Historical Overview of Classical Vocal Pedagogy: A Journey From the Singing Treatises to the Voice Sciences

Introduction. To know the history of vocal pedagogy is basic for singing teachers, not only because of a matter of culture but because the foundations of what we know today as singing teaching are laid in this history. Objective. To synthesize the history of vocal pedagogy in order to improve the un...

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Bibliographic Details
Author: Viales-Montero, Rebeca
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2022
Country:Costa Rica
Institution:Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica
Repository:Portal de Revistas UNA
Language:Spanish
English
Portuguese
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.www.una.ac.cr:article/14286
Online Access:https://www.revistas.una.ac.cr/index.php/EDUCARE/article/view/14286
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Singing
traditional vocal pedagogy
contemporary vocal pedagogy
voice treatises
Canto
pedagogía vocal tradicional
pedagogía vocal contemporánea
tratados de canto
pedagogia vocal tradicional
pedagogia vocal contemporânea
Description
Summary:Introduction. To know the history of vocal pedagogy is basic for singing teachers, not only because of a matter of culture but because the foundations of what we know today as singing teaching are laid in this history. Objective. To synthesize the history of vocal pedagogy in order to improve the understanding of how it is applied today and how it has influenced the different vocal teaching methods. Analysis. Review of the most relevant texts published from 1723 (the first official singing treatise) to 2020. The texts published before 1950 were chosen based on their historical relevance, and the most recent ones based on their frequent mention in theses or scientific articles from recognized journals on vocal pedagogy. Results. A significant difference is found between the ways in which the pedagogy of the voice is developed, from which history is systematized in four stages: first treatises on singing, Manuel García II (invention of laryngoscope), from Manuel García II to 1950 (interdisciplinary scientific papers) and after 1950 to date. Conclusions. The process from the first treatise until today has built the current vocal pedagogy, based on the historical contributions in almost 300 years, and demanding from the teachers of the 21st century, not only the expertise to listen and deduce what the student does, but also a theoretical scientific knowledge that gives him the basis to handle vocal corrections effectively.