Secret Manual for Singers
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Summary
Editor's review
The book's core value lies in the "singer competency model" it constructs. Professor You breaks down the abilities a mature singer needs into vocal function, musicianship, artistic expression, professionalism, and other dimensions, and elaborates on each in detail. Unlike many vocal books that emphasize "quick high notes" or showmanship, this book stresses the foundational role of musicianship. The author argues that precise command of pitch, rhythm, harmony, and style is what distinguishes a singer from a mere "good voice." Chapters such as "How to Analyze a Song" and "How to Build a Personal Vocal Profile" offer highly practical methodology.
For editors, the book's value lies in its rational, demystifying perspective. It turns singing, at least in part, from a field dependent on talent and feeling into a skill that can be improved through systematic study and deliberate practice. Numerous examples of Chinese and foreign pop singers are cited for comparative analysis, keeping the theory from growing dull. Readers should note, however, that many of the exercises and methods require substantial time and practice and cannot be mastered overnight. Overall, this is a reference book worth repeated study for advanced learners who want to improve their singing systematically and scientifically; the framework and approach it offers far exceed scattered piles of technique.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Pop music learners with some singing foundation who want to improve their overall abilities systematically
- Music school students or vocal teachers seeking teaching references and theoretical supplements
- Enthusiasts with a strong interest in pop vocal art who want deeper insight into its underlying logic and system
- Amateur or professional singers at a plateau seeking a direction for breakthrough
Not a good fit for
- Absolute beginners looking for shortcuts such as "high notes in three days"
- Readers interested only in imitating a particular singer's style rather than building their own singing system
Reading tips
- Read through the table of contents first to grasp the competency framework the author builds, then choose chapters for close reading and practice based on your weak spots
- The book contains many technical terms and practice instructions; best read alongside vocal practice, or with recording equipment ready for comparison and verification
- Apply the methods on "song analysis" and "style command" to pieces you are currently practicing to deepen understanding
About the publisher
Shanghai Music Publishing House focuses on music and dance books and textbooks, with a brand identity built around piano literature and music classics. Its catalogue of about 592 titles includes categories such as film and television and theory. Representative works include the Norton series on music history by period—Twentieth-Century Music, Romantic Music, Classical Music and Baroque Music—as well as Feinberg on the Art of Piano Playing, A History of European Music and Beethoven's Symphonies: An Artistic Vision. Its contributors include authors and scholars such as Philip Downs, Leon Plantinga, Robert Morgan and Richard Hoppin, along with translators and scholars Liu Danni, Chen Hongduo, Gan Fangmeng and Liang Qing. The press emphasizes translations of Western music scholarship while also supporting Chinese-language writing on music history and theory, giving its list a core strength in period histories, style histories and performance art; public information on other areas is limited.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 简介
- 第一关 定风格
- 第一招 认识自己的声音
- 第二招 认识自己的音域
- 第三招 认识自己的声线
- 第四招 认识自己的音色
- 第五招 塑造自己的声音辨识度
- 第六招 认识自己的气质
- 第七招 认识自己的性格
- 第八招 认识自己的年龄
- 第九招 认识自己的形象
- 第十招 认识音乐
- 第二关 上赛场
- 第一招 选好歌曲
- 第二招 选好伴奏
- 第三招 选好风格
- 第四招 抓住舞台
- 第五招 放松心情
- 第六招 积累素养
- 第三关 做唱片
- 第一招 策划
- 第二招 收歌
- 第三招 编曲
- 第四招 录音
- 第五招 缩混
- 第六招 母带
- 第七招 出版
- 第八招 发行
- 第九招 宣传
- 第十招 成本清算
- 第四关 闯歌坛
- 第一招 选择公司
- 第二招 自我推荐
- 第三招 调整心态
- 第四招 权衡名利
- 第五关 签合约
- 第一招 合约性质
- 第二招 合约期限
- 第三招 利益分配
- 第四招 团体合约
- 第五招 版权归属
- 第六招 版税分配
- 第七招 版权问题
- 第八招 怎样买歌
FAQ
Is this book suitable for someone who has never learned to sing?
Do the techniques apply to bel canto or Chinese national singing?
Can I learn to sing well from the book alone without a teacher?
Comments
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About the author
You Jingbo, born in 1979 in Ninghai, Zhejiang, is a professor at the Beijing Contemporary Music Academy and vice dean of its Pop Vocal College. He has long been engaged in research and teaching in popular music theory, and also works as a songwriter and music critic. He has published nearly 20 monographs, among which A Brief History of Western Popular Music, The History and Styles of Popular Music and A General Survey of Chinese Popular Music focus on tracing the development of popular music in China and abroad. His brief-history books are also written for general music lovers, combining the systematic quality of a textbook with an accessible tone. In addition to historical and theoretical works, he has compiled tutorials on popular rhythm training and on children's song singing and instrumental playing, reflecting a sustained interest in music education practice. He has been invited to give lectures on popular music at Peking University, the Central Conservatory of Music and other universities, and has exerted a certain influence in the field of popular music research and teaching.
