Cross-Training in the Voice Studio: A Balancing Act - Softcover

Norman Spivey; Mary Saunders-Barton

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1635500370 ISBN 13: 9781635500370

Publisher: Plural Publishing, 2018

Synopsis

Cross-Training in the Voice Studio: A Balancing Act is an innovative resource for teachers and students of singing in today s evolving professional landscape. Saunders-Barton and Spivey offer an inside view of their applied studios and the results of the cross-training process.

As vocal performance demands continue to change, singers must adapt in order to stay competitive in the job market. The authors address this challenge and provide a practical technical approach to developing the most flexible and resilient singing voices the essence of their philosophy of bel canto can belto, embracing classical and vernacular styles.

Key Features:

• In-depth chapter on resonance/registration for voice building
• Cross-training in the academic vs. the private studio
• Cross-training with repertoire
• Coverage of multi-disciplinary training: how acting, speech, movement, and dance support studio effort
• PluralPlus Companion Website with student recordings to enhance concepts within the text

Cross Training in the Voice Studio: A Balancing Act is a must-read for anyone in the singing profession seeking insight on cross-training.

About this title

About the Author

Norman Spivey, DMA, MM, BM is professor of voice and voice pedagogy at Penn State, and also maintains a large private studio. With Penn State musical theatre voice colleagues, he co-teaches the workshop Bel Canto/Can Belto: Learning to teach and sing for musical theatre. He is a recipient of the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching, and is a member of the distinguished American Academy of Teachers of Singing. Currently serving as immediate past president of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, his affiliation with NATS has included offices at the chapter, district, regional, and national level, participation in the Intern Program (as intern, local coordinator, master teacher, and director), the Van L. Lawrence Fellowship (in partnership with The Voice Foundation), and contributions to the Journal of Singing.

Mary Saunders-Barton, MA, BA is a Penn State Professor Emeritus, currently residing in New York where she maintains a professional voice studio. While at Penn State, she created an MFA in Musical Theatre Voice Pedagogy with colleague Norman Spivey to meet the growing demand for voice teachers who specialize in vernacular singing techniques. In recent seasons her students have been seen on Broadway in Book of Mormon, Newsies, The King and I, Beautiful, Chicago, Kinky Boots, Mamma Mia, School of Rock, Wicked, Sunset Boulevard, Bandstand, A Bronx Tale, and Miss Saigon among others, and in many tours and regional productions. Mary is frequently invited to present her workshop Bel Canto/Can Belto in the U.S and abroad. She has produced two DVD tutorials Teaching Women to Sing Musical Theatre and What about the Boys? Mary is a 2018 recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Contemporary Commercial Music Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University. She is a member of the American Academy of Teachers of Singing.

Review

"Cross-Training in the Voice Studio: A Balancing Act, takes the bold stance that singers can learn to create a range of sounds that work for both classical and musical theatre performance.

Pedagogically speaking, their ideas simply make sense. In the same way that dancers know the importance of using muscles evenly to prevent repetitive strain, singers may consider a similar approach to the interaction of the laryngeal muscles. The book, therefore, focuses on 'the intersection of stylistic training' and 'the actual balancing act of cross-training' to strengthen the mixed voice that the authors call the 'Holy Grail' of vocal technique.

They reference a cultural shift in recent years that has been encouraging the union of classical and musical theatre 'in a way that enriches both, while maintaining the valuable distinctions between them.' They further state that it is becoming increasingly difficult for classical voice teachers to insulate themselves from the coexistence of both styles. Certainly, there is much technical insight to be gained from the book, as should be expected from distinguished pedagogues with the successful track records Spivey and Saunders Barton have. But the tone of inclusion and open-heartedness with which they both approach their work is arguably the book s most important message. Both authors speak lovingly about their past teachers and influences, their colleagues, and their students as ideas are shared without the slightest hint of ego attached. Although the techniques presented constitute a major contribution to the field, it is the authors spirit of collaboration and open-mindedness and their deep desire to learn from others that provides an inspirational model for modern voice instruction." --Brian Manternach, in Classical Singer (Jan/Feb 2019)

Edition details

• Publisher: Plural Publishing
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 1635500370
• ISBN 13: 9781635500370
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 151