The Vocal Athlete: Application and Technique for the Hybrid Singer

Third Edition

Marci Daniels Rosenberg, Wendy D. LeBorgne

Details: 207 pages, B&W, Spiral Bound, 8.5" x 11"

ISBN13: 978-1-63550-680-8

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About

The Vocal Athlete: Application and Technique for the Hybrid Singer, Third Edition is a compilation of voice exercises created and used by well-known voice pedagogues from preeminent colleges, established private studios, and clinical settings. The 108 exercises in this edition focus on various aspects of contemporary commercial music (CCM) including bodywork, mental preparation, registration, and much more. Many of the exercises include either photographs or audio clips.

This edition contains over 20 new invited authors and new singing exercises covering a broader range of CCM styles.

A "Who's Who" List of Contributors: Lynn Helding, Barbara J. Walker, Robert C. Sussuma, Joanna Cazden, Jessica Baldwin, Jeremy Ryan Mossman, Martin L. Spencer, Wendy D. LeBorgne, Melanie Tapson, Marci Daniels Rosenberg, Sarah L. Schneider, Marya Spring Cordes, Marina Gilman, Caroline Helton, Jill Vonderhaar Nader, Sarah Maines, Suzan Postel, Chris Kelly, Christine Schneider, Quinn Patrick Ankrum, Erin N. Donahue, Joan Melton, Bari Hoffman, Adam Lloyd, Barbara Fox DeMaio, Aliza Rudavsky, Miriam van Mersbergen, Walt Fritz, Maria Cristina A. Jackson-Menaldi, Tracy Bourne, Catherine A. Walker, Edrie Means Weekly, Norman Spivey, Jenevora Williams, Beverly A. Patton, Thomas Francis Burke III, Jennifer C. Muckala, Kari Ragan, Renee O. Gottliebson, J. Austin Collum, Emily Baer, Julie Dean, Stephanie Samaras, Katherine McConville, Mary Saunders Barton, Jonelyn Langenstein, Brian E. Petty, Amelia Rollings Bigler, Chadley Ballantyne, Nandhu Radhakrishnan, Kathryn Green, Michelle Rosen, Jeannette L. LoVetri, Aaron M. Johnson, Maddie Tarbox, Kelly M. Holst, Starr Cookman, Lisa Popeil, James Curtis, Eiji Miura, David Harris, Laurel Irene, Joey Harrell, Ann Evans Watson, Billy Gollner, Benjamin Czarnota, Jared Trudeau, Patricia M. Linhart, Joan Ellison, Jennifer DeRosa, Chelsea Packard, Joan Lader, Chris York, Matthew Edwards, Marcelle Gauvin, Alison Crockett, Trineice Robinson-Martin, Jaron M. LeGrair, Jeffrey Evans Ramsey, Edward Reisert, Thomas Arduini, Naz Edwards, Sheri Sanders, Robert Marks, Kristine Reese, Dale Cox, Marita Stryker, Amanda Flynn, Danielle Cozart Steele, Warren Freeman, and Beth Falcone.

Related Textbook

The book is designed to accompany the textbook, The Vocal Athlete, Third Edition, a first of its kind in singing science and pedagogy developed for singers of all styles with a particular emphasis on musical theatre and CCM.

The Vocal Athlete text and workbook are invaluable tools for anyone who uses or trains the singing voice or works with CCM singers.

PluralPlus Online Ancillaries

For students: Videos, Audios
For professionals: Videos, Audios

Preface

Acknowledgments
Contributors

Section I. Preparing the Singer’s Mind and Body

Introduction and Overview

Chapter 1. Exercises for Mental Focus

The No-Practice Practice Routine: A Mental Practice Regimen
Lynn Helding

Centering the Breath
Barbara J. Walker

The Voice Scan
Robert C. Sussuma

Dialogue with Your Voice
Joanna Cazden

Identify Informed Sounds- Tools to Identify the Artistic Voice
Jessica Baldwin

Your Voice in Real Life: A Vocal Exploration Through Laughing and Crying
Jeremy Ryan Mossman

Mental Focus and Vocal Preparation
Martin L. Spencer

Mindful Breath Vocal Athlete Exercise
Wendy LeBorgne

Confuse the Habit
Melanie Tapson

Scale of Vocal Effort (SoVE)
Marci Daniels Rosenberg

The Vocal Fold Responsiveness Log
Marci Daniels Rosenberg

References
Notes

Chapter 2. Physical Stretches and Alignment

Body Movement to Achieve Vocal Freedom
Sarah L. Schneider

Semi-Supine with Spinal Jiggle and Pelvic Bowl Slosh/Slide
Marya Spring Cordes

Freeing the Neck and Shoulders
Marina Gilman

Balancing Your Head
Marina Gilman

Climbing the Ladder
Caroline Helton

Anterior Chest Openers to Improve Posture
Jill Vonderhaar Nader

Lower Back Expansion
Sarah Maines

Postural Alignment, Core Strength, and Breath Support
Suzan Postel

Reorganizing the Entire Vocal Tract
Robert C. Sussuma

Proximal Hamstring Engagement for Posterior Weight Shift and Vocal Freedom
Chris Kelly and Christine Schneider

Exploring Dynamic Balance
Quinn Patrick Ankrum

Notes

Chapter 3. Stretches and Exercises for Breathing

Physical Stretching for Optimal Rib Cage and Respiratory Muscle Expansion
Erin N. Donahue and Wendy D. LeBorgne

Finding the Abs
Joan Melton

Breath Management Strategy for Vocal Percussion
Bari Hoffman Ruddy and Adam Lloyd

Breathing Body Release Visualization
Suzan Postel

Breath Stamina Exercise for Aging Singers
Barbara Fox DeMaio

Pelvic Elevator
Aliza Rudavsky

References
Notes

Chapter 4. Stretching and Relaxation for Tongue and Jaw

Jaw Exercises for Singing
Miriam van Mersbergen

Jaw Opening/Tongue Tension Isolation
Miriam van Mersbergen

Reducing Jaw Region Tension and Cramping
Walt Fritz

Tongue Stretches for Singers
Maria Cristina A. Jackson-Menaldi

Staccato and Legato Tongue Release
Tracy Bourne

Increasing Vocal Resonance by Decreasing Facial Tension
Catherine A. Walker

Guy-La Tongue Release and Flexibility
Edrie Means Weekly

References
Notes

Section II. Training the Hybrid Singer
Introduction and Overview

Chapter 5. Vocal Warm-Ups and Cool-Downs

The Motor Boat
Caroline Helton

Blowfish
Marci Daniels Rosenberg

Descending Five-Tone on Lip Trill
Norman Spivey

Bursting Bubbles
Jenevora Williams

Middle Voice Palate Stretch
Beverly A. Patton

Mirening
Thomas Francis Burke III

The Gargle Exercise: Calibrate and Condition
Jennifer C. Muckala

Straw Phonation to “Floaty” /u/ for Vocal Cool-Down
Kari Ragan

Vocal Cool-Down Exercise for the Hybrid Singer
Renee O. Gottliebson

Lifting the Palate
J. Austin Collum, Emily Baer, and Bari Hoffman

References
Notes

Chapter 6. Laryngeal Strength and Coordination

Woody Woodpecker
Julie Dean

Connecting the Voice to the Body and Breath
Stephanie Samaras

Clari-Bees
Katherine McConville

Messa di Voce for Musical Theatre/Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Singers
Mary Saunders Barton

Cup and Mask Phonation: A Semi-occluded Vocal Tract Exercise
Marci Daniels Rosenberg

Whistle Register: A place to start
Jonelyn Langenstein and Brian E. Petty

Finding Efficient Vocal Fold Closure with Glottal Fry and Creaky Voice
Amelia Rollings Bigler

Vocal Tract Trampoline
Edrie Means Weekly

Breathy to Flow
Chadley Ballantyne

Nasal Resistance (NR) Technique
Nandhu Radhakrishnan

Notes

Chapter 7. Registration and Vocal Tract Modification

Head Voice Stability
Sarah Maines

You Send Me
Kathryn Green

Pinball Wizard
Kathryn Green

Released Vocal Regulation
Martin L. Spencer

Swing Arpeggio
Michelle Rosen

Speech-like Arpeggios
Norman Spivey

Sustained (2nd, 3rd, 5th, and Octave) Glide
Bari Hoffman and Adam Lloyd

Accessing “Mix”
Jeannette L. LoVetri

Vocalizing the Speaking Mix
Mary Saunders Barton

Four Exercises for Simple Speech
Beverly A. Patton

The Mix Graph
Maddie Tarbox

Honking
Sarah L. Schneider

Meow Mix
Kelly M. Holst

Fix It in the Mix
Starr Cookman

Slidy Aa’s
Lisa Popeil

Hoot-n-Holler
James Curtis and Brian E. Petty

Who knows? You Know!
Eiji Miura

The Three Birds
David Harris and Laurel Irene

Back and Forths: Speaking to Calling
Joey Harrell

References
Notes

Chapter 8. Vocal Styles and Specialty Populations

Belt Tactics: Physical Cues for Success
Ann Evans Watson

A Three-Part Exercise for Bright Vowels in High Tenor Voices
Billy Gollner

Bratty Twang
Norman Spivey

Closed Position for High Conversational Music Theater
Benjamin Czarnota

The Kindly Kindergarten Teacher
Jared Trudeau

Woah Yeah!
Patricia M. Linhart

Belted “Hey”
Joan Ellison

Belt High Notes Like Oprah Winfrey
Jennifer DeRosa

Falling off of the Cliff
Chelsea Packard

Blissful Belting
Joan Lader

Layla and the Canadian Surfer—Belting in Four Easy Steps
Chris York

Boom Ba Chicka
Matthew Edwards

Phrase Shifting
Marcelle Gauvin

Learning How to Improvise & Roff
Alison Crockett

Soul Ingredients® Style Conditioning: Jazz-Do you Believe in Love?
Trineice Robinson-Martin

The Chesty Aye (or A) Exercise for Gospel Singing
Jaron M. LeGrair, M.A.

R&B Riff Exercise
Jeffrey Evans Ramsey

Triplet Galore Based on Blues and Pentatonic Scales (Riff Exercise)
Edrie Means Weekly

Multiple Personalities Vocal Exercise
Wendy D. LeBorgne

Light Chest Mix for Mixed Choir
Thomas Arduini

Acting Through Song: Discovering Connections to Express Ourselves Clearly as Artists
Naz Edwards

The Ultimate Rock Sound
Sheri Sanders

Verbal Diadochokinesis Exercise for Postmenopausal Women and Aging Male Voices
Barbara Fox DeMaio

Creating the Logical 16-Bar Audition Cut
Robert Marks

Exercising Your Pop Mix/Belt for Contemporary Musical Theatre and Commercial Singing
Kristine Reese

Accessing Speech for CCM and Musical Theatre / Accent Work
Dale Cox

Whoa Mi Ha Yeah
Marita Stryker

That’s Mine/That’s Yours
Amanda Flynn

Your Voice, Your Home
Danielle Cozart Steele

Invisible Mic
Warren Freeman

Life’s a Pitch, and then you SPING™ ! A Methodology for Pitch Matching
Beth Falcone

References
Notes

Authors

Marci Daniels Rosenberg

Marci Rosenberg, MS, CCC-SLP, is a singer, speech pathologist, and clinical singing voice specialist. She has worked clinically for over 20 years at The University of Michigan Vocal Health Center. Additionally, she serves as the on-site vocal health consultant to the Department of Musical Theatre at the University of Michigan. Ms. Rosenberg teaches workshops and lectures nationally and internationally on a wide array of topics. She is a featured author in several voice pedagogy books. Among the first cohort to receive the PAVA-RV distinction, Ms. Rosenberg is an active PAVA member serving as Chair of the PAVA Symposium Oversight Committee. She was recently a featured voice expert on the award-winning Canadian science documentary program The Nature of Things - A User’s Guide to the Voice. In addition to her clinical practice, Ms. Rosenberg maintains an active private voice studio and consulting practice. Her varied clients include performers, executives, and teachers spanning the boardroom, Broadway stage, Metropolitan Opera, and everything in between.

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Wendy D. LeBorgne

Wendy LeBorgne, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a renowned voice pathologist, international speaker, bestselling author, and executive communication coach with over two decades of experience. She combines the artistic and scientific aspects of voice to profoundly impact communication and vocal performance. Dr. LeBorgne’s work on Voice Branding™ gained attention through her influential TED talk, emphasizing authentic communication. As CEO of Professional Voice Consultants, LLC, operating as Dr. Wendy Voice, she evaluates and treats vocal injuries and enhances communication skills. She is also an associate professor at Mount St. Joseph University and an adjunct at Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Dr. LeBorgne has authored over 10 textbook chapters and 20 articles, and delivered over 200 lectures worldwide. Her private coaching studio caters to vocal athletes from various platforms, including radio, TV, film, Broadway, and opera globally. Her holistic approach to vocal and communication maximization has established her as a pivotal figure in helping performers excel and maintain vocal health and audience engagement across diverse settings.

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Resources

Purchase of The Vocal Athlete: Application and Technique for the Hybrid Singer, Third Edition comes with access to supplementary resources on a PluralPlus companion website.

The companion website is located at:
https://www.pluralpublishing.com/publication/vaw3e

STUDENTS:
The student resources include audio and video clips.
To access the student materials, you must register on the companion website and log in using the access code found on the inside front cover of your print book.* If you have purchased the eBook from the Plural website, your access code will be the same as for your eBook.