. Murray may be an excellent teacher, she is definitely a good writer, but a lot of her information is just beyond subjectively wrong.
SLS (Speech Level Singing) is a system developed by Seth Riggs, it's a different approach to vocal training than the classical system presented in this book and by classical instructors that's geared for popular music. SLS is not a gimmick as it now the leading system for popular music. Used for almost two decades now by amazing vocalist like: Michael Jackson, Keith Urban, Ozzy Osborne to name a small few. SLS focuses on building middle voice instead of giving it a back seat for months (or years) as Ms. Murray's approach would. "Middle voice" which is really just a SLS term for sweet notes found where the chest and head voice meet is crtical for popular music, you hear popular artist focus there (and seldom jump into head).
Some other problems I have with the material: C1 is presented as "middle C", I would have thought this a misprint except Ms. Murray goes on to talk about it. In case you're wondering "middle C" is commonly known as C4 on a piano. The most disturbing problem I found with Ms. Murray's material was information on vocal range, on her diagrams she shows a tenor should be able to sing from F2 an octave and a half below middle C up to G5, an octave and a half above middle C. This supports her comment that "everyone should have a three octave vocal range", which isn't true. In opera parts written for the Tenor will span from Bb below C3 up to "tenor high C" which is C5. That's just a tad over two octaves and most parts are written from C3-C5. Also almost all popular music for male tenors is between this range as well (actually most popular music stays within an octave and a half).
If you follow her advice you're likely to find yourself feeling inadequate with your range and you're "true voice" will emerge very clean with no color of style. If you want to sing opera this is perfect, if you want to be a rock or pop vocalist you may want to use this material as a foundation that's ok, just realize it's a very light foundation and if you stick with this you'll be a very generic singer. I actually think quite a bit less of the Musicians Institute series after reading this book. To her credit, it's possible Dena Murray's classroom material is distant from this book. There really is no implied connection by her own written words, but it is part of the MIT series, so my comments are not without merit.
My advice: See books by Seth Riggs, Roger Love, Thomas Appell and Jamie Vendera. These guys have current techniques that can be proven. While this book may give you a foundation suitable for move to the next level in any genre, there are better places to start for popular music vocalist.
Get it right!!!.......2007-03-12
Bonjour, I live in Switzerland and I am writing a review for the very first time.
I am doing so because I finally found a book on vocal technique that makes sense musically and is in line with the law of nature. Moreover, since any book on music has its own limits, I was lucky enough to be able to initiate with Mrs Murray, online vocal lessons that are an incredibly effective complement to the book. Everything read in the book suddenly takes place in your own voice with the Dena's powerful ear (even though she's sitting six thousand miles away!!!). I therefore highly recommend to go through the book once on your own, then, if necessary, to take one or two lessons to secure the points you're not so sure about. Enjoy!
This book is not for begginers!.......2006-12-03
For any begginer, following exercises in the book may harm your voice. I only recommend this book to the advanced singers who can access their chest voice and head voice(not falsetto) easily.
"Jaime Vendera, Author of Raise Your Voice".......2005-12-22
Dena Murray, one of the head instructors at the Musician's Institute in Hollywood California, introduces a book dedicated to the art of vocal technique. As the name suggests, this is a guide to finding your real voice. The book sticks to the basics, in order to uncover your natural voice, and give the singer a foundation to work upon.
In this 60 page book, Dena focuses on approaching vocal instruction from a standpoint of finding and eliminating "trouble' in the voice. Her expertise lies in the area of taking a voice apart to train or re-train from scratch, in order to teach the singer to strengthen their weaknesses, and free their voice, as opposed to vocal manipulation.
Vocal Technique covers such topics as the voice and how it works, correct vocal placement, vocal registers, and breathing. She states that correct breathing is accomplished when the air flows freely, not squeezed or pushed.
Vocal Technique comes with two CDs. CD one is a series of lessons with guided exercises, illustrations, and tracks for practicing along with. CD two is specifically focused on four vocal exercises, designed to isolate and strengthen the separate registers. Although Dena uses more than 25 different vocal exercises in her practice, for the sake of the book, Dena purposely chose exercises to get the voice flowing. She wanted this book to be simple and easy to understand, as well as educate the beginner, and help each singer begin the path to vocal freedom.
Although this book is excellent for beginners, any vocalist will benefit from Dena's knowledge. If you are having trouble around your break points, Vocal Technique is an excellent book for strengthening the registers and break area. I recommend this book for all vocal enthusiasts.
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Voice
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Set Your Voice Free: How To Get The Singing Or Speaking Voice You Want
Vocal Technique - A Guide to Finding Your Real Voice: Book with Two CDs (Essential Concepts)
Sing Like the Stars!
Voice Lessons To Go Volume 2: Do Re Mi Ear and Pitch Training
Raise Your Voice
