"Singing 101," by Nancy Bos

"Singing 101," by Nancy Bos is a combination of lessons and exercises designed to give anyone a peek into, "proper," singing technique. It is a quick listen, clocking in at under 2 hours. Despite its length, however, the work has a number of positive points. For more information, see below.

Pros:

• It's short and to the point, with digestible (10 minute or less) chapters.
• Defines clearly what it is (an introduction to singing), and what it is not (a replacement for live vocal coaching)
• Recommends that interested learners seek out a professional teacher to help guide their musical journey
• All recommendations and exercises seem sensible (though I am not a professional vocalist or vocal coach, so I can't say that with authority).

Cons:

• The book mentions half steps, but does not define them. Given that this is a "101" style book, I think this is a large oversight
• I found some of the "warm-up exercises," that constitute the back half of the book to be surprisingly difficult. Granted, they are supposed to get easier with practice, but I could see how a beginner might be discouraged by them.
• The audio quality drops (or at least changes) at the halfway point of the book (when the book shifts from lessons and exercises to exercises alone).
• I wish the chords / chord changes were clearer in the final warm-up exercise (3 minutes of blues improv); I found them a touch hard to hear.
• (nit-pick) The book says that it is based in science, but there is virtually no science discussed or cited in the work

Conclusion:

The book does what it sets out to. It provides basic singing instruction in a digestible, affordable package. It is not a replacement for live lessons, but it is not trying to be. Ultimately, if you want a guided journey into the world of singing, this is not a bad place to start.

Final Score:
7/10