Customer Reviews

On the Art of Singing

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Richard Miller has compiled a number of his columns formerly published in NATS Journal of Singing. Sorting the subject matter into four broader categories, he deals with issues of training the singing voice, musical style and interpretation, preparation for the professional life, and the singing voice and vocal function. Miller has definite biases and is not afraid to voice them. His essays are usually succinct and to the point, spiced up with comments such as: "Someone should call a halt to the proliferation of so-called "master classes" presented by performing artists who normally do not teach." and "Woofy baritones, tinny tenors, strident sopranos, and bovine mezzos can in no way serve as surrogates for healthy voices that sound like baritones, tenors, sopranos, and mezzos because their instruments work efficiently." This is a great read and must for voice teachers and students of singing.

Richard Miller writes numerous essays on several subjects of FAQ regarding the preparation, performance, pedagological mysteries, and marvel of the classically trained voice. His humor adds spark and interest that keeps you reading! Two of my favorite essays are entitled "McPedagogy" and "How to Really Bomb a Masterclass." Miller creates an invigorating experience through his advice on training, musical style and interpretation, preparation for the professional life, and vocal function. What a great learning tool!

On the Art of Singing gives Richard Miller's views on a very broad range of topics related to singing from teaching to performing. This book gave me many great ideas that I will impliment in the future in my own singing and in teaching my students. He addresses many issues pertaining to controversial areas in performance and pedagogy today.

So far I have been liking this book. If you can get through the very technical first couple of sections, it is a pleasure to read. All sorts of anecdotes, helpful suggestions, and scholarly advice. It is also very well-written, although the language is often ornate, but in the style of old literature. The author knows his subject like the master he is. His descriptions are concise and elegant. I already would recommend this book to an advanced singing student, and is essential for singing teachers. I wish my teacher had read it. I find myself looking forward to each oportunity I have to read more of this work.

Whoa...This is some heavy stuff...Some of it is funny, like the part on alienating your judges, but there are so many technical words...i wouldnt suggest this book for the lighthearted reader on singing...but its a great book if you have a large vocabulary and if you have a dictionary handy...go for it.