Book Review

Hard Talk: When Speech is Difficult Jonathan Cole  256 pps, MIT Press, May 2025 ISBN-10: ‎0262049562 ISBN-13: ‎978-0262049566     The effortless ability to comment, quip and contribute to a conversation is something we generally take for granted. Imagine if this were to become a struggle due to a poorly functioning voice, effortful articulation, or…

Aspects of the Vocal Package Alison Mary Sutton  Illustrations by Meg Pike 144 pps, published independently, November 2025 ISBN-13: ‎979-8271377358 Available from Amazon: Aspects of the Vocal Package by Alison Mary Sutton forms part of a wider series and reflects the breadth of her experience as a singer, teacher and clinician. What I particularly appreciated…

The Heart of the Breath – Vocal Health and Rehabilitation: Clinical Pathways and Practical Applications Series Alison Mary Sutton 142 pps, Illustrations by Meg Pike, Compton Publishing, 2023 ISBN 978-1-909082-67-0 Available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heart-Breath-Vocal-Health-Rehabilitation/dp/1909082678 The first two titles deal with complaints that present frequently in voice clinics, and which will also be familiar to many…

Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults, Third Edition Jenevora Williams Full Voice Music 2025 Soft cover, 330 pps. ISBN 978-1-897539-65-1 The legendary soprano Joan Sutherland is reputed to have said something that rings true with my own experiences as a performer and teacher: “Singing has to be simple, but that doesn’t mean that it…

Whether you’re giving a one-off lecture or designing a full-blown study course, the MusoStudy Handbook by BVA member (educator, singer and trumpeter), Dr Sue Richardson, is where you need to turn for inspiration, The handbook provides a rich source of practical ideas for teaching and learning with a pedagogical rationale and solid educational theory behind…

Α Young Person’s Guide to Vocal Health Olivia Sparkhall Compton Publishing, 2022 58 pages, full colour ISBN 978-1-909082-71-7 Reviewed by Devora Kiagiadaki   ‘Α Young Person’s Guide to Vocal Health’ offers young artists a comprehensive and enjoyable insight into voice and voice care. The book’s layout is smartly organised based on the colour key coding…