Idiot's Guides: Singing, Second Edition [Audio]

Idiot’s Guides: Singing, Second Edition exemplifies artful teaching and clearly illuminates the perils, pitfalls, joys, and extreme exuberance that singing can offer. The authors state that there is no substitution for a gifted voice teacher, and they are right. What has been needed, though, is a clear guidebook, a reference to the many concepts inherent in the careful study of singing. This book offers that and more. Especially important is the emphasis on musicianship and the development of music reading skills. One of the great tragedies in music education in the last number of years has been the disintegration of a systematic teaching of basic skills, something that all students should and can learn. It is hoped that the strong emphasis on musicianship, not just singing, found in this book will inspire and provide substance for music students to extend their training to include music theory, ear training, and historical matters. What has always struck me about singing is the fact that it is so personal, and that there is not one degree of separation between the singer and the instrument. Learning to sing places one in a vulnerable position, and this book helps the burgeoning singer to honestly understand what is involved. There are no shortcuts offered here, just clear, artful teaching. This is an approachable, easy-to-use guide to improving one's singing voice. It takes a similar approach used in other Idiot's Guide music books to guide the reader step-by-step through the process of becoming a real singer. Readers will learn how to find their ideal singing range, how best to practice, how to improve basic technique, how to stand and breathe properly, how to sing in different musical styles, and how to move beyond singing in the shower to singing in public. Both solo and ensemble singing are covered, as is the concept of sight singing.The book is filled with numerous illustrations and musical examples, as well as fun and productive singing exercises. Unlike more traditional vocal instruction books, Idiot's Guide: Singing takes a'fast-track'approach to the topic, so that budding vocalists start singing right from the very start. The book even shows readers how to sing in different musical styles (pop, rock, country, classical, etc.) and how to perform live-including proper microphone technique.This second edition of Idiot's Guide: Singing is accompanied by a variety of audio exercises and examples, which will be available online. These online examples and exercises replace the CD-based audio tracks available with the first edition, and will help to make the exercises more immediately accessible and lower the cost of the new edition. pt. 1. Finding your voice. Your first singing lesson ; Employing vocal imagery ; Finding your range ; Developing your technique with vocal exercises pt. 2. Learning to sing properly. Let's get physical ; Straight and tall : why posture makes a difference ; Waiting to exhale : learning breath control ; Finding your focus : vocal placement and the even voice pt. 3. Sight singing and vocal theory. Basic vocal theory ; Do, a deer : using solfeggio techniques ; Practicing your sight singing pt. 4. Taking it further. Learning proper diction ; Employing proper phrasing and dynamics ; Establishing a practice routine ; Learning a new song ; Choral singing pt. 5. Singing in style. Classical and musical theater ; Pop, rock, and country ; Jazz ; Gospel and R&B pt. 6. The next steps. Taking care of your voice ; Finding a teacher ; Singing on stage and in the studio ; Belting it out in vocal competitions ; Following your dreams Appendix A. Vocal music glossary Appendix B. Pronunciation reference Appendix C. Troubleshooting vocal problems Appendix D. Audio track listings. Offers A Guide To Singing, Providing Information And Exercises On Such Topics As Vocal Imagery, Vocal Classification, Vocal Theory, Sight Singing, And Phrasing And Dynamics. A guide to singing that includes information and exercises on such topics as vocal imagery, vocal classification, vocal theory, sight singing, and phrasing and dynamics.