A Systematic Approach to Voice: The Art of Studio Application is a professional resource presenting a framework for the integration of science-informed principles of voice production and pedagogical application in the training of singers. Author Dr. Kari Ragan has spent years using this organizational template of the five voice systems - respiration, phonation, registration, articulation and resonance - to identify technical challenges and design corrective vocal exercises to enable efficient singing. Each of the voice system chapters contains a brief overview of the mechanics as well as key points for teachers, or "teacher takeaways." The book's core offering is vocal exercises which, framed within a systematic approach, provide strategies for the art of studio application. The intent is that this approach leads to technically proficient singing with the ultimate goal of serving great artistry. Key Features: Over 85 vocal exercises for studio application framed within a systematic approach Brief overview of the mechanics of each voice system Introduction of several kinesthetic singing tools Extensive discussion on semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises Sample warm-up protocols

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgements Dedication Chapter 1. A Systematic Approach The Heuristic Nature of a Systematic Approach Kinesthetic Singing Tools Considerations for Alterations of Vocal Exercises Summary References Selected Resources Chapter 2. The Twenty-First Century Voice Teacher The Benefits of Cross-training the Voice Athlete Voice Habilitation Vocal Warm-ups Versus Vocal Function Exercises Motor Learning Theory and the Singer Summary References Chapter 3. A Systematic Approach to Respiration Overview of Respiration Inhalation Exhalation Teacher Takeaways of Respiration Application of Respiration Body Awareness Exercises Exercise 3-1 Large Ball~Stretching and Lengthening Exercise 3-2 Large Ball~Posture and Alignment Coordination Exercises Exercise 3-3 Sustaining Unvoiced Consonants Exercise 3-4 Rhythmic Patterns on Unvoiced Consonant /s/, /f/, / /, / / Exercise 3-5 Alternating Unvoiced/Voiced Consonant Pairs Exercise 3-6 Flow-ball by POWERbreathe Exercise 3-7 Flow-ball Voiceless Staccato Exercise 3-8 Flow-ball Voiceless Messa di Voce Exercise 3-9 Flow-ball Voiced "Flownation" Breath Depletion Exercises Exercise 3-10 Breath Depletion Prior to Inhalation Exercise 3-11 Breath Depletion Conditioning Adding Resonance with /m/ Exercise 3-12 / um/ Patterns Rib Cage Expansion Exercise 3-13 Exercise Band Respiratory Release Exercise 3-14 Pelvic Floor Release Exercise 3-15 Xiphoid Process Area Release Core Engagement Exercise 3-16 Encouraging Core Engagement Through Exercise Balls Exercise 3-17 Large Ball Squat Exercise 3-18 Exercise Band Core Engagement Summary References Selected Resources Chapter 4. A Systematic Approach to Phonation Overview of Phonation Teacher Takeaways of Phonation Overview of Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract (SOVT) Postures Diameter of Straw or Tube Length of Straw or Tube Material of Straw or Tube Straw or Tube in Water (Water Bubbles) The Use of an Anesthesia Mask to Facilitate an SOVT Posture Teacher Takeaways for SOVT Postures Application of Phonation Straw Phonation/Pitch Glides Exercise 4-1 Straw Phonation Pitch Glides~Small Intervals Exercise 4-2 Straw Phonation Pitch Glides~Full Range Exercise 4-3 Straw Phonation Pitch Glides~ Varying Intervals Exercise 4-4 Straw Phonation Scales Exercise 4-5 Straw Phonation Pitch Glides to Vowels Water Bubbles Exercise 4-6 Water Bubble Pitch Glides Exercise 4-7 Water Bubble Repertoire Lip Trills Exercise 4-8 Arpeggio Lip Trills Exercise 4-9 Chromatic Lip Trills Vocal Onsets and Offsets Exercise 4-10 Mastering Staccato Exercise 4-11 Water Bubble Staccato Exercise 4-12 Staccato to Legato Vocal Fry Exercise 4-13 Vocal Fry~Sustaining Exercise 4-14 Vocal Fry to Chest Registration Exercise 4-15 Vocal Fry to Head Registration Summary References Selected Resources Chapter 5. A Systematic Approach to Registration Overview of Registration Teacher Takeaways of Registration Application of Registration Female Head Registration Isolation Exercise 5-1 Soft /u/~Secondo Passaggio Exercise 5-2 Sustained Head Registration Isolation Exercise 5-3 Head Register Isolation Crescendo Exercise 5-4 Advanced Head Register Isolation Exercise 5-5 Advanced Head Registration~Bel Canto Inspired Male Head Registration Isolation Exercise 5-6 Soft /u/ for Balanced Registration Exercise 5-7 Head Registration Isolation Through Variation of Dynamics and Vowels Exercise 5-8 Building a Bridge Across RegistersMale Registration Coordination Exercise 5-9 Using Head Registration to Develop High Notes in Chest Registration Exercise 5-10 Messa di Voce Through the Secondo Passaggio Female Chest Registration Isolation Exercise 5-11 Chest Registration Isolation Exercise 5-12 Using Head Registration to Facilitate Efficient Chest Registration Exercise 5-13 Building a Bridge to Belting Mixed Registration for a Broad Spectrum of Sound Exercise 5-14 "Meow" ~ CCM Mixed Registration Exercise 5-15 "My" ~ CCM Mixed Registration Exercise 5-16 Arpeggio~Mixed Registration Exercise 5-17 Ode to Joan Lader Exercise 5-18 Alternating Registration Exercise 5-19 Mastering Messa di Voce Summary References Selected Resources Chapter 6. A Systematic Approach to Articulation Overview of Articulation The Jaw The Tongue The Soft Palate The Pharynx Teacher Takeaways of Articulation Application of Articulation Jaw Stretches Exercise 6-1 Preparing the Jaw Jaw Voiced Exercises Exercise 6-2 Wine Cork Between Front Teeth Exercise 6-3 Wine Cork Between Molars Exercise 6-4 Masseter Muscle Release Tongue Stretches Exercise 6-5 Tongue Out Stretch Exercise 6-6 Tongue Curl Stretch Exercise 6-7 Underside of Tongue Stretch Exercise 6-8 Circular Tongue Stretch Tongue Voice Exercises Exercise 6-9 Dental Consonants Exercise 6-10 Palatal Consonants Exercise 6-11 Developing Jaw and Tongue Independence Exercise 6-12 Voiced Raspberry and Tongue Trills Exercise 6-13 Base of Tongue Disengagement Exercise 6-14 Candy on the Tongue Exercise 6-15 Gauze on the Tongue Exercise 6-16 Ode to Barbara Doscher Exercise 6-17 Dental/Palatal Consonant Combinations Soft Palate Stretches Exercise 6-18 Isolating the Soft Palate Activation Exercise 6-19 Soft Palate Exploration with Voicing Exercise 6-20 Using Nasality to Explore the Contrast of Soft Palate Elevation Exercise 6-21 Thumb in Mouth Against the Soft Palate Summary References Selected Resources Chapter 7. A Systematic Approach to Resonance Overview of Resonance High Frequency Spectral Content: Vocal Ring Classical Singer's Lofted Resonance Strategy CCM Singer's Brassy (Twang) Resonance Strategy Western Classical Vs. CCM Teacher Takeaways Application of Resonance Exercise 7-1 Chant Speech~Humming Exercise 7-2 Pitch Glides~Humming Exercise 7-3 Using /hm/ to Facilitate Resonance Exercise 7-4 Ode to Ellen Faull Exercise 7-5 Alternating /hm/ with a Vowel Series Exercise 7-6 Bending Forward Exercise 7-7 Lying Over A Ball Exercise 7-8 Chopstick Between the Teeth Exercise 7-9 Retroflex / / Exercise 7-10 Y-Buzz Exercise 7-11 Facilitating Brassy Resonance~Twang Chapter 8. Sample Vocal Warm-up Routines Classical Female (Middle/High School, Undergraduate, Avocational Singer) Classical Female (Undergraduate/Graduate, Emerging Professional, Professional Singer) Classical Male (Middle/High School, Undergraduate, Avocational Singer) Classical Male (Undergraduate/Graduate, Emerging Professional, Professional Singer) Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Female (Beginner/Intermediate) Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Female (Intermediate/Advanced) Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Male (Beginner/Intermediate) Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Male (Intermediate/Advanced) Index