A Guide to Classical and Contemporary Styles
for Conductors, Teachers, and Singers
Welcome to a Stylistically Flexible approach to singing technique!
This website supports our book Vocal Technique: A Guide to Classical and Contemporary Styles for Conductors, Teachers, and Singers (Second Edition), published by Waveland Press. Material is drawn from our book but supplementary material will also be posted over time.
The second edition is a major revision, now covering contemporary styles in addition to the classical technique that was the main focus of the first edition. The second edition adds material based on more than 160 new references.
Our perspective is that singers can vary the elements of technique to sing virtually any style (e.g., classical, musical theatre, pop/rock, jazz etc.). These elements are addressed in detail in Vocal Technique and are surveyed on this web site. We do not address the intricacies of interpretive nuances and performance practices of any given style. Rather, we focus on the commonalities and differences of vocal technique and production.
Knowledge of good vocal technique applies to all singing, and all singers deserve the opportunity to sing well. The more conductors, teachers, and singers understand vocal technique and the science underlying it, the more readily they can apply these concepts in both individual and ensemble singing.
The website and our book provide guidance that is both practical and grounded in vocal science. Vocal Technique draws on the perspectives of great artists, modern vocal technicians and pedagogues, perceptual studies of singing, modern vocal science, and, of course, our own training and experience. Cited references appear on the References page. Additional references are contained in Vocal Technique.
We encourage you to read the book, to investigate the material on this website, and to contact us with your questions! See the complete scope of the book on the Table of Contents page.
All content Copyright © 2020 by Stephen LaTour and Julia Davids
The second edition is a major revision, now covering contemporary styles in addition to the classical technique that was the main focus of the first edition. The second edition adds material based on more than 160 new references.
Our perspective is that singers can vary the elements of technique to sing virtually any style (e.g., classical, musical theatre, pop/rock, jazz etc.). These elements are addressed in detail in Vocal Technique and are surveyed on this web site. We do not address the intricacies of interpretive nuances and performance practices of any given style. Rather, we focus on the commonalities and differences of vocal technique and production.
Knowledge of good vocal technique applies to all singing, and all singers deserve the opportunity to sing well. The more conductors, teachers, and singers understand vocal technique and the science underlying it, the more readily they can apply these concepts in both individual and ensemble singing.
The website and our book provide guidance that is both practical and grounded in vocal science. Vocal Technique draws on the perspectives of great artists, modern vocal technicians and pedagogues, perceptual studies of singing, modern vocal science, and, of course, our own training and experience. Cited references appear on the References page. Additional references are contained in Vocal Technique.
We encourage you to read the book, to investigate the material on this website, and to contact us with your questions! See the complete scope of the book on the Table of Contents page.
All content Copyright © 2020 by Stephen LaTour and Julia Davids
To purchase Vocal Technique click here.