Product Description

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!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #141356 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 250 pages

Customer Reviews

I can give you an honest accurate review
I had bought this book CD about 7 years ago and I just didn't have the patience to read or do the exercises.I decided to get serious with singing as I am forming a modern rock band.I have taken lessons with various teachers about 5 to be exact.The exercises on the CD is almost an exact copy of what my last and earlier teachers taught me.Every lesson she would have me do scales and exercises.

Make sure you have good posture,keep you head about level,chest slightly up.I also bought Roger Loves"Set your voice free" He can definitely sing,but I must be honest the exercises on CD are mundane at best.One thing he did do that I liked is sing each exercise with you.Ann's excercises let your voice explore more dynamics that you would actually use in real singing.Mrs Peckam's exercises most the time have a piano for you to sing along to just like a teacher does,in some of her exercises the guy sings along with you.One area where Ann fell short and thats why I didn't give 5 stars is on the exercises in the book.It says do the exercise then go down in half steps..DUH?

Why couldn't she have just made the exercises in the book like the exercises in the CD and have accompaniment?Thats poor telling the student to go down in half steps.To get the full value from the so called exercises one needs to play them a half step down each time on guitar or piano,unless your'e an accomplished singer and can hit the notes exact each time you go down a half step,but then why would you be buying this book if you where that good right?

I also bought Jeffrey Allens "Secrets of singing"It seems to be the most thorough of the three,but I can't really leave a good review as I have not read enough of that book or done any exrcises from CD.

Anns book /CD equals about 6 months of lessons at $60 an hour,so you could say its a bargain

Im an accomplished guitarist and songwriter and I have realized singing is the hardest endeavor I have taken on,not to discourage anyone.I have been singing every now and then for about 7 years,you know karaoke and such.When you decide to get serious about it you have to learn how to breathe properly to begin with,Oh yeah drink lots of water too,Get used to drinking water alot.Oh yea did i mention practicing scales and not just singing your favorite cover tunes?My 2 cents

an excellent tool for getting started
The material is very good with the book giving an overview of the singing process and the details of the body parts involved in singing, such as the larynx, the abdomen breathing etc. The best part is that the CD is independent of the book and all one needs to do is to play the CD and sing along to get started. The work-outs range from the warm-up to the advanced exercises. Overall, a 'must have' for one who inetnds to start singing.

Great technical explanation
Very usefull book in general. 5 out of 5 for the very detailed explanation of the mechanical aspects of singing.

I found the CD very useful with two comments: The warm up exercises are too long. All voices are female, I wish there was a male voice as well.

One week point is that the CD does not have some of the examples songs and none of the practise songs. Only chart for piano is provided. I also found the chapter on Enhacing Tone Quality too short.

Very good book with good information. Definitely recommend.