The Structure of Singing: System and Art in Vocal Technique

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Reference
Review: This book is not meant for the beginning singer with no prior knowledge of vocal technique. This excellent book is used by many colleges and universities. It serves well as an invaluable reference for teachers, advanced students and the like. Understanding the physical aspects of voice production is a must for most singers to aid in the development of supported, resonant, dynamic, consistent and tension free sound. This book provides that information plus many efficient vocal exercises. It won't keep you turning pages in bed at night but if you have a question about vocal technique you will find the answer here.

Rating:
Summary: A superb work for the intermediate to advanced student
Review: This book presents the fundamentals of correct singing in an easy, learned style. Richard Miller is "no-nonsense" and includes serious research to back up all of his assertions as well as examples for the accomplished vocalist. In times where a singer is between good teachers, this book makes a useful and helpful companion. A must have for any serious singer.

Rating:
Summary: Not for beginers, but excelent.
Review: This book was not written for beginners, learning basic concepts for the very first time. It has some very advanced practices. However, these techniques are given initially as basic, and each excersise works its way through to a very technical and proficient warmup. Richard Miller has an excellent background in vocal training. His vocabulary is very advanced and the terms used in this book are definitely not for beginners. However, if you are somewhat educated on the vocal aparatus and subsequent terms than this book will be a delight to you.

Rating:
Summary: Academic writing gets in the way of clear communication
Review: This is a classic case of academic writing getting in the way of clear communication. This book may have many interesting things to say, but as a reader who holds two master degrees, I still couldn't make out most of its content. The writing style is unnecessarily complicated and exoteric. It is also full of vague and high sounding language. It is a very frustrating book to read. I am able to learn a few useful concepts here and there from the book, but I'm confident that there are other books that can teach you the same things with a lot less money and time investment on your part.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, but NOT for those who are uneducated about singin
Review: This may sound pompous, that is, saying what I say in the title of my review. This book is excellent, and it is the first one I read by Richard Miller. However, I have sang for decades, had a career, and teach voice. I have a background in understanding what he is talking about. I read the reviews that rated this book a one star, and quite frankly, I can see why such a person would do that. It was evident by the reviews that these people, though they want to sing and love doing it, are still looking for that "one perfect exercise" that will create their "soon to be famous voice." This book will not do that for you. Firstly, there is no such thing as a "singing made simple" book, even though there are plenty of them out there that claim such a thing is possible. It is true one doesn't need to understand all there is to know about singing to sing well, but one does have a greater appreciation for what they are doing if they learn more than the basic scales.

This book does try to help people understand the physical functionings of the voice, which techniques out there actually work against good vocal production and which things support it. All of that can be very confusing if you are not somewhat knowledgeable of singing technique.

That is why I say, this book is NOT for those who are not educated in singing, or who are seeking a quick fix for some vocal problem they may have, or who simply think reading a book on voice will make them the winners of the NEXT AMERICAN IDOL. Personally, I think this book is more valuable to teachers than anyone, but it is excellent for serious students who wish to learn more about what is happening in their bodies as they sing.

None of Richard Miller's books are an easy read, and in fact, they are very academic in nature and in word usage, and they presuppose the reader has a very active background in vocal terminalogy.

I recommend all his books for those who are studying and most especially to those who teach. I don't recommend any of them to those who are wanting the "quick fix" to stardom. One thing all readers of his works need is a very detailed understanding of their own bodies, and what they do while they sing. Only then will the information he gives really help you, for only then will you see if you are using your muscles correctly or if you are not.

Miller's books on singing, as excellent as I think they are, are not for everyone. Buy this book only if you are sure you know it contains what you are able to understand. I recommend borrowing his books from public libraries before you buy them, then you will be able, without having spent the price, to see if they help you. Once you see how good they are, then buying them is an excellent idea.