The difference between American and Canadian Singing instruction books

@suspenseful (40193)
Canada
January 25, 2013 2:52pm CST
I have gotten some American singing Instruction books, I guess they would be Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced. Decided to get them all at once rather then wait.. I have sung a few songs from the First Combined Set, but then my singing teacher says I have to use the Toronto Conservatory which is the main instruction book in Canada. nd it is paced from One to Ten and is not divided into Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, and the men's type of voices. Also I get the idea that the ones up here assume that you are starting to sing in the first grade and have to finish in the tenth grade. In other words, it is well designed mainly for mezzos. At least the book I have, which is number 5 on the list. So wonder why they do not have a standard for all of North America. It does get confusing. And even though I sung for fun, and knew most of the popular songs I sure did not start lessons at grade one.
1 response
Adoniah
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
25 Jan 13
Instructors do like to start with the basics so that anyone can get started...They should state this in the table of contents too. I do not think that there is any standardized music or singing books here in the states...Everyone has a different idea of how it should be done. This is actually good because it appeals to a wider variety of people and venues...
1 person likes this
suspenseful
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
26 Jan 13
I do think the American version is better, because while when one is in pre puberty they can all sing in the same range, that is treble or soprano, once one gets into teen and beyond, their voices are either set to bass, baritone, tenor, alto soprano, etc. and in between. Therefore a soprano cannot sing the same range as an alto. The ones I have are the ones used by many singing teachers and vocalists, but it seems in Canada, they think we should all stick in the middle. There are of course books for middle range , books for high singers, and for low and for those who are inclined in the middle like middle low and middle high, but I am talking about instruction books/
Adoniah
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
27 Jan 13
I have to admit, that even though I was a singer and a musician, I never read or looked at a "singing instruction book". I have tons of books on music and lyrics, but none that teach one how to sing. I even have music theory books which we just got for laughs... I never even thought about instruction books and I had records in the top ten in Hawaii and the west coast.
1 person likes this