Books on Changing Voices
  • Organista25
    Posts: 4
    Hi all,

    What are your favorite books on the subject of changing voices? I'm changing my youth choir from unchanged voices to mixed this year and looking for a refresher since it's been a while since I've done much with changing voices. I'm using Sight Reading Factory this year for my choirs (and cantors) to help with sight reading but looking for more specifics on teaching middle school voices what's going on with their voices.

    Thanks in advance.

    God bless,
    Susan
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 3,180
    Rite of exorcism.

    (*ducks and runs out of the room*)
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  • canadashcanadash
    Posts: 1,537
    I have not read any books on the subject but I had 4 boys and helped get them through this crazy time.
    Every boy is different, even if they are from the same family. VERY different.
    Be patient. Keep them singing, even if they can only sing 4 notes. They will eventually sing 5, then 8, then SUDDENLY, they can sing a hymn. Fit the song to the boy, not the other way around. Transpositions help!

    Patience is key. Keeping them singing, even if they hate their voice, is important.

    I did a quick search and found these
    https://nafme.org/blog/an-abridged-choral-directors-guide-to-the-male-voice-change/
    https://www.nats.org/_Library/Kennedy_JOS_Files_2013/JOS-063-5-2007-537.pdf
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  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 3,212
    Also the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music will have an online session in three parts later this year. (Just ctrl+F search for changing voices.)
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  • Organista25
    Posts: 4
    Canadash, these look great. Thanks for the suggestions.
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  • Organista25
    Posts: 4
    I saw the information about the online session from the CISM. It just means committing to "working" on my only day off. With the standard church musician's 6 day work week, it's really hard to commit to something on my day off. I might still do it but the day is a big hesitation for me.
  • jcr
    Posts: 148
    I don't know if it's still available, but Don Collins "Teaching Choral Music" I quite good and has a good deal of information about ways of dealing with changing voices. Prentice Hall was the publisher 1993
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  • Jenny Donelson
    Posts: 284
    @Organista25 - There is archived access available for the CISM sessions if the time slot is a problem. You can view them at your leisure, and even submit questions before the next session if you'd like the presenter to answer them.

    The idea behind a session like this is precisely because print resources are hard to find, and there's almost nothing more valuable than learning from a fantastic singer who can demonstrate and share his wisdom on the topic. Our presenter is the countertenor of New York Polyphony, who has a huge amount of experience in working with top youth choirs.

    More info here.
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