If you’re looking for inspiration and information, consider adding these three singing teaching books to your reading list.
⏱ 2 Minute Read
When she isn’t teaching or podcasting, you’ll find Alexa Terry curled up with a cup of tea and her nose buried in a book.
So, what’s Alexa currently reading? Here are three singing teaching books that she’s enjoying right now.
Anatomy of Voice: How to Enhance and Project Your Best Voice by Blandine Calais-Germain and Francois Germain
“This is a book that I think serves every studio and every singing teacher,” Alexa says.
“Despite its title, it’s not as dry or overwhelming as you might think.
“It uses purposefully accessible language to make it digestible for everyone. Mainly, it’s made up of beautiful illustrations and short bursts of explanatory text.”
The book covers the spine, respiratory muscles, larynx, soft palate, and ears – and more – and is a great resource to have on hand when you’re teaching.
“I find myself dipping into it to help give my anatomical knowledge and terminology a little bit of a polish and to generally further my understanding of the voice,” Alexa says.
Training Contemporary Commercial Singers by Elizabeth Anne Benson
Are you curious to know how the world’s best contemporary commercial music pedagogues do what they do?
Then pick up a copy of Elizabeth Ann Benson’s book to find out how top coaches approach issues such as tension, support, registration and belt.
Benson interviewed 26 leading lights in the world of contemporary voice while writing the book.
Seth Riggs, Matt Edwards, Mary Saunders Barton, Trineice Robinson-Martin and Jeanie LoVetri are among the top names sharing their insights.
Bookworm Alexa says: “It’s grabbed me in a way that only really fiction books do.”
The Voice Teachers Cookbook: Creative Recipes for Teachers of Singing by Brian Winnie
This book is not a typical cookbook or singing textbook. Instead, it takes a slightly different approach to revealing best practice in the world of singing.
It features excerpts from 57 voice professionals, including professors (such as Ken Bozeman), voice coaches, speech and language pathologists and professional singers.
Each professional shares a ‘recipe’ for teaching success. For example, Dr Diana Allan, President of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, reveals her recipe for confident performances.
Meanwhile, Valeria Accetta (University of Alabama) shares her recipe for recruiting, which includes giving every student who auditions a homemade chocolate chip cookie.
“Whether or not these students get into your program or end up studying with you, they remember that you treated them as a unique individual and they tell their friends,” she reveals.
Learn more
If you’re thirsty to know more, listen to this episode of the Singing Teachers Talk podcast in which Alexa discusses the educational resources that are game-changers for singing teachers.
