Voice Power - Volume 1 - Performance Tools for Singers, Public Speakers & Communicators

William Hanrahan

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 1, 2001)
• Original Release Date: January 15, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vocal Integration Concepts
• ASIN: B000059ZRZ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #151,707 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

William Hanrahan is on the voice faculty of the University of California, Riverside, and Mt. St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles. A keynote speaker for the International Governors Conference of Toastmasters and a guest presenter at the First International Conference on Music in Human Adaptation, he maintains a private voice studio in Los Angeles. In addition to his professional performances, his work includes corrective vocal training, techniques for refining public speaking and presentation skills, communication skills training, and the private voice instruction of professional singers and actors. Vocal Integration™ provides a unique exploration of the psychology of communication, sound and language.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mostly affirmations and guided imagery - no voice training, July 16, 2006

By	Laura De Giorgio "www.deeptrancenow.com" (Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This CD has 3 parts - 1) an overview of Structural Breathing (13 min); 2) relaxation and affirmations (35 min), and 3) guided visualization (25 min).

Structural breathing is based on "apoggio" - breath control technique, used by Caruso and described in the book "Caruso and Tetrazzini on the art of singing" by Enrico Caruso and Luisa Tetrazzini edited by Dover Publications. I have found that the CD "Voice Lessons to Go", vol. 1, for example, contains breathing and vocalization exercises that make it easier to comprehend and practice this kind of breathing, even in the book "The 3 dimensional voice" has lovely graphic descriptions and numerous practical exercises for ehnacing the richness of the voice.

In this first part of the CD, there are few suggestions I have found inappropriate "Breathing through your nose weakens you", "Abdominal breathing weakens you", "Placing your tongue on the roof of your mouth weakens you" (the last may be meaningful to those who are practicing energy circulation). The author says that placing the tongue on the roof of the mouth "shuts off the switch" related the circulation of the energy. Nothing could be further from the truth - placing the tongue on the roof of the mouth connects two main meridians in the body and anyone who is actually actively engaged in working with energy circulation, through practices such as microcosmic orbit can attest to that from personal experience (the experience is very tangible, noticeable and empowering).

As jeannie Deva, the author of the "Contemporary Vocalist" improvement course mentioned - over the years of working and talking with many vocal teachers about the proper methods of breathing and singing and finding numerous discrepancies, she finally decided to pick up books on anatomy and find out for herself. I suggest you too do some more research and experimenting before taking for granted the information presented on this CD.

Just keep on repeating such suggestions for a while and notice what happens and since the author mentions kinesiology, you may as well repeat these kinds of suggestions and then do kinesiology when you are breathing through your nose (which I suppose most people do throughout the day) and notice what kind of suggestions are you impressing upon your subconscious mind.

The second part of this CD contains about 5 minutes of relaxation and 30 minutes of affirmations - mostly forgiveness affirmations that cover all possibilities - here are few examples:

I release and forgive myself for being good at singing.
I release and forgive myself for not being good at singing.
I release and forgive myself for liking the sound of my voice.
I release and forgive myself for not liking the sound of my voice.
I forgive myself for being nervous when I use my voice.
I forgive myself for not being nervous when I use my voice.
I release and forgive myself for being good at communication.
I release and forgive myself for not being good at communication.
I release and forgive myself for enjoying my voice.
I release and forgive myself for not enjoying my voice.

The third part is guided visualization (20 min) set to a music of Tranquil Harp designed to help you alter perception, set boundaries, enhance creativity, flexibility, and your ability to visualize.

This CD does not contain any voice training techniques - for that you should get either voice teacher or voice training CDs (or both). The main focus of this CD seems to be on helping you to summon the courage to express yourself.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Tool for Singers!, November 12, 2003

By	P. C. Card "song lover" (Culver City, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a professional singer and voice teacher.  I have used Mr. Hanrahan's CD for several years now and I have found it to be VERY effective for increasing focus, releasing fear and tension that every singer encounters in varying degrees.  It is a wonderful tool for singers.  This CD is not meant to be a voice lesson or training tape. I don't believe you can learn how to sing from a CD or a book.  Of course, you can try.  The title describes how each singer can attain excellence, Voice Power, if they relax, center themselves, and get rid of negative tapes that hampers so many singers.  Mr. Hanrahan focuses on breathing, relaxation techniques and affirmations to replace the negative thoughts (tapes) that run through all performers heads (See also, The Inner Game of Music) and, of course, to attain deep relaxation, the primary focus of the CD is on BREATHING. I highly recommend this CD and I know from experience, IT WORKS!!  Try it for yourselves.  But if you are looking for voice lessons, please find a qualified professional to study with. 

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beneficial for relaxation and confidence building, May 11, 2004

By	Liz (California) - See all my reviews

William Hanrahan's CD is incredibly useful for the singer who is creatively inhibited because of fear. Voice Power helps one begin to understand and undo years of self-deprication, and works toward the development of a healthy ego (one with confidence, grace and openness). It was hard for me to sit still for 36 minutes of the first track, but the more I do it the easier it becomes. Confident breathing is the key to beautiful singing and/or confident public speaking, and structural breathing has changed the way I think about my voice. When used in conjunction with a supportive and like minded vocal coach, this CD can help you before you practice, before you perform, or if you're just having a bad day. I would recommend checking it out. The CD promotes a healthy psychological outlook, which is something that is useful for everyone. I've spent so much time beating myself up that I've forgotten how much I really love to sing. This CD is helping me to get back on track, and to start having healthy thoughts about myself, my singing, and my audience.