Melodic Sculpturing

About the Book

About the Book

            Melodic Sculpturing is intended to provide a comprehensive, developmental approach to vocal instruction for the teacher and for a serious singer. The contents are based on the author’s professional experience as a singer and teacher of singing and on the writings of many great teachers of the past and present.

The book addresses the physiology of the voice, psychology of voice production, relevant acoustics, and corrections for vocal faults. It also deals with diction, breath management, and vibrato prognosis. Suggestions for using technology as an objective visual tool in voice instruction are included in an entire chapter on the topic. A major and unique portion of the book presents a subject regularly omitted from textbooks on vocal production – interpretation and style. The author presents 34 “principles” of melodic practices that may enhance composers’ and poets’ intentions, while providing greater interest and involvement for the listener. It is like an encyclopedia for teaching students and for learning to sing well.

This inspiring and encouraging volume is filled with documentation from vocal masters of two centuries and many apropos quotations that bolster the interest for the reader. Nearly 100 vocal examples (VEs) are identified and coded in the chapters. They are available at www.MelodicSculpturing.com for downloading. Two accompanying 1-semester workbooks geared for voice classes, the private studio, and a singer’s personal use are published separately.

About the Author

About the Author

            Donald R. Mathis is a well-known singer, teacher, clinician, and choral conductor. He has served as Minister of Music in churches for 35 years, during which time his choirs concertized throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Bahamas, and the Pacific Basin. He taught at the famous Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, and additionally at Nova Southeastern University and Broward College. He also has been guest conductor for state honor choruses.

            Mr. Mathis studied at Illinois Wesleyan University, Bradley University, Westminster Choir College, Princeton Theological Seminary, and doctoral programs in music and psychology at Florida State University, where he studied with the acclaimed Metropolitan Opera star, Elena Nicolaidi. During World War II he was a choral conductor in the Navy Entertainment Service in the Philippines. He was a singer in the Blue Jacket Choir, performing on NBC Radio Network in 1944. Don is known for his involvement in the boy choir movement. His choirs were the St. Petersburg Boychoir and the Ft. Lauderdale Florida Singing Sons, which is still active 34 years later.

            Mr. Mathis - a dramatic tenor - is noted for a full and freely resonant voice and interpretation that presents a composer’s intentions in brilliant, appealing, and dramatic style. He currently teaches voice in Fort Lauderdale, FL.