Journal of Singing - On Point

Journal of Singing On Point is a series of articles which highlight relevant topics in the field of voice teaching. We encourage non-members to browse these items free of charge. If you would like to receive the complete "Journal of Singing," please consider subscribing. These volumes serve as a key reference source in your office, studio or library.

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JOS On Point

A Brief Survey of South African Art Song: Imported through its European heritage, the art song has found a place among South African composers. However, against the backdrop of its complicated history, South Africa’s art songs often seem to reflect themes of exile, inner struggle and nostalgia. In the November/December issue of the Journal of Singing “On Migration, Exile, and Cosmopolitanism: A Brief Survey of South African Art Song,” author Nico de Villiers explores how these themes resonate through South Africa’s complex history, and how they have subsequently been reflected in the genre of art song, with specific reference to songs by six prominent South African composers.
JOS-080-2-2023-145.pdf (application/pdf, 1185.5 K) posted at 2:47 PM, October 31, 2023
A Cornucopia of Media Offerings: The “Listener’s Gallery” column in the Journal of Singing (a JOS Staple since 2001) has been renamed “The Media Gallery.” Longtime associate editor Gregory Berg’s astute reviews of recordings now includes video and streaming services as well. Berg’s November/December column features his in-depth review of “BroadwayHD,” an on-demand digital streaming service that distributes musicals, spoken plays, concerts, and documentaries. Berg extols the incalculable virtues of learning from the practitioners of both sung and spoken theater, because “as singers and teachers of singing, we are engaged in one of the most profound acts of communication.” Readers should also check out Berg’s September/October review of the “Royal Opera House Stream.”
JOS-080-2-2023-243.pdf (application/pdf, 874.5 K) posted at 1:13 PM, October 31, 2023
A Time To . . .: In his Editor’s Commentary entitled “A Time To . . .,” published in the May/June issue of the Journal of Singing, Editor in Chief Richard Dale Sjoerdsma announced his intent to relinquish that position at the end of the 2022-23 publication cycle. At that point, Dr. Sjoerdsma, only the seventh full time editor in the journal’s 80 year history, will have served 22 years at the helm of the distinguished peer reviewed periodical, official organ of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. A search has been launched to fill the position, and interested persons may find a job description, applicant requirements, and directions for application at NATS.org under “Job Center.”
JOS_078_5_2022_555.pdf (application/pdf, 696.3 K) posted at 11:29 AM, May 9, 2022
Against the Wind: Singers Growing Old: Singers grow old, and they must grapple with accommodating to changes in voice and anxiety about continued ability to perform. JoAnna E. Sloggy and Graham D. Rowles, in their article “Against the Wind: Singers Growing Old,” published in the May/June 2019 issue of “Journal of Singing,” discuss aging in prominent rock stars past and present. In the light of unrealistic audience expectations that hold them to standards of their youth, these iconic personalities face difficult challenges and decisions that they discuss in their own words.
JOS-075-5-2019-535_-_Against_the_Wind_-_Sloggy_-_Rowles.pdf (application/pdf, 335.6 K) posted at 9:31 AM, June 18, 2019
An Introduction to Vocal Fold Masses: Singing teachers often are first to recognize vocal problems and recommend medical evaluation. Several vocal masses can affect the professional voice, and it is important to understand the multifactorial contributions and pathogenesis of each to determine prognosis. In “An Introduction to Vocal Fold Masses,” published in the January/February issue of Journal of Singing, authors Vishnu V. Martha, Swetha Vontela, and Robert T. Sataloff identify causes and treatment for several vocal masses, recommending close collaboration between laryngologists, singing teachers, and other voice professionals.
JOS-079-3-2023-339.pdf (application/pdf, 1305.4 K) posted at 3:17 PM, January 6, 2023
An investigation of CCM voice pedagogy: A class of its own?: Surging public interest in and demand for singing voice training in CCM styles has posed a dilemma for singing teachers, performers, and voice students who have been trained only in the traditional classical model, and American voice pedagogy has been slow to respond. The major challenge is that the field of CCM singing lacks a systematic, clear, and cohesive pedagogy that addressed the specific style-related technique and vocal health needs of CCM singers. In the January/February 2020 issue of Journal of Singing with “An Investigation of Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Voice Pedagogy: A Class of Its Own?,” Irene Bartlett and Marisa Lee Naismith contribute a significant contribution to a gradually expanding literature.
JOS-076-3-2020-273_-_Bartlett-Naismith_-_An_Investigatin_of_CCM.pdf (application/pdf, 416.5 K) posted at 11:45 AM, February 4, 2020
Anti-Fat Bias in the Singing Voice Studio, Part One: Culture and Context: In the first of a two-part article, “Anti-Fat Bias in the Singing Voice Studio, Part One: Culture and Context,” appearing in the March/April issue of the Journal of Singing, authors Elizabeth Ann Benson and Kate Rosen provide extensive context and insight into the culture of discrimination that fat people encounter. This installment of an important study examines fat stigma, vocabulary, medical care, fatphobia rooted in racism, and a plethora of related issues, in an effort to begin a conversation that could profoundly impact our entire society.
JOS-079-4-2023-503.pdf (application/pdf, 499.9 K) posted at 9:59 AM, March 13, 2023
Audio Technology: A Tool for Teachers and Singers: Alongside a developing systemic pedagogy for CCM is an awareness of the primal importance of audio technology in contemporary singing. Aaron Cafaro and Christopher Arneson, in “Audio Technology: A Tool for Teachers and Singers,” published in the January/February issue of Journal of Singing, introduce fundamental aspects of audio technology and explore how that technology can benefit singers and voice teachers in the context of the voice lesson.
JOS-076-3-2020-311_-_Cafaro_-_Arneson_-_Audio_Technology.pdf (application/pdf, 531.3 K) posted at 11:27 AM, January 21, 2020
“Assigning Racially and ethnically Specific Repertoire: The Student Veto Option": Singing teachers find that students are more motivated to practice repertoire they have chosen themselves. But who is best equipped to choose repertoire in the voice studio for singers of a specific race or ethnicity? In his article, “Assigning Racially and ethnically Specific Repertoire: The Student Veto Option,” published in the May/June issue of the Journal of Singing, Brian Manternach identifies opportunities and problems that ethnically and racially specific repertoire can present in both the voice studio and in singers’ professional preparation, and he introduces the “student veto” policy as a pedagogic principle.
JOS_077_5_2021_685.pdf (application/pdf, 364.8 K) posted at 3:09 PM, July 12, 2021
“The Telegraph of the Heart”: American Songs by Augusta Browne: Augusta Browne Garrett (c. 1820-1882) stands out as a skilled musician who was one of the women most active in publishing sheet music in 19th century America, with music in print a half century before that of Amy Beach and a decade before Stephen Foster’s. In “’The Telegraph of the Heart’: American Songs by Augusta Browne, “ published in the May/June issue of the Journal of Singing, pianist/musicologist Bonny H. Miller demonstrates that, sidestepping hackneyed clichés of many parlor ditties, Browne’ songs are exemplary works that exhibit musical thought and sophistication.
JOS-076-05-2020-517.pdf (application/pdf, 956.5 K) posted at 11:28 AM, August 13, 2020
Beyond the Spirituals: Harry T. Burleigh’s Five Songs of Laurence Hope: Written in 1915, Five Songs of Laurence Hope are considered by many to be Harry T. Burleigh’s greatest achievement. These harmonically adventurous, lush musical settings stand in stark contrast to the straightforward style of his more familiar spiritual arrangements. Gregory Zavracky, in his article, “Beyond the Spirituals: Harry T. Burleigh’s Five Songs of Laurence Hope," found in the May/June issue of the Journal of Singing, provides information relevant to the performance and teaching of the cycle. Included are short biographies of the composer and poet Adela Cory Nicolson, details about the premiere and its reception, technical considerations, poem synopses, and musical analysis.
JOS_078_5_2022_559.pdf (application/pdf, 811.3 K) posted at 3:27 PM, August 4, 2022
Bringing a Different Kind of Research into the Studio: Internationally known composer and voice teacher David Sisco is the author of a provocative article, “Bringing a Different Kind of Research into the Studio,” in the September/October issue of Journal of Singing. In it, he highlights several dynamic tools to enhance voice teaching effectiveness, outlines studies that illuminate them, and models application in the studio. These tools include teaching curiosity, teaching vulnerability, practicing mindfulness, practicing self-care—all critical issues for the engaged voice pedagogue.
JOS-077-01-2020-19.pdf (application/pdf, 186.4 K) posted at 8:15 AM, September 2, 2020
Cancer Chemotherapy: An Overview and Voice Implications: Three respected otolaryngologists and an Oncology Pharmacy Specialist join to write “Cancer Chemotherapy: An Overview and Voice Implications” in the May/June issue of the Journal of Singing. The many treatment options for cancer and the plethora of chemotherapeutic drugs and other agents continue to grow. Current agents possess effective antitumor activity, but they come with a multitude of voice impairing side effects of varying severity with which singers and singing teachers should be familiar.
JOS-076-05-2020-559.pdf (application/pdf, 444.4 K) posted at 12:56 PM, July 7, 2020
Care of the Professional Voice: ‘Voice Rest’: All too often, “Don’t Sing” is an unnecessary prescription given to patients for various voice maladies. “Don’t speak” is a less common recommendation, and it is justified even more rarely. In their article “Voice Rest” in the May/June issue of “Journal of Singing,” physicians Robert Sataloff, Adam Rubin, Karen Lyons, and Voice Pathologist/Singing Voice Specialist Jean Skeffington offer reasons when absolute voice rest is necessary and how the patient should handle it. They also examine the more common relative voice rest, with practical suggestions for patient program of activity during this therapy.
JOS-075-5-2019-557_-_Voice_Rest_-_Satalof_-_Cline_-_Lyons_-_Skeffington_-_Rubin.pdf (application/pdf, 697.9 K) posted at 11:10 AM, July 9, 2019
Care of the Professional Voice: Gluten Sensitivity: Gluten allergy seems almost faddish as a “maladie du jour,” but its ubiquity is much more real than imagined. In their article “Gluten Sensitivity” for the column “Care of the Professional Voice” of the January/February issue of “Journal of Singing,” Drs. Aaron J. Jaworek and Robert T. Sataloff suggest that the problem, especially with the concomitant gastroesophageal reflux, poses a serious threat to singers. In the article, the authors thoroughly identify the allergy, and discuss its diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment.
JOS-075-3-2019-303_-_Gluten_Sensitivity_-_Jaworek-Sataloff.pdf (application/pdf, 448.7 K) posted at 1:56 PM, February 5, 2019
CCM versus Music Theater - A Comparison: At the turn of the present century, music theater pedagogy was often considered synonymous with CCM pedagogy. As we near the end of the second decade of the 21st century, separate pedagogies are emerging that distinguish important differences between the training of commercial singers and that of music theater performers. These are explored by noted scholars and voice practitioners Matthew Edwards and Matthew Hoch, in “CCM versus Music Theater: A Comparison,” published in the November/December 2018 issue of “Journal of Singing.”
JOS-075-2-2018-183_-_CCM_versus_Music_Theater_-_Edwards-Hoch.pdf (application/pdf, 230.3 K) posted at 11:35 AM, December 17, 2018
Cinderella Meets Cendrillon: Music Theater and Opera Living Under the Same Roof: For many years, opera and music theater have occupied separate—and often antagonistic—worlds, playing to very different audiences. In “Cinderella Meets Cendrillon: Music Theater and Opera Living Under the Same Roof,” featured in the November/December issue of “Journal of Singing,” authors Mark McQuade, Jennifer McQuade, Allen Henderson, and David Sisco outline a modern trend in U. S. and European performance venues to include both genres, a movement that has financial, attendance, and pedagogic ramifications.
JOS-075-2-2018-121_-_Cinderella_Meets_Cendrillon.pdf (application/pdf, 626.5 K) posted at 3:12 PM, November 27, 2018
Cognition in the Age of Corona: Singer, voice pedagogue, cognitive scientist, and author Lynn Helding has long espoused adding to the two pillars of voice science, physiology and acoustics, a third pillar, cognitive science. In her article, “Cognition in the Age of Corona: Teaching Students How to Learn,” published in the November/December issue of Journal of Singing, she examines how to leverage what is known from cognitive science about the connection between volition and learning so that music students might examine their own agency and responsibility for learning, and teachers might create the best cognitive conditions of online learning in the Age of Corona.
JOS-077-02-2020-249.pdf (application/pdf, 1361.4 K) posted at 9:36 AM, November 4, 2020
Collab Corner - “The Art and Skills of Learning (New) Music: Lucy Shelton’s Practice Guide”: Internationally acclaimed soprano Lucy Shelton has made a career embracing challenges of new music. In “The Art and Skills of Learning (New) Music: Lucy Shelton’s Practice Guide,” found in the March/April issue of Journal of Singing, Ms. Shelton shares her method for learning contemporary works. Her carefully constructed toolkits provide practical approaches designed to greatly reduce the fear of seemingly daunting scores and render them more easily accessible to the interested singer.
JOS-075-4-2019-477_-_Collab_Corner_Art_and_Skills_of_Learning_New_Music_-_Shelton.pdf (application/pdf, 2048.6 K) posted at 12:39 PM, April 16, 2019
Collab Corner: Dalton Baldwin: His Personal and Musical Legacy: Surely one of the great collaborative pianists of our time was Dalton Baldwin, whose musical legacy includes performing and recording with the world’s most distinguished artists, such as Elly Ameling, Jessye Norman, José Van Dam, and a host of others. But perhaps his most significant collaboration was with Gérard Souzay, with whom Baldwin recorded much of the great French art song literature. Margo Garrett, herself a well known collaborative pianist and teacher, pays tribute to the artist in an article, “Dalton Baldwin: His Personal and Musical Legacy,” in the May/June 2020 issue of the Journal of Singing.
JOS-076-05-2020-601.pdf (application/pdf, 517.1 K) posted at 2:03 PM, June 9, 2020
Contemporary Perspectives on the Countertenor: Unlike systematic voice pedagogy for classical singers pioneered by the legendary Richard Miller, and an emerging pedagogy for CCM singers headed by Robert Edwin, Jeanette LoVetri, and others, there is no similar codified approach for the countertenor voice. In the November/December issue of “Journal of Singing,” Jerod Reetz continues a movement to fill this gap with his “Contemporary Perspectives on the Countertenor: Interviews with Kai Wessel, Corinna Herr, Arnold Jacobshagen, and Matthias Echternach.” The article reflects contemporary thought on the topic, furthering an understanding of the countertenor voice and its pedagogy.
JOS-075-2-2018-131_-_Contemporary_Perspectives_on_the_Contertenor_-_Reetz.pdf (application/pdf, 204.7 K) posted at 10:43 AM, December 4, 2018
Conversations About Instructional Touch in the Voice Studio: Instructional touch in the teaching of singing, a viable tenet of voice pedagogy for centuries, currently has engendered considerable debate concerning its effectiveness and appropriateness. In an important article published in the March/April issue of the Journal of Singing, “Conversations About Instructional Touch in the Voice Studio,” authors Brian Kremer and Kim Shively offer a balanced critical examination of the dynamics involved in contactless pedagogy as well as the ethical use of instructional touch.
JOS-079-4-2023-469.pdf (application/pdf, 254.7 K) posted at 11:24 AM, April 20, 2023
Crohn’s Disease of the Voice: Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with increasing presence in the Western world. IBD primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract, but due to widespread inflammation, extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) of the disease are common. In their article, “Crohn’s Disease of the Voice,” published in the November/December issue of the Journal of Singing, Sarah Ecenbarger, Rachael Gates, and Susan Kais posit that recognizing EIMs in Crohn’s disease is important to professional voice users, especially singers. It is possible that subtle changes of the voice and laryngeal regions due to inflammatory conditions, such as Crohn’s disease, may go unnoticed, and hence undiagnosed, in the general population.
JOS-079-2-2022-189.pdf (application/pdf, 445.4 K) posted at 2:55 PM, November 7, 2022
Cultivating Instincts_Music Theater Students_Spectral Pedagogy: JOS-074-2-2017-203.pdf (application/pdf, 253.3 K) posted at 12:08 PM, November 21, 2017
Culture vs. Science in Voice Pedagogy: In “Culture vs. Science in Voice Pedagogy,” appearing in the September/October issue of the Journal of Singing, noted voice pedagogue and CCM specialist Robert Edwin examines a crucial question: Do cultural and tribal beliefs still inform our voice pedagogy more than science and thus inhibit singers from exploring the full potential of both the human voice and artistic expression? The article summarizes and continues the author’s 37-year pedagogic career of exposing archaic myths, inaccurate definitions, and cultural biases.
JOS-077-01-2020-81.pdf (application/pdf, 137.1 K) posted at 3:13 PM, October 6, 2020
Developing a Vocal Manual Therapy Intervention for the Treatment of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux in Professional Voice Users: A Pilot Study of Two Elite Singers: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is an inflammatory condition characterized by the backflow of gastric contents in the larynx, pharynx, and upper aerodigestive track. An estimated 4-6% of patients who visit ENT clinics present with LPR symptoms, and comorbidity with voice disorders is common. British voice practitioners and researchers Lydia Flock and Stephen King, in their article “Developing a Vocal Manual Therapy Intervention for the Treatment of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux in Professional Voice Users: A Pilot Study of Two Elite Singers,” appearing in the May/June issue of the Journal of Singing, extends existing research and details the development of a vocal manual therapy intervention specifically designed for use with professional voice users, also providing preliminary evidence of the potential effectiveness of manual therapy in reducing elite singer LPR symptoms.
JOS-079-5-2023-593.pdf (application/pdf, 606.6 K) posted at 2:38 PM, May 8, 2023
Editor’s Commentary: With his final “Editor’s Commentary” column in his capacity as Editor in Chief of the Journal of Singing, published in the May/June issue of the periodical, Dr. Richard Sjoerdsma pens a valedictory entitled “Ade!” In it, Sjoerdsma muses over a few of many editorial highlights of his 22-year career, offers thanks to many who played significant roles in his journey, and expresses confidence in the future of the journal. The issue also contains a salute to retiring contributors, and a tribute page “Celebrating Richard ‘Dick’ Sjoerdsma.”
JOS_Final_Editor_s_Commentary_2023.pdf (application/pdf, 855.3 K) posted at 2:03 PM, May 8, 2023
Editor’s Commentary on World Voice Day: Each year, the March/April issue of the Journal of Singing honors World Voice Day, an international event commemorated annually on April 16. In the current issue, retiring Editor in Chief Richard Dale Sjoerdsma devotes his “Editor’s Commentary” column to the WVD 2023 theme, “Your Voice Matters.” Dr. Sjoerdsma argues that, beyond the care and nurture of the voice in its physical and spiritual dimensions, one cannot effectively separate that theme “Your Voice Matters” from what matters in life. What matters in life is love, and a corollary to the WVD 23 theme may be to love your voice and share it with love.
JOS-079-4-2023-433.pdf (application/pdf, 369.9 K) posted at 10:50 AM, April 11, 2023
Editor’s Commentary Sept/Oct 2023: In the September/October issue of the Journal of Singing, new Editor in Chief Lynn Helding introduces readers to exciting changes in her inaugural “Editor’s Commentary.” The “Vocal Point” has evolved from a print-only column to a hybrid print-plus-video format under new associate editor Melissa Treinkman, whose interviews with established singers in a variety of genres are posted on the NATS YouTube channel. Pianists Alison d’Amato and Elvia Puccinelli are the first team of joint associate editors to assume the collaborative piano column “Collaborations,” and David Meyer and John Nix launch their new column, “Practical Voice Science.” For budding academic writers, the journal’s “Mentored Writing Initiative” and the “Richard Sjoerdsma Excellence in Writing Award” are announced.
JOS-080-1-2023-007.pdf (application/pdf, 176.6 K) posted at 2:07 PM, October 9, 2023
Editor’s Commentary: A Retrospective on 20 Years: In his Editor’s Commentary, “A Retrospective on 20 Years,” published in the May/June issue of Journal of Singing, Editor in Chief Richard Sjoerdsma looks back on his two decades in the position. The journey has resulted in more than 300 feature articles, some 1600 regularly recurring columns, and millions of words, and has rendered the periodical at the vanguard of publications that deal with the act and art of singing, reflecting the thinking of the best scientific and pedagogic minds past and present.
JOS_077_5_2021_587.pdf (application/pdf, 196.4 K) posted at 4:06 PM, August 5, 2021
Editor’s Commentary: Auris Vermis—Earworms: Earworms—bane or blessing? In his commentary, “Auris Vermis—Earworms,” for the May/June issue of the Journal of Singing, Editor in Chief Richard Sjoerdsma cites some contemporary research on this ubiquitous cognitive phenomenon, and provides several examples of some verbal, emotional, and existential triggers that loosen earworms. Voice practitioners seem to possess a particularly rich loam in which they can thrive.
JOS-076-05-2020-513.pdf (application/pdf, 231.6 K) posted at 12:57 PM, July 7, 2020
Evidence-Based Voice Pedagogy (EBVP), Part 1: Voice Research Component: Lynn Maxfield, Associate Editor for the “Mindful Voice” column of the Journal of Singing, pairs with noted scholar, singer, and voice pedagogue Kari Ragan in “Evidence-Based Voice Pedagogy (EBVP), Part 1: Voice Research Component,” published in the March/April issue of the periodical. It is the first in a series that explores and defines components of an evidence-based tripartite pedagogic framework: voice research; voice teacher expertise and experience; student goals and perspectives. In Part 1, the authors posit that voice research, in its relation to voice pedagogy, incorporates evidence arising from numerous fields of study, employing widely varying methodologies.
JOS_077_04_2021_543.pdf (application/pdf, 356.1 K) posted at 11:26 AM, April 8, 2021
Evidence-Based Voice Pedagogy (EBVP), Part 3: Student Goals and Perspectives: Lynn Helding and Kari Ragan, each a distinguished singer, voice pedagogue, researcher, and author, conclude a multipart series of articles that explores and further defines each of the three components of the Evidence-Based Voice Pedagogy framework. In “Evidence-Based Voice Pedagogy (EBVP), Part 3: Student Goals and Perspectives,” published in the May/June 2022 Journal of Singing, the authors explicate the goals and perspectives component of EBVP so that as it evolves as a teaching model, the complex and interpersonal nature of effective voice teaching will include a humanistic/holistic approach.
JOS_078_5_2022_635.pdf (application/pdf, 241.8 K) posted at 11:29 AM, May 9, 2022
Examining How Voice Teachers Influence Student Achievement: Research defining qualities of the expert voice teacher predominantly have focused on attributes, behaviors, and practices of classical voice teachers. In “Examining How Voice Teachers Influence Student Achievement,” published in the March/April issue of the Journal of Singing, Australian voice pedagogues/researchers Heather Fletcher, Amanda E. Krause, and Jane W. Davidson examine different attributes and characteristics of expert voice teachers--specifically background and experience, along with psychological components, including empathy and leadership--in order to determine more precisely what influences student success.
JOS-079-4-2023-445.pdf (application/pdf, 712.7 K) posted at 10:46 AM, March 13, 2023
Exceptional Students in the Voice Studio: Understanding and Training Students with Asperger’s Syndrome: Although it remains a pedagogy largely unaddressed in higher education music curricula, teaching voice lessons to exceptional students who experience difficulty in learning due to impaired communication and social skills is an increasingly encountered challenge. Ann Cravero, in her article “Exceptional Students in the Voice Studio: Understanding and Training Students with Asperger’s Syndrome,” appearing in the November/December issue of the Journal of Singing, focuses on an approach to voice pedagogy for students identified with a singular disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome.
JOS-077-02-2020-159.pdf (application/pdf, 675.4 K) posted at 2:45 PM, December 9, 2020
Exogenous Testosterone and the Transgender Singing Voice: A 30-Month Case Study: In their article, “Exogenous Testosterone and the Transgender Singing Voice: A 30-Month Case Study,” published in the March/April issue of the Journal of Singing, coauthors Ari Agha and Laura Hynes initiate the first rigorous, scientific description of the timing and nature of the singing voice changes of an assigned female singer taking testosterone. The article includes links to illustrative audio recordings of the singer’s changing voice and pushes traditional boundaries of voice research by considering the singer’s embodied, emotional experience of their voice.
Pages_from_JOS_078_4_2022_441.pdf (application/pdf, 723 K) posted at 9:45 AM, March 7, 2022
Exploring Adjunct Teaching, Part 1: In a two part article, “Exploring Adjunct Teaching,” appearing in the March/April and May/June issues of the Journal of Singing, voice pedagogue Brian Manternach investigates issues related to adjunct voice instruction in higher education. Part 1 examines how reliance on adjunct labor has impacted academia at large, as well as how it impacts studio voice lessons. In order to more accurately portray what adjunct teaching looks like on a day to day basis, Part 2 relates personal experiences of five teachers who currently work, or have previously worked, as adjunct voice teachers.
JOS-076-04-2020-459.pdf (application/pdf, 187 K) posted at 11:32 AM, August 13, 2020
Exploring Adjunct Teaching, Part 2: In a two part article, “Exploring Adjunct Teaching,” appearing in the March/April and May/June issues of the Journal of Singing, voice pedagogue Brian Manternach investigates issues related to adjunct voice instruction in higher education. Part 1 examines how reliance on adjunct labor has impacted academia at large, as well as how it impacts studio voice lessons. In order to more accurately portray what adjunct teaching looks like on a day to day basis, Part 2 relates personal experiences of five teachers who currently work, or have previously worked, as adjunct voice teachers.
JOS-076-05-2020-581.pdf (application/pdf, 411.4 K) posted at 11:31 AM, August 13, 2020
Exploring the Pedagogic Legacy of Barbara Doscher: The late Barbara Doscher, iconic voice pedagogue and author of the seminal and widely used text, The Functional Unity of the Singing Voice, continues to find voice through her many students. One of the most prominent of those, John Nix, in his article “’Well for God’s sake, don’t peep!’—Exploring the Legacy of Barbara Doscher,” published in the January/February 2020 issue of “Journal of Singing,” outlines the technical aspects and teaching style of one of the twentieth century’s most important voice teachers.
JOS-076-3-2020-255_-_Nix_-_Legacy_of_Barbara_Doscher.pdf (application/pdf, 458.9 K) posted at 4:36 PM, January 6, 2020
Focus of Attention in Voice Training and Performance: Applications to the Voice Studio: The question of where singers should place their attention during learning and performance, known as focus of attention in the motor learning field, is a highly relevant, yet often overlooked aspect of voice training. In her article, “Focus of Attention in Voice Training and Performance: Applications to the Voice Studio,” published in the September/October issue of Journal of Singing, Melissa Treinkman guides singing teachers wishing to translate internal focus directives into external ones. Imagery, the use of props, character voices, primal sounds, and emotional engagement are introduced as strategies for inducing external focus.
JOS-079-1-2022-021.pdf (application/pdf, 350 K) posted at 4:19 PM, September 9, 2022
Focus of Attention Research: A Review and Update for Teachers of Singing: Focus of attention research is a subset of the motor learning field that continues to expand and inform. In her article, “Focus of Attention Research: A Review and Update for Teachers of Singing,” published in the January/February issue of Journal of Singing, singer, voice pedagogue, and author Melissa Treinkman provides a review and update of the current state of research on focus of attention, with particular attention to implications for singers and teachers of singing.
JOS_077_03_2021_407.pdf (application/pdf, 1523.1 K) posted at 4:20 PM, February 5, 2021
From the President: Happy 80th Birthday, NATS! 1944–2024: In the January/February issue of the Journal of Singing, NATS President Diana Allan observes the association’s 80th Birthday through the lens of the popular book and film by world traveler Dan Buettner: “The Blue Zones Secrets for Living Longer: Lessons From the Healthiest Places on Earth.” Allan applies key concepts of Buettner’s “Blue Zones” to NATS, and considers how the association might create its own NATS Blue Zone so that the membership remains healthy and thriving for the next 80 years, thereby significantly enhancing its longevity and its impact.
JOS-080-3-2024-257.pdf (application/pdf, 487.3 K) posted at 3:35 PM, January 5, 2024
Habilitation for the Aging Avocational Singer: Understanding the needs of the aging singer, a rapidly expanding demographic, is increasingly important for the informed voice teacher. Canadian singer and voice teacher Dann Mitton, in his article “Habilitation for the Aging Avocational Singer,” published in the January/February edition of the Journal of Singing, identifies aspects of the aging process that impact the singing voice, and suggests pedagogic interventions for six common challenges experienced by aging singers: onset, power, intonation, vibrato, noise, and vowel production.
JOS-078-3-2022-347.pdf (application/pdf, 380.1 K) posted at 11:55 AM, January 24, 2022
Hidden Treasures: Rediscovering La Chanson d’Éve: Emerging from a decade-long project prompted by Peters Edition, a study by Emily Kilpatrick and Roy Howat, “Hidden Treasures: Rediscovering La Chanson d’Éve, appearing in the November/December issue of Journal of Singing, explores matters of source history, notational and performing problems, and editorial procedure in Fauré’s song cycle. The investigation allows a transformative reappraisal of the work’s place in the repertoire.
JOS-079-2-2022-145.pdf (application/pdf, 2261.8 K) posted at 2:56 PM, November 7, 2022
How Mind Governs Voice: In its Anniversary Issue (September/October 2019), the Journal of Singing reprints an article from The NATS Bulletin of 1972 by Victor Fields, “How Mind Governs Voice. Part 2: A Basic Approach in the Teaching of Singing.” A formidable voice pedagogue and writer, and a titan in the history of NATS, Fields may also be considered a pioneer in the area of cognitive sciences as applied to teaching singing. His article is as fresh and relevant today as when it was written.
JOS-076-1-2019-65_-_How_Mind_Governs_Voice_-_Victor_Fields.pdf (application/pdf, 587.3 K) posted at 9:46 AM, September 17, 2019
I Am the Very Model of a Modern Two Year Repertoire: As increasing numbers of students aspire to the music theater workforce, it becomes increasingly imperative to consider the unique needs of the last adolescent performer in terms of voice technique, movement, and casting suitability. Elizabeth Gerbi, respected voice pedagogue and singer-actor, in her article “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Two Year Repertoire,” from the March/April 2020 issue of Journal of Singing, presents a series of four semester benchmarks that allow individual performers to explore their unique assets within a carefully scaffolded body of literature. A detailed list of literature is further defined and organized by voice classification and song style.
JOS-076-4-2020-449.PDF (application/pdf, 248.5 K) posted at 12:28 PM, April 7, 2020
Implicit and Explicit Biases for Gender in Opera Roles: The March/April issue of JOS features “Implicit and Explicit Biases for Gender in Opera Roles,” in which authors Laura Carskadden and Jenine Brown examine reported imbalances in roles composed for men versus those for women. The authors conducted a study researching the possible implications of these imbalances on audience members, testing participants’ explicit and implicit biases. The authors ask whether performing within the most popular operas as written is propagating negative stereotypes against women, a question which holds implications for both contemporary voice pedagogy as well as opera production companies.
JOS-080-4-2024-409.pdf (application/pdf, 615.8 K) posted at 1:58 PM, March 1, 2024
Incorporating motivation into your model of motor learning: In his article, “Incorporating Motivation Into Your Model of Motor Learning,” in the May/June issue of “Journal of Singing,” leading cognitive science researcher and writer Lynn Maxfield maintains that, while the impacts of practice conditions such as augmented feedback and attentional focus have received ample attention in the field of motor learning, learner motivation, perhaps the most crucial element in the learning process, has been largely ignored. Starting from the premise that success begets success, Maxfield discusses fostering motivation in the voice studio, concentrating specifically on the motivational effect of feedback and promoting autonomy.
JOS-075-5-2019-583_-_Incorporating_Motivation_Into_Your_Model_of_Motor_Learning_-_Maxfield.pdf (application/pdf, 426.2 K) posted at 1:16 PM, July 22, 2019
Inspiring autonomous artists: A framework for independent singing: In a feature article, “Inspiring Autonomous Artists: A Framework for Independent Singing,” published in the May/June issue of Journal of Singing, Travis Sherwood explores the traditional teacher-student relationship in the voice studio and offers modifications to encourage a shift to a more student-centered pedagogy. His approach encourages dialoguing and questioning, empowering students to gain independence in the process. Autonomous artists make choices that impact the creative process and their voyage of self-discovery.
JOS-075-5-2019-527_-_Inspiring_Autonomous_Artists_-_Sherwood.pdf (application/pdf, 345.8 K) posted at 4:29 PM, August 12, 2019
IPA Braille for Lyric Diction: Although resources for those who read braille are widely available, lyric diction resources with International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) braille for visually impaired voice students are nonexistent. In “IPA Braille for Lyric Diction: A Mutually Accessible Phonetic System for Teachers and Students,” published in the November/December issue of Journal of Singing, Cheri Montgomery introduces a new phonetic system that is mutually accessible by both the sighted and the blind, with examples from standard song literature, and directs instructors to resources that use the system.
JOS-077-02-2020-219.pdf (application/pdf, 7032.1 K) posted at 9:37 AM, November 4, 2020
IV - 005.pdf: IV_-_005.pdf (application/pdf, 429.7 K) posted at 11:10 AM, October 3, 2017
JOS-074-1-2017-83.pdf: Teaching Transgender Singers - Part 1
JOS-074-1-2017-83.pdf (application/pdf, 872 K) posted at 10:24 AM, October 17, 2017
JOS-074-1-2017-9 Chi-Chen Wu.pdf: JOS-074-1-2017-9_Chi-Chen_Wu.pdf (application/pdf, 13550.2 K) posted at 4:31 PM, October 4, 2017
JOS-074-2-2017-179 - Kenneth Bozeman - Voice Pedagogy.pdf: JOS-074-2-2017-179_-_Kenneth_Bozeman_-_Voice_Pedagogy.pdf (application/pdf, 516.7 K) posted at 12:54 PM, December 5, 2017
JOS-074-2-2017-209 Teaching Transgender Singers part 2.pdf: JOS-074-2-2017-209_Teaching_Transgender_Singers_part_2.pdf (application/pdf, 408.2 K) posted at 1:41 PM, November 7, 2017
JOS-074-2-2017-215 - Best Practices-Exercise Physiology - Nix.pdf: JOS-074-2-2017-215_-_Best_Practices-Exercise_Physiology_-_Nix.pdf (application/pdf, 1044.5 K) posted at 1:39 PM, April 13, 2018
JOS-074-2-2017-225 - Collab Corner - Frank Corliss.pdf: JOS-074-2-2017-225_-_Collab_Corner_-_Frank_Corliss.pdf (application/pdf, 230.6 K) posted at 2:03 PM, December 15, 2017
JOS-074-3-2018-269 - Honesty in Teaching - Sjoerdsma.pdf: JOS-074-3-2018-269_-_Honesty_in_Teaching_-_Sjoerdsma.pdf (application/pdf, 199.5 K) posted at 2:56 PM, January 8, 2018
JOS-074-3-2018-307 - DeBlieux-Moore Radiation for Laryngeal Cancer.pdf: JOS-074-3-2018-307_-_DeBlieux-Moore_Radiation_for_Laryngeal_Cancer.pdf (application/pdf, 151.1 K) posted at 1:27 PM, February 20, 2018
JOS-074-3-2018-329 - Sean McCarther - Getting in Zone pt1.pdf: JOS-074-3-2018-329_-_Sean_McCarther_-_Getting_in_Zone_pt1.pdf (application/pdf, 238.4 K) posted at 11:20 AM, January 23, 2018
JOS-074-3-2018-349 - Kristen Chenoweth - Leslie Holmes pt1.pdf: JOS-074-3-2018-349_-_Kristen_Chenoweth_-_Leslie_Holmes_pt1.pdf (application/pdf, 179.1 K) posted at 9:22 AM, February 8, 2018
JOS-074-3-2018-349 - Kristin Chenowith pt1.pdf: JOS-074-3-2018-349_-_Kristin_Chenowith_pt1.pdf (application/pdf, 179.1 K) posted at 2:53 PM, February 6, 2018
JOS-074-4-2018-377 - To Cherish is a Choice - Sjoerdsma.pdf: JOS-074-4-2018-377_-_To_Cherish_is_a_Choice_-_Sjoerdsma.pdf (application/pdf, 137.1 K) posted at 3:27 PM, April 3, 2018
JOS-074-4-2018-379_-_Voice_from_Prairie_-_Cutsforth-Huber.pdf: JOS-074-4-2018-379_-_Voice_from_Prairie_-_Cutsforth-Huber.pdf (application/pdf, 1847.3 K) posted at 11:20 AM, March 13, 2018
JOS-074-4-2018-393_-_Guide_to_Larsen_My_Antonia_-_Zavracky.pdf: JOS-074-4-2018-393_-_Guide_to_Larsen_My_Antonia_-_Zavracky.pdf (application/pdf, 506.5 K) posted at 11:20 AM, March 13, 2018
JOS-074-4-2018-405 - Critical Thought - Stephenson.pdf: JOS-074-4-2018-405_-_Critical_Thought_-_Stephenson.pdf (application/pdf, 213.7 K) posted at 10:03 AM, March 20, 2018
JOS-074-4-2018-419 - Exercise Physiology - Sandage-Hoch.pdf: JOS-074-4-2018-419_-_Exercise_Physiology_-_Sandage-Hoch.pdf (application/pdf, 302.1 K) posted at 10:42 AM, April 17, 2018
JOS-074-5-2018-493 - NATS visits AATS - Culture of Mentoring.pdf: JOS-074-5-2018-493_-_NATS_visits_AATS_-_Culture_of_Mentoring.pdf (application/pdf, 178.6 K) posted at 10:09 AM, May 7, 2018
JOS-074-5-2018-513 - Medical Privacy - Bradshaw - Cooper.pdf: JOS-074-5-2018-513_-_Medical_Privacy_-_Bradshaw_-_Cooper.pdf (application/pdf, 374.3 K) posted at 10:50 AM, May 22, 2018
JOS-074-5-2018-521 - Efficacy of Vocal Cool-Down - Ragan.pdf: JOS-074-5-2018-521_-_Efficacy_of_Vocal_Cool-Down_-_Ragan.pdf (application/pdf, 335.8 K) posted at 1:05 PM, June 5, 2018
JOS-074-5-2018-527 - Voice Class Learner-Centered Approach - Sauerland.pdf: JOS-074-5-2018-527_-_Voice_Class_Learner-Centered_Approach_-_Sauerland.pdf (application/pdf, 174.9 K) posted at 11:08 AM, August 7, 2018
JOS-074-5-2018-559 - Conference Syndrome - B Manternach.pdf: JOS-074-5-2018-559_-_Conference_Syndrome_-_B_Manternach.pdf (application/pdf, 365.1 K) posted at 1:53 PM, May 1, 2018
JOS-074-5-2018-563 - Creativity through silence - Haas.pdf: JOS-074-5-2018-563_-_Creativity_through_silence_-_Haas.pdf (application/pdf, 203.6 K) posted at 11:31 PM, June 18, 2018
JOS-075-1-2018-007 Child Prodigy - Mondelli.pdf: JOS-075-1-2018-007_Child_Prodigy_-_Mondelli.pdf (application/pdf, 538.8 K) posted at 12:14 PM, September 4, 2018
JOS-075-1-2018-17 - Worley - Henry Lawrence Freeman.pdf: JOS-075-1-2018-17_-_Worley_-_Henry_Lawrence_Freeman.pdf (application/pdf, 358.5 K) posted at 11:18 AM, October 2, 2018
JOS-075-1-2018-33 - Surkin - Students with Vision Loss.pdf: JOS-075-1-2018-33_-_Surkin_-_Students_with_Vision_Loss.pdf (application/pdf, 210.3 K) posted at 10:04 AM, September 18, 2018
JOS-075-1-2018-75 - Wisdom of Marchesi - Sjoerdsma.pdf: JOS-075-1-2018-75_-_Wisdom_of_Marchesi_-_Sjoerdsma.pdf (application/pdf, 155.8 K) posted at 10:03 AM, October 16, 2018
JOS-075-4-2019-429 - Five Things - McCoy.pdf: Is there a difference between teaching voice and teaching singing? Emphatically yes, asserts noted author and voice pedagogue Scott McCoy in his “Voice Pedagogy” column of the March/April issue of Journal of Singing. His article, “Five Things,” is a must read for voice teachers of every ilk, as it focuses on observational and technical skills essential to the voice studio. Concomitantly, McCoy destroys persistent pedagogic myths, and also vilifies complacent pedagogy.
JOS-075-4-2019-429_-_Five_Things_-_McCoy.pdf (application/pdf, 180.6 K) posted at 11:12 AM, April 2, 2019
JOS-076-1-2019-5 - Heritage and Heroes - Sjoerdsma.pdf: Founded on March 23, 1944, the National Association of Teachers of Singing celebrates its 75th anniversary during the 2019 calendar year. The first official publication of the association, then called The Bulletin, was first published in October of the same year. In commemoration of that seminal event, Journal of Singing Editor in Chief Richard Sjoerdsma has structured the September/October issue of the publication as an Anniversary Issue, replete with vintage articles from giants in the history of NATS. Sjoerdsma offers an overview of the celebratory publication in his commentary, "Heritage and Heroes."
JOS-076-1-2019-5_-_Heritage_and_Heroes_-_Sjoerdsma.pdf (application/pdf, 498.6 K) posted at 11:00 AM, September 3, 2019
JOS-076-2-2019-127_How_Do_You_Teach_Voice_Angell.PDF: JOS-076-2-2019-127_How_Do_You_Teach_Voice_Angell.PDF (application/pdf, 523.1 K) posted at 12:17 PM, December 3, 2019
JOS-076-2-2019-137_-_Mixed_Up_Registers_Young.PDF: JOS-076-2-2019-137_-_Mixed_Up_Registers_Young.PDF (application/pdf, 2301.2 K) posted at 10:18 PM, November 25, 2019
JOS-076-2-2019-203-Neuroscience for Singers: Cognitively speaking, the act of singing is a complex motor task virtually unrivaled in other fields of performance, artistic or athletic. As a result, it is necessary for the voice teacher to have a basic knowledge of the neurology of breathing, phonation, articulation, and audition. In order to address this need, cognitive scientist and voice pedagogue Lynn Maxfield, in his “Mindful Voice” column for the November/December issue of the Journal of Singing, offers “Neuroscience for Singers, Part I: Neuroanatomy” as an overview of the structure and general function of the nervous system.
JOS-076-2-2019-203.pdf (application/pdf, 396.7 K) posted at 9:20 AM, November 19, 2019
JOS-077-5-2021-587.pdf: JOS_077_5_2021_587.pdf (application/pdf, 196.4 K) posted at 1:35 PM, August 10, 2021
JOS-077-5-2021-693.pdf: JOS_077_5_2021_693.pdf (application/pdf, 362.5 K) posted at 1:35 PM, August 10, 2021
Journal of Singing – On Point: ‘The Vocal Point: A Conversation with Angel Joy Blue with host Melissa Treinkman’: Soprano Angel Joy Blue is featured in the January/February issue of the Journal of Singing’s “Vocal Point” column, which has evolved to a hybrid print-plus-video format under associate editor Melissa Treinkman. Treinkman’s third interview in this exciting new series features a compelling conversation with Blue, who discusses her operatic career, offers heartfelt advice to young singers, and shares her vision for the future of opera. All of the “Vocal Point” videos are permanently posted on the NATS YouTube channel.
JOS-080-3-2024-351.pdf (application/pdf, 512.7 K) posted at 3:53 PM, January 5, 2024
LGBTQ+ Vocal Literature: Songs for Life: Over the past two decades, society’s thirst for social justice, equality, and diversity clearly has been amplified. One minority group that has made huge strides toward acceptance, yet faces persistent prejudice and discrimination is the LGBTQ+ community, also an intrinsic part of our voice studios. In “LGBTQ+ Vocal Literature: Songs for Life,” published in the May/June issue of Journal of Singing, Dr. Christian Bester suggests that one way to help LGBTQ+ students find their own voices is to bring greater awareness to song literature that speaks specifically to that community. The article provides an overview of selected appropriate song literature, with specific references and music examples.
JOS_077_5_2021_619.pdf (application/pdf, 2342.6 K) posted at 12:58 PM, June 3, 2021
Life in the Time of Corona: Crises offer opportunities for reflection, reexamination, and change, writes Journal of Singing Editor in Chief Richard Sjoerdsma, in his commentary, “Life in the Time of Corona” (Journal of Singing 77, no. 1 [September/October 2020]: 3-5). Acknowledging the impact of corona particularly on the world of performance and performing musicians, Dr. Sjoerdsma goes on to say that to cope is to hope, and in this crisis we are given an opportunity to create that better world of which we sing.
JOS-077-01-2020-3.pdf (application/pdf, 267.8 K) posted at 8:14 AM, September 2, 2020
Lift Your Voice: World Voice Day 2022 (April 16) carries the theme “Lift Your Voice.” In his Editor’s Commentary for the March/April issue of the periodical, Journal of Singing Editor in Chief Richard Sjoerdsma, while gratefully acknowledging journal contributors’ expansion of the theme in their various columns for the commemorative issue, chooses another route. He exhorts, in these challenging times, lifting our voices with a resounding NO to all manifestations of evil that surround us, and with an equally resounding YES to the cultivation of good in all its guises.
Pages_from_JOS_078_4_2022_431.pdf (application/pdf, 191.3 K) posted at 8:50 AM, April 11, 2022
Listener's Gallery ‘Birgit Nilsson: A League of Her Own’: JOS-075-3-2019-379_-_Listeners_Gallery_-_Review_-_Birgit_Nilsson_-_A_Leagure_of_Her_Own.pdf (application/pdf, 128.7 K) posted at 12:45 PM, April 16, 2019
Manual Mimicry in the Teaching and Learning of Phonemes for Singing: The integration of body movement during vocalization is seamless and ubiquitous in both speaking and singing, and a growing literature is dedicated to body movement in voice pedagogy. Caron Daley and Heather Leavy Rusiewicz, in “Manual Mimicry in the Teaching and Learning of Phonemes for Singing,” published in the March/April issue of the Journal of Singing, present a rationale for the use of manual mimicry gesture in the voice studio and choral rehearsal to facilitate articulation, resonance, and expressivity.
JOS_077_04_2021_521.pdf (application/pdf, 838.9 K) posted at 3:48 PM, March 5, 2021
Mindful Voice: Focusing The Scope: The Voice Practitioner’s Role in Trauma-Informed Care: The Mindful Voice column in The March/April issue of the Journal of Singing focuses on “The Voice Practitioner’s Role in Trauma-Informed Care.” Co-authors Elisa Monti, Megan Durham, and Allison Reynolds explore the term “trauma-informed,” which has gained popularity in the singing voice community since the outbreak of COVID-19. In this important article, the authors cover the definition, effects, and statistics of trauma and offer useful guidelines to teachers on how to be supportive in the presence of trauma-related reactivity, but in a manner that is within the scope of the voice specialist.
JOS-080-4-2024-455.pdf (application/pdf, 462.6 K) posted at 2:01 PM, March 1, 2024
Mobile Apps and Biofeedback in Voice Pedagogy: Voice teachers, students, professional singers, and voice scientists share a single goal: to lead singers in a healthful and aesthetically pleasing way to find their authentic voice. A targeted integration of technology as a part of a pedagogic toolbox can aid teachers and students in important ways. In her article, “Mobile Apps and Biofeedback in Voice Pedagogy,” published in the March/April issue of the Journal of Singing, Heidi Moss Erickson shows how biofeedback, a scientifically proven process, can be used with maximum effectiveness.
JOS_077_04_2021_485.pdf (application/pdf, 1372.2 K) posted at 3:46 PM, March 5, 2021
Motor Learning and Teaching Singing: An Overview: Motor learning researchers in various disciplines have highlighted principles of how we teach, including motivation, perceptual training, modeling, instruction, and feedback, and important components of learning such as autonomy and internal reference-of-correctness. In their article, “Motor Learning and Teaching Singing: An Overview,” published in the May/June issue of Journal of Singing, Laura Crocco and David Meyer present an overview of these principles, recommendations for applying them in teaching, and what recent research suggests about current use of these principles in one to one singing lessons.
JOS_077_5_2021_693.pdf (application/pdf, 362.5 K) posted at 4:05 PM, August 5, 2021
Nasality Deconstructed: In any discussion concerning nasality, many confusing terms arise, such as nasal resonance, twang, velopharyngeal opening (VPO), and nasalance. It is clear, however, that nasality does not often coincide to its perceptual characteristics. In “Nasality Deconstructed,” published in the March/April 2020 issue of Journal of Singing, singer, voice teacher, and researcher Nicholas Perna distills some of the more recent information regarding nasality and presents a foundation for the framework that nasality involves multiple issues, rather than a singularly caused event.
JOS-076-04-2020-429.pdf (application/pdf, 199.6 K) posted at 8:20 AM, May 19, 2020
Neurodiversity in the Voice Studio, Clinic, and Performance Space: Using a Neurodiversity Affirming Lens to Build More Inclusive Spaces for Singers: Growing recognition and acceptance of neurodiversity in society has led to a rising awareness among voice professionals how atypical learning may manifest in voice studios and other performance spaces that are largely designed for neurotypical people. In her article, “Neurodiversity in the Voice Studio, Clinic, and Performance Space: Using a Neurodiversity Affirming Lens to Build More Inclusive Spaces for Singers,” singer, voice pedagogue, and educator Shannon Coates explores a movement among voice professionals to gain a deeper understanding of neurodiversity in order to move from accommodation to affirmation in our voice spaces.
JOS-079-2-2022-213.pdf (application/pdf, 261.2 K) posted at 3:21 PM, December 5, 2022
On Love and Storytelling with Alan Louis Smith: Author and collaborative pianist Elvia Puccinelli reflects on the legacy of pianist, educator and composer Alan Smith in the November/December issue of the Journal of Singing. “On Love and Storytelling with Alan Louis Smith” is based on the author’s personal interviews with Smith begun earlier this spring, as well as video archives from a collaborative piano conference held in 2019 under the auspices of the International Keyboard Collaborative Arts Society. “On Love and Storytelling,” published within days of Smith’s death in October, is a fitting tribute to a musician much admired and loved by his colleagues, collaborators and students.
JOS-080-2-2023-221.pdf (application/pdf, 438.5 K) posted at 11:38 AM, December 4, 2023
Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion: In their article, “Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion,” published in the September/October issue of Journal of Singing, otolaryngologists Jessica Howell and Jamie Eaglin Moore define PVFM as a laryngeal disorder characterized by paroxysmal episodes of vocal fold adduction during respiration. Singing teachers should suspect PVFM in the presence of noisy inhalation and trouble catching one’s breath occurring in a student after singing. The physicians discuss the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the disorder.
JOS-079-1-2022-049.pdf (application/pdf, 337.2 K) posted at 10:15 AM, October 6, 2022
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
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
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
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 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 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: 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
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
Use of Instrumentation in the Singing Studio: For generations, medical care and voice pedagogy have relied on subjective assessment of the voice. Subjective assessment often may work well, but the health and safety of patients and students in general are better served by more objective methods of voice assessment. In the March/April 2020 issue of Journal of Singing, noted otolaryngologist Robert T. Sataloff, in his article “Use of Instrumentation in the Singing Studio,” modified from a chapter in his book Professional Voice: The Science and Art of Clinical Care (4th ed.), reviews instrumentation for vocal fold vibration, phonatory ability, aerodynamic measures, acoustic analysis, and laryngeal electromyography. Much of this instrumentation is applicable to the voice studio.
JOS-076-04-2020-433.pdf (application/pdf, 200.6 K) posted at 8:19 AM, May 19, 2020
Using Theatrical Intimacy Practices to Create Vocal Health Boundaries: What are the proper steps for singers if asked by directors to vocally overextend themselves? How can singers speak up without being negatively labeled by management? What is the role of voice teachers in these situations? In their article, “Using Theatrical Intimacy Practices to Create Vocal Health Boundaries,” published in the September/October issue of Journal of Singing, Brian Manternach and David Eggers discuss establishing boundaries for singers to preserve vocal health and how to advocate for themselves in difficult situations.
JOS-079-1-2022-073.pdf (application/pdf, 369.3 K) posted at 4:22 PM, September 9, 2022
Viktor Ullmann’s Lieder der Tröstung: A Guide to His Cycle for Low Voice and String Trio: While imprisoned in the concentration camp at Theresienstadt, accomplished Austrian composer and Holocaust victim Viktor Ullmann (1898-1944) wrote a number of works, several of which were performed for the entertainment of Nazi captors and to present a deceptively positive face to the outside world. One of these works is explored in an article by Cynthia Smith, “Viktor Ulmann’s Lieder der Tröstung: A Guide to His Cycle for Low Voice and String Trio,” published in the May/June 2020 issue of the Journal of Singing. In her analysis of its music and Albert Steffan’s poetry, author Smith brings to light a cycle of deep significance that merits recognition and performance.
JOS-076-05-2020-533.pdf (application/pdf, 2981.7 K) posted at 2:02 PM, June 9, 2020
Vocal Learning and Songbirds: An Evolutionary Tale of Singing: A new column, “Minding the Gap,” authored by Heidi Moss Erickson, makes its initial appearance in the September/October issue of Journal of Singing. Her inaugural article, “Vocal Learning and Songbirds: An Evolutionary Tale of Singing,” explores the field of vocal learning from both an evolutionary and biological perspective, drawing upon current research on the neurobiological underpinnings of vocalization.
JOS-079-1-2022-087.pdf (application/pdf, 2369.7 K) posted at 10:40 AM, October 6, 2022
Voice Pedagogy for the 21st Century: The Summation of Two Summits: An important special report, “Voice Pedagogy for the 21st Century: The Summation of Two Summits,” authored by the Voice Pedagogy Interest Group’s Writer’s Group cochairs Amelia Rollings Bigler and Katherine Osborne, along with several others, appears in the September/October issue of the Journal of Singing. More than 70 consensus statements from two summits of the VPIG resulted in a position paper that codifies the expanding competencies necessary for a contemporary teacher of singing and presents a vision of the ideal singing teacher’s education.
JOS-078-01-2021-11.pdf (application/pdf, 1245.1 K) posted at 3:39 PM, September 10, 2021
Voice Pedagogy for the 21st Century: The Summation of Two Summits: An important special report, “Voice Pedagogy for the 21st Century: The Summation of Two Summits,” authored by the Voice Pedagogy Interest Group’s Writer’s Group cochairs Amelia Rollings Bigler and Katherine Osborne, along with several others, appears in the September/October issue of the Journal of Singing. More than 70 consensus statements from two summits of the VPIG resulted in a position paper that codifies the expanding competencies necessary for a contemporary teacher of singing and presents a vision of the ideal singing teacher’s education.
JOS-078-01-2021-11.pdf (application/pdf, 1245.1 K) posted at 3:38 PM, September 10, 2021
Voice Pedagogy: Reframing Bel Canto in the Twenty-First Century: Dovetailing Tradition with Science-Informed Pedagogy: In the Voice Pedagogy column of the March/April issue of the Journal of Singing, author Matthew Hoch explores the meaning, context, and viability of the term “bel canto” in “Voice Pedagogy: Reframing Bel Canto in the Twenty-First Century: Dovetailing Tradition with Science-Informed Pedagogy.” Hoch uses James Stark’s seminal 1999 book Bel Canto: A History of Vocal Pedagogy as a basis for reflecting upon the nexus between the classic master–pupil tradition and the modern science-informed era, and suggests an expansion of Stark’s definition of “bel canto,” adapted to the modern voice pedagogue.
JOS-080-4-2024-417.pdf (application/pdf, 460 K) posted at 2:05 PM, March 1, 2024
Voice, the Muscle of the Soul: Finding Yourself Through Finding Your Voice: Distinguished Frank C. Shattuck Professor of Music at Lawrence University and noted voice pedagogue Kenneth Bozeman’s May 2018 Honors Convocation address at the university appears as a Guest Editorial in the January/February issue of Journal of Singing. In “Voice, the Muscle of the Soul: Finding Yourself through Finding Your Voice,” Bozeman asserts that the voice is a sacred asset, crucial to how one connects with others, how one impacts the community, and how singing, a special form of voice, is an expression of the soul.
JOS-075-3-2019-245_-_Voice_the_Muscle_of_the_Soul_-_Bozeman.pdf (application/pdf, 336.3 K) posted at 11:44 AM, January 22, 2019
What Science Is and What it Is Not: In the September/October issue of the Journal of Singing, co-authors David Meyer and John Nix explore questions of science — and crucially, why singers should care to know — in the first installment of their new “Practical Voice Science” column entitled “What Science Is and What it Is Not.” Their column is dedicated to making voice science concepts “understandable, relevant, and actionable for singers, singing teachers, collaborative pianists, opera directors, and choral conductors.” They aim to ignite the reader’s curiosity and demonstrate how science can transform the training of singers by enhancing teachers’ experience and intuition by applying scientific developments in the optimal function of the singing voice. Their new column is pitched to singers of all expertise levels.
JOS-080-1-2023-057.pdf (application/pdf, 194.7 K) posted at 2:36 PM, October 23, 2023
Who Believes What? Singers’ Belief in Vocal Health Information and Misinformation: Although evidence-based recommendations for voice care are available, misconceptions still abound. In their article, “Who Believes What? Singers’ Belief in Vocal Health Information and Misinformation,” published in the November/December issue of the Journal of Singing, Julia Edgar and Deirdre Michael report on an earlier survey of belief in vocal health practices. The authors conclude that voice teachers must become judicious consumers of information, examining their believe and how those are conveyed, in order to provide an environment of solid factual information to student singers.
JOS-078-02-2021-197.pdf (application/pdf, 436.5 K) posted at 4:32 PM, December 13, 2021
World Voice Day - Be Kind With Your Voice: Each year, the March/April issue of Journal of Singing marks World Voice Day, an annual event to celebrate the phenomenon of voice. The commemoration occurs on April 16, and the theme for 2019 is “Be Kind With Your Voice.” Both NATS President Karen Brunssen, in her “From the President” column, and Editor in Chief Richard Sjoerdsma, in his “Editor’s Commentary,” specifically address the provocative imperative. Brunssen writes principally from a pedagogic, performance, and collegial perspective, while Sjoerdsma wrestles with the theme in terms of its unity and humanity implications, especially in a culture where kindness is not only seldom practiced but often ridiculed as weakness. Implicitly and explicitly, both writers argue that artists who do not practice kindness end up destroying themselves.
JOS-075-4-2019-389_-_World_Voice_Day_-_Be_Kind_With_Your_Voice_-_Brunssen-Sjoerdsma.pdf (application/pdf, 472.2 K) posted at 11:09 AM, March 18, 2019
World Voice Day 2021: April 16 marks the annual commemoration of World Voice Day, and the WVD 2021 theme is “One World, Many Voices.” The Journal of Singing continues its tradition of celebrating this event on the cover and some continuing columns of the March/April issue. Among the latter is NATS President Carole Blankenship’s “From the President” column, in which she ties the theme to the new Diversity and Inclusion statement of the Association. Additionally, in his “Editor’s Commentary” Editor in Chief Richard Sjoerdsma examines the WVD theme from several perspectives, including song literature, vocal performance, and voice pedagogy.
JOS_March-April_21_pages_465-468.pdf (application/pdf, 145.9 K) posted at 11:26 AM, April 8, 2021
WVD and MO: Since 2002, resulting from an initiative by the American Academy of Otolaryngology, April 16 has been designated World Voice Day. Each year carries its own discrete theme, and the theme chosen for 2020 is “Focus On Your Voice in 2020.” In his “Editor’s Commentary” for the March/April issue of Journal of Singing, Editor in Chief Richard Sjoerdsma explores the metaphoric implications of the theme, particularly in terms of present sight, hindsight, and foresight.
JOS-076-4-2020-381.PDF (application/pdf, 345.7 K) posted at 12:26 PM, April 7, 2020

Journal of Singing - On Point

JOS On Point

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