Title
Singing and Communicating in English: A Singer's Guide to English Diction,Used
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From the Foreword by Renee Fleming: 'Kathryn LaBouff has developed an approach to singing in the English language which is wonderfully user friendly, and which has surely saved much wear and tear on my voice. It is a technique that has empowered me with the knowledge and skills to bring a text to life and to be able to negotiate all of the sounds of the language with the least amount of effort. I have found her clever and extremely creative use of substitute consonants or combinations of consonants in creating clear diction utterly delightful because they are surprising and because they work. These techniques have been equally useful when singing in foreign languages. We sopranos are not usually known to have good diction, particularly in our high range. I found that working with Kathryn improved my ability to be understood by an enormous percentile of the audience with much less vocal fatigue than I would have experienced if left to my own devices. I have often told my colleagues enthusiastically of her interesting solutions to the frustrating problems of diction. I am thrilled that her techniques are now in print for all to benefit from them.'In Singing and Communicating in English, internationally renowned diction coach Kathryn LaBouff provides singers with an accessible guide to the principles of English diction they need to communicate the text successfully. Her thorough and much sought after technique clarifies the physiology of speech, emphasizes the studied practice of careful and articulate pronunciation, and focuses on the study of English cadence. Covering aspects of phonetics from vowels to diphthongs to fricatives, the book includes multiple practical exercises in International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcriptions, helpful diagrams, and pronunciation drills, each chosen from the most essential English art song and operatic repertoire. In addition to standard American and British English, a variety of regional dialects and accents are covered in depth. A companion website features a full range of vowel/consonant drills, poems read aloud by the author and by theater and voiceover actor John Keating, as well as an exercise answer key, and publishers' lists to help the singer locate a vast array of English language works for performance.
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- Q: What is the main focus of 'Singing and Communicating in English'? A: 'Singing and Communicating in English' primarily focuses on teaching singers the principles of English diction, enabling them to communicate text effectively while singing.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author of 'Singing and Communicating in English' is Kathryn LaBouff, an internationally renowned diction coach.
- Q: What type of exercises does the book include? A: The book includes practical exercises in International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcriptions, pronunciation drills, and helpful diagrams to improve English diction.
- Q: Is this book suitable for singers of all levels? A: Yes, 'Singing and Communicating in English' is designed to be accessible for singers at various skill levels, from beginners to advanced.
- Q: What can I expect to learn from this book? A: Readers can expect to learn about the physiology of speech, careful pronunciation techniques, and the study of English cadence, enhancing their singing performance.
- Q: Does the book cover regional dialects and accents? A: 'Singing and Communicating in English' covers a variety of regional dialects and accents in depth, in addition to standard American and British English.
- Q: Are there any companion resources available with the book? A: Yes, a companion website offers vowel/consonant drills, poems read by the author, and an exercise answer key, providing additional support for readers.
- Q: What is the publication date of this book? A: 'Singing and Communicating in English' was published on December 21, 2007.
- Q: What is the format and page count of the book? A: The book is available in paperback format and contains 352 pages.
- Q: Is this book beneficial for singing in languages other than English? A: Yes, the techniques discussed in the book have been found useful for singing in foreign languages as well, making it a valuable resource for singers.