A curriculum of voice pedagogy for choral conductors: The effect of solo voice exercises on individual singer technique, choral tone, and choral literature

Abstract

The document presents a Curriculum of Voice Pedagogy for Choral Conductors based on the author's solo voice techniques derived from studio voice teaching. Included in the Curriculum is basic voice pedagogy for the chorister, a differentiation between choral warm-ups and voice exercises, five steps to cultivating undeveloped voices, the development of the undergraduate voice, and a sample semester outline of the curriculum. The Curriculum's effectiveness was tested by University Singers, an entry-level collegiate choral ensemble (n = 77), and a panel of six graduate choral conductors at the University of Arizona. Seven common choral tone (Color Voices, Intonation, and Vowel Modulation) and singer technique (Flexibility, Legato, Resonance, and Diction) issues and corresponding exercises from the Curriculum were chosen to be tested from an individual singer's standpoint and from a conductor's aural ensemble perspective. Each exercise was applied to excerpts of choral literature to test its effectiveness in helping a singer to develop the vocal skills demanded by choral music. All exercises were concluded to be successful in that singers understood the purpose, the execution, and the pedagogical function of each exercise, and were inclined to use them in future vocal experiences. In addition, all tested vocal exercises helped to develop singer technique for issues encountered in the choral literature. Furthermore, four of the seven exercises were found to have a positive effect on the ensemble's sound as judged by the panel of conductors. The ensemble sound was also positively affected by the exercises for other tested issues in six out seven cases. Results showed that a focus on building individual singer technique will improve the overall sound and vocal ability of the choral ensemble. Furthermore, individual improvement in Intonation and Legato positively influenced the ensemble sound for all other tested issues.