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Review
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Key Choral Concepts is a goldmine of valuable information for choir directors and members of choral organizations. It draws from the resources of the author's Teaching Choral Concepts curriculum which has been used with great success by many high schools and university groups across the nation. The book includes basic principles for more than thirty essential aspects of choral singing, presenting them in a concise format that can be easily understood. Every page includes key concepts choir members should utilize to improve their personal singing abilities and musicianship.
Unit I focuses on correct sitting and standing posture for singing; the breathing mechanism; controlled breathing; voice-part classifications; vocal ranges; the reed-flute tone continuum; change-of-color points; and audition preparation and techniques.
Unit 2 covers the objectives of vocal training; the singing mechanism; open throat; personal warmup; care of the voice; vocal resonance; good singing tone; attacks and releases, and effective practice.
Unit 3 deals with dynamic levels; extending vocal ranges; head resonance and head tone; humming; basic musical styles; correct phrasing; vocal flexibility; intonation, and use of the phonetic alpahabet.
Unit 4 discusses the concepts of balance and blend; lip and tongue positions for singing vowels; dipthongs; articulation; singing consonants; enunciation; and pronunciation.
When the Teaching Choral Concepts curriculum was first prepared, valuable quotations from distinguished music educators were assembled on each of the above topics. Those indispensable quotations are reproduced in this book. Also, the extensive materials prepared for teachers to use in reviewing each of the four units has been reprinted here, as a help for those who are using this book as a personal study guide.
Many of the materials presented are accompanied by valuable diagrams. Every concept is an essential building block for constructing a fine choir, and this book presents them in a precise and orderly manner. It's obvious that Key Choral Concepts truly contains a wealth of valuable knowledge every choral musician should acquire!
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Table of Contents
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Preface 12
UNIT 1
1. Introductory Materials
Lessons Contained in Unit 1 13
Unit 1 Objectives 14
2. Correct Sitting Posture
Quotations on Posture 15
Correct Sitting Posture 16
Posture Problems 16
Objectives of Good Posture 16
Rules for Good Singing Posture 16
3. Correct Standing Posture
Fundamentals of Good Standing Posture for Singers 17
A Description of Correct Posture 17
Body Movements to Help You Assume Good Singing Posture 18
4. The Breathing Mechanism
Quotations on Breathing 19
The Breathing Mechanism 20
Antagonistic Muscles 20
Major Muscles of Inspiration 20
Major Muscles of Expiration 21
Key Concepts 21
Remember 21
5. Controlled Breathing
The Breath-Control Relationship 22
Effects of Muscular Imbalance on Singing 22
Three Key Breath-Control Concepts 22
Five Singing Errors to Avoid 23
Six Suggestions for Breath Economy 23
Five Practice Techniques for Improving Breath Control 23
6. Voice-Part Classifications
Quotations on Voice-Part Classification 24
Voice-Part Classifications 25
Mature Voices Are Classified in Two Ways 25
Choir Members Should Know the Part for which Their Voice Is Best Suited 25
Factors which Determine Voice Classifications 25
7. Vocal Ranges
Quotations on Vocal Ranges 26
Vocal Ranges 27
Note-Numbering System 27
Average "Good Ranges" 27
Average Tessituras 28
8. The Reed-Flute Tone Continuum
Quotations on The Reed-Flute Tone Continuum 29
The Reed-Flute Tone Continuum 30
Voice Classifications: Reed, Flute, Mixed 30
Choir Members Should Recognize Reed, Flute and Mixed Tone 30
An Objective of Vocal Training 30
9. Change-of-Color Points
Quotations on Change-of-Color Points 31
Change-of-Color Points 32
Usual Locations of Vocal Mechanism Adjustments 32
Why Change-of-Color Points Are Important 32
Locating Change-of-Color Points 33
Hints on Locating Change-of-Color Points 33
10. Audition Preparation
Quotations on Audition Preparation 34
Audition Preparation 35
What Choir Directors Listen for in a Voice Conference 35
How to Prepare for an Audition or Voice Conference 35
Audition Criteria 36
Vocal Ability 36
Personality 36
Musicianship 36
How to Prepare for an Audition or Voice Conference 36
UNIT 2
Lessons Contained in Unit 2 37
Unit 2 Objectives 38
11. Objectives of Vocal Training
Quotations on the Objectives of Vocal Training 39
Objectives of Vocal Training 40
1. Freedom. 2. Controlled Breathing. 3. Quality Tone Interpretation. 4. Diction.
5. Technique. 6. Musicianship. 7. Range. 8. Expressive. 9. Knowledge of Musical
Styles. 10. Stage Presence 40
How to Grow in Musical Ability 40
Correcting Choral Problems 40
12. The Singing Mechanism
Quotations on The Singing Mechanism 41
The Singing Mechanism 42
Parts of the Singing Mechanism 42
Resonating Cavities 42
Two Singing Adjustments 42
When Singing in the Heavy Mechanism 42
When Singing in the Light Mechanism 42
13. Open Throat
Quotations on Open Throat 43
Open Throat 44
Definitions 44
Characteristics of an Open Throat 44
How Throat Tension Affects Tone Quality 44
Ways the Body Opens the Throat Naturally 44
14. Personal Warmup
Quotations on Personal Warmup 45
Personal Warmup 46
The Importance of Warming Up before Singing 46
Objectives of a Personal Warmup 46
Learn This Ten-step Personal Warmup Routine 46
15. Care of the Voice
Quotations on Care of the Voice 48
Care of the Voice (Part 1) 49
Vocal Abuse 49
Head Colds 50
Laryngitis 50
Allergies 50
Care of the Voice (Part 2) 51
Tonsillitis 51
Smoking 51
Correct Speech Level 52
16. Vocal Resonance
Quotations on Vocal Resonance 53
Vocal Resonance 54
Musical Sound 54
The Harmonic Series 54
17. Good Singing Tone
Quotations on Good Singing Tone 55
Good Singing Tone 56
The Tonal Ideal 56
Ten Elements of Good Singing Tone 56
Production of Good Singing Tone Described 56
Sounds, Feelings and Mental Images of Good Singing Tone 56
Singers' Mental Images 56
18. Tone Color
Bright, Medium and Dark Tone 57
Vibrato, Tremolo, Straight Tone 57
19. Attacks and Releases
Precision 58
Correct Attacks 58
Incorrect Attacks 58
Correct Releases 58
20. Effective Practice
The Importance of Goals and Practice 59
Areas Where Practice Can Bring Improvement 59
Need for Balanced and Varied Practice 59
UNIT 3
Lessons Contained in Unit 3 61
Unit 3 Objectives 62
21. Dynamic Levels
Quotations on Dynamic Levels 63
Dynamic Levels 64
Dynamics" Defined 64
The Six-stage Loudness Scale 64
To Sing Loudly 64
To Sing Softly 64
22. Extending Vocal Ranges
Quotations on Extending Vocal Ranges 65
Extending Vocal Ranges 66
Physical Aspects of Range Development 65
To Sing High 65
To Sing Low 65
Caution 65
23. Head Resonance and Head Tone
Quotations on Head Resonance and Head Tone 67
Head Resonance and Head Tone 68
Head Resonance 68
Nasality and Nasal Resonance 68
Head Voice 68
Heavy and Light Mechanisms 68
24. Humming
Quotations on Humming 70
Humming 71
How to Hum 71
Values of Humming in Learning to Sing 72
Uses of Humming in Performance 72
25. Basic Musical Styles
Quotations on Basic Musical Styles 73
Basic Musical Styles 74
Characteristics of Good and Poor Performance 74
Legato 74
Staccato 74
Marcato 75
Rubato 75
26. Correct Phrasing
Quotations on Correct Phrasing 76
Correct Phrasing 77
Definition of a Phrase 77
Basic Phrasing Rules 77
Singing Long Phrases 77
Catch-breaths and Staggered Breathing 77
27. Vocal Flexibility
Quotations on Vocal Flexibility 78
Vocal Flexibility 79
Flexibility 79
Vocal Agility 79
Practicing Vocal Flexibility 79
28. Intonation
Quotations on Intonation 80
Intonation 81
Key Concepts About Intonation 81
General and Specific Tuning 81
Intonation Problems from Incorrect Vocal Techniques 82
Intonations Problems from Mental Laziness and Fatigue 84
29. Introduction to the Phonetic Alphabet
Quotations on the Phonetic Alphabet 85
The International Phonetic Alphabet Symbols for the English Language 86
The Phonetic Alphabet 87
UNIT 4
Lessons Contained in Unit 4 89
Unit 4 Objectives 90
30. Balance and Blend
Quotations on Balance and Blend 91
Balance and Blend 92
Unity in Choral Performance 92
Definitions 92
Approaches to Achieving Blend 93
Brignt and Dark Tone 93
To Produce Bright Tone 93
To Produce Dark Tone 93
31. Singing the Vowels
Quotations on Singing the Vowels 94
Tongue Positions for Singing the Vowels 95
Lip Positions for Singing the Vowels 96
32. Diphthongs
Quotations on Diphthongs 97
Diphthongs 98
Compound Vowels, Semi-vowels 98
Common Performance Errors 99
Triphthongs, Quadhongs 99
33. Articulation
Quotations on Articulation 100
Singing Consonants 101
Causes of Poor Articulation 101
Voiced and Voiceless Vowels 101
Good Diction 102
Projection 102
Bad Sounds 102
34. Enunciation
Quotations on Enunciation 103
Enunciation 104
Good Diction 104
Projection 104
Bad Sounds 104
35. Pronunciation
Quotations on Pronunciation 105
Pronunciation 106
General Pronunciation Rule 106
Types of Pronunciation Errors 106
Error Examples 107
Consonant and Vowel Rules 107
The "r" Sounds 107
UNIT REVIEWS
Unit 1 Review Ideas 111
Unit 2 Review Ideas 115
Unit 3 Review Ideas 119
Unit 4 Review Ideas 121
Index 125
About the Author 127
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Order Information
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Title:
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Key Choral Concepts-
Teaching Techniques & Tools to Help Your
Choir Sound Great!
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Author:
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Duane S. Crowther
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Retail Price:
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$16.98
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Available:
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Now
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ISBN:
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0-88290-741-7
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Order Number (SKU):
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2934
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Pages:
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120
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Size:
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6" x 9"
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Binding:
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Paperback
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