The Solo Singer in the Choral Setting: A Handbook for Achieving Vocal Health

"Dr. Olson's book has come at the perfect time. Singers need to such and discuss the very real issues in this book to best use their voices in the choral environment. Choral singing demands a `melding' and listening that can be a rewarding disciplines from a solo singer's perspective, however, this melding can be detrimental. Dr. Olson's book offers many practical suggestions, tips, and exercises to deal with these challenges."

"This book is check full of probative insights and singular advice for the voice teacher and choral conductor. It is refreshing to read a book about about singing, replete with new ideas. Olson, obviously a teacher, leads the reader through theoretical to practical solutions about singing . . . concluding many chapters with appropriate and useful vocalizes."

Despite the many similarities between solo and choral singing, the two are not the same discipline, and it is important to realize the different approaches necessary for each. In The Solo Singer in the Choral Setting: A Handbook for Achieving Vocal Health. Margaret Olson addresses choral singing from a soloist's viewpoint, describing concepts as diverse as body position in rehearsal and acoustic sound production. Olson provides teaching examples, case studies, and solutions that will help singers overcome the challenges they encounter in the choral environment.

After a general overview of vocal technique, the chapters address physiological, psychological, pedagogical, acoustic, and interpretive issues facing the solo singer in the choral setting. Olson examines in detail such concepts as phonation: resonation and timbre; approaches to diction; voice classification; choral blend; interpreting emotion; relationships among choral conductors, singers, and teachers of singing; and the use of vibrato. A conversation with two choral conductors concludes this volume, which will prove beneficial to singers, teachers, and conductors alike.

Margaret Olson is assistant professor and coordinator of vocal studies at Morgan State University. She has held positions at Iowa Wesleyan College, Georgetown University, the Washington National Opera, and the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. She has been published in the Journal of Singing and Choral Journal.