The Contemporary Singer: Elements of Vocal Technique

by Anne Peckham

This comprehensive guide based on the curriculum of the Voice Department at Berklee College of Music is a must-have for every vocalist Covers all the essentials, including: an overview of the singing process, treating voice as an instrument, tips for getting started and overcoming stage fright, proper posture and breathing, tone, discovering resonance, belting, diction, maintaining vocal health, mic techniques, and exercises for all voice ranges and types on the accompanying CD. Includes lead sheets for such standard vocal repertoire pieces as: Yesterday * I'm Beginning to See the Light * and I Heard it Through the Grapevine.
Maximize your vocal potential with this outstanding guide

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, How To

176 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

Reviews

[Robinson Crusoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guide was essentially like having a vocal coach at home, in varying degrees. The book explores the biological mechanics of vocal technique, helping the aspiring singer grow increasingly aware of their body, presence, and also the psychological effects on the body, impacting overall performance. The supplementary CD offers vocal warmups for all ranges, as well as additional exercises, for increasing one's range, and overall improvement of performance. A multidimensional, indispensible tool for singers at every level of experience.

[John Burns · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've now read 4 singing books and this was probably the least useful of them all. Like most singing books it is written in a fairly economical and dry manner which introduces you to the fundamental elements of singing technique.
I think the problem with this book is that it is really intended as a kind of workbook for assisting teachers and students on vocal courses, not as a "teach yourself to sing" type of guide. There simply isn't enough information in this very sparsely written book for it to be of any use whatsoever to the amateur singer who is not using it in conjunction with vocal tuition.
Will it help you to develop certain aspects of your technique with its list of useful exercises? Yeah probably. Will it take a mediocre amateur singer and single-handedly turn them into a good singer? No. I think not.
In fact the best aspect of this book is the exercises. The basic information about singing is so clipped and unhelpful that if you were thinking of getting this then you'd presumably be better off just buying the follow-up book Vocal Workouts for the Contemporary Singer. Buy that one instead of this. Or if you are an amateur singer who isn't receiving tuition, don't buy either but try Roger Love's Set Your Voice Free, which has been my favourite singing book so far.

[Goth Radio Hour · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for vocal students and teachers alike. A lot of practical information from learning about the anatomy of your vocal cords to warmups and other how-to sections for both beginner and advanced vocalists.

[Neil · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is some good information in this primer on singing and vocal performance, and some worthwhile exercises on the accompanying CD. That said, the exercises and the text are not very well integrated. Several full songs are used in the text of the book, but there is no sign of them on the CD. The same goes with graphics that demonstrate various vocal ranges. So unless you can accompany yourself or are using this book as part of professional voice lessons, you can skip those sections (and really, if you're paying the money for professional voice lessons, is this book that necessary?) I think I just talked myself out of another star. There's a potential good product here, but it isn't integrated very well, so it loses usefulness.

[The · Rating 3 out of 5]

some decent, practical tips and exercises.