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Vocal Wisdom: Maxims of Giovanni Battista Lamperti

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Lamperti was a famous voice teacher in the "old school" of bel canto. The wisdom found in this small book is best suited for the person who already is a singer, and is looking for sage advice about the "art." This is provided in small statements and paragraphs - rather like "info-bytes" from a great master. The beginner may end up with more questions than answers. The more advanced singer will want to make this a book to "live with" over a period of many years. A book for the "New Age" from a sage of old.

I've been studying and performing as a singer since 1980, and came across this gem while in graduate school. It really is a touchstone for me, a source of inspiration, reflection, and practical knowledge on my singing path. It offers no quick fixes, gimmicks or tricks - just patient, healthy, grounded guidance. I find that it distills and encompasses all of the good vocal mentoring I've had over the years. My current teacher and I, when I first started studying with her, found it was a telling connection between us that this book was the only one she has held onto from her years of study.

This book is a collection of wise precepts by one of the greatest vocal teachers in history. G.B. Lamperti was a world-recognized expert in the field, who taught hundreds of the most successful singers of his day. Lamperti was not an academic theoretician--he was a practicing expert with world-class credentials.

I admit that at first, I did not realize the significance of this book. At first glance, you might be tempted (as I was, briefly) to write off this book as an assortment of light fluff. If you make that mistake, you will be missing out on some of the most important, as well as inspirational, ideas central to the art of singing.

Note that this is not a book on vocal technique, or a list of vocal exercises, that upon mastering, you will have arrived as a great singer. It is important to understand Lamperti's perspective on the art of singing. He sees vocal "gymnastics" as a way of sensitizing your body and mind to the art, with the ultimate goal of diction, breath-control, and vibration working together as one. Here's Lamperti:

"Mental and physical gymnastics must of necessity be specific in order to stimulate and sensitize the various parts of brain and body. But these methodical exercises should not be confused with final singing because they inhibit nature's instinctive processes."

"Fundamental exercises are only to make the body and imagination more supple and sensitive, to respond to the desire to produce a beautiful tone and sustain a melody."

The vocal precepts are loosely categorized into short chapters. I found it helpful to go through the entire book quickly, to get a feel for the arrangement. It's hard to pick just a few key precepts, but here are a couple--just to give a slight taste:

"Singing will be awkward unless focused vibration, distinct pronunciation, and compressed breathing remain inseparably linked together."

"Sensitive co-action of the whole muscular and nervous energy is the condition demanded for the production of pure tone."

As I re-read this book, I realize that I only understand Lamperti a bit. I have much more to learn. This short review does not do the book justice. Read his book many times. If you don't see the importance of his ideas, read it again, because you're missing the key to singing.

I am currently in training with someone that I can only describe as a disciple of Lamperti. He is almost always quoting him during lessons. Someone else said that the book is mostly a philosophical work. This is true - Lamperti does not try to give an explanation of "how" to accomplish the noble goals laid out in the book. There is no book that can do this, since singing is so esoteric and difficult to teach. In the art of singing, we seek invisible goals via musculatures that can only be influenced through suggestion, and indirectly at that. I must say personally that I think this book belongs on the shelf of every student of singing. Since most of what we do as singers is influenced HEAVILY by our thoughts, this book is indeed a help. It provides the context out of which technical facility can advance.

I am reading this as one of the textbooks for my Vocal Pedagogy course at the USF School of Music. Let me tell you, this is a book that every single vocalist who is truly serious about their career MUST read at least three times through. It's a wonderful selection of some of the most powerful pedagogical statements. I think I have learned more from this small volume than I have in all of my voice lessons combined. Not to say that I haven't learned a lot, of course, but this affirms and debunks all of the myths and absolute, well, maxims, of proper vocal technique. Bravissimo, Lamperti!

There's nothing much to say. A Good book is a GOOD BOOK! This is an essential if you want to understand more about vocal pedagogy.

I read it over a weekend - and I feel inspired!!! This is defiately one little book i am going to open again and again!