Hoch offers a practical resource intended for singers, voice teachers, and lovers of the art of singing. It is truly comprehensive, encompassing not only classical genres and styles, but also musical theater, popular music, and folk and traditional music. Topics include vocal pedagogy, voice science, vocal health, styles, genres, performers, and diction. He also provides easily understandable definitions and explanations. A welcome bonus is the inclusion of five guest essays on important topics by distinguished pedagogues: comparison between classical and contemporary commercial music, choosing repertoire, practicing, performance anxiety, and audio technology. Also included are useful appendixes, among which are International Phonetic Alphabet charts, anatomy diagrams, the German Fach (vocal category) chart, and effects of medication on the voice. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through professionals/practitioners.

Choice Reviews

Hoch provides us . . . with more of a vocalist’s field guide; his audience is the student in his classes. . . .As a reaction to Cornelius Reid’s A Dictionary of Vocal Terminology, Hoch’s entries lean toward tight definitions of general topics; the dictionary section of the text is just over 200 pages. Such economy allows for a large number of interesting entries, including various current programs, theories, and abbreviations encountered. We also find singers who are 'important figures in their field'; Aretha Franklin, Jacques Brel and Amy Grant find their way into is category. Some of the entries would be improved by including pronunciation guides, especially considering the audience. Hoch includes a substantial bibliography of the works consulted, which is a vital launching pad for the interested reader. The appendixes are worth their weight in gold—a timeline of the history of singing, 10 steps to singer’s wellness, and the effect of selected medications on the voice are but a few. For the student or practitioner, this is an essential volume to own. . . .This is essential for practitioners and undergraduates; it is also recommended for faculty.

American Reference Books Annual

Three years in the making, Matthew Hoch's aptly-titled tome is now in print—and what a handsome book it is! From its elegant cover which features a singer sporting an asymmetrical dress, platinum ring and bob cut, to the well-written entries, articles and appendixes which deftly bridge the worlds of classical and contemporary vocal pedagogy, A Dictionary for the Modern Singer succeeds in giving singers and voice teachers a great deal of information, much of which will be new to those unaccustomed to the terminology of voice science.

VoiceTalk

This book is an authoritative, well-researched and referenced work that will become an indispensable guide to student singers, giving them self-sufficiency to decipher their music, from tempo markings to languages and provide them with a resource from which they can start more a more in-depth study of their discipline. . . .[This book] is a very successful endeavor. The subject range is vast but appropriate given the range of the singing discipline In one volume lies much of the basic information a singer needs and a refresher for those of us who learned some of these terms a long time ago or perhaps need some more current information. As a reference book for the singer, student, teacher and enthusiast it is a fine starting place for more in-depth study. Recommended.

The Opera Journal

A guide for vocal students and teachers, this work introduces terms that have influenced modern singing styles, covering topics such as vocal pedagogy, voice science and health, styles, genres, performers, and diction. Also included are an extensive bibliography and appendices on stage fright, tips for practicing, repertoire selection, audio technology and non-classical styles.

OPERA America

We know that voices are unique and personal. There are deep bass voices, high-pitched cutting voices and melodious mellow voices. Each of us changes the volume, intensity and rhythm of our voice to suit the context or the people we are talking to. In short, our voice expresses who we are, what our thoughts and intentions are and how we feel. So, how do you get a beautiful voice? How do you wade through the many terms during your first singing lesson: head voice, chest voice, portamento, rounded voice and so on? Acquiring a correct vocal technique, both for singing and speaking, takes time and commitment, but having the appropriate theoretical knowledge makes the learning process much easier. How do you master the art of breathing, what does 'support' mean? Many of the answers to these questions can be found in Matthew Hoch's book, A Dictionary for the Modern Singer.

International Choral Bulletin