Pamelia S. Phillips - Singing For Dummies

Singing For Dummies®, 3rd edition

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Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number is available from the publisher

ISBN: 978-1-119-84296-5 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-119-84341-2 (ebk); ISBN: 978-1-119-84316-0 (ebk)

1 Cover

2 Title Page

3 Copyright

4 Introduction About This Book Foolish Assumptions Icons Used in This Book Beyond This Book Where to Go from Here

5 Part 1: Exploring Singing Basics Chapter 1: Preparing to Sing What You Want to Know Right from the Beginning Developing Your Singing Voice Working the Different Parts of Your Voice Applying Your Technique Having Fun Chapter 2: Determining Your Voice Type Sifting through the Ingredients to Figure Out Your Voice Type Identifying the Fab Four Chapter 3: Aligning Your Body for Great Singing Evaluating Your Posture Creating Ideal Posture Releasing Tension Chapter 4: Breathing for Singing Tackling the Basics of Breathing Practicing Inhalation Practicing Exhalation Testing Your Breath Control Chapter 5: Toning Up the Voice Defining Tone Flexing Your Singing Muscles Matching Pitch Releasing Tension for Better Tone

6 Part 2: Improving Your Singing Chapter 6: Acquiring Beautiful Tone Creating Tone Releasing Tone Sustaining Tone Finding Your Vibrato Chapter 7: Exploring Resonance Understanding Resonance — Good Vibrations Eliminating Nasality Debunking Common Misconceptions Chapter 8: Shaping Your Vowels for Clarity Getting Your Backside into Shape — Back Vowels, That Is Mastering the Front Vowels Chapter 9: Exercising Consonants for Articulation Saying Voiced and Unvoiced Consonants Making Tip Consonants Making Soft Palate Consonants Working Lip Consonants Working Combination Consonants Chapter 10: Crafting a Practice Routine Knuckling Down to a Practice Plan Getting Answers to Your Practicing Questions Warming Up Exercising Your Voice Practicing Correctly

7 Part 3: Advanced Techniques to Improve Your Voice Chapter 11: Developing the Parts of Your Singing Voice Finding Your Middle Voice Checking Out Your Chest Voice Aiming High with Head Voice Figuring Out Falsetto Making a Smooth Transition Mixing It Up Chapter 12: Expanding Your Vocal Flexibility and Range Tackling Register Transitions Working On Your Range Taking Your Agility to New Levels Improvising for a Better Pop Sound Chapter 13: It’s a Cinch: Belting Out Your Song Playing around with Pitch Defining Healthy Belting Preparing for Belting Moving Resonance to the Front Combining Resonance and Registration Advancing Your Belt Belters and Belt Songs You Should Hear Chapter 14: Training for Singing Defining Training Requirements Training to Sing at Any Age Training with a Choir Chapter 15: Finding the Right Voice Teacher Searching for the Best Voice Teacher Knowing What to Expect from a Teacher Knowing What to Expect from Yourself Making Your First Lesson a Success

8 Part 4: Preparing to Perform Chapter 16: Selecting Your Music Material Choosing the Song Shopping for Sheet Music Chapter 17: Mastering a New Song Tackling a Song in Steps Using Vocal Technique in Your New Song Using Musical Elements to Create Your Arrangement Chapter 18: Acting the Song Seeing the Song As a Story Exploring Character Getting Physical Chapter 19: Confronting Your Fear of Performing Facing the Symptoms Alleviating Anxiety through Preparation Performing to Build Confidence Chapter 20: Auditioning a Song Tailoring Your Audition for Any Venue and Any Style of Music Choosing Audition Songs to Highlight Your Strengths Preparing the Music Nailing the Audition

9 Part 5: The Part of Tens Chapter 21: Ten Performers with Good Technique Xiomara Alfaro Juan Diego Flórez Lady Gaga Eddie Kendricks Bruno Mars Minnie Riperton Sofia Shkidchenko Meryl Streep Josh Turner Colm Wilkinson Chapter 22: Ten Frequently Asked Questions about Singing Is Belting Bad? What Should I Do If My Voice Feels Off? How Are an Accompanist, a Coach, and a Voice Teacher Different? If My Voice Is Scratchy, Do I Have Nodes? Do I Have to Be Big to Have a Big Voice? What’s the Best Singing Method? Do I Have to Speak Italian to Sing Well? Can I Have a Few Drinks Before the Performance to Calm My Nerves? Why Can’t I Eat Ice Cream Before I Sing? How Long Will It Take Me to Learn to Sing? Chapter 23: Ten Tips for Maintaining Vocal Health Identifying Everyday Abuses Incorporating Healthy Speech into Your Singing Knowing When to Seek Help Staying Hydrated Getting Plenty of Shut-Eye Making Sure That You’re Well Nourished Preventing a Sore Throat or Infection Medicating a Sore Throat Protecting a Sore Throat Keeping Your Emotional Life in Check Chapter 24: Ten Tips for Performing Like a Pro Rehearsing to Beat the Band Wearing the Right Ensemble Finding Your Stance Singing with a Piano, Organ, or Band Making Your Entrance Roping in Your Audience Ignoring That Mosquito Handling Those Hands Using the Mic Taking Your Bow and Leaving the Stage