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How to get off the Sofa and Sing like a Professional Opera Singer — Bob Little

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.

A Practical, Step-by-Step Guide to Developing the Tone and Techniques required of a Singer who sings in the Classical or Romantic Style

Classification: Opera

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Rating 1 (from 1 votes)
Rating: 4.88 out of 5 (8 customer ratings)
5 stars
89%
4 stars
11%
3 stars
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2 stars
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1 stars
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Reviews

Adam Gray
A Good Read!
Review date: 30th October 2012

Although I sing a little bit, I am not a singer...or rather I wasn’t a singer until I read this book! It’s a great start both to get you on the road to being a better singer and more importantly to help inspire you to want to sing. Robert’s easy writing style, full of humour and interesting facts makes it a real page-turner too. Heartily recommended.


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Stan Daneman
A good read.
Review date: 30th October 2012

The book is very practical and motivational. A good read.


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Anita Roloff
How To Get Off Your Sofa And S
Review date: 30th October 2012

Certainly motivates one to try to use our talents!


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Basil Plews
A really inspirational book
Review date: 13th November 2012

A really inspirational book written in a practical friendly way. It will inspire as well as let us into the secrets of becoming an accomplished singer. Great read.


Verified Purchase
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David Priseman
The Proof Of The Pudding Is In
Review date: 2nd November 2012

This book covers everything that the aspiring and indeed accomplished singer would wish to know, conveyed in an easy and amusing writing style. Perhaps most tellingly, it is clear that Bob Little follows his own advice: I have had the good fortune to see him perform live on a number of occasions and have always been impressed and entertained in equal measure.


Verified Purchase
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G .Challenger
How To Get Off The Sofa And Si
Review date: 2nd November 2012

Although not a singer myself I found it an enjoyable read ,and for someone starting out on a singing carrier ,very useful


Verified Purchase
please wait
Craig Crosbie
Helped immensely by the upbeat
Review date: 15th April 2025

I think to amateur singers - of whom in choirs and bands there are many - such a collection of tips and tricks and entertaining quotes about the art of singing, brought into one brief and punchy volume, should greatly appeal - helped immensely by the upbeat you-also-can-do-it/make-it tone.

I’m not particularly qualified to assess the singing exercises but I’m sure they’d be a stimulating adjunct to anything the pupil’s - essential and Little-recommended singing teacher would say.


Verified Purchase
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Ed Lincoln
Start Running!
Review date: 17th October 2012

I've never run before and this really got me going.


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Zoe Jasko
A useful introduction and comp
Review date: 1st April 2025

I was asked to review ‘How to Get off the Sofa and Sing like a Professional (Opera) Singer’ by Robert Little as I am a classically trained singer with many years of professional performance experience.

This book is designed for someone new to the art of classical singing. It does not replace singing lessons or vocal coaching, but it is a useful introduction and companion. It is also a helpful revision of technique for those who have had some singing lessons in the past, or even many years of lessons.

Little takes us step by step through how to produce a beautiful tone of voice in a correct and non-damaging way. He helps the reader understand each voice type, how to use our bodies to sing correctly and suggests exercises to help develop the voice. The book is short, easy to read and digest, and the advice easy to put into practice over a period of time (Rome wasn’t built in a day, and an opera singer not trained in a week!)

There is a very helpful glossary of terms at the back of the book. The quotes from famous opera singers towards the end of the book are humorous, wise and encouraging.

Anyone wanting to learn opera/classical singing, revise techniques previously learned, teaching classical singing or leading classical choirs would find this book very helpful.


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Rating: 4.88 out of 5 (8 customer ratings)

Paperback eBook

£6.49
ISBN: 9781917061360
If you have a coupon code you can apply it after you have added items to the shopping cart.
Our eBooks are in the international standard ePub format which is used by most eBook reader devices and can be read on a wide choice of FREE APPs on smartphones, tablets and PCs.
We also publish on Amazon in their proprietary Kindle format.

Description

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.

How to Get Off the Sofa and Sing Like a Professional (Opera) Singer is by author, broadcaster and singer Robert Little. Robert says:

“It’s now some time 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 – which was just as well since an adult male should be at least eighteen years old before starting to have his voice trained. It’s a skill, an art and a technique which, many years later, I’m still trying to perfect.

“This booklet tells something 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 that you’ll have at least as much fun from this extremely demanding but rewarding performing art as I’ve had over the years.”

Further details

Reader reviews and ratings:

 
“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.

It's 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, London)

Listen to a podcast review


 
"This is an absolute gem of a 'how to' book!

For those even slightly interested in the art (and the science) of singing, this book has much to say. It is in layman’s language, very readable, with anecdotes and a bit of musical knowledge thrown in. Robert Little uses his experience of the operatic stage and concert hall to describe the life of singing, and tells of his inspirational teacher, Edgar Evans, a leading tenor at Covent Garden for over thirty years. But above all the little – or Little – book tells of the technique of singing. What happens when you sing? How do you know what type voice you have? These questions and many others are answered and Robert Little’s enthusiasm for singing is infectious. Read this book and you are likely to catch the singing fever! I heartily recommend it."

Margaret Johnson, vocal coach and musical director of the Putteridge Bury Gilbert and Sullivan Society (including musical director for the Society’s production at the 2011 International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, in Buxton, Derbyshire)

 

Rating: 4.88 out of 5 (8 customer ratings)
5 stars
89%
4 stars
11%
3 stars
0%
2 stars
0%
1 stars
0%

Reviews

Adam Gray
A Good Read!
Review date: 30th October 2012

Although I sing a little bit, I am not a singer...or rather I wasn’t a singer until I read this book! It’s a great start both to get you on the road to being a better singer and more importantly to help inspire you to want to sing. Robert’s easy writing style, full of humour and interesting facts makes it a real page-turner too. Heartily recommended.


Verified Purchase
please wait
Stan Daneman
A good read.
Review date: 30th October 2012

The book is very practical and motivational. A good read.


Verified Purchase
please wait
Anita Roloff
How To Get Off Your Sofa And S
Review date: 30th October 2012

Certainly motivates one to try to use our talents!


Verified Purchase
please wait
Basil Plews
A really inspirational book
Review date: 13th November 2012

A really inspirational book written in a practical friendly way. It will inspire as well as let us into the secrets of becoming an accomplished singer. Great read.


Verified Purchase
please wait
David Priseman
The Proof Of The Pudding Is In
Review date: 2nd November 2012

This book covers everything that the aspiring and indeed accomplished singer would wish to know, conveyed in an easy and amusing writing style. Perhaps most tellingly, it is clear that Bob Little follows his own advice: I have had the good fortune to see him perform live on a number of occasions and have always been impressed and entertained in equal measure.


Verified Purchase
please wait
G .Challenger
How To Get Off The Sofa And Si
Review date: 2nd November 2012

Although not a singer myself I found it an enjoyable read ,and for someone starting out on a singing carrier ,very useful


Verified Purchase
please wait
Craig Crosbie
Helped immensely by the upbeat
Review date: 15th April 2025

I think to amateur singers - of whom in choirs and bands there are many - such a collection of tips and tricks and entertaining quotes about the art of singing, brought into one brief and punchy volume, should greatly appeal - helped immensely by the upbeat you-also-can-do-it/make-it tone.

I’m not particularly qualified to assess the singing exercises but I’m sure they’d be a stimulating adjunct to anything the pupil’s - essential and Little-recommended singing teacher would say.


Verified Purchase
please wait
Ed Lincoln
Start Running!
Review date: 17th October 2012

I've never run before and this really got me going.


Verified Purchase
please wait
Zoe Jasko
A useful introduction and comp
Review date: 1st April 2025

I was asked to review ‘How to Get off the Sofa and Sing like a Professional (Opera) Singer’ by Robert Little as I am a classically trained singer with many years of professional performance experience.

This book is designed for someone new to the art of classical singing. It does not replace singing lessons or vocal coaching, but it is a useful introduction and companion. It is also a helpful revision of technique for those who have had some singing lessons in the past, or even many years of lessons.

Little takes us step by step through how to produce a beautiful tone of voice in a correct and non-damaging way. He helps the reader understand each voice type, how to use our bodies to sing correctly and suggests exercises to help develop the voice. The book is short, easy to read and digest, and the advice easy to put into practice over a period of time (Rome wasn’t built in a day, and an opera singer not trained in a week!)

There is a very helpful glossary of terms at the back of the book. The quotes from famous opera singers towards the end of the book are humorous, wise and encouraging.

Anyone wanting to learn opera/classical singing, revise techniques previously learned, teaching classical singing or leading classical choirs would find this book very helpful.


Verified Purchase
please wait