Functional Unity of the Singing Voice

This expanded edition includes a new introduction by John Nix as well as a new appendix offering case studies and practical insights from teachers about how Barbara Doscher has impacted their voice instruction.

An understanding of how the singing voice functions should be a prerequisite for all those who wish to teach singing. And fundamental to any safe and efficient teaching method is the recognition that the singing voice is a functional unit. Consequently, this second edition, like the first, describes the anatomy and physiology of breathing and phonation and examines the acoustical laws necessary for an understanding of resonation. It is designed primarily as a textbook for college vocal pedagogy courses.


The book includes detailed illustrations and an expansion of the appendix on vocal misuse and abuse, including data on subglottic air pressure/air flow ratios, the phonatory mode known as belting, and the aging voice, especially as it is affected by hormonal changes in the body. It also feature an extensive bibliography.

Barbara M. Doscher (1922–1996) was professor of music, University of Colorado Boulder, where she was department chairperson and taught studio voice and vocal pedagogy. Her books include TheFunctional Unity of the Singing Voice and From Studio to Stage: Repertoire for the Voice.
John Nix is associate professor of voice and vocal pedagogy at the University of Texas at San Antonio, coordinator of the vocal area for the 2011–2014 academic years, and founding director of the UTSA Vocal Arts Laboratory.