Video: Teaching Kids to Sing, Level 5

by Kenneth H. Phillips

Singing is a basic means of human expression. From the spontaneous play songs of childhood to the polished recitals of concert artists, singing fulfills a human need to express thoughts and feelings. Moreover, music teachers have long agreed that children can and should learn to sing. It is the process that remains open to question, as teachers judge whether it is appropriate to train young voices and, if so, which approach is most beneficial. Teaching Kids to Sing is the first research-based text to present a systematic approach to vocal techniques designed exclusively for the needs of the young singer. It synthesizes the most recent findings in the literature and presents them in a practical and usable format. Helping teachers of young singers to understand the nature of the child voice and the adolescent voice, the book provides a new vocal-technique method for grades 1-12. The book is organized into two parts. Part I, "The Young Singer," is an introduction to 90 sequential singing exercises detailed in Part II. Here, Phillips provides historical and philosophical perspectives on procedures of vocal training for children and adolescents. Included are discussions on the physiology of the singing voice, proper vocal techniques, the vocal parameters of pitch, registers, and range, and a special section on common vocal disorders and proper vocal hygiene. Part II, "Vocal Technique for Young Singers," examines aspects of vocal technique by grouping the exercises into five major respiration, the foundation for good singing technique; phonation, developing children's speaking voices as a natural part of voice training; resonant tone production; diction, emphasizing uniform vowels and rapid consonant articulation; and expression, studying how phrasing, dynamic and tempo variation, and mood lead to meaningful interpretation. Designed as a step-by-step vocal-technique method for children and adolescents, Teaching Kids to Sing will lead students through a develop

CD-ROM

First published March 1, 1994