Emmons and Thomas convert the "Tennis Technique" to a singer's manual for mental stamina. My favorite aspect of this book is the charts. There are charts to help you schedule, program, and maintain mental, physical, and emotional stamina throughout your practicing, preparation, and performance. The book contains many appendices that contain helpful reminders, charts, and tips for singers who teach and those who just perform. Using minimum to no scientific language, Emmons and Thomas communicate the importance of having a power performance by aiding the singer/teacher in "starting from scratch" to build up to the utmost potential of performance. Using techniques and advice from Olympians and teachers of singing, the witty language and motivating advice can help lead anyone to success.

This is a very good book. The area of the mental side of singing and performing is really paid too little attention to. There are so many books about singing technique etc. At last a good book on this subject! After having read only a few pages, it helped me already. The book is giving me very helpfull practical tips about selfconfidence on stage etc. The only thing is, that the English which is being used, is not so easy to read as in most American literature (I'm from Holland). But the positive thing about that is that I am increasing my English vocabulary...

This is a book with very down-to-earth advice. What amazed me most was that the most things I had always felt about performance, but didn't know how to put in words, are voiced accurately, objectively, concisely and fulfillingly in this book. Also, many things I had never stopped to think about are also dealt with nicely. You will learn how to make the most of performance problems, their sources and consequences in order to help you perform well. There is great joy awaiting you in this book. You will never regret buying it. Buy it. Buy it. Once more: buy it!

The most useful tools are the repertoire lists and sample programs. However, Emmons/Sonntag have put together a most universal approach for all parties involved in the recital including inspiring information of what often seems to be a lost art form.

Emmons gives clear instruction and good advice about constructing, preparing for, and executing song recitals. She includes specific examples of recital programs for different levels of singers and for different kinds of recitals. One of the most useful tools in the book is an appendix of suggested songs for voice types and with different instrumentation.