Chapter 1 Freedom to Sing 

• Can I learn to sing? 

• How will I improve my singing? 

• What will I need? 

• Physical freedom 

• How muscles work 

• Stretching 

Chapter 2 Breath and the Body 

• Singing posture 

• Head alignment 

• Learn to breathe 

• The breathing mechanism 

• Breath support 

• Phases of breath action 

• Theories of breath support 

• Interaction between posture and breath action 

• Upside-down breathing 

• Bodybuilding 

Chapter 3 Free Tone Tone quality 

• Descriptive words 

• Vocal acoustics 

• Tonal goals 

• What the vocal bands do 

• Three methods of attack 

• Three methods of release 

• Resonance 

• Vibrato 

• How to vocalize 

Chapter 4 Changing Resonances in Your Voice Chest or head? 

• Your choice 

• What kind of voice? 

• Voice types 

• Belt and pop singing 

• Finding your best resonance 

• Increasing your resonance 

• Feeling and hearing 

• Relaxation and resonance 

Chapter 5 Preparing a Song 

• Learning the tune 

• Learning the words 

• Phrasing 

• Catch breaths 

• Singing the song 

Chapter 6 Vowels and Vocal Color 

• Your speaking voice 

• What is diction? 

• The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) 

• Vowels for singing 

• The seven Italian vowels 

• Tongue vowels 

• Lip Vowels 

• Pure Ay and Oh in English 

• Equalizing the vowels 

• Coloring your voice for expression 

• Summary of 15 vowels 

Chapter 7 Consonants and Clarity

• Semi-consonants 

• Consonants 

• Hums 

• Pairs of consonants 

• Special consonants 

• R: the variable sound 

• Clusters and legato singing 

Chapter 8 Double and Triple Vowels Five diphthongs 

• Schwa-diphthongs 

• Schwa-triphthongs 

Chapter 9 Performing a Song

• Guidelines for interpretation 

• Musical styles 

• Beginning, middle, and end 

• Strophic songs 

• Through-composed songs 

• Pop-song form 

• The accompanist 

• Confidence and stage fright 

• Preparations 

• Onstage

Chapter 10 Extending Your Voice

• Vocal strength 

• Focus 

• Improving breath control 

• Flexibility 

• Range 

• Low notes 

• High notes 

Chapter 11 Understanding Your Vocal Instrument 

• The voice as a musical instrument 

• What¹s behind your Adam¹s apple? 

• Vocal health 

• Vocal overuse 

• Damaged voices 

• Avoiding more colds 

Chapter 12 Notes for Nonmusicians 

• What is a musical ear? 

• Pitch 

• Keys 

• Scales 

• Rhythm 

• Looking at music