Teaching Kids to Sing (Paperback)

by Kenneth H. Phillips (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This book presents a systematic approach to vocal techniques geared exclusively for the younger singer. This research-based text synthesizes the most recent findings in the literature, and presents it in a practical and useable format. It should help teachers of young singers to better understand the nature of the child and adolescent voice, and to provide for a sequence of developmental instruction of vocal skills. The first part provides information on the historical and philosophical perspectives on procedures of vocal training for children grades 1-12. The second part consists of 90 sequential techniques grouped in five major areas: respiration, phonation, resonant tone production, diction, and expression.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Schirmer; 1 edition (April 13, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028717953
• ISBN-13: 978-0028717951
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #322,681 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Overall approach to effective vocal production in youth., May 25, 1998

By A Customer

This book explores the history behind American vocal training, describing how different attitudes towards school singing has affected the choral sound as we know it today. The author also effectively presents how singing is a psychomotor process, and one that is not always easily taught or learned. He reviews the vocal parameters of younger and developing voices, and explains the difficulty with the adolescent voice change (especially with boys). He also encourages teachers to express singing as a "sport", one that requires physical involvement of the body! The second half of the book is dedicated to 90 specific exercise methods for teachers to use in developing their choir. He has broken it into three age levels so that teachers anywhere within the grades 1-12 spectrum can use it effectively, or just use it to supplement a program they may already use and like. The exercises develop repiration, phonation, resonance, diction, and expression within choirs. Eighteen wonderful vocal exercises are explained for each of these areas. This would make an excellent reference book for any music teacher who is involved with teaching singing to any age level. The exercises are specific and help coordinate the students' overall approach to singing.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent resource, May 3, 2006

By	love to shop! "Cindy" (KS) - See all my reviews

I highly recommend this book for anyone who teaches singing- especially those who work with groups of inexperienced singers. Phillips goes a long way in demystifying singing technique and causes for singing problems as well as providing ideas for remediation in older inexperienced singers. The fact that Phillips approaches singing in a very objective manner makes singing an attainable skill for anyone who is willing to put in the physical work. The exercises in this book are intended for group use and when used consistently they really work! Many people ask me how I get my 4th and 5th grade boys to sing so willingly and I really think a lot of it has to do with the information that I have taken to my music classroom from this book. Some of the exercises may sound a little silly at first, but give it a try!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific book., December 26, 2008

By	Willow (Utah) - See all my reviews

This is, in my opinion, probably the best book out there for teaching vocal technique to children. And children need it, especially today, as they are surrounded by bad vocal models in the media. If you teach choral or vocal music to anyone younger than 13, you really need to have this book, at least as a reference.