How to get off the Sofa and Sing like a Professional (Opera) Singer

If you are looking for a practical, step-by-step guide to developing the tone and techniques required of a singer who sings in the classical or romantic style this is just the book for you.
It’s written by the writer, author, broadcaster and singer Robert Little. Robert says..
“It’s now a long time ago since I decided I wanted to learn how to sing. It took me about ten years to pluck up the courage and find the opportunity to begin to learn to sing – and it’s a skill, an art and a technique which, many years later, I’m still trying to perfect.
This booklet tells a little of my sojourn in singing but it sets out a lot more of the singing technique that I’ve learnt along the way. That technique, along with some excellent vocal coaching, has been culled from professional opera singers who, in turn, learnt their technique from the rather stern teacher of experience and, in one case, the even sterner (but ultimately hugely rewarding) experience of working with a world class singing teacher in Rome.
I hope this booklet will give you some useful tips and techniques in your search for the secrets of successful singing – and that you’ll have at least as much fun from this extremely demanding but rewarding performing art as I’ve had over the years.”
What the experts said when we asked them to review the manjuscript...
“Bob Little’s useful book takes a singer interested in perfecting their technique by the hand and shows them in easy steps what can be achieved. Understanding that singing in public is also about confidence, through amusing anecdotes and inspiring quotations, Little shows that he has learned from the best and applied what he himself has learned to his love of being on the stage. This book is both practical and wonderfully inspirational. When I next want to ensure I keep in tune I, too, will lift my eyebrows!”
Professor Frank Banks
The Open University
The author’s infectious enthusiasm and humorous approach to his subject permeates the whole text of this new e-book, and gracefully offsets his insistence on the continuous and unyielding self-discipline necessary for success in this demanding musical art-form.
Delightfully illuminated by a series of entertaining quotations – not only does it include pearls of practical wisdom from celebrated operatic stars, but also apposite philosophical ‘nuggets’ from a range of literary heroes.
The teaching of singing technique has always been something of a minefield. There is the inescapable and probably unrealistic demand for words and metaphors, which can adequately convey internal sensation and desired physical response in and from another person. In this case, the nettle has been securely and successfully grasped, and a whole series of challenging exercises with particular emphasis on the correct production of pure vowel sounds are provided. Many would argue that this is the most significant aspect of the singer’s armoury.

Robert Little first sets the scene in an introduction, which includes both a comprehensive account of the professional career of his inspiring teacher Edgar Evans – for many years a Principal Tenor at Covent Garden - and also his own occasionally faltering steps, as he gradually acquires and hones his own singing techniques. These are skilfully described and by means of a series of exercises, form the principal topic of the book. Key to the understanding of the exercises is the provision of a music notation and note lettering diagram that can be readily used by voices of all ranges.
This book will surely be a source of encouragement and a useful guide for the aspiring singer.
John Falk
Retired. Formerly, Assistant Director of Studies and Head of Student Services at Trinity College of Music in London