The Free Voice: A Guide to Natural Singing

by Cornelius L. Reid, George Shirley (Contributor)

Great vocal teachers from the 16th century through the early 19th century discovered through trial and error how to properly develop the singing voice, and the term bel canto came to be applied to both the manner of singing and the vocal music of that period. But by 1858, according to Rossini, the term was already being misused and wrongly confused with fioriture. Well-schooled in the teaching of singing, Rossini more accurately describes bel canto as being composed the building of the instrument; technique, or the means of using the instrument; and style, of which the ingredients are taste and feeling.In this 50th anniversary edition of The Free Voice, renowned vocal pedagogue Cornelius L. Reid articulates the teaching principles of his own school of functional vocal training, grounded firmly in the old principles while remaining in line with a modern understanding of the physical value of the vocal instrument. The muscles that move the vocal folds and the vocal folds themselves are involuntary, and as such, the singing voice is not an instrument that can be manipulated directly. Reid's approach to singing is one of indirect control, stemming from an understanding of the vocal registers and how specific patterns of pitch, intensity, and vowel affect the vocal folds. Through the vocal exercises outlined in this book, and catered to each individual, a poorly coordinated musculature can be brought to efficiency. Only when the musculature of the vocal mechanism is well-balanced and coordinated can the voice be free, and the natural beauty and resonance of the individual voice come through without force.

Genres: Nonfiction

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2018

Reviews

[DivaDiane SM · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my 3rd reading of this book and I’ve been slowly and mindfully working my way through this book for the 3rd time now over the past year (well, actually I GR has July 2020 as the date I started rereading it, but I only read about 15% of it then through 2023, but never mind).

It’s been really rewarding and exciting. Finally, I feel like I have enough experience (ear training) to really understand it and recognize the concepts presented here by my own singing and that of my students. I am so grateful to Cornelius for having brought these ideas to the world of singing and through the singers that worked with him. Every voice/singing teacher should read this book carefully and learn to apply the concepts to their own teaching. This is difficult but rewarding work and requires time, patience and perseverance. Same as it does to learn to sing skillfully, musically and emotionally.

[Jakub · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who is a singer this book is a must read. I may not have read too much on the voice yet, but I am only half way through this book and it has already answered the majority of my questions about my voice.

The one thing that I would critique about this book thus far, is that it spends a long time talking about how there is no such thing as a "head" voice, and deconstucting many terms used by vocal instructors, only to continue using them thorughout the rest of the book...

This book is not only excellent for the vocal student, but also for any pedagog of voice. At the same time I am reading this, I am taking voice lessons with Bradley Franklin, a master student here at Redlands, and he is teaching almost exactly how the book explains it should be done, and the improvments I am hearing in myslef surpass anything I have achieved by other methods.

This is definetelly a book that I will be refering back to offten, and my copy is filled with notes.

One section that I found particularly helpful is the chart of where the human voice changes registers as seen on a staff. Given my own experience and this explanation, I am gaining a much better understanding of my own break and am learing to appreciate it for what it is.

This book, along with Brad, also confims that I want to be able to sing in any style. Although opera is not my goal, I now do want to have the ability to sing operatically. While before I was worried that learing vibrato and singing operatically would inhibit my ability so sing in other styles, I understand that this is not true, if one does it correctly. Jainie is a great example of such a singer here at Redlands.

[Anirudh Venkatesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The One book that a singer needs.

This book cuts the process of singing down to it's most basic practical principles - the bare essentials. Frighteningly simple for some :D
For quickest results, apply them with the help of someone with a discerning ear and familiarity with the basic principles outlined in this book.
The Free Voice can lead you to your full creative potential as a singer by teaching you how to access to your functionally free voice.

[Daniel Wolpin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The concepts in this book are groundbreaking. All singing teachers would be worth the time and effort of their students if they would follow the guidance found here. As a singer, I found the ideas and methods presented to be a revelation for my practice and performance. The discourse relates in a fairly easy to follow manner, and inspires with each chapter. I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this book to all singers and singing teachers.

[Allison King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simultaneously more interesting and more boring than anticipated. It has some great moments - "Breathing isn't something we do, it's something we are." - and very redundant and slow parts. Overall- worth the read but don't expect a page turner.