Power Performance for Singers: Transcending the Barriers (Hardcover)

by Shirlee Emmons (Author), Alma Thomas (Author) "Everyone would like to excel in something-personal life, relationships, sports, business, or the arts..." (more)
Key Phrases: mental skills questionnaire, mental rehabilitation program, audition panel, Developing Self-Confidence, The Characteristics of Peak Performance, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"It is written with great enthusiasm and clearly laid out in a way that will make it a useful tool to those who need it....there are useful insights to do with confidence-building which will resonate with many singers."--Music and Letters

Product Description
To perform well in today's highly competitive world where technical skills have been advanced to an unprecedented degree, a singer must be able to handle incredible pressure within the performing arena; his or her ability to deal with this stress will often determine whether he or she will succeed. Why, then, do singers with less technical skill sometimes out-perform stars? Why do some stars suddenly stop performing? What is that mysterious factor that makes an electric performance? Consistent, competent performances do not depend solely upon superior vocal skills, nor are they a matter of luck. On the contrary, the best performances result from a combination of mental attitude, concrete performing skills, and excellent technical skills in that order. Yet most singers have never had the opportunity to acquire the essential skills that make for a successful career.

Written as a self-help manual for singers at all levels of expertise, Transcending the Performance Barriers is designed to teach performing artists, and especially singers, how to experience elite performance at their level. The skills outlined in this book will help singers use what they have, to enjoy their voices during performance, and to perform consistently to the best of their present ability.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (August 20, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195112245
• ISBN-13: 978-0195112245
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #130,181 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you perform, you need this book!, December 8, 2000

By	"[e-mail]" (richardson, tx United States) - See all my reviews

I am a professional violist, and definitely not a stranger to the stage. I have always searched for a book that could provide me with ideas on strengthening my preparation and execution of my performance. This book is a fantastic resource, and I am impressed by the originality and viability of the ideas. Basically, Power Performance assimilates performance to the training of an olympic athlete, something which I believe is true. Even though the book is written specifically for singers, I find it invaluable for anyone who is remotely involved in performaing, or for anyone with a desire of boosting his/her performance skills.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it, read it and never be the same again., September 28, 2001

By A Customer

This is a book with very down-to-earth advice. What amazed me most was that the most things I had always felt about performance, but didn't know how to put in words, are voiced accurately, objectively, concisely and fulfillingly in this book. Also, many things I had never stopped to think about are also dealt with nicely. You will learn how to make the most of performance problems, their sources and consequences in order to help you perform well. There is great joy awaiting you in this book. You will never regret buying it. Buy it. Buy it. Once more: buy it!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars hard work, but worth all the effort, August 31, 2001

By	Gregory Alley (New York) - See all my reviews

I am a professional trumpet player. This book is the centerpiece of a long list of reading material I've culled ideas from over the years. NOT FOR SINGERS ONLY! All musicians can benefit from this book! The book challenges the reader to think and to act. It is not a book you can read passively. If you work carefully through the charts and teaching points you will be rewarded with performances you enjoy giving and ones that audiences will enjoy hearing! Simply put, you'll get out of it what you put into it.

This is the book that all others will be judged against. It leaves "Inner Game" in the dust!