The Contemporary Singer : Elements of Vocal Technique

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Summary: Effective and clear!
Review: "The Contemporary Singer' fills an enormous need for singers and teachers alike with text that is clear,detailed, and beautifully presented and can be applied equally to the contemporary pop and classical student. The exercises are graded and appropriately pitched for all singers and illustrations are easy to understand. Students and teachers should both find this new book a valuable addition to their libraries of information describing and clarifying this sometimes difficult field of study.

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Summary: This Book is Alright
Review: ...This book tells you everything you already know and uslessly embelished it. Gives you an annoying cd thats not fun or attractive to practice to...

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Summary: A comprehensive handbook on vocal technique.
Review: A comprehensive handbook for anyone interested in improving their vocal technique. The companion CD is a great addition to this well written book.

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Summary: Will this book(+CD) teach you how to optimize your voice?
Review: Absolutely. I feel very lucky to have read it and in a very short time, through being mindfull of these suggestions(...well, Rules!...) and practicing along with the CD I feel a renewed confidence and sense of well-being in my vocal ability. While recording, I instantly noticed a profound improvement. Short + sweet.Valuable.

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Summary: Much-needed text
Review: Anne Peckham's text on vocal technique fills a much needed gap in the literature on vocal technique and vocal function....it is accessible and readable by the vocal student. It is clear, concise and, above all, practical for the learning singer, both classical and contemporary. The exercises on the accompanying CD are both traditional and contemporary in style...a great benefit, especially for those teachers who are wondering how to present some of the pop techniques to their students. In addition to the technical aspects of singing, Ms. Peckham also gives practical suggestions for the performing contemporary singer. For a text that your students can use without wading through a lot of technical and confusing jargon...this is it.

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Summary: "Must Have" Handbook for Vocal Students
Review: Everything your vocal instructor taught you (or you wish they had taught you) in an easy to use, comprehensive handbook. It describes thoroughly the techniques of vocalizing, including such important issues as health, practice methods, diction, intonation and the importance of maintaining your instrument. I found it very helpful, and very clearly written in easy to understand language. Well done.

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Summary: A Berklee College of Music Resource
Review: I am a classical singer and have been an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music for 12 years and I have been extremely impressed with this book. Even though the book is called "The Contemporary Singer", it is a valuable resource for any singer. It covers specific technical areas in a clear, direct manner but also includes wonderful guidelines for topics like practicing, vocal health and performance skills. In the CD that accompanies the book, a variety of warm-up exercises are covered which are very thorough and progresses naturally. I would recommend this book to the beginning student as well as someone who just needs to reinforce their vocal technique.

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Summary: Excellent For All Singers!
Review: I bought this book because my voice teacher only teaches classical and I want to branch out into other styles as well. I am very impressed with this book. It covers so many areas that I never thought of. From breath control to proper mic usage to performance anxiety. A portion of the book is dedicated to explaining how the voice works and how it should be taken care of. There are also several breathing and warm-up exercises in the book that go from beginner to advanced. What I like best about the book is that it is easy to understand, the writer gives examples of things described and there is a cd to teach you the exercises talked about. I would recommend this book to anyone who considers themselves a professional singer or just a beginner.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent For All Singers!
Review: I bought this book because my voice teacher only teaches classical and I want to branch out into other styles as well. I am very impressed with this book. It covers so many areas that I never thought of. From breath control to proper mic usage to performance anxiety. A portion of the book is dedicated to explaining how the voice works and how it should be taken care of. There are also several breathing and warm-up exercises in the book that go from beginner to advanced. What I like best about the book is that it is easy to understand, the writer gives examples of things described and there is a cd to teach you the exercises talked about. I would recommend this book to anyone who considers themselves a professional singer or just a beginner.

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Summary: Good sound vocal teaching
Review: I've had some experience with vocal training and performance, but I am not in any way shape or form a performer. This was an excellent book to reintroduce one to the techniques of good vocal performance. The chapters are well written and packed with sound advice. However, if you are not well acquainted with vocal theory or have performed before, you may find the reading as too much information. I would encourage you to read slowly and carefully and enjoy learning about your "voice." Good vocal performers do not happen over night.
The CD that accompanies the book is excellent. However, you will have to stop it after each track if you want to practice it again. The excercises are only performed once and then its on to the next track. Thank goodness it's on CD, not cassette!