Customer Reviews

The Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults: A Manual for Teachers of Singing and for Choir Directors (Revised and Expanded Edition)

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I've read several books on Voice Pedagogy and this is clearly the best one. James McKinney, the author, is a former student of William Vennard, a great voice teacher and voice pedagogue.

McKinney treats his book in a somewhat similar way that the MD might treat a patient (though, naturally, there are many differences between the M.D. and the voice teacher). I especially like McKinney's concept that the observation begins as soon as the student walks in the door. How do they stand? Talk? Act?

McKinney's chapters cover all the right areas of vocal production all in the right order: posture, breathing and support, phonation, registration, voice classification, resonation, articulation, the speaking voice, and coordination.

What I really like about the book is that McKinney dispenses with all the mumbo-jumbo of some voice books and gets right to the point. During each chapter, he notes the various problems associated with each chapter heading (problems relating to vowels which are too dark) and gives several concrete options for fixing the selected problem. If there are things McKinney doesn't know about (such as the exact cause of vibrato), he states the latest theories and scientific evidence, gives his personal opinion from his experience, and states that he doesn't really know. He does all this as well in a very clear fashion.

There are two things I don't like about this book, and I must say that they're not extremely significant. First, McKinney uses phonetic symbols instead of IPA symbols. Also, he doesn't have a conclusion. The book stops abruptly at the end.

But these aren't "dealbreakers." If I had to recommend voice pedagogy books, this would be one of the first, along with books by Clifton Ware, Oren Brown, and Richard Miller (good but more technical).

McKinney is the direct descendant--vocally speaking--of the great pedagogue, William Vennard. His technical bent and his ability to communicate in easy-to-understand language has made him indispensable to an increasing number of voice teachers, choral conductors and singers. His systematic approach to the subject, as illustrated in the table of contents, makes the book a resource to keep handy (The Nature of Sound, Posture, Breathing and Support, Phonation, Registration, Voice Classification, Resonation, Articulation, The Speaking Voice, and Coordination).

I use this as the foundation for teaching vocal pedagogy to college music-voice majors. If you are looking for a fundamental and thorough knowledge of singing; or, want to learn how to spot and correct vocal faults, this is the resource to have. Other highly-recommended sources often come with a lot of "jargon" and terms in Italian and German and French that one needs dictionaries to translate. Wading through such material may be productive for a music researcher, but difficult for someone who's primary language is English who is also looking for ready answers. In my estimation, James C. McKinney's work is a jewel in the growing library of vocal-pedagogy resources. I would even go so far as to say that if there were a "bible" for vocal pedagogy - this should be it. Time will continue to prove its worth.

While I presume that most voice teachers will not find a great deal of new material here, this book is an excellent resource for quick reference. The information is factual and clear, without a great deal of opinion. The book divides vocal faults into various categories, faults related to: Posture; Breathing and Support; Phonation; Registration; Classification; Resonation; Articulation; Speaking Voice; Coordination. Although the focus on faults may appear to be a negative approach, the book is intended for teachers, not students. Highly recommended (for teachers) - this is a book my bookcase wouldn't be without.

As a singer and a teacher of singers, I found this book a great resource. It is written in common sense and easily understood terminology, which is very useful. I highly recommend this book as a superb addition to every serious singer's bookshelf.

A superb systematic introduction and detailed analysis of what it takes to sing correctly. It can be very useful to any student of singing as well as teachers of singing. I highly recommend it.

This is one of the best books on vocal pedagogy ever written. I just got this edition in order to have the CD which I hadn't purchased with the first edition I had bought. The CD pinpoints vocal faults clearly. However, the sound quality of the recording is LOUSY. And to top it all off, this edition is really a reprint of the 1994 revised issue. So far so good, but the quality of both the paper and the printing is awful: on some pages the printing is REALLY blurry. If you can get the 1994 edition, do it, for it is much easier to read.

Finally! McKinney does not cover only vocal faults but pedagogy in general. He covers topics in a wonderful way, without ever talking down to the reader, as other pedagogues do. Also, his method of explanation works for any kind of singer, not just classical singers. This book is wonderful! I'm so glad I found it.

I loved this book. I own 6 other books on the training of singers but this new acquisition is the BEST. It is short and to the point which tells me the author knows what he is talking about and gets down to business. It is filled with practical ideas for choir directors in working with members individually on their voices. He follows the same teaching sequence I was taught years ago - breathing, phonation etc.; and I have used it successfuly to help my singing and other singers for years. Each vocal fault is clearly identified and many suggested exercises are provided to help the singer overcome their vocal faults to produce the best sound possible. I have been singing in church choirs since childhood. I am also a choir director at my church. I learned several things that were helpful to me personally. I was able to put the teaching immediately into practice; and it improved my tone immediately (thought I was above average in ability to begin with). I was able to take each topic and boil the main teaching down to a sentence or two to help identify vocal faults; and then I wrote a sentence or two on the fixes! This make a good cheat sheet or quick reference to use during choir practice. Wonderful book!! Would highly recommend it to church choir directors or vocal trainers!

I found once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. What wonderful information and wisdom for vocalists and/or their teachers. This should be a must read for anyone involved in singing.

I walked into Vocal Pedagogy class in the fall of 1984 at Southwestern Baptist Seminary to discover the author of the required text would also be my professor. Dean McKinney was already an expert in the field and considered a "voice teacher for voice teachers." His newly published text made his knowledge instantly available to all. During the semester he walked us page by page through the book, gave hands on demonstrations, and frequently brought in singers to demonstrate correct and incorrect techniques.
As a full time Minister of Music in a Baptist Church, I work with children, teens, and young, median, and senior adults in various choral settings. Twenty-five years later my signed copy of this book is always nearby, providing quick reference for any vocal situation I need assistance with.
This book is not only valuable to voice teachers, but to choral directors of any age group. I highly recommend it.