Dear listers; Here are my results. I also received one syllabus. Thanks to all who replied!

Original Post:

Could anyone recommend a text (I used the Van Christy 40 years ago in college!) and/or have a syllabus for a 200 level vocal techniques class?

I have been asked to teach a vocal tech course for the spring semester. ..undergraduate students, designed for non voice majors. However it seems there are several freshman voice majors and 1 senior voice major planning to take the course in addition to the non-vocal students. I think I will need to address breath, posture, placement, resonance, hygiene, health, diction, adolescent voice, choral situations and individual voices.... other suggestions for topics or approaches that would help me be affective for this wide range of student experience?

Thanks! I'll post a compilation if asked and if replies warrant.
Michael S. Wade
Elkhart, In
mwade49(a)hotmail.com 574-264-7897



I would recommend:

Discover Your Voice by Oren Brown
And
On Studying Singing by Sergius Kagen (really inexpensive!)
in addition to whatever repertoire book you choose!

I used Van Christy as well!!



If you're training future educators, and especially if there are some voice majors in the class, I would definitely touch on some basic vocal pedagogy, and therefore include the topics of laryngeal structure and function and registration at the very least. Richard Miller and Scott McCoy's books are in-depth, but would be an excellent resource for you as the instructor (to prepare your lessons).


I have just finished an informal vocal technique class where I walked the students through the various exercises of HOW TO TRAIN SINGERS
by Larra Browning Henderson. That was the text used when I took a vocal ped. class as an undergraduate. Very helpful.


I don't know about availability of this book, but it's worth pursuing.
"Guidance in Voice Education" by Dale V. Gilliland, Typographic Printing Co. Columbus, Ohio, 1970. Dale was perhaps the finest voice pedagogue I have ever worked with. He and Richard Miller worked very similarly, and this book is a well written and thorough text.



I have found "Solutions for Singers" by Richard Miller to be an
excellent text for addressing specific questions related to vocal
technique. You will not find much information about choral vocal
technique or dealing with adolescent singers.
The author also has the advantage of being one of the most formidable
vocal pedagogues of our time. He will be known and respected by your
voice faculty.