The Rock-N-Roll Singer's Survival Manual [Paperback]

Mark Baxter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1990

This book is perfect for the aspiring rock singer that needs improvement, but cannot or will not take lessons. It is a thorough, yet easy-to-understand presentation of the basic elements of singing, including vocal production, training, breathing, posture and diet. Written in a down-to-earth style, the author addresses such relevant topics as overcoming nervousness, dealing with emotions, and the true consequences of coffee, alcohol & smoking. Includes useful illustrations and diagrams.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation (December 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793502861
• ISBN-13: 978-0793502868
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #245,906 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Slow but sure, February 16, 2005

By 

Pedro G. Weiner "theredbeliever" (Huntington Station, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Rock-N-Roll Singer's Survival Manual (Paperback)

Mark Baxter through this and his other published material has not only changed my singing, but also my life. The problem with people who want to sing better is that they are IMPATIENT... impatience will only make the wrong group of muscles stronger. His approach is simple... in order to learn to sing better you need to vocalize, not sing. You need to vocalize around the sounds that feel loose and free and then challenge yourself a little more... if you crack, DON'T PUSH more air and make yourself hurt... as opposed to control, that is lack of control and nothing else. Mark's approcah isn't classical, and it really isn't about "special" exercises that turn you into a great singer in minutes... they're all about simplicity. Let your voice crack when you vocalize, adjust the air pressure, you might be pushing the air or using too little of it. Find the BALANCE between the amount of air coming from your lungs (and being regulated by your diagphragm) and the amount of resistance your vocal cords are putting up. It's really that simple! We singers make it harder either because we are insecure or underdeveloped. PATIENCE and HARD WORK is what achieving control over the voice takes! It's not about how loud you can blast, it's about how much dynamic control you have over your voice. Do not raise your larynx, you are using muscles that you do NOT need to be using. The idea, ESPECIALLY in rock music is to use THE LEAST amount of muscles it takes! If you're using your neck to control a pitch you're unnecesarily sacrificing your ability to RELEASE your voice. If you don't trust your voice (which you develop through training) it is unlikely that others would. Even if you're pushing it harder than you should, which will limit your abilities more than you could ever imagine. BUY THIS BOOK! I also recommend the Singer's Toolbox. They're both dated and the book has grammar and spelling issues, but the information and insights are INVALUABLE! Also do a search on his 15 minute warm-up routine... I live by it!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A necessity for any rock singer., November 8, 2001

By 

David Nahmani (Valley Village, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Rock-N-Roll Singer's Survival Manual (Paperback)

I read this book 2 years ago and thought it was great. Now I'm just reading it again, and I realise how much more than just "great" that book is. It is a necessity!!! Just get it, NOW!

It's not just another book full of scale exercises. This one goes much deeper into yourself, with that overall concept that a singer is both a musician and its instrument, all in one. And it really helps understanding the instrument better: how your body is going to react to what your mental state is, what you eat, what drugs you do...

Then it also explains how to get rid of all the muscle activity that comes with singing that you DON'T need. So it kinda goes from the principles that everything is already inside you, you just add to many tensions to it making it difficult. Mark is really good at helping you isolate and focus on the simple muscles you'll need to sing, and develop those while getting rid of everything else you do that prevents your voice from going out unaltered......

Another thing I love with that book is that instead of finding yourself practicing hundreds of various scales exercises, but instead you'll know precisely why you're doing a particular exercise, and what it's developing in your body. That makes the whole exercise much more valuable!!!

Get it, read it, and practice. And in two years, read it again. You'll understand how necessary reading material it is for any rock singer.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid physiological introduction, November 25, 2001

By 

commontone - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rock-N-Roll Singer's Survival Manual (Paperback)

This book is excellent for offering a clear and concise explanation of the physiological process of singing--everything from the state of the body before the first breath is taken, to breathing, to exhale and how the oral cavity affects sound. The presumption is that understanding the anatomy and physical processes involved will help a singer improve their voice. There are also a number of exercises intended to de-program destructive habits to singing and program constructive ones. Also addressed is how our environments affect singing: food, drugs, everything. While Mark Baxter wouldn't do too well in an English class (where the heck was the editor for this one, anyway?) this book seems like a great source of valuable info that many singers unfortunately never attempt to learn.