A New Handbook for Singers and Teachers

The practices of singing and teaching singing are inextricable, joined to each other through the necessity of understanding the vocal art and craft. Just as singers must understand the physical functions of voice in order to become musically proficient and artistically mature, teachers too need to have a similar mastery of these ideas - and the ability to explain them to their students - in order to effectively guide their musical and artistic growth. With this singer-instructor relationship in mind, Richard and Ann Alderson's A New Handbook for Singers and Teachers presents a fresh, detailed guide about how to sing and how to teach singing. It systematically explores all aspects of the vocal technique - respiration, phonation, resonance, and articulation - with each chapter containing exercises aimed at applying and teaching these principles. Beyond basic vocal anatomy and singing fundamentals, the handbook also covers such understudied topics as the young voice, the changing voice, and the aging voice, along with helpful chapters for teachers about how to organize vocal lessons and training plans. Thoughtfully and comprehensively crafted by two authors with decades of singing and teaching experience between them, A New Handbook for Singers and Teachers will prove an invaluable resource for singers and teachers at all stages of their vocal and pedagogical careers.

Dr. Richard Alderson, professor emeritus of voice and opera, served thirty years in the School of Music of Northwestern University. Dr. Alderson has also been an active professional opera director, conductor, and singer. He is also a well-known authority on vocal techniques and styles. He received his Doctor of Music degree in Voice and Opera from Northwestern University. Dr. Ann Alderson has been a professional singer and voice teacher for over thirty years. Dr. Alderson holds a Doctor of Music in Voice and Opera from Northwestern University. As well as being an active professional singer and conductor, she has been a frequent adjudicator for vocal and choral competitions at all levels, including the Metropolitan Opera Auditions and Society of American Musicians.