Shirlee Emmons, born in Wisconsin, took her undergraduate degree at Lawrence
University. She then pursued graduate study at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia,
where she was a student of the legendary soprano Elizabeth Schumann. Aided
by a Fulbright Scholarship, she studied at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi
in Milano, Italy, under the tutelage of Maestro Mario Cordone, whose training
was done under his mentor, the great Arturo Toscanini. Highlights of Emmonsı
singing career include solo work with the Robert Shaw Chorale, recordings
for RCA and Concert Hall, opera performances with the NBC Opera Company and
the Santa Fe Opera, concert tours for CAMI, first-prize winner of the Marian
Anderson Competition, oratorio appearances as soloist with the major New York
choral societies, winning an OBIE (the off-Broadway Oscar award) for her performance
in the leading role of Virgil Thomsonıs The Mother of Us All, and singing
first performances of works by the composers Jack Beeson, Heitor Villa-Lobos,
and Francis Poulenc.
As a voice teacher, Ms. Emmons began her teaching career at Barnard College/Columbia
University, moving from there to Princeton University where she taught for
seventeen years, followed by seven years at Boston University and three years
at Rutgers University. She has presented master classes in almost every state
of the union, at national conventions for the MTNA and NATS, and at conferences
for The College Music Society and the National Society of Arts and Letters.
Emmons is the immediate past Chair of the American Academy of Teachers of
Singing. Shirlee Emmons served as contributing editor for The NATS Journal
for three years, specializing in articles about the lives of former great
singers. She has written three books: The Art of the Song Recital (Schirmer
Books, 1979), Tristanissimo: the authorized biography of heroic tenor Lauritz
Melchior (Schirmer Books, 1990), and the newest, a book about performance
psychology, written with co-author Alma Thomas, an eminent British performance
specialist, Power Performance for Singers: Transcending the Barriers (Oxford
University Press, 1998), now also published in Korean translation by Project
409. Ms. Emmons now teaches privately in New York, where her students include
singers on the rosters of the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Opera.
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Breath Management Diction And Intelligibility Tone And Intonation The Individual Singer The Warmup And Training Period Some Practical Solutions to Leadership Issues Leadership Theory For Reference Practice And Imagery Mental Skills |
In shaping choral tone, directors often wish to improve the sound of their choir, but are challenged to pinpoint underlying problems or to guide singers toward solutions. Now, in Prescriptions for Choral Excellence, skilled vocal pedagogue Shirlee Emmons and leading choral director Constance Chase equip choral directors with the practical tools they need to help singers achieve peak choral performance. Drawing on years of experience, Emmons and Chase help choral directors and singers effectively diagnose and resolve problems. They cover topics ranging from breath management and diction to range and intonation, and much more. Beyond describing vocal difficulties, the book provides concrete instructions on how to apply the concepts in day-to-day rehearsal and performance. The numerous practical exercises and planning aides allow directors to maximize both time and talent to elicit the highest potential from their singers. While grounded in the most up-to-date research in voice science, the discussion of vocal anatomy and function is accessible to readers with no previous knowledge of voice science. Going beyond other vocal and choral guidebooks, the authors also apply the most current theories in leadership principles and group dynamics to choral settings, helping directors translate their natural musicality and charisma into inspiring and motivational leadership. A comprehensive and unique blend of practical expertise, voice science, and leadership psychology, Prescriptions for Choral Excellence is an invaluable guide for all choral directors seeking to create memorable and remarkable performances.
| 6316 BOOK $29.95 |
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This Thing Called Performance The Characteristics of Peak Performance What is Mental Toughness? The Performance Cycle: Plans and Routines The Self and Performance: You, the Person; You, the Performer Physical Well-Being and Relaxation Setting Goals Developing Self-Confidence through Positive Thinking The Art of Concentrating Distractions Dealing with Anxiety Imagery in Performance The Coach's Place in Singer's Preperformance Work Exploring and Planning "Meaning" for Performance The Audition and the Competition Fear in Performance Postperformance Management Staleness and Burnout in Performers Exercise Forms |
To perform well in today's highly competitive world where technical skills have been advanced to an unprecedented degree, a singer must be able to handle incredible pressure within the performing arena; his or her ability to deal with this stress will often determine whether he or she will succeed. Why, then, do singers with less technical skill sometimes out-perform stars? Why do some stars suddenly stop performing? What is that mysterious factor that makes an electric performance? Consistent, competent performances do not depend solely upon superior vocal skills, nor are they a matter of luck. On the contrary, the best performances result from a combination of mental attitude, concrete performing skills, and excellent technical skills in that order. Yet most singers have never had the opportunity to acquire the essential skills that make for a successful career.Written as a self-help manual for singers at all levels of expertise, Transcending the Performance Barriers is designed to teach performing artists, and especially singers, how to experience elite performance at their level. The skills outlined in this book will help singers use what they have, to enjoy their voices during performance, and to perform consistently to the best of their present ability.
| 1153 Book $34.95 |
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The Song Recital Program Building Constructing Sample Programs More Sample Programs The Unique Needs of the Young Artist The Singing Actor The Accompanist Recital Tactics and Strategies Musical and Literary Research Methods of Study and Memorization New Music Vocal Ensemble Music The Song Cycle Folk Music and Popular Music The Need for Change & Innovations Appendix Bibliography |
To perform well in today's highly competitive world where technical skills have been advanced to an unprecedented degree, a singer must be able to handle incredible pressure within the performing arena; his or her ability to deal with this stress will often determine whether he or she will succeed. Why, then, do singers with less technical skill sometimes out-perform stars? Why do some stars suddenly stop performing? What is that mysterious factor that makes an electric performance? Consistent, competent performances do not depend solely upon superior vocal skills, nor are they a matter of luck. On the contrary, the best performances result from a combination of mental attitude, concrete performing skills, and excellent technical skills in that order. Yet most singers have never had the opportunity to acquire the essential skills that make for a successful career.Written as a self-help manual for singers at all levels of expertise, Transcending the Performance Barriers is designed to teach performing artists, and especially singers, how to experience elite performance at their level. The skills outlined in this book will help singers use what they have, to enjoy their voices during performance, and to perform consistently to the best of their present ability.
| 6514 Book $34.95 |
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