Samantha Ragusin

MUSE 258 – Vocal Techniques

Dr. Ester

Vocal Technique and Music Literacy Resource File

Vocal Technique Resources

Albrecht, S. The Choral Warm-up Collection. Alfred Publishing: Van Nuys, 2003. Print.

This book provides many choral warmups, which help get the voice ready to sing. Aside

from that, it also provides reasoning as to why that warmup helps a specific element of vocal

technique, such as dynamics, breathing, and diction. It is also a great resource in that it

provides warmups that target each part of vocal technique, and not just a one or two. The

warmups themselves also could go hand in hand with music literacy lessons, as there were

exercises in major and minor, as well as in different meters. This could be a sound before sight

resource that works with the development of music literacy. I would use this in my own choir,

and I would use the descriptions included with each exercise to teach my students about how it

helps their vocal technique.

Robinson, R. & Althouse, J. The Complete Choral Warm-Up Book. Alfred Publishing: Van Nuys,

1995. Print.

This warmup book was written with the needs of all types of music educators in mind. It

does not just include information on how to teach vocal technique to a general choir, but it takes

into account the specific needs of different types of ensembles. It includes ways to warmup a

high school mixed choir, an SSA choir, a church choir, and jazz groups just to name a few. It

also includes information on physical warmups, and discusses how preparing the whole body to

sing is just as important as preparing the vocal folds. I find this a very comprehensive warmup
book, and would definitely use it in my choir as a resource. It doesn’t just provide random

warmups without regards to how the help the voice, but provides reasoning as to why someone

may choose to use that particular exercise.

Music Literacy Resources

Ester, D. Sound Connections: A Comprehensive Approach to Teaching Music Literacy.

Educational Exclusives: Fishers, 2010. Print.

This resource is perhaps the most efficient and understandable way to approach

teaching music literacy. The text provides the knowledge and tools for why one would choose to

teach music literacy the way that is presented, and the binder that pairs with the text provide

numerous exercises to use, with learning music literacy in mind. It provides the means to teach

music literacy from the most basic skills for beginners to advanced exercises for those who

have mastered elements of music literacy. The text emphasizes a unique approach to music

literacy that is not always taught in the classroom, and that is the sound before sight method of

teaching. Allowing students to hear and comprehend different rhythm and tonal patterns allows

them to connect better to the notation they will be introduced to. For an educator, and someone

who is unfamiliar with this approach, the text is incredibly clear to read and provides many

images to further explain its content. In my future, I will use this text and its resource binder to

help me in teaching music literacy.

Telfer, Nancy. Successful Sight Singing. Neil A. Kjos Music Company: San Diego, 1992.

Print.

This resource is useful if someone wanted to teach themselves how to sight sing, but I’m

not sure it would be incredibly useful for an entire classroom. It starts with the learner having no
knowledge of music theory or sight singing, and provides many definitions to musical terms and

examples to sing. The vocabulary lists would be very helpful for someone who is struggling in

sight singing, and may be a resource I would use if I had one student who was having issues

with sight singing, and may have them take it home to use to review and practice. The

sequencing of the book can be a bit confusing, especially for someone who is educated in

teaching music literacy and pedagogy.