Leon Thurman and James Daugherty published the article "Balance or Blend? Are These the Only Approaches to Choral Singing? (A Rebuttal)" in the Choral Journal, April, 2003. Their express intention was to offer insights into an article published in the same journal four months prior. Their article is a brilliant rebuttal, but, it also succinctly defines why the scientific method, specifically the value of asking questions and seeking answers in predictable, measurable, repeatable ways, is critical to the voice world. This article provides such clarity that it can serve as a primer for educational methods, vocology, vocal pedagogy, conducting, and choral methods classes. Bravo to these two veteran musicians for their careful and meaningful encouragement to the rest of the profession.
A few of my favorite quotes:
"Is desirable voice quality in solo or choral singing determined in large part by the expressive content of the music being sung and the particular stylistic practices of the human beings who created it? Or, is it determined by a single, set way to sing all musics?
Is the brain of a trained singer capable of coordinating that singer’s larynx and vocal tract in a variety of profiles in order to efficiently produce a variety of expressive voice qualities? Or, are human brains limited to only one coordination profile that is efficient? " (p. 38)
"When any group of choral conductors or singing teachers discusses "the best ways to do what we do," there are likely to be as many opinions, speculations, and beliefs as there are people in the room. Perhaps, that reflects our individual human experiences and the state of accumulated knowledge in our profession. Once we decide to test, in some fashion, the validity of opinions, speculations, and beliefs, however, we must necessarily move from the realm of professional opinion to the realm of systematic, controlled investigation. Separating the two is never easy. Nonetheless, is this not a goal toward which we must aspire when our ultimate goal is high credibility in our profession's knowledge base? " (p. 43)
A few of my favorite quotes:
"Is desirable voice quality in solo or choral singing determined in large part by the expressive content of the music being sung and the particular stylistic practices of the human beings who created it? Or, is it determined by a single, set way to sing all musics?
Is the brain of a trained singer capable of coordinating that singer’s larynx and vocal tract in a variety of profiles in order to efficiently produce a variety of expressive voice qualities? Or, are human brains limited to only one coordination profile that is efficient? " (p. 38)
"When any group of choral conductors or singing teachers discusses "the best ways to do what we do," there are likely to be as many opinions, speculations, and beliefs as there are people in the room. Perhaps, that reflects our individual human experiences and the state of accumulated knowledge in our profession. Once we decide to test, in some fashion, the validity of opinions, speculations, and beliefs, however, we must necessarily move from the realm of professional opinion to the realm of systematic, controlled investigation. Separating the two is never easy. Nonetheless, is this not a goal toward which we must aspire when our ultimate goal is high credibility in our profession's knowledge base? " (p. 43)
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