Standards for Solo Singers: Medium High Voice Book & CD

Althouse's signature approach to arranging standards honors the idiom while making each song genuinely singable for the solo performer. The collection draws from music theater and American songbook literature that students already recognize and love, removing the barrier of learning unfamiliar material while building interpretive skills on songs that reward careful attention to phrasing and style.

These are songs that feel like home the moment you begin singing them. The arrangements sit perfectly in the medium high voice while honoring the elegance and directness of the Great American Songbook, giving you room to express yourself without fighting the accompaniment.

Vocalists preparing auditions, recital programs, or performance-level solo work will find trusted material here. This book serves singers at the intermediate to advanced level who are ready to engage with sophisticated harmony and interpretive depth while maintaining technical accessibility.

• Let the recorded accompaniment guide your interpretation first, then find moments where you can shape phrases individually. The arrangement supports your vocal line without overwhelming it.
• Pay attention to the lyrical content of each song; these standards were written with story and emotion in mind, not just melodic beauty. The notes are vehicles for storytelling.
• Balance legit vocal production with the conversational, almost spoken quality that defines jazz and standards singing. Avoid oversinging; let the simplicity of the melodies carry the weight.
• Use the CD to hear how dynamics and tempo flexibility create space within the form. These arrangements honor the freedom that singers need in this repertoire.

Build a standards-focused recital or cabaret evening around these selections, pairing them to explore different moods and eras within a single concert. This collection works equally well for vocal students developing interpretation skills or for teachers assembling a curated repertoire list for intermediate singers.

• Phrasing and legit singing technique in the standards idiom
• Interpretive choices within a cohesive musical style
• Intonation and blend with jazz-influenced harmonic progressions
• Connection between lyrical content and vocal expression
• Confidence with recognizable, audience-friendly material