The Solo Singer in the Choral Setting: A Handbook for Achieving Vocal Health

by Margaret Olson, Ingo R. Titze (Foreword by)

Overview

While there are many similarities between solo and choral singing, they are not the same discipline, and it is important to realize the different approaches necessary for each. In The Solo Singer in the Choral Setting: A Handbook for Achieving Vocal Health, Olson presents the unique perspective of choral singing from a soloist's viewpoint, providing a clear outline of several issues facing the solo singer in the choral setting. She discusses concepts as diverse as body position in rehearsal and acoustic sound production, and she offers practical ideas for solving these challenges. Teaching examples and case studies help illustrate the problems and offer potential solutions for handling the challenges of the choral environment.

After a general overview of vocal technique, the chapters address the physiological, psychological, pedagogical, acoustic, and interpretive issues facing the solo singer in the choral setting. Concepts, such as phonation; resonation and timbre; approaches to diction; voice classification; choral blend; interpreting emotion; relationships among choral conductor, singer, and teacher of singing; and the use of vibrato are examined in detail. Concluding with a conversation with two choral conductors, as well as a glossary, bibliography, and index, this volume is beneficial to singers, teachers, and conductors alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810869141
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	11/04/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	220
File size:	887 KB

About the Author

Margaret Olson, an independent scholar and writer, has held teaching positions at Morgan State University, Iowa Wesleyan College, and Georgetown University and with the Washington National Opera and the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. She has been published in the Journal of Singing and Choral Journal.

Table of Contents

Foreword Ingo R. Titze vii

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction xv

Chapter 1 Overview of Voice Production 1

Structure 1

Respiration 5

Phonation 8

Resonance 9

Registration 11

Coordination 13

Vocal Health for Singers 14

Chapter 2 Physiological Issues of the Choral Ensemble 17

Physical Maturation and Age 17

Challenging Tessituras 19

Independence from Instruction in the Choral Environment 22

Singing by Sensation 25

Postural Issues 28

Chairs and Posture 31

An Interesting Perspective: The Physiologic Improbability of Choir Arrangements 33

Chapter 3 Pedagogical Issues of the Choral Ensemble 37

Phonation through Warm-Ups 38

Resonation and Individual Timbre 47

Respiration 50

Intonation 53

Modification 57

Nontraditional Students 57

The Amateur Choral Singer 59

Chapter 4 Pedagogical Issues of Vibrato 63

Adult Choral Singers and Vibrato 68

The Aging Singer and Vibrato 70

Non-vibrato Singing in the Choir 72

Chapter 5 Pedagogical Issues of Articulation 83

Articulation of Vowels and Consonants 83

Differences in the Choral and Solo Approach to Diction 91

Chapter 6 Pedagogical Issues of Classification, Blend, Rehearsal Demands, and Tone Quality: Expectations of the Choral Conductor 95

Voice Classification 95

Choral Blend 99

Demands Placed on the Singer during Choral Rehearsal 104

Tone Quality 109

Chapter 7 Psychological Issues of the Choral Ensemble 113

Student Participation 113

The Relationship between Conductor and Ensemble 115

Benefits of Choral Participation: What Conductors Should Tell Singers 119

The Solo Singer vs. Choral Singer Mind-set 121

The Relationship among Choral Conductor, Teacher of Singing, and Student 123

Chapter 8 Interpretive Issues of the Choral Ensemble 129

Interpreting Emotion through the Voice 129

Integrated Music/Drama Performance 132

The Relevance of Choral Texts 134

How to Analyze a Choral Poetic Text 134

How to Analyze a Foreign Language Choral Text 136

The Physical Self in Choral Performance 137

Chapter 9 Acoustic Issues of the Choral Ensemble 139

Feedback and Reference 142

The Lombard Effect 144

The Singers' Formant in the Choral Ensemble 146

Chapter 10 Group Vocalises for the Choral Rehearsal 149

Onset 149

Glides or Slides 150

Increasing Resonance 151

Agility 154

Vowel Differentiation 156

Sostenuto 158

Unifying Registers 160

Range Extension 161

Dynamic Control 163

Conclusion 167

Appendix: Conversations with Two Choral Conductors 171

Glossary 179

Bibliography 187

Index 193

About the Author 197

Editorial Reviews

The Solo Singer in the Choral Setting covers a wide range of issues, and it is characterized by a reasonable tone, both in the author's attitude toward choral singing, and the nature of the counsel offered to singers who must perform as both soloists and choristers…. With this volume, Olson has made a valuable contribution to the dialogue.

Journal of Singing

The Solo Singer in the Choral Setting: A Handbook of Practical Ideas for Achieving Vocal Health, by Margret Olson, is chock full of probative insights and singular advice for the voice teacher and choral conductor. Specifically, the message is the care and feeding of the solo singer in the voice studio and the choral rehearsal, taking into account myriad potential emotional, intellectual, and egocentric mine fields that must be skillfully navigated. It is refreshing to read a book about singing replete with new ideas. Each chapter will be of particular interest to the voice teacher, conductor, and nascent voice student. Olson, obviously a teacher, leads the reader through theoretical to practical solutions about singing, presenting a benign litany of issues /solutions/teaching examples format, concluding many chapters with appropriate and useful vocalizes.

Dr. Carroll Gonzo

The Solo Singer in the Choral Setting: A Handbook of Practical Ideas for Achieving Vocal Health, by Margret Olson, is chock full of probative insights and singular advice for the voice teacher and choral conductor. Specifically, the message is the care and feeding of the solo singer in the voice studio and the choral rehearsal, taking into account myriad potential emotional, intellectual, and egocentric mine fields that must be skillfully navigated. It is refreshing to read a book about singing replete with new ideas. Each chapter will be of particular interest to the voice teacher, conductor, and nascent voice student. Olson, obviously a teacher, leads the reader through theoretical to practical solutions about singing, presenting a benign litany of issues /solutions/teaching examples format, concluding many chapters with appropriate and useful vocalizes.--Dr. Carroll Gonzo, Editor, Choral Journal

The Solo Singer in the Choral Setting covers a wide range of issues, and it is characterized by a reasonable tone, both in the author's attitude toward choral singing, and the nature of the counsel offered to singers who must perform as both soloists and choristers.... With this volume, Olson has made a valuable contribution to the dialogue.--Journal of Singing

From the Publisher

The Solo Singer in the Choral Setting covers a wide range of issues, and it is characterized by a reasonable tone, both in the author's attitude toward choral singing, and the nature of the counsel offered to singers who must perform as both soloists and choristers…. With this volume, Olson has made a valuable contribution to the dialogue.

Journal Of Singing