CHAPTER 1 Working with Older Singers   Research and the Older Singer "Cradle to grave" singing is a mission statement shared by several major music education institutions in America. Studies of early childhood development, changing voice, and adolescent and adult singing voices place importance on basic vocal technique and hygiene for each age group. There is increased attention among vocal pedagogues and voice scientists in matters relating to the singing voices of men and women over 55. Becaus -- CHAPTER 2 Choral Pedagogy and Vocal Health   Choral conductors engage groups of amateur singers in the act of re-creating the masterworks of the choral art, blending voices to shape longer, larger phrases of music than any single singer performs in an aria or song. The goal in choral singing is the blending of individual vocal and intellectual components to achieve a choral sound. The sound of any choir is indicative of its singers, weaving a unity made of threads from each voice. Some, but not -- CHAPTER 3 The Basics of Singing   Our culture cultivates a garden of youthful thinking. Seeds are sown in slogans that resist the natural course of aging. Manufacturers promote products that claim to defy inevitable changes and others that promise to disguise those already acquired. Expectant parents purchase devices intended to stimulate mental and physical growth in newborns. Cribs and playpens, toys, and teddy bears are digitized and computerized, equipping inanimate objects with the capacity.

CHAPTER 4 Range, Stamina, and Vocal Quality   Our singing voices accompany us through life, changing as our bodies change and aging as our bodies age. In our youth, we strive to achieve a physical peak. We enjoy a brief plateau before the momentum reverses, beginning a period of steady decline. With each human being, the point of peak performance varies. The rate of decline varies as well. Though one cannot predict the speed or results of aging process for any two people of the comparable chrono -- CHAPTER 5 Tone, Pitch Matching, and Tuning   As we age, we can expect the tone quality of our voices to thin. In many older voices, often the voice presents with more lyricism and sweetness. For others, the tone may be less complex but need not be less expressive. To become better acquainted with the changes of vocal quality, a frequent aural assessment is possible through a recording device. A reliable, qualified friend, relative, singing teacher or skilled choral conductor can be very useful i -- CHAPTER 6 Age- and Size-Appropriate Singing   Age- and size-appropriate singing should be the goal of any conductor in order to optimize choral sound and choristers' health. An older singer will benefit from a conductor's advice regarding vocal tone quality, vibrato rate, and agility expectations. It is important to remember that any singer relies on the ears of another when evaluating the results. Honest information delivered with kindness will be appreciated. In addition, the conductor should.

CHAPTER 7 Warm-Up and Cooldown Procedures   Warm-up and cooldown procedures have been invaluable as a means of preparing singers to exercise their voices in all ranges and to return healthfully to the act of speaking. Neither warming up nor cooling down requires a great deal of time. Over time, the process helps singers recognize a personal sense of vocal readiness for singing and speaking tasks. In older singers, especially those who live alone, the voice may require more time to prepare than w -- CHAPTER 8 Special Considerations for Teaching Older Singers   The warm-up and cooldown procedures described in Chapter 7 have been devised to accommodate the seated older singer. A systematic approach to relaxation, posture, breathing, and resonance will build the arsenal of vocal skill while bolstering the confidence of each singer. An effort has been made to choose activities that the singers can perpetuate easily as exercises during daily life. After only a few weeks of regular practice, sing -- CHAPTER 9 Rhythm, Discipline, and Brain Function   A choir composed of older singers presents an interesting pedagogical puzzle for the conductor. Because vocal technique for older singers is an underrepresented issue in the literature, a choral conductor of an aging choir has few references or trusted mentors available. At the present time, there are no tried and true solutions for addressing the vocal or teaching problems of the elderly population. We do know that rhythm is something to which.

CHAPTER 10 Vibrato Rate   Vibrato, a periodic modulation of the frequency of phonation, is a critical element for the achievement of an aesthetically pleasing voice. Vocal vibrato can be life-giving, the secret to success for a singing voice. Vibrato may be compared to a beauty mark, an idiosyncratic, identifying attribute. Vibrato implies vocal viability, acting as a finishing touch on a youthful instrument, an essential aspect of a healthy tone. To some singing teachers, choral conductors, and -- CHAPTER 11 Anatomy and Physiology of the Voice   The human voice is remarkable, complex, and delicate. It is capable of conveying not only sophisticated, intellectual concepts, but also subtle emotional nuances. Although the uniqueness and beauty of the human voice have been appreciated for centuries, medical science has begun to understand the workings and care of the voice only since the late 1970s and the early 1980s. To train the voice efficiently and safely, the choral conductor should have -- CHAPTER 12 Medical Care of Voice Disorders Robert T. Sataloff and Mary Hawkshaw   What Is New in Medical Care of Voice Disorders? Until the 1980s, most physicians caring for patients with voice disorders asked only a few basic questions such as: "How long have you been hoarse?" and "Do you smoke?" The physician's ear was the sole "instrument" used routinely to assess voice quality and function. Visualization of the vocal folds was limited to looking through a mirror placed inside the mouth using.

CHAPTER 13 Performing Arts Medicine and the Professional Voice User: Risk of Nonvoice Performance   The developing specialty of arts medicine is extremely valuable for voice professionals. The physician caring for professional vocalists will find it useful to be aware of developments in related fields (Sataloff, Brandfonbrener, & Ledermann, 2010). Through the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the Journal of Singing, the Journal of Voice, the Voice Foundation Symposia, and many other s -- CHAPTER 14 Seating Problems of Vocalists Richard Norris   When is a chair not a chair? When it is an instrument of torture! Singers, along with other seated workers and students, are often unintentional victims of poorly designed seating. As Dr. A. C. Mandal points out in his book The Seated Man, the human body was not designed to sit with the hips and knees bent at a 90° angle (Mandal, 1985). The chair as we know it seems to have been derived from the ancient throne designed for ruling, not for -- CHAPTER 15 Vocal Health and the Older Singer*   A serious interest in singing and voice training may begin at any age from early childhood to the last decades of life. Singing lessons may be safe and productive for students of any age, provided that the lessons are age appropriate. Older adults differ from children and young adults in terms of laryngeal and pulmonary (lung) structure and function, hormonal environment and other bodily conditions, aerobic conditioning, susceptibility to injury, i.

CHAPTER 16 The Use of Nutrition and Integrative Medicine or Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for Older Choral Singers Joel S. Edman, Lauren Kondrad, and Birgit Rakel   Introduction and Definition of Integrative Medicine or CAM Integrative medicine is the current term being used to describe a holistic approach to health care (although some people still call it CAM). It is defined by the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine (CAHCIM) as "the practice of medicin.