A Systematic Approach to Voice
The Art of Studio Application
Published on 1. June 2020
Book
Paperback/Softback
200 pages
978-1-63550-223-7 (ISBN)
Description
A Systematic Approach to Voice: The Art of Studio Application is a professional resource presenting a framework for the integration of science-informed principles of voice production and pedagogical application in the training of singers. Author Dr. Kari Ragan has spent years using this organizational template of the five voice systems - respiration, phonation, registration, articulation and resonance - to identify technical challenges and design corrective vocal exercises to enable efficient singing.
Each of the voice system chapters contains a brief overview of the mechanics as well as key points for teachers, or "teacher takeaways." The book's core offering is vocal exercises which, framed within a systematic approach, provide strategies for the art of studio application. The intent is that this approach leads to technically proficient singing with the ultimate goal of serving great artistry.
Key Features:
Over 85 vocal exercises for studio application framed within a systematic approach
Brief overview of the mechanics of each voice system
Introduction of several kinesthetic singing tools
Extensive discussion on semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises
Sample warm-up protocols
Each of the voice system chapters contains a brief overview of the mechanics as well as key points for teachers, or "teacher takeaways." The book's core offering is vocal exercises which, framed within a systematic approach, provide strategies for the art of studio application. The intent is that this approach leads to technically proficient singing with the ultimate goal of serving great artistry.
Key Features:
Over 85 vocal exercises for studio application framed within a systematic approach
Brief overview of the mechanics of each voice system
Introduction of several kinesthetic singing tools
Extensive discussion on semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises
Sample warm-up protocols
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
San Diego
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Adult education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 230 mm
Width: 150 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
379 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-63550-223-7 (9781635502237)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Kari Ragan, DMA, MM, BM is both an academic and private voice studio teacher. At the University of Washington, Dr. Ragan teaches voice and voice pedagogy, and works in affiliation with the Laryngology program as a singing voice specialist (SVS) to rehabilitate injured singers. She has maintained a thriving independent studio teaching both classical and Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) genres to professional and avocational singers for over thirty-five years. She regularly appears as a workshop and master class clinician, and has presented multiple lectures at prestigious voice conferences.
Content
Preface
Acknowledgements
Dedication
Chapter 1. A Systematic Approach
The Heuristic Nature of a Systematic Approach
Kinesthetic Singing Tools
Considerations for Alterations of Vocal Exercises
Summary
References
Selected Resources
Chapter 2. The Twenty-First Century Voice Teacher
The Benefits of Cross-training the Voice Athlete
Voice Habilitation
Vocal Warm-ups Versus Vocal Function Exercises
Motor Learning Theory and the Singer
Summary
References
Chapter 3. A Systematic Approach to Respiration
Overview of Respiration
Inhalation
Exhalation
Teacher Takeaways of Respiration
Application of Respiration
Body Awareness Exercises
Exercise 3-1 Large Ball~Stretching and Lengthening
Exercise 3-2 Large Ball~Posture and Alignment
Coordination Exercises
Exercise 3-3 Sustaining Unvoiced Consonants
Exercise 3-4 Rhythmic Patterns on Unvoiced Consonant /s/, /f/, / /, / /
Exercise 3-5 Alternating Unvoiced/Voiced Consonant Pairs
Exercise 3-6 Flow-ball by POWERbreathe
Exercise 3-7 Flow-ball Voiceless Staccato
Exercise 3-8 Flow-ball Voiceless Messa di Voce
Exercise 3-9 Flow-ball Voiced "Flownation"
Breath Depletion Exercises
Exercise 3-10 Breath Depletion Prior to Inhalation
Exercise 3-11 Breath Depletion Conditioning
Adding Resonance with /m/
Exercise 3-12 / um/ Patterns
Rib Cage Expansion
Exercise 3-13 Exercise Band
Respiratory Release
Exercise 3-14 Pelvic Floor Release
Exercise 3-15 Xiphoid Process Area Release
Core Engagement
Exercise 3-16 Encouraging Core Engagement Through Exercise Balls
Exercise 3-17 Large Ball Squat
Exercise 3-18 Exercise Band Core Engagement
Summary
References
Selected Resources
Chapter 4. A Systematic Approach to Phonation
Overview of Phonation
Teacher Takeaways of Phonation
Overview of Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract (SOVT) Postures
Diameter of Straw or Tube
Length of Straw or Tube
Material of Straw or Tube
Straw or Tube in Water (Water Bubbles)
The Use of an Anesthesia Mask to Facilitate an SOVT Posture
Teacher Takeaways for SOVT Postures
Application of Phonation
Straw Phonation/Pitch Glides
Exercise 4-1 Straw Phonation Pitch Glides~Small Intervals
Exercise 4-2 Straw Phonation Pitch Glides~Full Range
Exercise 4-3 Straw Phonation Pitch Glides~ Varying Intervals
Exercise 4-4 Straw Phonation Scales
Exercise 4-5 Straw Phonation Pitch Glides to Vowels
Water Bubbles
Exercise 4-6 Water Bubble Pitch Glides
Exercise 4-7 Water Bubble Repertoire
Lip Trills
Exercise 4-8 Arpeggio Lip Trills
Exercise 4-9 Chromatic Lip Trills
Vocal Onsets and Offsets
Exercise 4-10 Mastering Staccato
Exercise 4-11 Water Bubble Staccato
Exercise 4-12 Staccato to Legato
Vocal Fry
Exercise 4-13 Vocal Fry~Sustaining
Exercise 4-14 Vocal Fry to Chest Registration
Exercise 4-15 Vocal Fry to Head Registration
Summary
References
Selected Resources
Chapter 5. A Systematic Approach to Registration
Overview of Registration
Teacher Takeaways of Registration
Application of Registration
Female Head Registration Isolation
Exercise 5-1 Soft /u/~Secondo Passaggio
Exercise 5-2 Sustained Head Registration Isolation
Exercise 5-3 Head Register Isolation Crescendo
Exercise 5-4 Advanced Head Register Isolation
Exercise 5-5 Advanced Head Registration~Bel Canto Inspired
Male Head Registration Isolation
Exercise 5-6 Soft /u/ for Balanced Registration
Exercise 5-7 Head Registration Isolation Through Variation of Dynamics and Vowels
Exercise 5-8 Building a Bridge Across RegistersMale Registration Coordination
Exercise 5-9 Using Head Registration to Develop High Notes in Chest Registration
Exercise 5-10 Messa di Voce Through the Secondo Passaggio
Female Chest Registration Isolation
Exercise 5-11 Chest Registration Isolation
Exercise 5-12 Using Head Registration to Facilitate Efficient Chest Registration
Exercise 5-13 Building a Bridge to Belting
Mixed Registration for a Broad Spectrum of Sound
Exercise 5-14 "Meow" ~ CCM Mixed Registration
Exercise 5-15 "My" ~ CCM Mixed Registration
Exercise 5-16 Arpeggio~Mixed Registration
Exercise 5-17 Ode to Joan Lader
Exercise 5-18 Alternating Registration
Exercise 5-19 Mastering Messa di Voce
Summary
References
Selected Resources
Chapter 6. A Systematic Approach to Articulation
Overview of Articulation
The Jaw
The Tongue
The Soft Palate
The Pharynx
Teacher Takeaways of Articulation
Application of Articulation
Jaw Stretches
Exercise 6-1 Preparing the Jaw
Jaw Voiced Exercises
Exercise 6-2 Wine Cork Between Front Teeth
Exercise 6-3 Wine Cork Between Molars
Exercise 6-4 Masseter Muscle Release
Tongue Stretches
Exercise 6-5 Tongue Out Stretch
Exercise 6-6 Tongue Curl Stretch
Exercise 6-7 Underside of Tongue Stretch
Exercise 6-8 Circular Tongue Stretch
Tongue Voice Exercises
Exercise 6-9 Dental Consonants
Exercise 6-10 Palatal Consonants
Exercise 6-11 Developing Jaw and Tongue Independence
Exercise 6-12 Voiced Raspberry and Tongue Trills
Exercise 6-13 Base of Tongue Disengagement
Exercise 6-14 Candy on the Tongue
Exercise 6-15 Gauze on the Tongue
Exercise 6-16 Ode to Barbara Doscher
Exercise 6-17 Dental/Palatal Consonant Combinations
Soft Palate Stretches
Exercise 6-18 Isolating the Soft Palate Activation
Exercise 6-19 Soft Palate Exploration with Voicing
Exercise 6-20 Using Nasality to Explore the Contrast of Soft Palate Elevation
Exercise 6-21 Thumb in Mouth Against the Soft Palate
Summary
References
Selected Resources
Chapter 7. A Systematic Approach to Resonance
Overview of Resonance
High Frequency Spectral Content: Vocal Ring
Classical Singer's Lofted Resonance Strategy
CCM Singer's Brassy (Twang) Resonance Strategy
Western Classical Vs. CCM
Teacher Takeaways
Application of Resonance
Exercise 7-1 Chant Speech~Humming
Exercise 7-2 Pitch Glides~Humming
Exercise 7-3 Using /hm/ to Facilitate Resonance
Exercise 7-4 Ode to Ellen Faull
Exercise 7-5 Alternating /hm/ with a Vowel Series
Exercise 7-6 Bending Forward
Exercise 7-7 Lying Over A Ball
Exercise 7-8 Chopstick Between the Teeth
Exercise 7-9 Retroflex / /
Exercise 7-10 Y-Buzz
Exercise 7-11 Facilitating Brassy Resonance~Twang
Chapter 8. Sample Vocal Warm-up Routines
Classical Female (Middle/High School, Undergraduate, Avocational Singer)
Classical Female (Undergraduate/Graduate, Emerging Professional, Professional Singer)
Classical Male (Middle/High School, Undergraduate, Avocational Singer)
Classical Male (Undergraduate/Graduate, Emerging Professional, Professional Singer)
Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Female (Beginner/Intermediate)
Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Female (Intermediate/Advanced)
Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Male (Beginner/Intermediate)
Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Male (Intermediate/Advanced)
Index
Acknowledgements
Dedication
Chapter 1. A Systematic Approach
The Heuristic Nature of a Systematic Approach
Kinesthetic Singing Tools
Considerations for Alterations of Vocal Exercises
Summary
References
Selected Resources
Chapter 2. The Twenty-First Century Voice Teacher
The Benefits of Cross-training the Voice Athlete
Voice Habilitation
Vocal Warm-ups Versus Vocal Function Exercises
Motor Learning Theory and the Singer
Summary
References
Chapter 3. A Systematic Approach to Respiration
Overview of Respiration
Inhalation
Exhalation
Teacher Takeaways of Respiration
Application of Respiration
Body Awareness Exercises
Exercise 3-1 Large Ball~Stretching and Lengthening
Exercise 3-2 Large Ball~Posture and Alignment
Coordination Exercises
Exercise 3-3 Sustaining Unvoiced Consonants
Exercise 3-4 Rhythmic Patterns on Unvoiced Consonant /s/, /f/, / /, / /
Exercise 3-5 Alternating Unvoiced/Voiced Consonant Pairs
Exercise 3-6 Flow-ball by POWERbreathe
Exercise 3-7 Flow-ball Voiceless Staccato
Exercise 3-8 Flow-ball Voiceless Messa di Voce
Exercise 3-9 Flow-ball Voiced "Flownation"
Breath Depletion Exercises
Exercise 3-10 Breath Depletion Prior to Inhalation
Exercise 3-11 Breath Depletion Conditioning
Adding Resonance with /m/
Exercise 3-12 / um/ Patterns
Rib Cage Expansion
Exercise 3-13 Exercise Band
Respiratory Release
Exercise 3-14 Pelvic Floor Release
Exercise 3-15 Xiphoid Process Area Release
Core Engagement
Exercise 3-16 Encouraging Core Engagement Through Exercise Balls
Exercise 3-17 Large Ball Squat
Exercise 3-18 Exercise Band Core Engagement
Summary
References
Selected Resources
Chapter 4. A Systematic Approach to Phonation
Overview of Phonation
Teacher Takeaways of Phonation
Overview of Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract (SOVT) Postures
Diameter of Straw or Tube
Length of Straw or Tube
Material of Straw or Tube
Straw or Tube in Water (Water Bubbles)
The Use of an Anesthesia Mask to Facilitate an SOVT Posture
Teacher Takeaways for SOVT Postures
Application of Phonation
Straw Phonation/Pitch Glides
Exercise 4-1 Straw Phonation Pitch Glides~Small Intervals
Exercise 4-2 Straw Phonation Pitch Glides~Full Range
Exercise 4-3 Straw Phonation Pitch Glides~ Varying Intervals
Exercise 4-4 Straw Phonation Scales
Exercise 4-5 Straw Phonation Pitch Glides to Vowels
Water Bubbles
Exercise 4-6 Water Bubble Pitch Glides
Exercise 4-7 Water Bubble Repertoire
Lip Trills
Exercise 4-8 Arpeggio Lip Trills
Exercise 4-9 Chromatic Lip Trills
Vocal Onsets and Offsets
Exercise 4-10 Mastering Staccato
Exercise 4-11 Water Bubble Staccato
Exercise 4-12 Staccato to Legato
Vocal Fry
Exercise 4-13 Vocal Fry~Sustaining
Exercise 4-14 Vocal Fry to Chest Registration
Exercise 4-15 Vocal Fry to Head Registration
Summary
References
Selected Resources
Chapter 5. A Systematic Approach to Registration
Overview of Registration
Teacher Takeaways of Registration
Application of Registration
Female Head Registration Isolation
Exercise 5-1 Soft /u/~Secondo Passaggio
Exercise 5-2 Sustained Head Registration Isolation
Exercise 5-3 Head Register Isolation Crescendo
Exercise 5-4 Advanced Head Register Isolation
Exercise 5-5 Advanced Head Registration~Bel Canto Inspired
Male Head Registration Isolation
Exercise 5-6 Soft /u/ for Balanced Registration
Exercise 5-7 Head Registration Isolation Through Variation of Dynamics and Vowels
Exercise 5-8 Building a Bridge Across RegistersMale Registration Coordination
Exercise 5-9 Using Head Registration to Develop High Notes in Chest Registration
Exercise 5-10 Messa di Voce Through the Secondo Passaggio
Female Chest Registration Isolation
Exercise 5-11 Chest Registration Isolation
Exercise 5-12 Using Head Registration to Facilitate Efficient Chest Registration
Exercise 5-13 Building a Bridge to Belting
Mixed Registration for a Broad Spectrum of Sound
Exercise 5-14 "Meow" ~ CCM Mixed Registration
Exercise 5-15 "My" ~ CCM Mixed Registration
Exercise 5-16 Arpeggio~Mixed Registration
Exercise 5-17 Ode to Joan Lader
Exercise 5-18 Alternating Registration
Exercise 5-19 Mastering Messa di Voce
Summary
References
Selected Resources
Chapter 6. A Systematic Approach to Articulation
Overview of Articulation
The Jaw
The Tongue
The Soft Palate
The Pharynx
Teacher Takeaways of Articulation
Application of Articulation
Jaw Stretches
Exercise 6-1 Preparing the Jaw
Jaw Voiced Exercises
Exercise 6-2 Wine Cork Between Front Teeth
Exercise 6-3 Wine Cork Between Molars
Exercise 6-4 Masseter Muscle Release
Tongue Stretches
Exercise 6-5 Tongue Out Stretch
Exercise 6-6 Tongue Curl Stretch
Exercise 6-7 Underside of Tongue Stretch
Exercise 6-8 Circular Tongue Stretch
Tongue Voice Exercises
Exercise 6-9 Dental Consonants
Exercise 6-10 Palatal Consonants
Exercise 6-11 Developing Jaw and Tongue Independence
Exercise 6-12 Voiced Raspberry and Tongue Trills
Exercise 6-13 Base of Tongue Disengagement
Exercise 6-14 Candy on the Tongue
Exercise 6-15 Gauze on the Tongue
Exercise 6-16 Ode to Barbara Doscher
Exercise 6-17 Dental/Palatal Consonant Combinations
Soft Palate Stretches
Exercise 6-18 Isolating the Soft Palate Activation
Exercise 6-19 Soft Palate Exploration with Voicing
Exercise 6-20 Using Nasality to Explore the Contrast of Soft Palate Elevation
Exercise 6-21 Thumb in Mouth Against the Soft Palate
Summary
References
Selected Resources
Chapter 7. A Systematic Approach to Resonance
Overview of Resonance
High Frequency Spectral Content: Vocal Ring
Classical Singer's Lofted Resonance Strategy
CCM Singer's Brassy (Twang) Resonance Strategy
Western Classical Vs. CCM
Teacher Takeaways
Application of Resonance
Exercise 7-1 Chant Speech~Humming
Exercise 7-2 Pitch Glides~Humming
Exercise 7-3 Using /hm/ to Facilitate Resonance
Exercise 7-4 Ode to Ellen Faull
Exercise 7-5 Alternating /hm/ with a Vowel Series
Exercise 7-6 Bending Forward
Exercise 7-7 Lying Over A Ball
Exercise 7-8 Chopstick Between the Teeth
Exercise 7-9 Retroflex / /
Exercise 7-10 Y-Buzz
Exercise 7-11 Facilitating Brassy Resonance~Twang
Chapter 8. Sample Vocal Warm-up Routines
Classical Female (Middle/High School, Undergraduate, Avocational Singer)
Classical Female (Undergraduate/Graduate, Emerging Professional, Professional Singer)
Classical Male (Middle/High School, Undergraduate, Avocational Singer)
Classical Male (Undergraduate/Graduate, Emerging Professional, Professional Singer)
Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Female (Beginner/Intermediate)
Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Female (Intermediate/Advanced)
Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Male (Beginner/Intermediate)
Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Male (Intermediate/Advanced)
Index