Practical Vocal Acoustics

Scientific knowledge of vocal acoustics has grown exponentially in the last eighty years. With sophisticated yet inexpensive sound analysis technology, more voice teachers are curious about the value of vocal acoustics for the studio and see the need to understand it for more efficient, science-informed pedagogy. Kenneth Bozeman distills the most important vocal acoustic principles and insights for contemporary teachers and singers. With concise and easy-to-understand language, the book takes these complex concepts and imparts practical tips and strategies that anyone can use in their teaching and singing. Unlike many other singing texts, this book focuses on the voice as an acoustic phenomenon. Bozeman addresses a myriad of topics including: Bozeman addresses a myriad of topics including: Theories of vocal resonance The pedagogic implications of tube acoustics Formants and their interaction with harmonics Vocal registration Passaggio training The acoustics of belting Acoustic technology useful for the studio Also included are vocal exercises implementing these concepts.

Voice teachers have been addressing vocal acoustics in some manner for as long as there has been voice instruction. Given the history of excellence in singing, singers, and teachers, the historic empirical approach clearly has had success. However, our scientific knowledge about and understanding of vocal acoustics has grown exponentially in the last sixty to eighty years, and will certainly continue to be refined by the growing number of ongoing collaborations between voice scientists and voice teachers interested in voice science. With sophisticated yet inexpensive sound analysis technology now widely available, more voice teachers are curious about its potential value for the studio, and are seeing the need to understand and be well-informed about the acoustics of vocal registration-at the very least, as a means to more efficient pedagogy, but also as an essential element of voice pedagogy courses.This book represents an attempt to distill from the science of vocal acoustics those factors that are essential for teachers at the beginning of the twenty-first century to understand, that are most likely to be productive for improving our pedagogic efficiency, and to present them in language that is generally accessible. It also aspires to contribute to more productive, mutually respectful and beneficial conversation between the pedagogic and scientific communities.

Kinesthetic Voice Pedagogy is unique in its field and the only book to provide directives physical and cognitive functions and the acoustic with which they interact. The new second edition is greatly expanded with 6 additional chapters that explore voice registration and technique from a perspective based on the body, but assisted by an outstanding understanding of voice acoustics -- how the body functions as an acoustic, wind instrument.

Singing and Teaching Singing: A Holistic Approach to Classical Voice, Fourth Edition continues to be a beloved resource for singers and their teachers, speech-language pathologists, and laryngologists and an adopted text for instructors and students in voice, singing, and performing arts courses. Janice L. Chapman is able to draw on her experiences as a singer with some of the world's leading opera companies to present a teaching technique specifically focusing on voice in the areas of classical and opera singing. Interspersed with the concepts and components of Chapman's methods are vignettes from her life and career, animated by her conversational and vibrant style to guide (and entertain) the reader through the book in a step-by-step fashion. Now expand to include joint authorships with Dr. Ron Morris, the fourth edition draws on his experience as a speech and language therapist, audiologist, and singer, and widens the scope of the book to view current studio teaching practices through a scientific lens. The philosophy of teaching presented combines three main facets: Holistic, Physiological, and Incremental. The Holistic segment emphasizes that the act of singing involves the whole person (i.e., body, mind, spirit, emotion, and voice); the Physiological segment stresses anatomy, muscular function, and effects of muscular interactions so that students and teachers alike can understand and visualize the functional workings of the torso, larynx, and the vocal tract and their impact on good singing practices; and the Incremental section shows that the act of singing and the teaching of singing can be broken down into manageable components that have a natural hierarchy that eventually interact and interlock. This teaching model provides a framework to master one element at a time, with the resulting effect of a complete and integrated mastery of technique. Chapman recommends this framework for rehabilitative work with the dysfunctional singer, for working with the developing singer, and for the ongoing development and maintenance of the technically able professional singer. This highly-readable text includes contributions from renowned voice professionals, case studies, evidence-based and practical examples, exercises, and videos. New to the Fourth Edition: * New editor and co-author, Ron Morris, BSpThy (Hons); MMusStud (Voice), MSPAA, MASA (CC), PhD * The addition of completely new chapters on Laryngeal Registration, Vocal Acoustics and Acoustic Registration * Clarifications and exercises by Dr. Ron Morris on the use of the Accent Method breathing as a highly effective remedial and training technique * Expanded and updated information on Breathing and Support, Vocal Acoustics, Registers (Laryngeal and Acoustic), Teaching and Learning, Hearing and Singing, and Manual Therapy * Exercises have been significantly expanded and now are contained in a chapter of their own, which includes some information on lesson structure and practice * Significant updates reflect the current state of research and the latest advances in voice science and pedagogy have been referenced throughout * A new glossary has been added for ease of reading and clarification of pedagogical terms used in the text

The Vocal Athlete, Third Edition is written and designed to bridge the gap between the art of contemporary commercial music (CCM) singing and the science behind voice production in this ever-growing popular vocal style. Revised and expanded, this edition is a “must have” for vocal pedagogy courses and speech-language pathologists, singing voice specialists, and voice teachers. Heavily referenced, this text is ripe with current research on singing science as it relates to the CCM voice. Anyone who trains singers will gain insight into the current research and trends regarding commercial music artists. The text distinguishes itself from other academic pedagogy texts by incorporating comprehensive chapters on the physiology of belting, current peer reviewed literature in vocal training for CCM styles, and application in the voice studio. Included is the current information on our understanding of gender affirmation treatments and potential implications for singers. New to the Third Edition: * New comprehensive chapter titled Overview of Black American Music: History, Pedagogy & Practice by Trineice Robinson-Martin and Alison Crockett * Extended and revised sections in several chapters, including: The Singer’s Body Motor Learning Exercise Physiology Laryngeal Physiology Acoustics Phonotrauma Belting Research * Reference grid depicting where specific content areas for both the proposed NATS vocal pedagogy curriculum and the PAVA-RV can be found within the text * Updated references throughout the text

The Routledge Companion to Interdisciplinary Studies in Singing, Volume II: Education examines the many methods and motivations for vocal pedagogy, promoting singing not just as an art form arising from the musical instrument found within every individual but also as a means of communication with social, psychological, and didactic functions. Presenting research from myriad fields of study beyond music—including psychology, education, sociology, computer science, linguistics, physiology, and neuroscience—the contributors address singing in three parts: Learning to Sing Naturally Formal Teaching of Singing Using Singing to Teach In 2009, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada funded a seven-year major collaborative research initiative known as Advancing Interdisciplinary Research in Singing (AIRS). Together, global researchers from a broad range of disciplines addressed three challenging questions: How does singing develop in every human being? How should singing be taught and used to teach? How does singing impact wellbeing? Across three volumes, The Routledge Companion to Interdisciplinary Studies in Singing consolidates the findings of each of these three questions, defining the current state of theory and research in the field. Volume II: Education focuses on the second question and offers an invaluable resource for anyone who identifies as a singer, wishes to become a singer, works with singers, or is interested in the application of singing for the purposes of education.

Complete Vocal Fitness: A Singer’s Guide to Physical Training, Anatomy, and Biomechanics is a primer on sport-specific training for vocal athletes. Elite athletes apply cutting-edge research in movement and physiology to customize fitness regimens that ensure peak performance. The principles of sports science that enable them to fine-tune strength, flexibility and dynamic stabilization to meet the requirements of a given sport are invaluable for preparing the body to meet the physical demands of singing. This book will teach you to: Optimize alignment by identifying and resolving postural distortions Balance strength and flexibility throughout your torso to facilitate full breathing and promote coordinated breath management Improve oxygen consumption to enhance your stamina and ability to sustain long phrases Stabilize your spine and major joints in order to continue performing with solid technique while meeting the demands of stage movement Musicians of all kinds benefit from understanding the basics of how their instruments work. This book is also a guide to how the vocal instrument functions. You will find accessible descriptions of the fundamental components of vocal anatomy – laryngeal function, articulation and resonance – explaining their movements, their interaction with one another, their integration with the anatomy of breathing and alignment, and relating them to common non-anatomical terminology often used in the voice studio.