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Reviews of Vocal Pedagogy Multimedia Platform Materials
Excellence in Singing is an outstanding, comprehensive five-volume work devoted to the practice of healthy, joyful, technically secure singing. Each volume offers valuable insights, examples and learning tools for singers, teachers, coaches, conductors, directors and anyone interested in the 'art of singing.' Expertly and clearly written, each volume provides an understanding of effective vocal teaching. Particularly outstanding is Becoming an Artist. This volume, as well as the whole series, is fine reference information for all vocal educators.
The authors of numerous singing manuals, Caldwell and Wall (voice, Texas Woman’s University) present a remarkable resource for voice teachers, bringing together and building on much of the current and historical theory of vocal technique and training. Singers, coaches, and choir directors will also find much of value if they are not daunted by the quantity of information presented. Each volume includes many vocal exercises and interesting case studies. The first two volumes will be especially useful for beginning teachers. In a field rife with jargon and elusive imagery, the authors share suggestions to improve communication with students. In addition, the sections on teaching anatomy, acoustics, and the science of sound are very detailed. Volume 1 – Beginning the Process, investigates teaching and learning at various levels. Volume 2 – Mastering the Fundamentals, covers breath management, muscle awareness, and the use of resonators. Volume 3 – Advancing the Technique, offers exercises and information of value to the advanced student. There is also an excellent section on teaching belt tone for musical theater students. Volume 4 – Becoming an Artist, addresses important areas for aspiring professionals, including learning a score, preparing texts, and communicating with an audience. Volume 5 – Managing Vocal Health, gives advice on when to send students to a physician and what to expect from a physical exam. Medical procedures for treating various vocal disorders are also discussed. Vocal study is a lifelong process as the “instrument” matures and then ages, and teachers and students work at a wide range of abilities – something this work’s multilevel approach effectively addresses. There are many more concise (and less expensive) books on vocal technique available, but nothing as comprehensive or as potentially rewarding for the serious voice teacher. Highly recommended for academic libraries and large music collections.
Excellence in Singing is neither tentative nor brief; it spans the breadth of subjects related to teaching voice, from vocal health to stage gestures... [It] is as much about teaching and learning as it is about singing... In addition to the extensive discussion about teaching and learning in the first volume, the authors model good instructional skills by presenting a plethora of pedagogical options for any specific learning goal. Exercises throughout all of the volumes are written in a step-by-step procedure in much the same way that any education student is taught to write lesson plans. The exercises are numerous, varied, and integrated into the vocal repertoire; they lead the teacher through everything from finding a relaxed onset to teaching the belting voice.
Excellence in Singing is remarkable for its sweeping scope, clear presentation, and effective combination of practical pedagogical advice and inspiring artistic vision. Teachers and performers alike will find it valuable for everything from gaining a more detailed understanding of complex technical problems, to fine-tuning the creative elements of interpretation. Concepts are seamlessly integrated with practice; basic information with sophisticated insight. This is a very usable book, nothing less than an encyclopedic examination of the vocalist's art and craft.
Excellence in Singing is one of the most comprehensive books on the voice that could be used by vocal pedagogues, by the developing artist, and by the listener who would like to understand a little more about the process and development of a singer. It's clearly written, well-explained, and the closest one may come to discussing the development of an artist without knowing each individual. The detailed illustrations are particularly useful and beautifully presented. It's a pleasure knowing that book is made available to the public.
Excellence in Singing is impressive in its scope. Ten years in the making, this five-volume instructional tome is an ambitious undertaking that takes teacher and student deep into the singer’s craft. With extended pedagogical chapters followed by corresponding exercises, the books are geared toward singers and instructors looking to expand their repertoire of teaching learning tools... The series, to its credit, includes explorations of all physical and artistic aspects of singing, rather than limiting its focus strictly to vocal technique. Volume Two: Mastering the Fundamentals gets down to the brass tacks of singing, offering useful, basic exercises... Volume Three: Advancing the Technique explores in great detail, sophisticated concepts of tone, resonance, and transitions among registers... Volume Four: Becoming an Artist... Volume Five: Managing Vocal Health discusses behaviors, substances and medical conditions that can cause vocal problems...
... a valuable resource for cultivating the vocal artists of the next generation, and for inspiring people of any age to fulfill their musical dreams... Sweeping in its synthesis of teaching approaches, scholarly in its scope, but understandable to the average reader, this five-book series is a must-read for teachers and students.
The scope of Excellence in Singing is all-encompassing, embracing every aspect of the singer’s artistic odyssey from the initial stages of preparation through the life-long commitment to maintenance of vocal health. In text and stunning graphics, both physio-acoustical and interpretative processes are thoroughly and clearly outlined... I shall look forward to including this five-volume source of vocal and artistic wisdom in my own personal library...
The Excellence in Singing series provides a sweeping view of what it means to be a singer and an effective teacher of singing in this century. The five volumes offer profound and practical insights... This remarkably comprehensive series will be of invaluable use in voice studios and pedagogy classes...
Every human culture has its own specific way of singing and of learning how to sing. But there’s something universal that Excellence in Singing is pointing out... Learning how to sing is not just about practicing scales... it’s also about feeling the meaning of the songs, controlling your body sensations...
Hitherto, the science of acoustics has seemed rather dry to me... But no more. Joan Wall’s expert narration is aptly matched to Robert Caldwell’s script and illuminating animation... I came away feeling that I had effortlessly achieved a degree of understanding that has eluded me for many years.
The Vocal Folds videotapes explain how the sounds of the singing voice originate... Lucid, beautifully spoken, perfectly timed and technically accurate.
... a very useful teaching tool. The film does an admirable and beautiful job of explaining the interactions between the voice source signal and the resonance system...
I have studied the superb films by Robert Caldwell and Joan Wall. All are truly outstanding. The Vocal Folds explains how the sounds of the singing voice originate... The laryngologist’s fiberoptic magic gives the viewer an astoundingly vivid inside look into the singing larynx... The commentary is beautifully done.
The information is accurate, brilliantly presented... The stunning MRIs... provide excellent teaching aids for use in beginning courses...
The series of five films... provides excellent teaching aids for use in courses in vocal pedagogy and in communication sciences and disorders...
I have enjoyed watching your instructional videos on the singing voice. I have used them in many lectures for singing teachers, voice researchers, and other groups... after having watched this film, their understanding of the breathing mechanism seemed much clearer. I warmly recommend these videos to people.
Breath is an excellent resource for voice pedagogy classes... The high-quality graphics should do much to eliminate many misconceptions about breathing for singing...