The New Voice Pedagogy

Book excerpt: The simple but vital premise behind this important book is that a healthy voice is a beautiful voice, and a clear tone and pleasant sound will arise from a healthy vocal technique. Based on the concepts of voice therapy, laryngology, and voice science, The New Voice Pedagogy presents a no-nonsense look at the ways knowledge gained through modern science can be applied to teaching voice. Marilee David, an experienced teacher and performer, first explains the physiology of the voice, then examines individual aspects of singing, such as breathing, mouth position, phrasing, tone quality, pitch, resonance, and registration, and offers instruction and exercises appropriate to each component. David also considers the effects of different lifestyle factors and situations on the voice, such as singing with a cold or illness, common medications, obesity, hormones, and aging. She describes symptoms and treatments of common voice problems, including hoarseness, laryngitis, types of dysphonias, and examples of abuse and misuse, giving an overview of voice therapy and diagnostic tools. An important chapter on ethics, unique to this book, uses case studies to examine ethical questions that arise in the voice studio. New to this second edition are expanded sections on posture and kyphosis, HIV and AIDS, and the aging voice, and a helpful glossary of terms used in voice therapy, laryngology, and voice science is included. The bibliography of over three hundred books and articles provides a supplemental reading list for those interested in learning more, and a new final chapter summarizes the pedagogical concepts explored.