Alfred's Teach Yourself to Sing: Vocal Book & Online Video/Audio/Software

This method respects what beginners actually need: foundational knowledge about vocal health and posture before jumping into songs, paired with immediate access to quality accompaniments in multiple keys. The inclusion of TNT 2 software transforms practice from isolation into musicmaking, letting students hear themselves within a full arrangement while maintaining control over tempo and transposition. The song selection (Fly Me to the Moon, Dream a Little Dream of Me, and others) sits in that sweet spot where styles overlap, making each piece feel relevant to contemporary singers while building vocal technique.

Working through this book feels like having a patient, knowledgeable voice teacher at your side who checks in on the basics before pushing forward. The progression from vocal fundamentals and music literacy into recognizable songs creates real momentum; by page 20, you're not just warming up anymore, you're actually singing repertoire that matters to you. The emphasis on discovering your own sound and interpreting songs transforms practice from mechanical repetition into artistic exploration.

Absolute beginners with no prior singing experience or music reading ability who want a structured, self-paced introduction to vocal technique and repertoire. Anyone interested in exploring multiple musical styles (pop, jazz, classical, musical theater) within a single coherent method rather than jumping between unrelated resources.

• Use the video instruction to establish correct posture and breath support before relying solely on written descriptions; seeing a singer demonstrate releases tension that readers often carry into their own practice.
• Start with the accompanying audio at a slower tempo than notated, building comfort with the melody before matching the original song feel.
• Transpose accompaniments down 2-3 steps initially to find your natural starting range, then gradually work back toward the original key as your range expands.
• Record yourself singing against the TNT 2 accompaniments weekly to track vocal growth and identify patterns in pitch accuracy or breath control that written feedback alone might miss.

Assign this as independent study for students interested in exploring voice outside the choir context, particularly those entering your program without previous music training. Position it as a complementary resource for young singers in mixed ensembles who need individualized work on breath support, pitch accuracy, and music reading. The video and software components make it particularly suited to hybrid or distance learning scenarios where students need guidance without constant in-person instruction.

• Singing with proper posture, breath support, and vocal placement across multiple styles
• Sight-reading melody and recognizing intervals, rhythms, and basic music notation
• Transposing and adapting songs to fit individual vocal ranges
• Applying interpretation and expression choices to recorded arrangements
• Understanding vocal health, warm-up protocols, and performance anxiety management
• Matching pitch and sustaining consistent intonation over longer phrases