Music Practice Commons^™

Healthy Performance Practice For Male Barbershop Singers, Jacob K. Bartlett

Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts: Student Research, Performance, and Creative Activity

Barbershop singing is a hobby enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of men and women across the world. We attend conventions, shows, competitions, and educational outreach programs each year at our own expense to preserve a style we truly love.

Most singers of the style are amateur musicians. This constitutes somewhat of a challenge when we consider the need for healthy singing in light of certain assumptions about the vocal technique required of the barbershop style. Most do their best to make a healthy sound but end up doing more harm than good to their own voices after a lengthy rehearsal. …