Solutions for Singers: Tools for Performers and Teachers.(Book Review)

Solutions for Singers: Tools for Performers and Teachers, by Richard Miller. Oxford University Press, Inc. (198 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016), 2004. 271 pp., $35.

Richard Miller's book, Solutions for Singers, came about largely at the request of the many singers and teachers of singing with whom he has worked in his week-long seminars on the art of singing. In these courses and master classes, physiological and acoustic Function, as well as the art of communication, are analyzed and debated. Miller asks that questions be written down, so as not to disturb the flow of the classes. At the end of the week, these questions are discussed. He received many requests for this information to be put in permanent form, thus the interesting and useful format of this book.

The book is divided into ten parts: breath management, posture, laryngeal and intralaryngeal function, resonance balancing, nasal continuants and non-nasal consonants, the phenomenon of vibrato, registration, healthy singing, pedagogy issues and performance concerns. The layout of each chapter is question and answer, making it unnecessary to read from beginning to end if you have a specific concern, but I would recommend reading every chapter: there is a plethora of information for all.

Miller's knowledge of the singing instrument is exceedingly comprehensive. He can discuss a vocal issue from any angle: historic, traditional, scientific, empirical, mechanistic, past, present and future. He docs just that in his thorough and thoughtful explanations: answering all types of questions whether simplistic or complex.

The questions range from age-old misconceptions (such as correcting swayback) to ones of curiosity, even to the relentless denial ...