Customer Reviews

The Contemporary Singer: Elements of Vocal Technique (Berklee Guide)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a classical singer and have been an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music for 12 years and I have been extremely impressed with this book. Even though the book is called "The Contemporary Singer", it is a valuable resource for any singer. It covers specific technical areas in a clear, direct manner but also includes wonderful guidelines for topics like practicing, vocal health and performance skills. In the CD that accompanies the book, a variety of warm-up exercises are covered which are very thorough and progresses naturally. I would recommend this book to the beginning student as well as someone who just needs to reinforce their vocal technique.

I bought this book because my voice teacher only teaches classical and I want to branch out into other styles as well. I am very impressed with this book. It covers so many areas that I never thought of. From breath control to proper mic usage to performance anxiety. A portion of the book is dedicated to explaining how the voice works and how it should be taken care of. There are also several breathing and warm-up exercises in the book that go from beginner to advanced. What I like best about the book is that it is easy to understand, the writer gives examples of things described and there is a cd to teach you the exercises talked about. I would recommend this book to anyone who considers themselves a professional singer or just a beginner.

The Contemporary Singer is a must-read for all singers - beginning and advanced. It clearly and precisely details all aspects of vocal technique - physical mechanics of the vocal instrument and a complete explanation of all that is required to master the skills (practicing, vocal health, performing & auditioning). Ms. Peckham has also added in some very helpful information that applies to a singer of contemporary music - from belting to proper microphone usage. The accompanying cd of beginner and advanced warm-ups (for low and high voice) is extremely useful and helpful. As a professional singer with nearly 20 years experience, I found this book to be the perfect brushup. In addition, I learned some very helpful information that will undoubtedly improve my singing. How I wish this book had existed when I was first learning to sing! The detail and clarity surely would've made it an easier and certainly less frustrating experience.

I know this review is long, but I hope you will find it worth every word.

This is a great book for both beginning and intermediate vocalists. I read all the reviews, and to be honest, I am dumbfounded by the bad ones - but that is just me.

This book is exactly what it says - a book of "elements" of vocal technique for the contemporary singer. It is not "Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults" by McKinney nor any other very detailed instruction book for the advanced singer or instructor.

As a vocal instructor, this was a breath of fresh air and filled a huge need - the need for a book that introduced both the physical and mental aspects of singing at a level that the average beginning to intermediate student could comprehend. It does that and does it well! It introduces and explains fairly complex topics in a very easy to follow, easy to understand, and easy to apply way. I have used this in my studio for the last year and a half (since I came across it) with tremendous results. Understand, it is not for every student, but it hits the mark for most, especially in a private studio setting. If you or your students are studying at the college level, it is probably not for you unless you are just starting out.

The CD is GREAT, but I do understand why some don't like it. If you can come to understand that track 2 through 6 are where the money is at, you will love it as well. I respectfully disagree with the reviewers who complained about it lacking real lower and upper range workouts or that it doesn't have any sense of order to it. I found it to be just the opposite. This is the first vocal workout CD I have found that anyone can put in and it will take you through a very solid and well laid out workout. The warm ups are logical and progressive and work with the natural physiology of the vocal mechanism to give a well rounded and reasonably complete workout.

Warm ups start with track two which is a general workout for all voices, and it does what it is designed to do very, very well. The following workouts are beginning and advanced workouts for high and low voices respectively. Do they take you to the extremes of the professional voice? In most cases no. But then again, they're not supposed to. This book is intended to hit a broader market. As a first tenor that usually vocalizes up to a high Eb, these don't take me all the way to my top note. HOWEVER, by the time I finish the general, beginning for high, and advanced for high voices, I assure you I am well warmed up.

I know everyone has their own opinion, but for me, the CD alone is worth the price of admission. In fact, I have commented that I wish I could buy just the CD - I'd put one in every vehicle I own. I have seen it literally transform one of my students voices in one week. I'll admit that was an anomaly, but it happened. And I have noticed a big difference in every student that has used it on a regular basis, without exception.

As for the rest of the tracks after track 6, I completely concur with those that say that find them useless without a piano near by. You basically get one example of the exercise and then you're on your own.

REVIEWER BIO: Everyone giving a review of this book brings some background to the table. Some of them I am sure are phenomenal. Mine is this: studied voice from some of the best in the business over the last 30 years, B.A. in vocal performance and nearly finished with my Masters with a vocal and conducting emphasis, studio vocalist for 16 years, choral and vocal clinician, and vocal instructor in private practice as well as occasionally in a university setting (when I have time) for the last 10 years. This is not about credits, I just wanted to let you know that I what experience I bring to this review.

This is one of the better lay technique books written for high school age vocalists who have just started serious vocal training. It does have a balanced blend of classical and pop perspective. The main weakness with this book is its incompleteness. You will get 3 songs to learn in different keys. Why not more? "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" is one. The songs are not challenging at all. The CD gives you a sampling of different exercises but does not start them from the lowest range to the highest range. The explanations of things like the diaphragm is good, but the practical applications from the exercises included and the accompanying songs really don't work at all

The book is informative, clear, concise, and well designed. The vocal exercise CD is excellent. I've been using it everyday for two months and have noticed a vast improvement in my voice. It's challenging, interesting, and very well-produced. I can't say enough good things about it. I'm very grateful to the author.

I've had some experience with vocal training and performance, but I am not in any way shape or form a performer. This was an excellent book to reintroduce one to the techniques of good vocal performance. The chapters are well written and packed with sound advice. However, if you are not well acquainted with vocal theory or have performed before, you may find the reading as too much information. I would encourage you to read slowly and carefully and enjoy learning about your "voice." Good vocal performers do not happen over night.
The CD that accompanies the book is excellent. However, you will have to stop it after each track if you want to practice it again. The excercises are only performed once and then its on to the next track. Thank goodness it's on CD, not cassette!

While I found the information in the very book helpful, the CD was terrible!! If you do not have access to a piano and/or pianist for the vocalises, I suggest you find a more user-friendly book with progressive vocalises on the CD(s) and where you will only need a CD player to do them. Overall the book is OK with lots of technical information (stuff that a vocalist needs to know) but I must admit that the CD did absolutely nothing for me!!

Anne Peckham's text on vocal technique fills a much needed gap in the literature on vocal technique and vocal function....it is accessible and readable by the vocal student. It is clear, concise and, above all, practical for the learning singer, both classical and contemporary. The exercises on the accompanying CD are both traditional and contemporary in style...a great benefit, especially for those teachers who are wondering how to present some of the pop techniques to their students. In addition to the technical aspects of singing, Ms. Peckham also gives practical suggestions for the performing contemporary singer. For a text that your students can use without wading through a lot of technical and confusing jargon...this is it.

The book does what it's supposed to do. Playing the CD in the car to and from work do wonders after some days/weeks/months, and is worth the price many times by itself.

However it is not structured enough, it lacks some explaining how to get to/achieve/perform different techniques and excercises. You could be stuck, but chances are you get by.