So You Want to Sing for a Lifetime

Brenda Smith, lyric soprano, teaches studio voice, singer’s diction, and vocal pedagogy at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. She works regularly as a consultant, clinician, and conductor of amateur and professional choirs. In recognition of demonstrated excellence in teaching and her interest in voice science, Smith received the Van Lawrence Fellowship in 2000, presented by the Voice Foundation and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

So You Want to Sing for a Lifetime offers a plethora of information for singers of any age. It identifies basic tenets of singing technique, and serves as an introduction to voice science and vocal health. The volume touches upon the whole gamut of voice related topics, from posture to performance anxiety, in clear prose and a well organized structure. The book is well researched.

• Chapter 1 – What It Means to Sing for a LifetimeChapter 2 – Singing and Voice Science, Scott McCoyChapter 3 – Vocal Health for the Lifetime of a Singer, Wendy LeBorgneChapter 4 – Skills You Need for a Lifetime of SingingChapter 5 – The Effects of Age on the Voice, Robert T. Sataloff, Karen Kost, and Sue Ellen LinvilleChapter 6 – What Is “Bel Canto,” or What Makes Singing “Beautiful”?Chapter 7 – Repertoire: What to Sing, When, and WhereChapter 8 – Singing with Others for a LifetimeChapter 9 – Singing for a Lifetime: A Life Well Lived