The Anatomy of Tone

Book excerpt: This important volume brings together the latest knowledge of voice science, voice pedagogy, conducting, and accompanying into a single volume. It is a valuable resource for choral conductors, no matter the age ore experience of their ensembles. The Anatomy of Tone explores essential aspects of anatomy, physiology, and acoustics, and describes their impact on choral teaching and rehearsal. In addition, this book reviews groundbreaking scientific information on spacing of singers and its effect upon intonation and vocal health. This volume contains pedagogical information pertaining to: Breathing - Resonance - Formants in the choral rehearsal - Structuring the choral warm-up - The use of breath as a foundation of expressive choral singing - The use of legato as a primary tool in the choral rehearsal - Choral spacing for balanced resonance - Teaching of specific vowels and their internal architectures - Use of harmonically based warm-ups - Piano accompanying to support good vocalism and building listening skills. - Publisher's description