| Introduction | ix |
Chapter 1 | Getting Started | 1 |
| The Transition from Singer to Professional Voice Teacher | 1 |
| The Mission Statement | 2 |
| New Teaching Location | 3 |
Chapter 2 | Finding My Space and Who Am I, Anyway? | 4 |
| The Teaching Space | 4 |
| The Next Step: Teaching in Your Home | 5 |
| Letter of Introduction | 6 |
Chapter 3 | What Do I Need in My Studio? | 7 |
| Equipment | 7 |
| Reference Books | 9 |
| Other Concerns | 10 |
| Business Area | 10 |
| Personal Touches | 11 |
Chapter 4 | Just a Few Things Before We Start ... | 13 |
| The Policy Statement | 13 |
| Musical Expectations | 14 |
| Benefits of Vocal Study | 14 |
| Visitors and Make-Up Lessons | 15 |
| Music Purchases | 16 |
| Payments and Other Topics | 16 |
Chapter 5 | Getting Organized | 17 |
| Lesson Cards | 17 |
| Revenue Records | 19 |
| Schedules and Telephone Lists | 20 |
| Repertoire Cards | 20 |
| Repertoire Lists | 20 |
| Clothing Chart | 21 |
| Other Lists | 21 |
Chapter 6 | New Students | 22 |
| The Initial Contact | 22 |
| The Audition | 23 |
| Decision Time | 24 |
| After Acceptance | 24 |
Chapter 7 | Let's Start at the Very Beginning | 26 |
| Starting the First Lesson | 26 |
| And Now We Sing | 27 |
| Important Discoveries | 28 |
Chapter 8 | Practice, Practice, Practice | 29 |
| How Often Should I Practice? | 29 |
| Warm-Up Exercises | 30 |
| Learning a Song | 30 |
| Other Thoughts on Practice | 32 |
Chapter 9 | Musical and Vocal Fitness | 33 |
| Music Reading Techniques | 33 |
| Exercise Books and Vocalises | 34 |
| The Importance of Vocalises | 35 |
Chapter 10 | The Songs We Sing | 37 |
| Choosing Repertoire for Beginners | 37 |
| Repertoire Readiness | 38 |
| Appropriateness of Repertoire | 38 |
| Beginning Song Literature | 39 |
| Sacred Songs | 40 |
| The Teacher's Continuing Search | 40 |
Chapter 11 | What's an Octavo? | 41 |
| The Octavo Format | 41 |
| Sacred Solos and Octavos | 42 |
| Obtaining Octavos | 43 |
Chapter 12 | Anthologhes for Adolescent and Novice Singers | 44 |
| Middle School and Junior High School Students | 44 |
| Older Publications | 44 |
| Recent Publications | 45 |
| Freshman and Sophomore High School Students | 46 |
| High School Juniors and Seniors | 46 |
| Christmas Anthologies | 48 |
| Sacred Anthologies | 48 |
| Thoughts About Contest Solos | 49 |
| Songs for Novice Adult Singers | 49 |
| The Quest Goes On | 50 |
Chapter 13 | Going Public | 51 |
| Scheduling Student Recitals | 51 |
| Where to Perform? | 52 |
| Publicity and Programs | 52 |
| Choosing Recital Songs | 53 |
| Recital Preparation | 53 |
| The Big Day Arrives | 54 |
| Lasting Benefits of Recitals | 55 |
Chapter 14 | Vocal Techniques: A Few Tricks of My Trade | 56 |
| Learning Technique | 56 |
| Breathing | 57 |
| Resonance | 58 |
| Diction | 60 |
| Artistry | 61 |
| Belting | 62 |
| Conclusions | 62 |
Chapter 15 | Express Yourself: Teaching Styles and Procedures | 63 |
| Song Teachers vs. Voice Teachers | 64 |
| The Delicate Balance | 65 |
| Fairness and Honesty | 65 |
| The Incompatible Teacher/Student Agenda | 66 |
| Choosing to Teach | 67 |
| The Independent Student | 67 |
| 22 (Plus) Questions About Voice Teaching | 68 |
| Personal Thoughts and Observations | 70 |
| More on Individual Teaching Style | 72 |
Chapter 16 | Should I Major in Music? | 74 |
| Tracking Level of Interest in a College-Bound High School Student | 74 |
| Narrowing the Choices | 75 |
| College Visits and Auditions | 76 |
| Preparing for Transition to College | 76 |
| Mary Melody's Vocal Repertoire | 78 |
Chapter 17 | Will You Recommend Me? | 79 |
| Student Background | 79 |
| Introductory Paragraph | 80 |
| Voice and Musicianship | 80 |
| Musical Honors and Special Accomplishments | 82 |
| Related Information | 82 |
| Some General Guidelines | 83 |
Chapter 18 | How Did I Do? Winning and Losing in Vocal Competitions and Auditions | 85 |
| A Perspective on Competitions | 85 |
| Auditions for Musicals | 87 |
| Selective Competitions and Auditions | 87 |
| Dealing with Judging Results | 88 |
| Learning to Lose Gracefully | 88 |
Chapter 19 | When Your Student is Your Age or Older | 90 |
| Short-Term Adult Customers | 91 |
| Long-Term Adult Students | 93 |
Chapter 20 | I Don't Teach Children ... but Some of My Friends Do | 98 |
| Children As Solo Singers | 98 |
| The Voice of Experience | 99 |
| Robert Edwin | 99 |
| Marcia McCarry | 100 |
| Novie Greene | 100 |
| Further Thoughts on Teaching Voice to Children | 101 |
Chapter 21 | Business 101 | 102 |
| Raising Lesson Fees | 102 |
| Summer Lessons | 104 |
| Other Income Producers | 105 |
| Insurance | 105 |
| Retirement | 106 |
Chapter 22 | The Inevitable Uncle Sam | 108 |
| U.S. Federal Income Taxes | 108 |
| Schedule C | 109 |
| Form 8829 | 111 |
| Schedule SE | 112 |
| A Tax Hint for All | 112 |
Chapter 23 | Nuts About Nats | 113 |
| Workshops | 114 |
| Conventions | 116 |
| NATS Chapters | 117 |
| Other Professional Organizations and Community Involvement | 118 |
Chapter 24 | Thou Shalt Not Photocopy! And Other Ethical Issues | 120 |
| Illegal Photocopying Practices | 120 |
| The Value of Building a Music Collection | 122 |
| Out of Print Does Not Mean Out of Copyright | 123 |
| Cost and Value | 123 |
| Ignorance of the Law Is No Excuse | 124 |
| Code of Ethics | 124 |
| Other Ethical Concerns | 125 |
Chapter 25 | Pick-Me-Ups and Parting Thoughts | 127 |
| That Is Why We Teach Music | 129 |
| A Successful Teacher Needs... | 129 |
| Appendices | |
Appendix I | Solfeggio Syllable Sheets | 133 |
| Introduction to Music Reading | |
| Set 1 | 137 |
| Set 2 | 139 |
| Set 3 | 141 |
| Set 4 | 143 |
| Set 5 | 145 |
| Accompaniments for Set 1 | 147 |
| Accompaniments for Set 2 | 151 |
| Accompaniments for Set 3 | 154 |
| Accompaniments for Set 4 | 157 |
| Accompaniments for Set 5 | 160 |
Appendix II | The Warm-Up Exercises | 163 |
Appendix III | Copying Under Copyright, A Practical Guide | 165 |
Appendix IV | Form of Inquiry on Out of Print Copyrighted Material | 171 |
Appendix V | NATS Code of Ethics | 173 |