Recomendations of music books for a soprano?
July 13th, 2007 | by music |
Aurelia asked:
I am 18 years old and a soprano. I have been studying music for 9 years and seriously studying voice for about 2 years. I plan to go to college and either major in musical theater or minor in voice. Does anyone have any recomendations for music books to add to my library to build my repitoire? I have several, but I’m interested to see what people who have studied voice in college and beyond recomend. I have a range that spans over three octaves, so there is no limit in that aspect.
BROOKS
I am 18 years old and a soprano. I have been studying music for 9 years and seriously studying voice for about 2 years. I plan to go to college and either major in musical theater or minor in voice. Does anyone have any recomendations for music books to add to my library to build my repitoire? I have several, but I’m interested to see what people who have studied voice in college and beyond recomend. I have a range that spans over three octaves, so there is no limit in that aspect.
BROOKS
4 Responses to “Recomendations of music books for a soprano?”
By Cekker Kwann on Jul 15, 2007 | Reply
Bada bing, bada boom! I know of a great book on the Sopranos! It even talks about how Tony’s shrink (Dr. Jennipher Malfi) actually has the hots for her twisted mob client. And I thought I was the only Sopranos fan on here!
By tonyp128 on Jul 16, 2007 | Reply
Buy a sax. I’ll give u lessons free. xxx
By mamianka on Jul 17, 2007 | Reply
There is a collection called the Broadway Singer’s Anthology, which comes in volumes for each voice part. You can find it many places, including. While you are browsing Pepper, you can find many other good volumes. I recommend this site because it is the largest place in the world where CERTIFIED TEACHERS shop for their instructional materials. Unlike another music store that will sell you whatever, with little regard to your eventual use, this site will only carry things that CERTIFIED TEACHERS (get my drift??) are buying. If you also go to, you can buy huge collections of art songs, arias, etc, on CD-ROM. These are a wonderful bargain - the editions are dated, and the visual quality is not always great - they are scans - but it is a good way to look over things, try them out, and then eventually buy a reputable edition to add to you library.
Visit the NATS website. Look over graded lists of vocal repertoire, and see what volumes are consistently used by those adjudications. And of course - building a library of operatic vocal scores and vocal scores of musical (not *selections* - actual vocal scores) is an ongoing project. My family always gives me gift certificates to my favorite music dealers, for presents. Perfume gets used, a sweater gets worn out - but I have scores that have written in them *gift from my husband, 1984* - that’s a forever thing.
There are many fine colleges in which you can combine your two vocal interests. I know the East Coast best - I would say Hartt School (Univeristy of Hartford): NYU; University of the Arts (Philadelphia) to begin with. Many schools offer a popular-music only focus - and you can imagine the wannabees LINED UP for those - but I know that these 3, among others, will give you BOTH the legitimate vocal preparation AND the theatrical education you seek. You sound like a mature and intelligent person (what a relief!!! These lists are FULL of *make me famous NOW idiots!!) and I wish you much luck.
By lynndramsop on Jul 18, 2007 | Reply
also check out dlib.indianau.com. the Cook music library also has a lot of Lieder, including French chansons on file, you can print out for free. Mostly the standard Lieder repertory, but it saves having to run to photocopy if you run across a song that you don’t already have.
otherwise, heed mamianka’s advice. I just bookmarked it myself….