The Vocal Athlete: Application and Technique for the Hybrid Singer

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 exercises focus on various aspects of contemporary commercial music (CCM) including bodywork, mental preparation, registration, and much more.

New to the Third Edition

• Over 20 new invited authors and new singing exercises covering a broader range of CCM styles
• Access to a Plural Plus companion website with audio and video files to enhance understanding of exercises

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 Ancillary Materials

For students and professionals: Audio files and videos

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 [insert companion site icon]    
Barbara J. Walker

The Voice Scan [insert companion site icon]           
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 [insert companion site icon]  
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

Register Transition Exploration        
Aaron M. Johnson

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

Register Isolation for Choral Singers
Edward Reisert

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