Vocal Advice

Hi, I’m Ken W. Anderson, born in Ooty, South India to missionary parents.  I never knew a time when making music and listening to great music (or yearning to listen to great music) was not foremost in my psyche and experience.  As a boy I attended Breeks, Hebron and Lushington Boys’ School (all boarding schools!).  Singing was always my musical “love affair.”  My voice changed - over a Christmas vacation - from boy soprano to bass-baritone.  The voice teachers from whose teaching and influence I have benefited the most include Florence Berggren of Philadelphia, Jack Coldiron and my mentor James C. McKinney of Fort Worth, TX.  (The Pedagogical pedigree is something for which I am extremely grateful, as James McKinney was a protégé of William Vennard.)  My teaching experience has included high schools (South Fort Worth, Garland and Mesquite, TX) colleges (Arlington Baptist College, Calvary Bible College, Dallas Bible College, Southeastern Assemblies University, Polk County Junior College, University of Tennessee in Chattanooga and Covenant College) and as a teaching fellow in graduate school at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, School of Church Music.

Conductors under whom I’ve had the privilege of singing include Elaine Brown, Eugene Ormandy, James Levine, William Smith, David Davidson, David Wilcox, Weston Noble, Richard Hickox among others,  performing in India, Moscow, Germany, England, Scotland and the United States.  However, my greatest satisfaction is in voice teaching and seeing young singers (and older ones!) develop and succeed in their vocal and musical expression.

Currently, I am Associate Professor of Music at Covenant College on Lookout Mountain, Georgia, USA.

ABOUT THIS BLOG: This blog is dedicated to the dissemination of instruction and advice concerning the areas that comprise the act and art of singing.  Subjects addressed may include: voice development, vocal problems, interpreting the “art” versus the “science” and “voice jargon,” choral singing, and teaching singing among the plethora of topics.  The blog is intended to be personal - answering singers’ and teachers’ questions - and practical, to the extent that a blog can be.  Where I don’t know the answer - I won’t make up one - I’ll either admit it outright or refer the questioner to sources that can give the answers.  Those who have questions, serious questions, should use the form that opens when you choose the “Ask Your Questions” bullet point.

B. Mus. Philadelphia Biblical University - vocal performance, 1974

M.M. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, School of Church Music, 1979 - vocal performance

D.M.A. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, School of Church Music, 1992 - vocal performance/pedagogy

As administrator of this blog I do exercise the freedom to reject comments that I deem unhelpful to the readership.  I also feel free to “edit” comments, so as to remove either bad advice, or even good advice that comes across with a “tone” that slaps people in the face.  In such cases, the edited message remains the same but may be phrased in a way that is helpful, palatable and caring to the readership in my opinion.  You are welcome to leave comments, however, if you are one to leave comments, be advised, I do exercise the freedom to delete and/or edit.

ONE MORE THING: If you have Skype and wish to contact me, I usually make myself available for one-on-one contacts if they have been mutually prearranged and an appointment made.  My Skype ID is ken.w.anderson.  I will permanently block all unsolicited calls who are not part of my friends list, so be sure to prearrange the meeting.  Best wishes.