Bel canto is "the best in singing of all time." Authors on vocal literature (Miller, Celletti, Duey, Reid, Dmitriev, Stark, Whitlock among others) agree that bel canto singing requires complete mastery of vocal technique. The "best in singing" means that the singer should possess immaculate cantilena, smooth legato, a beautiful singing tone that exhibits a full palette of colors, and evenness of tone throughout the entire vocal range. Furthermore, the singer should be able to "carry the tone" expressively from one note to another, maintain long lasting breath, flexibility, and brilliant virtuosity. Without these elements, the singer's mastery is not complete. In addition, proper mastery of bel canto technique prolongs the longevity of the voice. For centuries, --emulating beautiful singing has been a model for violin performers. Since the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods, a trend toward homophonic style, melodious songs, and arias had a tremendous influence on pre-violin and violin performers, and even on luthiers. The earliest known four-stringed violins created by Andrea Amati, and Gasparo da Saló in the sixteenth century already possessed a tone that resembled the qualities of a human voice. Today, it has become more difficult to differentiate the tone of one violinist from another. The individual quality of the singing tone, which was the hallmark in violin playing of the golden age of Ysaye, Kreisler, Heifetz, Menuhin, Oistrakh etc. has deteriorated. The purpose of this monograph is to analyze the fundamental principles of bel canto and to apply these principles to violin performance. Teachers, students, and performers will find practical ideas to improve or solve various aspects of violin playing. I will focus primarily on tone production and tone formation (breathing, resonance, vibrato etc.), tonal shading (messa di voce), and range (blending positions). Through understanding the bel canto principles of singing and applying those principles to violin performance, one would have more means to give the tone its distinctive qualities. / Music Performance

Mathilde Marchesi played a significant role in vocal education during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Marchesi taught many of the prominent female vocalists of her time and published a wealth of material based on the bel canto style and her own vocal methods. The research presented includes an examination of musical influences in early years, and provides information related to Marchesi's studies with Manuel Garcia II who played an important role in Mathilde's training and future devotion to the bel canto style. Section II defines the Marchesi method, with analysis of her techniques and methodology. Information on three of her most well known students - Nellie Melba, Emma Eames, and her own daughter, Blanche Marchesi, is presented in Section III along with narrative offering insight into Marchesi's personality and character. The thesis concludes with discussion of the viability and applicability of Marchesi's vocal pedagogy one hundred years after her death. / by Joanna Craik. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

This thesis presents Mirella Freni as pedagogue and focuses on her educational projects, from short-term pedagogical activities to the founding of the CUBEC institute, an international center for belcanto singing in Modena, Italy. The work presents a detailed account of the founding of CUBEC, and analyses its methods of auditioning and teaching students. The final part of the work confronts knowledge of Mirella Freni´s pedagogical qualities with author´s personal experience. The work also contains chapters on the life of Mirella Freni, capturing pivotal moments in her life, from childhood to the end of her Professional singing career. The conclusion of the work presents Mirella Freni´s personal contribution to the author of the thesis.

The intent of this thesis is to study a variety of vocal techniques and identify how to solve different vocal challenges in the musical theatre song, "The Girl in 14G." In order to be successful in the entertainment business, it is imperative that a singer performs healthily and in a variety of music styles. Through an exploration of Lessac Kinesensic Training, Estill Voice Training Systems and Bel Canto techniques, a singer can gain a holistic perspective about voice. I will study with three voice teachers, each of whom specializes in one of the aforementioned techniques. This thesis will reveal how each voice teacher brought her expertise to the lesson. It is a singer’s responsibility to ensure she is well rounded and knowledgeable about her voice, and the different approaches to teaching voice. Solutions that reflect different techniques will be analyzed. Observations and discoveries made in private voice lessons will also be described. Documentation of lessons with each teacher will provide insight about the distinctions and similarities in vocal techniques. This thesis is intended to serve as a starting point for students and teachers to satisfy their own vocal curiosity and exploration.

The purpose of this treatise is to investigate the efficacy of vocal warm-ups/vocalises and their role in teaching vocal technique and health for the solo singer. In addition, it will provide a brief history of vocalises and methods of the “Bel Canto” era. Current literature addresses warm-ups for choral ensembles and choral singers. It does not adequately address solo/individual warm-ups and their impact on vocal technique, health and performances. Laryngologists and voice professionals were interviewed to better understand the role of vocalises in the study of voice and professional performance. These interviews were conducted in person, by telephone and via electronic mail correspondence. Voice teachers and singers were surveyed on their current vocal warm-up practices both in the voice studio and in performance. Surveys are to be administered in three ways: 1) hard copy surveys delivered at the National Association of Teachers of Singing National Conference 2008; 2) selected nationally known teachers and singers received via ground mail a copy of the survey; 3) an online survey. This study was directed to obtain answers to the following questions: 1) Is there a standard methodology for vocal warm-ups?; 2) If so, how has this methodology evolved over time?; 3) What is the current use of vocal warm-ups and vocalises by voice instructors and professional voice users?; 4) How does the use of vocal warm-ups and vocalises influence the effectiveness of vocal performance?; 5) Does the use of vocal warm-ups or vocalises contribute to the health of the singer, thus resulting in an excellent vocal performance?; 6) Does practicing vocal warm-ups or vocalises have a positive effect on overall vocal health? This study aims to broaden the current understanding of vocalises and their impact on the teaching and performing of classical voice. / text

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Vocal duets have had a long history in the Western classical music tradition. Their use as a teaching resource can be traced back to the Renaissance, where duets were used for the development of singing, performance, and musicianship. In the late 19th and all of the 20th centuries, this pathway of vocal pedagogy has markedly declined. This study proposes a reintroduction of this methodology of teaching, asserting that it provides the collegiate vocal student with maximum opportunity for growth and development in terms of technique, musicianship, ensemble skills, and performance development. Four vocal duets ("La pesca," "Il brindisi," "Il gallop," and "La caccia") of Saverio Mercadante (1795-1870) serve as the point of discussion. These songs from Les soirées italiennes (C.1836), which are representative of the salon culture of the 19th century, are given detailed attention through a discussion of their pedagogical value. Since they are long out of print, a new performance edition is presented.