The Ultimate Guide to Singing Gives Singers Tools for Success Onstage and In the Studio

VICTORIA, BC (April 7, 2014)—As popular music-related TV shows like The Voice, X Factor and America’s Got Talent drive mainstream interest in singing to its peak, TC-Helicon today introduced the ultimate how-to book for aspiring vocalists: The Ultimate Guide To Singing: Gigs, Sound, Money and Health. Co-edited by music insiders Gregory A. Barker and Kathy Alexander, the insightful 414-page book offers guidance to singers of all skill levels in every aspect of preparation and performance, as well as choosing the proper equipment as they establish and advance their careers.

The Ultimate Guide to Singing is informed by the wisdom of 136 music industry experts, an esteemed group that has won or been nominated for 94 Grammy Awards, written 193 books on singing, recorded 1,117 albums and amassed 280,000,000 YouTube followers. These experts include David Frangioni, the sound engineer for Ozzy Osbourne and Steven Tyler; Al Schmitt, a producer credited with more than 150 gold and platinum albums; pop star Kimbra; David Stewart (Eurythmics), Troy Sanders (Mastadon), Divinity Roxx, a renowned recording artist who has worked with Kanye West, Jay-Z and Destiny’s Child; and Dr. Robert Bastian, a leading throat surgeon that was named one of America’s Top Doctors.


TC-Helicon, a pro audio company with the most comprehensive line of products that enhance the performances and creativity of singers, used its deep influence and connections in the music industry to make such an all-encompassing book on singing possible. Gregory A. Barker, PhD, who is the Commissioning Editor of VoiceCouncil Magazine, an educational and business consultant, and published author, likens The Ultimate Guide to Singing to a non-stop all-star coaching session.

“The Ultimate Guide to Singing provides singers with tips and best practices from those who have reached the heights of the music industry and are willing to share their views on making it in the business,” said Barker.

Kathy Alexander, who is a staff writer at VoiceCouncil Magazine, as well as a singer, vocal coach and choir director, cites the book’s comprehensive approach as a unique resource and value to anyone who sings. “There are books available on many specific aspects of vocal performance, but none as all-encompassing as The Ultimate Guide to Singing,” adds Alexander. “It’s all right here.”

The book, which can be read cover-to-cover or used as a reference guide to find specific information on-the-fly, answers 187 questions that the co-authors found to be the most frequently asked by vocalists. These include:
    •    What is the one anxiety-reducing method that all performance coaches agree on?
    •    How do stars like Beyonce, Chris Martin, and James Taylor manage to sing well, night after night?
    •    What is the secret to getting people out to hear you sing?
    •    What is the most important gear available to singers?
    •    Can you learn to sing from an App?
    •    What separates a good singing performance from a great singing performance?



TC-Helicon will post a series of nine videos on their Web site (www.tc-helicon.com) to support The Ultimate Guide to Singing that will explore diverse topics of interest to singers, from being the best performers they can be to identifying the products and services that can help them find their voice and make a living in music.

The Ultimate Guide to Singing: Gigs, Sound, Money and Health, can be purchased in print via Amazon.com ($24.99), or downloaded in e-book form ($9.99) at Amazon.com for the Kindle, the Apple iTunes store for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, BarnesandNoble.com for the Nook and Kobobooks.com for the Sony Reader and other devices.

For more information on the book, please visit http://www.tc-helicon.com/products/the-ultimate-guide-to-singing/

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About TC-Helicon
Based in Victoria BC, Canada, TC-Helicon believes that the voice is the world’s most beautiful instrument and the anthropological source for all things melodic. The company’s dedicated group of engineers, researchers and product specialists spend countless hours listening, talking, singing, and interacting with singers and those who have passion for the singing voice as they design products that respect and empower the modern vocalist. Their products remove barriers and inspire creativity in performance, and include everything from near-field personal vocal monitors to floor-based vocal multi-effects pedals. The company’s name is derived from “TC,” the initials of corporate parent TC Group, a collective of leading sound & audio technology brands that serve the musician, broadcast & production, install & tour market segments. “Helicon” is a mountain in Southern Greece and the mythological home of the Muses who inspire musicians, singers, poets and artists.