This introductory text details Arthur Lessac’s proven procedures for understanding, training, and improving the voice and speech of the performer by exploring the varied qualities of the physical energies associated with producing sounds.

Arthur Lessac developed the Lessac System from over 45 years of study and professional work combined with practical studio teaching to a wide variety of students ranging from businessmen and clergymen to athletes, actors, singers, children, and clinical referrals. In 1965 he was distinguished visiting professor at the University of Puerto Rico, and in 1966 he returned to conduct special workshops for the drama faculties in the Teatro Escolar with high school fine arts' programs. In 1970 he was invited to join the faculty of the State University of New York at Binghamton. Since then the number of SUNY faculty members expert in his work has steadily increased and a substantial graduate program has developed. In 1977 Professor Lessac lectured and conducted workshops at the Hanover State Theatre in West Germany and the Yugoslav State Theatre in Zagreb. Professor Lessac's experience has been as a teacher, theatrical performer, professional singer, director, and expert in speech and voice therapy. His academic background includes studies at the Eastman School of Music, studies in speech therapy at New York University, graduate work in speech education, speech pathology, and physiology at New York University, work in anatomy and neurology at Bellevue Hospital, a clinical internship at St Vincent's Hospital, and a years psychoanalytical training.

A major new reference work with entries covering the entire field of communication and speech disorders.

A Systematic Approach to Voice: The Art of Studio Application is a professional resource presenting a framework for the integration of science-informed principles of voice production and pedagogical application in the training of singers. Author Dr. Kari Ragan has spent years using this organizational template of the five voice systems—respiration, phonation, registration, articulation, and resonance—to identify technical challenges and design corrective vocal exercises in order to facilitate efficient singing. Each of the voice system chapters contains a brief overview of the mechanics as well as key points for teachers, or “teacher takeaways.” The book’s core offering is vocal exercises which, framed within a systematic approach, provide strategies for the art of studio application. The intent is an approach that leads to technically proficient singing working in service of great artistry. Key Features: * Over 85 vocal exercises for studio application framed within a systematic approach for both a CCM and classical aesthetic * Brief overview of the mechanics of each voice system and relevant “teacher takeaways” * Extensive discussion on semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises * Introduction of several kinesthetic singing tools * Eight sample warm-up protocols designed for various levels of singers and both CCM and classical genres * Video demonstrations for each vocal exercise and sample warm-up

Vocal Traditions: Training in the Performing Arts explores the 18 most influential voice training techniques and methodologies of the past 100 years. This extensive international collection highlights historically important voice teachers, contemporary leaders in the field, and rising schools of thought. Each vocal tradition showcases its instructional perspective, offering backgrounds on the founder(s), key concepts, example exercises, and further resources. The text’s systematic approach allows a unique pedagogical evaluation of the vast voice training field, which not only includes university and conservatory training but also private session and workshop coaching as well. Covering a global range of voice training systems, this book will be of interest to those studying voice, singing, speech, and accents, as well as researchers from the fields of communication, music education, and performance. This book was originally published as a series in the Voice and Speech Review journal.

Voice and Speech for Musical Theatre is the first book to combine traditional actor vocal training with musical theatre training, offering support and guidance for performers seeking to train their spoken voice specifically for singing and performing in musical theatre. Performers in musical theatre are working harder than ever. The shifting and extreme nature of the modern musical theatre repertoire requires performers capable of mastering musicianship, singing and dancing while at the same time providing convincing and clear performances as actors. Voice and Speech for Musical Theatre will help train musical theatre performers in the longer modes of voice needed to create convincing and moving performances. Ideal for the triple-threat performer, Voice and Speech for Musical Theatre features exercises for performers, tips for teachers and online video resources, allowing for a focused and outcome-oriented training of vocal techniques for musical theatre performers.