The Structure of Singing: System and Art in Vocal Technique

by Richard Miller

Combining the physical, technical, and artistic aspects of singing, the author applies current findings in medicine, acoustics, phonetics, and speech therapy to the singer's needs. The text demonstrates the scientific basis of exercises and vocalises, covering all major areas of vocal technique.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published October 21, 1986

Reviews

[Jessica Baldwin]

Miller is by-far one of the most amazing vocal pedagogues to have lived. This widely-used and indispensable text is standard in the discipline, but a bit dry and difficult for beginners to follow. I found his follow-up Solutions for Singers: Tools for Performers and Teachers to be a bit easier to digest.

I recommend What Every Singer Needs to Know About the Body for absolute beginners in the study of vocal pedagogy, followed by Scott McCoy's Your Voice, an Inside View: Multimedia Voice Science and Pedagogy, which includes an invaluable multimedia CD-ROM.

[Dorien]

The tenor Richard Miller used to teach in Salzburg in the nineties and I was able to enjoy his master classes there, which opened up a perspective to world class singing. He was one of the few vocalists spending his life time on technique, research and writing.

[Toomas Kaldaru]

Brilliant! Clear, simple and sincere. Probably the most useful book about singing

[Emma]

4.5 stars. I read this for fun in collage, and found it to be a very helpful and insightful guide for those wanting to improve their vocal technique.

[Angelala Biggs]

Excellent book on the science and art of vocal technique (and pedagogy!) I absolutely devoured this book, which is appropriate, given that it costs as much as a new textbook. Included exercises are beneficial, and it is possible to craft an entire vocal regimen using only the information in this volume. I'm working on something of the sort right now, in fact (although I'm adding some Marchesi and at least one of McKinney's breathing exercises). I only had a few minor complaints:

*The illustrations of the larynx copied from Grey's Anatomy are blurry, and the black lines that lead to the labels are often lacking in clear termination points. In some instances, it's impossible to identify what is being labeled.

*Undefined vocal categorization terms are spattered throughout (what on earth is a "spinto" tenor??)

*The explanation of breathing, while not technically incorrect, is not perfectly clear. I have had many years of vocal training; however, after reading the description in this book, I changed my breathing technique and quickly developed a new vocal problem. McKinney's explanation in his "Diagnosis and Correction" is much more clear, fortunately, and cleared up the misunderstanding shortly.

Love, love, love this book. But, you should read it AFTER The Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults, by James C. McKinney.

[Kilian Metcalf]

I learned a great deal from this book, although I think the intended audience is voice teachers rather than singers. I didn't study it closely as I would a textbook, but read it straight through. I have an excellent voice teacher, and I recognize many of the concepts outlined in this book as they appear in my lessons.If you have any curiosity about the anatomy of the voice, this book will answer them for you. I particularly enjoyed the general comments on the care and feeding of the voice in the closing chapters. I would buy a copy for myself, but unfortunately it is out of print, and used copies are very expensive.

I love this quote: It is difficult to determine where the instrument of the singer leaves off and where the instrument case begins. So sadly true.

[Karin]

Okay, so I'm embarrassed that I don't own this one. I think I bought it in college and then lost it. It's the quintessential text for a pedagogue. I studied it and underlined it and took notes on it, etc. If you want to teach voice or better understand the structure of singing, then this must be one of the required texts.

[Raul Duma]

One of the best books around when it comes to opera singing. Providing a great deal of information, starting with vocalization, onset and soft attack, vocal imagery and awareness of passagio.

Nor an easy read, neither a dry one. Very effective and mind opening.

A best choice into this particular and great topic of vocal technique.

[C]

My teacher lent me this book since I'm a nerd. But this is ultra technical, like which muscles are being used for which technique.
Interesting, and with some great practice exercises. This is appropriate for someone who is already quite advanced.

[Alicia]

Would this book be valuable for me? Not sure, I'll have to check it out.

[Misti]

So in depth and comprehensive. Wonderful vocal exercises.

[Maggie C.]

Excellent book, but very technical. It's a tough first introduction to the topic.

[Sarahadams]

Very good info. The go to book for voice anatomy and training