JOS On Point

Parkinson Disease

Parkinson Disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects approximately two million Americans. In addition to affecting movement, 70-90% of patients also experience Parkinson-related voice and speech disturbance. In their article, “Parkinson Disease,” published in the May/June issue of the Journal of Singing, otolaryngologists and laryngologists Jessica Kandl and Jamie Moore equip readers to recognize the effects of PD on voice and speech and to become familiar with treatment options.

JOS_078_5_2022_609.pdf (application/pdf, 335.5 K) posted at 3:26 PM, August 4, 2022

Paul Nordoff’s Songs, Performed by the Composer

A decade ago, an article in the Journal of Singing by author and vocal coach Leslie De’Ath in the Journal of Singing extolled the songs of Paul Nordoff as an unjustly neglected repertoire of American art song. In “Paul Nordoff’s Songs, Performed by the Composer,” published in the January/February issue of the journal, De’Ath offers fascinating primary source material for 14 songs on poems by e.e. cummings, with Nordoff’s own verbal descriptions of the songs, followed in each case by a performance of the song by the composer himself.

JOS-079-3-2023-351.pdf (application/pdf, 401.7 K) posted at 9:14 AM, February 3, 2023

Perspectives on Perception for Optimal Performance

Perceptual-motor processing is the cognitive processing of neural information involving both sensory and motor systems for the purpose of executing tasks according to behavior-outcome goals. In her article, “Perspectives on Perception for Optimal Performance,” published in the November/December issue of the Journal of Singing, voice scientist and voice pedagogue Karen Leigh-Post seeks to enhance our understanding of the audiomotor performance art that is singing through the lens of neuroscience on perceptual-motor processing and the neural anatomy that links mind and body.

JOS-078-02-2021-261.pdf (application/pdf, 2289.3 K) posted at 3:33 PM, November 8, 2021

Physical Touch in the Voice Studio: A Closer Look

According to author Maria Maxfield, physical touch as a voice teaching tool is a subject that must be confronted. While some voice teachers may believe that their own physical touch upon their students is necessary, Maxfield argues that evidence for its effectiveness is largely anecdotal. In “Physical Touch in the Voice Studio: A Closer Look” in the November/December issue of the Journal of Singing, Maxfield considers evidence from the burgeoning field of trauma research and argues that this, plus the inherent power dynamics in the voice studio, suggest that physical touch in a voice lesson should be abandoned.

JOS-080-2-2023-201.pdf (application/pdf, 289.2 K) posted at 1:53 PM, December 4, 2023

Plus ça change . . .

Journal of Singing Editor in Chief Richard Sjoerdsma, in his Commentary “Plus ça change . . .”, published in the September/October issue of the periodical, announces some new developments in the publication process. These include a relationship with Clarivate, makers of ScholarOne Manuscripts™ to expedite and economize editorial and production procedures; membership in CrossRef that results in the DOI citation method; and a practice of publishing articles ahead of print. The inaugural preprint publication is already online with an important article by David Meyer, John Nix, et al., “Reentry Following COVID-19: Concerns for Singers” (https://muse.jhu.edu/issue/45928).

JOS-078-01-2021-03.pdf (application/pdf, 255.2 K) posted at 3:43 PM, September 10, 2021

Plus ça change . . .

Journal of Singing Editor in Chief Richard Sjoerdsma, in his Commentary “Plus ça change . . .”, published in the September/October issue of the periodical, announces some new developments in the publication process. These include a relationship with Clarivate, makers of ScholarOne Manuscripts™ to expedite and economize editorial and production procedures; membership in CrossRef that results in the DOI citation method; and a practice of publishing articles ahead of print. The inaugural preprint publication is already online with an important article by David Meyer, John Nix, et al., “Reentry Following COVID-19: Concerns for Singers” (https://muse.jhu.edu/issue/45928).

JOS-078-01-2021-03.pdf (application/pdf, 255.2 K) posted at 3:44 PM, September 10, 2021

Practical Science in the Studio, Part 2: “Low-Tech” Strategies

Editor’s Note: This article, an initiative of the NATS Voice Science Advisory Committee, is the second in a three-part series that seeks to introduce the reader to practical and cost-effective strategies for using science to enhance singing instruction. The three articles in this series are divided into “no-tech,” “low-tech,” and “high-tech” segments.

JOS_077_04_2021_509.pdf (application/pdf, 206.5 K) posted at 3:06 PM, June 7, 2021

Practical Science in the Studio, Part 3: “High-Tech” Strategies

In the May/June issue of Journal of Singing, voice pedagogues and scientists David Meyer, John Nix, and David Okerlund, with their article “Practical Science in the Studio, Part 3: ‘High-Tech’ Strategies,” conclude a three-part series that seeks to introduce practical and cost effective strategies for using science to enhance singing instruction. The series is an initiative of the NATS Voice Science Advisory Committee. This final installment considers recent advances in voice science, with special attention on tools for perceptual training for singing teachers.

JOS_077_5_2021_633.pdf (application/pdf, 1063.5 K) posted at 3:49 PM, May 7, 2021

Practical Science in the Studio: ‘No-Tech’ Strategies

An initiative by the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Voice Science Advisory Committee has produced a three-part series of articles that introduce readers to practical and cost effective strategies for using science to enhance voice pedagogy. The first of these, “Practical Science in the Studio: ‘No-Tech’ Strategies,” by David Meyer and Lynn Helding, published in the January/February issue of the Journal of Singing, presents practical strategies based in cognitive and behavioral sciences. “No-tech” and “high-tech” approaches will appear in ensuing articles of the journal.

JOS_077_03_2021_359.pdf (application/pdf, 505 K) posted at 9:52 AM, January 11, 2021

Practical Voice Science: Fatal Flaws In Voice Research and How To Avoid Them, Part Two: Qualitative Studies

The Practical Voice Science Column continues its important investigation of “fatal flaws” in voice science, this time with an emphasis on qualitative studies. Those with interests in designing questionnaires and similar research surveys should read “Practical Voice Science: Fatal Flaws In Voice Research and How To Avoid Them, Part Two: Qualitative Studies,” by co-authors David Meyer and John R. Goss IIII in the March/April issue of the Journal of Singing. Interview protocols are examined, and useful recommendations, both for avoiding common errors and ensuring trustworthiness in survey research, are made.

JOS-080-4-2024-433.pdf (application/pdf, 342.3 K) posted at 2:08 PM, March 1, 2024

Prisons and the power of performance: Reflections on vocal coaching for men and women behind bars

In a fascinating and moving article, “Prisons and the Power of Performance: Reflections on Vocal Coaching for Men and Women Behind Bars,” published in the May/June 2019 issue of Journal of Singing, author John Wesley Wright writes of his work involving inmates in music study and performance. His goal is to make students, invited community members, prison staff, and imprisoned persons more aware of intersectionality in our society; that the music, literature, and communal nature of such a project afford meaningful dialogue and move us in a better direction.

JOS-075-5-2019-573_-_Prisons_and_the_power_of_performance_-_John_Wesley_Wright.pdf (application/pdf, 653.6 K) posted at 1:40 PM, June 4, 2019

Realizing the Benefits of SOVTEs: A Reflection on the Research

Although we benefit from three decades of research on semi-occluded vocal tract exercises, (SOVTEs), questions continue to arise as to the how and why of the pedagogy. In their article, “Realizing the Benefits of SOVTEs: A Reflection on the Research,” published in the January/February issue of Journal of Singing, coauthors Kelley Hiljeh and Cory Pinto survey the literature with an emphasis on bridging the gap between theoretical and clinical research and studio practice and to equip studio teachers with the ability to fine tune their use of SOVTE exercises.

JOS_077_03_2021_333.pdf (application/pdf, 523.4 K) posted at 4:12 PM, February 5, 2021

Reclaiming 'Romantic’: The Art Songs of Tom Cipullo

With his more than 100 art songs, American composer Tom Cipullo ranks among the more prolific contemporary contributors to the genre. In the January/February Journal of Singing, Elizabeth Ann Benson, in her article “Reclaiming ‘Romantic’: The Art Songs of Tom Cipullo,” examines the life, musical style, and selected songs of Cipullo, from the added perspective of having coached the pieces with the composer. The article is enhanced with reference to audio examples on the NATS web site.

JOS-075-3-2019-253_-_Reclaiming_Romantic_-_Elizabeth_Ann_Benson.pdf (application/pdf, 2535.5 K) posted at 3:22 PM, January 7, 2019

Reflecting, Rethinking, Revising, and Reframing

The September/October issue of the Journal of Singing includes associate editor Matthew Hoch’s thoughts on how pedagogues might reinvigorate their teaching, artistry, and scholarship. In “Reflecting, Rethinking, Revising, and Reframing,” Hoch notes that seasoned pedagogues may fall into routines that can become stagnant if not intentionally revitalized. He suggests ways for teachers to exit their comfort zones, including embracing technology and staying up to date on recent scholarship, while also letting go of perfectionism through positive reframing, allowing teachers to follow their passion and explore unanswered questions in the field of voice pedagogy.

JOS-081-1-2024-59.pdf (application/pdf, 275 K) posted at 11:30 AM, September 16, 2024

Registers—The Snake Pit of Voice Pedagogy

First attempts to define registers hark back to the 13th century. Since then, more than 100 different terms for this phenomenon found in scholarly writing have rendered registers one of the most controversial aspects of the singing act. In part one of his article, “Registers—The Snake Pit of Voice Pedagogy,” published in the November/December issue of the Journal of Singing, noted singing teacher and voice scientist Christian Herbst addresses difficult issues of definitions and pedagogic application, particularly in terms of proprioception, perception, and laryngeal mechanisms.

JOS-077-02-2020-175.pdf (application/pdf, 1408.5 K) posted at 1:59 PM, December 9, 2020

Regulating Vocal Load in High Impact Production

The pop/rock canon is perhaps one of the most challenging genres to teach effectively, especially in the absence of a systematic pedagogy that accounts for both stylistic considerations and vocal health. Authenticity in style often calls for sounds that result in high impact production or vocal load. Performer, pedagogue, and leading expert on contemporary voice pedagogy, Justin Moniz, in his article, “Regulating Vocal Load in High Impact Production,” published in the May/June issue of the Journal of Singing, addresses these challenges, discussing foundational elements, manipulating registers, navigating resonance strategies, and matters of counterbalance and conditioning.

JOS_078_5_2022_601.pdf (application/pdf, 620.3 K) posted at 9:09 AM, June 27, 2022

Revisiting the Laryngoscope

Manuel Garcia is universally cited as the “Father of Laryngoscopy” and the inventor of the laryngoscope. In her “Provenance” column, “Revisiting the Laryngoscope,” published in the March/April 2019 issue of “Journal of Singing,” Kimberly Broadwater suggests that both attributions may be inaccurate. Dr. Broadwater unearths documents that identify at least four other persons who experimented with similar instruments and with similar results several decades before Garcia. Although Garcia’s importance to the science of singing continues to loom large, the time has come to accept that he did not invent the laryngoscope.

JOS-075-4-2019-467_-_Revisiting_the_Laryngoscope_-_Broadwater.pdf (application/pdf, 275.7 K) posted at 10:11 AM, March 5, 2019

Sephardic Art Song: From Folk Roots to Classical Heights

The 2025 March/April issue of the Journal of Singing features Turkish mezzo-soprano Lori Şen’s article, “Sephardic Art Song: From Folk Roots to Classical Heights.” Şen is the first person to catalogue this vocal repertoire comprised of Western classical settings of traditional Sephardic folk literature, and to create a Ladino lyric diction guide. Şen’s article reviews the history and language of Sephardim in relation to the development of this genre comprising over 360 songs. Its musical elements and stylistic features are described, Ladino lyric diction and performance practice are explained, and prominent composers and works of this genre are highlighted.

JOS-081-4-2025-405.pdf (application/pdf, 354.2 K) posted at 4:13 PM, March 24, 2025

Sept-Oct 2024 - From the President

The “From the President” column in the September/October issue of the Journal of Singing is the first from NATS’ newest president, Alexis Davis-Hazell. In “Being Relevant,” Davis-Hazell articulates a vision for the relevance of NATS in the 21st century, by introducing a philosophy of retention that involves inclusion of multiple cultural and professional identities, generations, and musical genres within NATS leadership at all levels. She challenges current members to nominate more independent teachers for leadership positions and to support the investment in technological advancements that will move NATS toward fulfilling its vision.

JOS-081-1-2024-1.pdf (application/pdf, 226.4 K) posted at 11:29 AM, September 16, 2024

Seth Riggs—His CCM Legacy

Speech Level Singing is an approach to singing developed by Los Angeles voice pedagogue Seth Riggs. The controversial singing teacher’s contribution to CCM singing and pedagogy has been immense and his students have achieved success at the highest levels of the industry and across multiple musical genres. This phenomenon is examined in Darren Wicks’s “Seth Riggs—His CCM Legacy” in the March/April 2019 issue of Journal of Singing.

JOS-075-4-2019-449_-_Seth_Riggs_-_His_CCM_Legacy_-_Darren_Wicks.pdf (application/pdf, 181.5 K) posted at 2:20 PM, May 21, 2019

Shaming and Blaming

In his article, “Shaming and Blaming,” published in the September/October issue of the Journal of Singing, Brian Manternach boldly addresses the perfidy of these all too prevalent pedagogic practices in the voice studio. In contrast, he stresses the importance of empathy as essential to work we do as teachers of singing, an attribute that must be intentionally honed by means of deliberate practice. In the voice studio, we can help create a culture of connection by ensuring that our language is free from any phrases that that may be construed as shaming or blaming.

JOS-078-01-2021-103.pdf (application/pdf, 576.9 K) posted at 4:16 PM, October 7, 2021

Singing Finnegans Wake: A Key to Samuel Barber’s ‘Nuvoletta

Samuel Barber’s 1947 song “Nuvoletta” has long been a niche favorite among performers, critics, and listeners. Although the music is captivating and gratifying to perform, replete, according to critic Harold Rogers, with unsurpassed sheer lyricism and musical subtleties, James Joyce’s words are strange and often impossible to understand without literary explication. In an absorbingly provocative study, “Singing Finnegans Wake: A Key to Samuel Barber’s ‘Nuvoletta’,” published in the January/February issue of the Journal of Singing, musicologist Howard Pollack dissects and delves deeply into the text, bringing fascinating insights and nuanced meaning to Joyce’s opaque language that are vital to any understanding of this piece.

JOS-078-3-2022-319.pdf (application/pdf, 180.2 K) posted at 10:13 AM, February 2, 2022

Singing in Co-Harmony: An Introduction to Trauma Informed Voice Care

When one works with bodies, it is highly likely that one will interface with the complexities of chronic stress or trauma. In “Singing in Co-Harmony: An Introduction to Trauma Informed Voice Care,” published in the January/February issue of the Journal of Singing, singing voice specialist Megan Durham offers strategies for cultivating a supportive presence in the voice studio to mindfully navigate both comfort and discomfort by establishing compassionate, nonjudgmental reciprocal connections.

JOS-079-3-2023-369.pdf (application/pdf, 259.6 K) posted at 9:16 AM, February 3, 2023

Singing Messiah, Then and Now: How Handel’s Singers Influenced Messiah’s Composition and Inform Modern Performance

In “Singing Messiah, Then and Now: How Handel’s Singers Influenced Messiah’s Composition and Inform Modern Performance,” published in the March/April issue of the Journal of Singing, author Kirsten S. Brown maintains that the reputation of this monument of Western music was built with and through singers and instrumentalists who impacted the work in the minds of Handel and his audiences. Brown identifies and discusses ways in which soprano Giulia Frasi, castrato Gaetano Guadagni, tenor John Beard, and bass Theodore Reinhold influenced the composer’s great oratorio that continue into the present.

Pages_from_JOS_078_4_2022_457.pdf (application/pdf, 2438 K) posted at 9:49 AM, March 7, 2022

Stop Teaching

“Stop Teaching!” That is the advice offered to all teachers of singing — but only at this special time of year — by editor in chief Lynn Helding in the May/June issue of the Journal of Singing. Spring brings forth flowers, graduations, and student performances. But “Recital Season” can also bring farewells, stress, and the psychological phenomenon called “burnout” for teachers. Helding suggests a surprising solution based on principles from cognitive science which can blunt teacher burnout while simultaneously enhancing students’ learning. By stopping teaching during “Recital Season,” teachers may ironically provide singers with what they actually need for optimal performance.

JOS-080-5-2024-505.pdf (application/pdf, 183 K) posted at 2:55 PM, May 13, 2024

Students’ Mental Health and the Voice Studio: How to Help Without Losing Lesson Time

Addressing mental health issues that plague young singers requires the voice teacher to be anchored in the role as a voice expert, to be familiar with a code of ethics, to think through how to prevent ethical dilemmas, and to learn how to address these ethical issues through a process with integrity. Singer, teacher, author Denise Ritter Bernardini, and music therapist Lauren DiMaio, in their article, “Students’ Mental Health and the Voice Studio: How to Help Without Losing Lesson Time,” published in the May/June issue of the Journal of Singing, deal with these matters, also recommending a number of apps that help students to navigate their world and teachers to maintain a professional scope of practice.

JOS_078_5_2022_591.pdf (application/pdf, 445.4 K) posted at 11:49 AM, June 13, 2022

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Guide to Causes, Treatment, Problems, and Coping Strategies

Among the various types of hearing loss singers can experience is Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL), a designated type of Sensorineural Hearing Loss and, depending on its severity, a condition that could spell the end of a teaching and performing career. In her article, “Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Guide to Causes, Treatment, Problems, and Coping Strategies,” Christine Isley-Farmer discusses the definition of the malady, causes, treatment, problems resulting from SSNHL onset, and coping strategies during and after treatment. Portions of the article are written from a personal perspective, since the author was diagnosed with SSNHL and treated in 2015.

JOS-078-01-2021-75.pdf (application/pdf, 3438 K) posted at 4:18 PM, October 7, 2021

Taking a Different Path: From Voice Teacher to Speech-Language Pathologist

Many voice teachers find themselves drawn to music adjacent careers, where the skills they have developed as singers and educators are even more directly applicable. One of these fields is speech-language pathology. Journal of Singing Associate Editor in charge of “The Independent Teacher” column Brian Manternach, in his article “Taking a Different Path: From Voice Teacher to Speech-Language Pathologist,” printed in the January/February issue of the periodical, profiles both a working professional and a graduate student who are negotiating this career shift. He explores their background and experiences, elements that led to a change of career, and how their work as voice teachers informs their work in speech-language pathology.

JOS-078-3-2022-383.pdf (application/pdf, 243.3 K) posted at 10:09 AM, February 2, 2022

Teaching "It" - Scott McCoy

Respected voice pedagogue and author Scott McCoy, who manages the “Voice Pedagogy” column in each issue of Journal of Singing, ventures in the January/February issue into an area where few dare to tread. In his article “Teaching ‘It’,” Dr. McCoy first identifies the non-negotiables for a successful singer’s skillset, then goes on to address the most important—and also the most elusive—quality, the “It” factor. Perhaps musical charisma may be a more precise definition, and whether it can be taught is debatable. Certainly it can be identified, however, and, importantly, enhanced.

JOS-076-3-2020-283_-_Teaching_It_-_McCoy.pdf (application/pdf, 416.2 K) posted at 9:59 AM, February 18, 2020

The Case for Acoustic Registers

In his article “The Case for Acoustic Registers,” published in the November/December issue of the Journal of Singing, voice pedagogue and researcher Kenneth Bozeman argues that in a voice well trained in flow phonation and smooth range negotiation—which has eliminate sudden binary shifts of spectral slope—desirable vocal register shifts will remain. This will be due almost entirely mechanisms identified as acoustic registers. It is a view that represents a conceptual paradigm shift in voice pedagogic thinking, heretofore focused predominantly on laryngeal mechanisms.

JOS-079-2-2022-181.pdf (application/pdf, 3344.9 K) posted at 3:20 PM, December 5, 2022

The Changing Face of Opera in America: Musical Theatre on the American Operatic Stage

The opera industry’s struggle to maintain self-sustaining business models has been an ongoing challenge, particularly since the beginning of the 21st century. Justin John Moniz, in “The Changing Face of Opera in America: Musical Theatre on the American Operatic Stage,” published in the November/December issue of the Journal of Singing, identifies a number of companies at all budget levels that have ventured into musical theatre repertoire, many with great success and with programming benefits that include increased box office revenue and audience development.

JOS-078-02-2021-171.pdf (application/pdf, 848.8 K) posted at 3:36 PM, November 8, 2021

The Effect of Tongue Position on Spectra in Singing

The Anniversary Issue (September/October 2019) issue of Journal of Singing, marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), includes many articles and columns from various periods in the periodical’s history. One, “The Effect of Tongue Position on Spectra in Singing,” is particularly noteworthy. It is coauthored by Richard Miller and Harm Kornelis Schutte, both icons of voice pedagogy and voice science, and is one of the early examples of research using spectrograms. The article is as fresh today as when it was published in 1981.

JOS-076-1-2019-25_The_Effect_of_Tongue_Position_on_Spectra_in_Singing.pdf (application/pdf, 2286 K) posted at 10:45 AM, October 8, 2019

The Effects of Age on the Voice, Part 1

Laryngologists, speech-language pathologists, and voice teachers need to be familiar with the important, clinically relevant, and age-related changes that occur in the human voice. In his continuing column “Care of the Professional Voice” published in the September/October issue of the Journal of Singing, noted otolaryngologist and author, Robert T. Sataloff, and colleague, otolaryngologist Karen M. Kost, begin a three part series, “The Effects of Age on the Voice.”

JOS-077-01-2020-63.pdf (application/pdf, 373.9 K) posted at 3:15 PM, October 6, 2020

The effects of childhood sexual abuse on singers

The voice grows with the body and is intrinsically linked to the self in physical and emotional ways. Thus linked, a body that has endured trauma suffers inevitable effects on the voice in its capacity as instrument. In “The Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Singers,” published in the March/April edition of Journal of Singing, Lauren McQuistin examines how childhood sexual abuse can create difficulties for the young classical singer, informing teachers how to consider and navigate them effectively. It is an important article that unfortunately has increasing applicability in the voice studio.

JOS-076-04-2020-423_-_Effects_of_Childhood_Sexual_Abuse_on_Singers_-_McQuistin.pdf (application/pdf, 184.6 K) posted at 9:51 AM, March 3, 2020

The Effects of Hormonal Contraception on the Voice: History of its Evolution in the Literature

The fluctuation of hormones in the menstrual cycle has significant effects on the voice. Singing teachers should be familiar with the vocal effects of hormones and of hormonal medications such as oral contraceptives, especially in light of recent changes in their chemistry and effects. Jennifer Rodney and Robert T. Sataloff address these issues in their article, “The Effects of Hormonal Contraception on the Voice: History of its Evolution in the Literature,” in the March/April 2019 issue of “Journal of Singing,” with informative conclusions and practical application.

JOS-075-4-2019-435_-_Effects_of_Hormonal_Contraception_on_the_Voice_-_Rodney_-_Sataloff.pdf (application/pdf, 231.2 K) posted at 10:16 AM, May 7, 2019

The Emerging Future of Collegiate Voice Instruction: Updated SWOT Analysis of Current Practice and Implications for the Next Generation

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect and change the world of singing. An earlier (2014) article in the Journal of Singing investigated whether collegiate voice pedagogy adequately served the needs of our singers. In an important article, “The Emerging Future of Collegiate Voice Instruction: Updated SWOT Analysis of Current Practice and Implications for the Next Generation,” published in the January/February issue of the periodical, authors Matt Edwards, Jacqlyn Zito-Edwards, and David Meyer present an updated analysis of the question, taking into consideration changes in the current educational climate.

JOS-079-3-2023-331.pdf (application/pdf, 459.4 K) posted at 3:16 PM, January 6, 2023

The Female Broadway Belt Voice: The Singer’s Perspective

Although belting is dominant style of singing required for females pursuing a professional career in music theater, its pedagogy remains somewhat unsettled. Christianne Roll’s article, “The Female Broadway Belt Voice: The Singer’s Perspective,” found in the November/December issue of “Journal of Singing,” in a study of 17 student singers, shows that voice teachers’ perception and instruction may benefit from a student-centered perspective on the female music theater belt technique.

JOS-076-2-2019-155_-_Christianne_Roll_-_The_Female_Broadway_Belt_Voice.pdf (application/pdf, 223 K) posted at 10:57 AM, December 17, 2019

The Foundations of Mariachi Singing: A Pedagogic Investigation of Stylistically Informed Techniques

The significance and popularity of Mariachi music have initiated extensive discussions about the genre's historical vocal practices, specifically concerning matters of vocal efficiency and sustainability. In their article from the March/April issue, “The Foundations of Mariachi Singing: A Pedagogic Investigation of Stylistically Informed Techniques,” co-authors Justin John Moniz and Paulina Villarreal investigate the technical skill sets required for authentic Mariachi performance. This investigation aims to enrich the teaching and practice of Mariachi singing and support the preservation of its rich musical heritage.

JOS-081-4-2025-441.pdf (application/pdf, 744.5 K) posted at 4:23 PM, April 15, 2025

The Multifunctional Pianist: The Recipe for Orchestral Color and Playing

In their work with singers, collaborative pianists regularly encounter piano reductions of orchestral scores in choral, opera, and concert repertoire. Canadian pianist, chamber musician, pedagogue, and vocal coach Lucas Wong, in his article “The Multifunctional Pianist: The Recipe for Orchestral Color and Playing,” published in the January/February issue of the Journal of Singing, addresses the challenge of searching for an orchestral palette on the 88 keys. Wong focuses on rhythm, timbre, acoustics, dynamic manipulations, and extreme registers to approximate orchestral color at the keyboard.

JOS_077_03_2021_429.pdf (application/pdf, 1454.1 K) posted at 10:27 AM, January 11, 2021

The Myth of Intonation as an Objective Measure of Singing Quality

In their article, “The Myth of Intonation as an Objective Measure of Singing Quality,” published in the May/June issue of Journal of Singing, coauthors Deirdre Michael and Marina Gilman demonstrate that much disagreement exists in terms of pitch accuracy and intonation. They further show that pitch perception cannot be isolated from perception of other aspects of sung tone, nor can intonation be isolated from perceptual assessment of the quality of a whole presentation. The study seeks to clarify the conundrum of intonation and to bring voice pedagogy in line with evidence-based practice founded upon recent scientific research.

JOS_077_5_2021_591.pdf (application/pdf, 619.8 K) posted at 3:47 PM, May 7, 2021

The Postpandemic Pedagogue

It is now a changed world in myriad ways, also with significant implications for voice pedagogy, where the pandemic has hastened, exposed, clarified a variety of trends that had already been taking shape over the past two decades. In his article, “The Postpandemic Pedagogue,” published in the March/April issue of the Journal of Singing, author Matthew Hoch summarizes these emerging themes and examines their implications for the future of voice pedagogy.

Pages_from_JOS_078_4_2022_483.pdf (application/pdf, 324.8 K) posted at 8:53 AM, April 11, 2022

The Right Yoga for the Right Person: Applying Restorative Yoga in the Voice Studio

Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that supports optimal breathing, tension release, and mental clarity. Singers have practiced yoga since the 1920s when Konstantin Stanislavski taught yoga to help them regulate their breathing and cultivate better awareness on stage. In the January/February issue of the Journal of Singing, author Sara Schabas’ feature article, “The Right Yoga for the Right Person: Applying Restorative Yoga in the Voice Studio,” introduces restorative yoga for use in the voice studio, and features clear graphics of key poses that can benefit singers of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

JOS-081-3-2025-265.pdf (application/pdf, 1213.6 K) posted at 3:14 PM, January 23, 2025

The Use of Inhalation Phonation in the Voice Studio: A New Approach to Addressing MTD in Singers

Most singers experience a mild to moderate form of muscle tension dysphonia (MTD), and it is possible for singers to become aphonic because of extreme MTD patterns. In a provocative article in the January/February issue of "Journal of Singing," “The Use of Inhalation Phonation in the Voice Studio: A New Approach to Addressing MTD in Singers,” authors Kate Emerich Gordon and Ona Reed suggest a phonatory technique traditionally used as a speaking voice therapy method as a direct and effective manner of restoring optimal flow phonation and efficient, normal singing phonation. The article also references a tutorial video illustrating inhalation phonation procedures.

JOS-075-3-2019-271_-_The_Use_of_Inhalation_Phonation_-_Gordon_-_Reed.pdf (application/pdf, 883.1 K) posted at 9:48 AM, February 19, 2019

The Versatile Voice: Examining Ethics in Voice Teaching

While the role of ethics in teaching has long been a topic of discussion among educators across a wide array of disciplines, examining teaching ethics in the study of voice requires significant and ongoing discourse. In his regular column, “The Versatile Voice,” associate editor Justin John Moniz tackles this topic in “Examining Ethics in Voice Teaching” by first surveying the value of understanding ethics in voice teaching and then offering educators a five-part paradigm to support the implementation of ethical practices in the voice studio setting.

JOS-081-3-2025-327.pdf (application/pdf, 457.8 K) posted at 4:34 PM, January 10, 2025

The Versatile Voice: Managing Vocal Endurance Through Active Recovery by Justin John Moniz

In the January/February issue of the Journal of Singing, associate editor Justin John Moniz offers practical advice for vocal athletes in this issue’s Versatile Voice column, “Managing Vocal Endurance Through Active Recovery.” Moniz addresses the evolving demands of operatic, musical theatre, and popular styles of singing, and the need for active recovery both during and after voicing. Measures of “perceived exertion” as they relate to a singer’s heart rate, breath rate, sweating, and fatigue, provides the framework for self-assessment tools that can assist singers in cultivating longevity and success.

JOS-080-3-2024-321.pdf (application/pdf, 766.3 K) posted at 3:59 PM, January 5, 2024

The Wages of Dying: A Performance Guide to Jake Heggie’s From The Book of Nightmares by Kristen Marchiafava

The January/February issue of the Journal of Singing features an extensive article about the life and work of celebrated American composer Jake Heggie. “The Wages of Dying: A Performance Guide to Jake Heggie’s From The Book of Nightmares” by Kristen Marchiafava, is both a guide to this specific song cycle for soprano, cello, and piano, and an account of Heggie’s stylistic influences and compositional process by way of his most important works. Heggie fans should note the many quotations derived from multiple personal interviews between Heggie and Marchiafava, that appear exclusively in this article for the Journal of Singing.

JOS-080-3-2024-265.pdf (application/pdf, 3628.6 K) posted at 3:57 PM, January 5, 2024

The Yelp Effect: Harnessing the Power of Online Reviews to Grow Your Voice Studio

In our digital age, independent voice teachers recognize that a web presence is crucial to achieve visibility and to attract students. In the November/December issue of “Journal of Singing,” singing teacher Melissa Treinkman writes about “The Yelp Effect: Harnessing the Power of Online Reviews to Grow Your Voice Studio.” There are compelling reasons to utilize an online review site, and Treinkman details its pros and cons, as well as practical considerations in implementing a Yelp presence.

JOS-075-2-2018-191_-_The_Yelp_Effect_-_Treinkman.pdf (application/pdf, 401 K) posted at 12:27 PM, November 6, 2018

Theatrical Fog, Smoke, and Haze Effects

Singers often are required to perform in the presence of various artistic effects, including stage fogs and smoke, pyrotechnics, and others. Since some of these effects can result in voice problems, singers and teachers of singing need to be familiar with their potential impediments to performance. In her article, “Theatrical Fog, Smoke, and Haze Effects,” published in the May/June issue of Journal of Singing, singer, professional hygienist, and arts safety consultant Monona Rossol identifies the chemical makeup and exposure risks for stage smoke, fog, and haze, and provides cautions and guidelines for stage workers and audiences.

JOS_077_5_2021_645.pdf (application/pdf, 248.4 K) posted at 12:57 PM, June 3, 2021

This Isn’t the First New Normal: Finding Correlations Between the Tambora Climate Disaster and the Development of Lieder in 1815-15

A unique, fascinating article, “This Isn’t the First New Normal: Finding Correlations Between the Tambora Climate Disaster and the Development of Lieder in 1815-15,” authored by pianist, clinician, and repetiteur Christopher Foley and published in the May/June issue of the Journal of Singing, draws a parallel between the current pandemic and the eruption of Mount Tambora on the island of Sumbawa (Indonesia) in April, 1815. Foley shows how the effect that global disruption had on European musical life in the years following the disaster, especially on the ouevre of Beethoven and Schubert.

JOS_077_5_2021_711.pdf (application/pdf, 469.5 K) posted at 3:17 PM, July 12, 2021

Time Spent: The Forty-Hour Workweek

In his “The Independent Teacher” column of the May/June issue of Journal of Singing, Brian Manternach begins a series that considers “time spent” in the independent teaching studio. In his first installment, “Time Spent: The Forty-Hour Workweek,” he explores the origin of the 40-hour workweek, how it currently functions in our society, and how applicable it may be to studio teaching. He presents data on how the numbers of hours worked each week can impact worker effectiveness, how many weekly hours teachers tend to dedicate to their profession, and how traditional approaches to the workweek may not be the useful ways for teachers to spend their time.

JOS_078_5_2022_629.pdf (application/pdf, 179.7 K) posted at 9:18 AM, June 22, 2022

Trauma, Attachment, Emotions, and Voice Care

A multi-authored work in the September/October issue of the Journal of Singing considers the variety of ways in which early-life experiences can impact general health and voice care in adults. In “Trauma, Attachment, Emotions, and Voice Care,”associate editor Elisa Monti and six coauthors have investigated relationships between psychological factors such as childhood trauma, attachment, and emotions, opening a window to the importance of exploring specific psychological factors in relation to voice.

JOS-081-1-2024-87.pdf (application/pdf, 590.8 K) posted at 11:32 AM, September 16, 2024

Types of Testosterone Therapy and their Effects on the Voices of Transgender Singers

In order to navigate challenges faced by transgender singers, voice teachers and singers must understand the vocal effects of hormone therapy. In her article, “Types of Testosterone Therapy and their Effects on the Voices of Transgender Singers,” found in the January/February issue of the Journal of Singing, New Zealand voice pedagogue and researcher Tessa Romano, drawing upon clinical studies, interviews, and analysis, maps vocal changes that occur during the first two years of testosterone therapy and how the process of voice change varies according to the form that the therapy takes.

JOS-078-3-2022-327.pdf (application/pdf, 381.8 K) posted at 10:18 AM, January 10, 2022

Under Pressure: Reports of Performance Anxiety Across Multiple Singing Genres

Music performance anxiety is the experience of heightened stress levels before, during, and after music performance, and it is reported that 15-25% of musicians will experience MPA in their career. While sharing a reliance on voice as the instrument, each separate field of contemporary commercial music, music theater, and classical has its own unique culture and expectations. In their article, “Under Pressure: Reports of Performance Anxiety Across Multiple Singing Genres,” published in the May/June 2022 issue of the Journal of Singing, Australian musicians, educators, and researchers Ajhriahna Henshaw and Sarah Collyer review the literature and examine the challenges posed in each genre.

JOS_078_5_2022_583.pdf (application/pdf, 512.8 K) posted at 9:07 AM, June 27, 2022

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