Complete Vocal Fitness

Complete Vocal Fitness is a primer on sport-specific training for vocalists and a guide to how the vocal instrument functions. Elite athletes apply cutting-edge research in movement and physiology to customize fitness regimens that ensure peak performance for singers.

What choral conductor or soloist has not looked around for new ideas for warming up the voice? Here are 200 suggestions all at once! And these creative exercises do more than just warm up the voice: they help to relax the body, train the ear and develop an awareness of dynamics and rhythm. "Klaus Heizmann's collection is a wonderful new resource of ideas and techniques: practical, varied, challenging, relaxing and stimulating. I am always looking for new ideas, as I like to use a different set of warm-ups at every rehearsal with my choirs, and I tend to choose specific exercises to suit the repertoire for the day. This collection gives us 200 excellent "tools-of-the-trade"; they are clearly labeled, intelligently set out, well-designed and extremely useful." (Simon Carrington, Director of Choral Activities, New England Conservatory since 2001; Director of Choral Activities, The University of Kansas 1994-2001; Founder and co-director of the King's Singers 1968-1993)

A Systematic Approach to Voice: The Art of Studio Application is a professional resource presenting a framework for the integration of science-informed principles of voice production and pedagogical application in the training of singers. Author Dr. Kari Ragan has spent years using this organizational template of the five voice systems—respiration, phonation, registration, articulation, and resonance—to identify technical challenges and design corrective vocal exercises in order to facilitate efficient singing. Each of the voice system chapters contains a brief overview of the mechanics as well as key points for teachers, or “teacher takeaways.” The book’s core offering is vocal exercises which, framed within a systematic approach, provide strategies for the art of studio application. The intent is an approach that leads to technically proficient singing working in service of great artistry. Key Features: * Over 85 vocal exercises for studio application framed within a systematic approach for both a CCM and classical aesthetic * Brief overview of the mechanics of each voice system and relevant “teacher takeaways” * Extensive discussion on semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises * Introduction of several kinesthetic singing tools * Eight sample warm-up protocols designed for various levels of singers and both CCM and classical genres * Video demonstrations for each vocal exercise and sample warm-up

If you are a singer, you are an athlete. And the athletic skills that make you a great vocalist come from one source: your brain.The Singing Athlete is the first book of its kind: a view on voice training through the lens of both the physical body and the nervous system. As one of the top teachers of professional Broadway performers, Andrew Byrne has developed a unique synthesis of athletics and neuroscience that will guide you to higher levels of performance. In addition to his work on Broadway, Andrew is devoted to studying the training methods used by Olympic athletes as a Master Practitioner of Z-Health functional applied neuroscience. He has taken thousands of hours of research and boiled it down into an easily digestible form that will help you unlock amazing new vocal skills. When you buy The Singing Athlete, you're not just picking up a book. You're getting a complete training system. With your purchase, you get lifetime access to The Singing Athlete Video Guide, a companion website that includes over 150 training videos. You'll learn the correct form for every drill, explore awesome bonus content, and download PDFs to track your progress. Through the fully illustrated book and the accompanying videos, you will learn to: Breathe correctly for stress reduction and optimal vocal support Exercise your tongue, jaw, and throat in ways that lower threat in your brain Use your ears and eyes to improve vocal range and stamina Heal any scars that might be holding you back Eliminate reflux, tinnitus, sinus problems, and other vocal stumbling blocks Move better, feel better, and sing better FAQs How is The Singing Athlete different from other vocal training systems? When you study voice, your instructor is always practicing neurology--either accidentally or on purpose. A lot of voice systems can tell you about the anatomy of the voice, but The Singing Athlete provides a crucial missing piece--how to train your brain. Once you understand how your nervous system is in charge of your singing, the way you practice will shift forever, and everything your teacher says will make more sense. I'm an instructor of a certain style of vocal training. Can I integrate The Singing Athlete into what I already do? That is one of the greatest strengths of this system; this material can fit in seamlessly with almost any style of training. The Singing Athlete is designed to complement what you already do, providing a new framework to expand and focus your thinking. Lisa Rochelle (NYC Singing Voice Specialist) says it this way: "The Singing Athlete negates no other system, no other technique, and no other pedagogy. It can be used to meet a singer where they are." How will I know if this training is working? The process in The Singing Athlete (known as "Assess and Reassess") will you show you precisely what kind of exercise your voice appreciates. With The Singing Athlete, there is no guesswork and you will be sure you are doing the right drills. I'm not a Broadway singer--I sing other styles (pop/country/R&B/classical, etc.) Can I get good results from this book? The Singing Athlete is independent of vocal style. You can apply these exercises to any vocal style, from heavy metal to grand opera. Whether you want to sing "Quando m'en vo" or "Call Me Maybe", Andrew has got you covered. How does The Singing Athlete Video Guide work? Learning movement is a visual process. To get the most out of the exercises, Andrew has shot a video of each drill. This will allow you to make sure you've got the form right, as well as learn details about how to use and tweak the drills. Once you've purchased the book, you can get lifetime access to the Video Guide at thesingingathlete.com. (Plus, there are some cool songs there, too.)

Improving your singing takes time and effort so it's good to have a plan! Are you looking to kick off your vocal training, dust off your vocal cords, or just seeking some fresh ideas to help you improve your voice and vocal fitness? This book teaches you a solid vocal technique to strengthen and build your voice with simple concepts and terminology through well-constructed vocal exercises. Based on the professional teaching methods developed by Jane Edgren at the Vocal Fitness Training(TM) studio, this book teaches skills in breathing, articulation, tone, and resonance in the low, middle and medium high range, with an emphasis on vocal fitness. There are 20 self-guided singing lessons, and 12-months of free online access to over 140 vocal exercise audio tracks and 30 instructional videos, using the special code provided within the book. Additionally, each lesson has corresponding Practice Plans so you don't have to figure out what to practice on your own. Each Practice Plan has a daily interactive playlist you can use with your smart phone, tablet or computer through the VocalFitnessStudio.com website. FAQs What is Vocal Fitness? Most people would never participate in an athletic activity without taking some lessons to learn the basic skills to become successful. Singing is no different. The parts of the body primarily responsible for generating vocal sound are muscles capable of responding positively to physical training, and your voice will improve when they are strong, flexible, and working properly. Well-trained muscles for singing easily produce clear tones throughout the range, improve the overall stamina of the voice, and bring the entire instrument into balance. Do I need to be able to read music to learn this material? No, it is not necessary to be able to read music, although music for each vocal exercise is included in the book. Can you learn to sing on your own? This book focuses on developing new muscle memory through vocal exercise primarily in the medium and low ranges to create a solid vocal technique, and the exercises are pretty straightforward, and easy to learn and execute. Does this program apply to all styles of singing? Almost every singer can benefit from some kind of vocal training that improves their vocal tone and breathing. This course seeks to improve your vocal fitness so that you can have a better foundation on which to sing your own style. Once you create a strong, reliable vocal sound, you can add your style of music to it. How is the course any different than watching videos on the Internet? Many singers turn to the Internet to learn more about how to improve their singing, and there are many videos offering quick answers to vocal challenges. But what is often missing is a long-term, progressive program to teach vocal technique methodically. Training a singing voice takes time, and there are no shortcuts to a great technique. How long does it take to see improvement? When a singer commits to practicing this vocal technique correctly, with thoughtfulness, discipline and patience, the time they invest will pay them back many times over. The process of singing (and speaking) is an ingrained habit, so consistent and deliberate practicing of the vocal exercises is required to allow the muscles to learn new form and position. You can expect measurable improvement as long as you take this approach and practice consistently. The length of time it takes to improve a singing voice also depends on an individual's vocal goals. A singer training for an operatic or musical theater career will spend far more time perfecting their technique and building their voice than one who sings in a less vocally demanding style. Training a singing voice takes time, and there are no shortcuts to a great technique.

In The Naked Voice, W. Stephen Smith invites all singers to improve their vocal technique through his renowned and time-tested wholistic method. Focusing not only on the most important technical, but also on the often overlooked psychological and spiritual elements of learning to sing, his book allows readers to develop their own full and individual identities as singers. With philosophies and techniques drawn from a lifetime of teaching voice, Smith demonstrates how one can reveal the true unique sound of one's own voice by singing with the whole self. The master's method, presented in concrete and comprehensible terms with helpful illustrations, is enhanced by a CD containing exercises performed by singers from Smith's own studio-singers whose talent and training bring them across the country and around the world. The clear and easy style of The Naked Voice welcomes the reader into Smith's teaching studio, and into conversation with Smith himself as he presents the six simple and elegant exercises that form the core of his method. These exercises provide a foundation for free singing, and lead singers through the step-by-step process of mastering the technique. Throughout, Smith speaks sympathetically and encouragingly to the singer in search of an unencumbered and effective approach to the art. The Naked Voice is a must-read for all singers, giving teachers and students, amateurs and professionals, access to the methods and concepts that have earned Smith his reputation as one of the most highly-sought-after vocal instructors in the international arena today.

Vocal Technique: A Guide for Conductors, Teachers, and Singers is the first book to connect the disciplines of vocal pedagogy, vocal science, and choral technique. It fills a need for accurate, well-researched, and easy-to-read information on how to teach and learn singing in both solo and choral contexts. This concise yet comprehensive guidebook offers numerous, practical voice-building and problem-solving suggestions and exercises, as well as clear photographs and elegant illustrations. The authors thoroughly address important topics such as breathing, onset, resonance, vowel modification, vibrato, register transitions, range extension, intonation, changing voices (both adolescent and aging), and vocal health. They integrate the perspectives of renowned artists, choral professionals, vocal pedagogues, and the latest in vocal science. This is a must-have for conductors, voice teachers, and music educators, and will benefit solo and choral singers of all ages and abilities.