One Voice

Book excerpt: Speak. Laugh. Cry. Shout. Scream. Sing. Whether you're an actor or a singer, your voice is called upon to do many things. But how do you keep your voice healthy while satisfying these demands? Theatre voice specialist Joan Melton is uniquely qualified to show how. She maintains that the training of singers and actors should be similar. Her groundbreaking book outlines a course of study that integrates basic elements of singing technique into the whole range of theatre voice training. The physicality of Melton's approach addresses all the issues of concern for professional voice users in any field. Melton's detailed work on phrasing demonstrates the technical similarities between text that is sung and text that is spoken. She supports her suggestions for relating and integrating voice and movement, too-for those in musical theatre who must sing, speak, and dance-with exercises that fully engage the performer physically and vocally. Kenneth Tom contributes a chapter on vocal anatomy, offering clear and accessible material on how the voice works along with practical advice on its care.