Voice Work
Art and Science in Changing Voices

2. Auflage Januar 2025
464 Seiten, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
Voice Work
Second Edition
The voice is one of the fundamental modes of self-expression, a key touchstone of identity and sense of self. Many people in all walks of life are looking to change their voices, whether to modify a speaking challenge of some kind, to cultivate a professional skill, or for other reasons. Voice practitioners have an invaluable role in guiding clients along the path to their desired voice outcomes.
Building on the success of the first edition, Voice Work continues to offer a wide-ranging introduction to the repair, improvement, development, and exploration of the spoken and sung voice. Balancing rigorous scholarship with practical insights, the book draws from all major vocal professions and paths within voice work. It offers guidance for developing the voice alongside detailed, up-to-date insights into the work of voice instruction.
Readers of the second edition of Voice Work will also find:
* Numerous new colour illustrations
* Extensive chapter revisions and reference updates
* Original chapters on the history of voice work, public speaking and voice work online
* Updated material on voice and emotions, mindfulness and imagery, voice work and well-being, the applications of technology and the value of practitioner supervision
* Additional techniques and exercises
Voice Work is a valuable resource for spoken voice teachers, singing teachers, and speech and language therapists and pathologists. Endorsements from leading members of these professions for both the first and second editions are featured inside.
Acknowledgements xi
About the book xii
Part 1 Considering voice work 1
1 The voice work continuum 3
2 The nature of voice work 15
3 Scope and history of voice work 28
4 Seeing voices 33
5 Hearing voices 45
6 Voice Skills 57
7 Voice Skills analysis 66
Part 2 Voice work foundations 79
8 Bodywork foundations 81
9 Breath work foundations 94
10 Channel work foundations 113
11 Phonation work foundations 125
12 Resonance work foundations 139
13 Pitch work foundations 146
14 Loudness work foundations 155
15 Articulation work foundations 162
16 Voices and emotions 173
Part 3 Particular voices 191
17 The daily voice 193
18 The public speaking voice 207
19 The acting voice 221
20 The singing voice 232
21 The disordered voice 247
Part 4 Practical voice work 269
22 Practical voice care 271
23 General bodywork 289
24 Body voice work 303
25 Breath voice work 319
26 Channel voice work 333
27 Phonation voice work 352
28 Resonance voice work 360
29 Pitch voice work 368
30 Loudness voice work 377
31 Articulation voice work 385
32 Voice work online 399
33 Group voice work 410
Afterword 425
Bibliography 426
Index 443
'I think of it more as a companion with practical knowledge and helpful insights. Who would have thought a book about voice would contain so much heart?'
Dawn French
'Christina Shewell has merged her extensive experience in voice training, and her practical insights into carat concepts in voice science and care. This well-grounded work provides a broad, interesting and useful perspective on principles and techniques for voice modification.'
Professor Robert T. Sataloff, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Associate Dean, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, and Chairman of The Voice Foundation
'Although it's a textbook, there's interesting and important information for a vast number of people.'
Petroc Trelawney
'This book allows a more exciting, experiential approach to working with voice clients, is great value for money, and a pleasure to read. A must for all voice practitioners.'
Alice Poulter, Speech and Language Therapy in Practice, Autumn 2009
'The text explores with consistency the uniqueness of the multidisciplinary voice world... a must-have publication for all health, educational and arts professionals working with individuals who want to improve or rehabilitate their voices.'
Mara Behlau, the International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders
'This book is a deep exploration of what it is to work with voices and how to use that which is offered by science, clinical research and evidence, as well as our imagination and empathy.'
Annabel Bosanquet, Bulletin of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
'An important and unique book--a book that should be embraced by the voice world and owned by anyone working with the human voice.'
Patsy Rodenburg
'Shewell's encyclopedic look at voice exercises holds a vast quantity of useful information... In this compilation of approaches to exploring free and effective voice use, Christina Shewell has given her readers a treasure trove of useful voice exercises and diagnostic tools. This book is an essential resource for voice practitioners from all parts of the art-science continuum.'
Erika Bailey, VASTA Voice and Speech Review, 2011
'For voice teachers and practitioners looking for an essential book to add to their collection of vocal reference books, this is the perfect choice... an enormous amount of information regarding the functionality of the voice, along with tools and strategies to help achieve a positive change in the voice.'
Shawna Gottfredson, Classical Singer
'The very skilful and readable interweaving of academic understanding with rich thoughtful communication makes this book both an absolute winner (artistic enthusiasm) and a thoroughly researched vocal handbook (scientific objectivity)... an essential reference book and an inspiration for years to come.'
Sue Anderson, Journal of the Association of Teachers of Singing UK, Issue 56, Summer 2009
Rockford Sansom, PhD, MFA, is a voice teacher and communication coach. He has worked with senior leaders in business and politics, and with actors and singers in major productions around the globe. As an educator, he has lectured at more than 30 universities on five continents. For seven years, he was the editor of the Voice and Speech Review, a leading communication journal. His book publications include The History of Voice Pedagogy, Vocal Traditions, Voice and Identity, and Practitioner Research in Voice Studies. His interests include connecting voice to history, teaching, learning, research methods, and sociolinguistics.