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. 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 veteran theater and voiceover actor John Keating, as well as an instructor's answer key, and publishers' lists to help the singer locate a vast array of English language works for performance.

A comprehensive update of a 1977 study of historical and current techniques practiced in four major Western European schools of vocalism, investigating which techniques within the national schools are common to them all and which idiosyncratic regional tendencies remain. Contains chapters on breath management techniques, techniques of vowel formation, vibrato and national tendencies, vocal registration and national attitudes, the different types of voices, and international tonal ideals. Also discusses the North American singer and the national schools. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

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. This book is an invaluable resource for all vocalists (both professional and aspiring), diction instructors, teachers, and coaches, and choral directors. VISIT THE COMPANION SITE AT www.oup.com/us/singinginenglish

Diction in Context is a unique and highly practical textbook for singers learning to sing in English, Italian, German, and French. Each chapter is designed for use in diction courses in academic music and voice programs, helping students learn through pronunciation, articulation, enunciation, punctuation, and cultural context in each language. Students and teachers of singing will benefit from the text’s pertinent biographical, historical and literary sources along with diction rules and textual examples of English, Italian, German and French song. For each language, there is a section on sentence structure and syntax intended to assist readers with poetic analysis and word-by-word translations. Representative song texts are provided for the purpose of comparative listening and phonetic transcription. Comparative listening reveals subtle differences in expression and diction. In addition, the texts are presented in a workbook format, allowing space for IPA dictation practice. Diction in Context provides singers with the tools needed to delve deeply into the poetry and music they sing, to pronounce text accurately and to feel confident in expressing it. By combining English, Italian, German, and French into one easy-to-use textbook, students will benefit from a comparative perspective of singing in each language. Key Features: *Repertoire lists are provided for each language and are designed to be used for class presentations and assessments *Discussion questions to challenge reader comprehension of key concepts and songs *Word-by-word translations to accompany foreign language texts *An end-of-book glossary featuring definitions of terms in the text as well as terminology encountered in related literature *Three practical appendices, including: o Practice drills, quizzes, and assessment forms o A list of additional resources for diction learning o An Index of Works Cited featuring all poems and songs referenced in the book in one easily accessible list Disclaimer: Please note that ancillary content (such as documents, audio, and video, etc.) may not be included as published in the original print version of this book.

Late nineteenth-century France was a nation undergoing an identity crisis: the uncertain infancy of the Third Republic and shifting alliances in the wake of the Franco-Prussian War forced France to interrogate the fundamental values and characteristics at the heart of its own national identity. Music was central to this national self-scrutiny. It comes as little surprise to us that Oriental fears, desires, and anxieties should be a fundamental part of this, but what has been overlooked to date is that Britain, too, provided a thinking space in the French musical world; it was often – surprisingly and paradoxically – represented through many of the same racialist terms and musical tropes as the Orient. However, at the same time, its shared history with France and the explosions of colonial rivalry between the two nations introduced an ever-present tension into this musical relationship. This book sheds light on this forgotten musical sphere through a rich variety of contemporary sources. It visits the café-concert and its tradition of ‘Englishing up’ with fake hair, mocking accents, and unflattering dances; it explores the reactions, both musical and physical, to British evangelical bands as they arrived in the streets of France and the colonies; it considers the French reception of, and fascination with, folk music from Ireland and Scotland; and it confronts the culture shock felt by French visitors to Britain as they witnessed British music-making for the first time. Throughout, it examines the ways in which this music allowed French society to grapple with the uncertainty of late nineteenth-century life, providing ordinary French citizens with a means of understanding and interrogating both the Franco-British relationship and French identity itself.

Singing American English helps singers, teachers, and directors to negotiate the many difficulties involved in singing beautiful American English. Designed for use in diction for singers classes, this book is the fruit of more than a quarter-century of teaching by Dr. John T. Blizzard. Now in its second edition, Singing American English is useful also as both a reference and a workbook, full of drills designed for the student to master new information. Readers will learn how to use the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as a guide to their understanding, singing, and hearing. Chapters include discussions of the International Phonetic Alphabet, vowels and consonants, diphthongs, triphthongs, glides, and several articles on the relationship of diction to many facets of the performance of songs and arias. Students learn about the concept of the Hellwag Triangle, which, the author states, may be the most important chapter in the entire textbook in terms of their own singing.

Grab your dancing shoes, it’s time to put on a show! Introducing an interactive spin-off series with a musical twist, welcome to Singing – Cantando: La Cucaracha. This vibrant bilingual interactive songbook invites little ones to join the fun with the classic nursery rhyme La Cucaracha, presented in both English and Spanish. Watch as they learn to twist and twirl alongside the charming Cucaracha, dancing her way through the heartwarming song.

On a simple trip to the park, the joy of music overtakes a mother and daughter. The little girl hears a rhythm coming from the world around her- from butterflies, to street performers, to ice cream sellers everything is musical! She sniffs, snaps, and shakes her way into the heart of the beat, finally busting out in an impromptu dance, which all the kids join in on! Award-winning illustrator Frank Morrison and Connie Schofield-Morrison, capture the beat of the street, to create a rollicking read that will get any kid in the mood to boogie.

When Senor Don Gato receives a letter from the fluffy white lady cat declaring her love for him, a dramatic chain of events is set into motion. This traditional children's song about feline love, loss and the healing powers of fish is set to a chorus of miaow-miaow-miaow