The first edition (copyright 1993) of Thomas’ book Can You Sing a HIGH C Without Straining? is the earliest published book about singing containing a detailed explanation of how the vocal cords achieve high and low pitches. This is also the first book to show from a physiological standpoint why anyone with a healthy voice can extend the range of their voice. The book explains how chest voice, head voice, (resonance below and above the vocal cords) falsetto, and full voice (terms describing vocal intensity) relate and are affected by the action of the vocal cords. The book explains how to produce vibrato, breathe for singing, develop style and control the tone of your voice.

The 2007 4th edition of this book contains a significantly revised chapter on how to extend the range of your full voice and many other updates based on 15 more years of Thomas’ experience training singers since publishing the first edition. Vocal coaches and singers worldwide now use Can You Sing a HIGH C Without Straining? as the reference standard for learning how to sing high notes without going into falsetto and without straining. There has never before been a book that explains so clearly how to extend the range of your voice. Most singers increase their range by several notes after the first week of practice.

Included with the 4th edition of the book are three audio CDs and 60-minute training videos on DVD for male and female singers jamm-packed with vocal examples and exercises. A second DVD (Never Get Another Cold Illustrated Book on DVD/236 pages plus video testimonials) explains how singers can avoid catching colds and the flu. A third DVD (Johnnie Truth and the Stolen Statue/90 pages) contains the inspirational true story of how Thomas Appell discovered the secret to singing high notes.

5 Responses to “Can You Sing High C Without Straining? 4th Edition”

1. Kevin Barnes says:

   February 1, 2010 at 12:00 am

   This book is nothing but an infomercial trying to convince you to take lessons from him. Instead of spending time explaining HOW to do the things he says are necessary to sing a high c without straining, he spends the entire book telling you how great he is because people fly from all over the world to take lessons from him. Get over yourself.

   Reply
2. Jorge Sanchez Jr. says:

   December 1, 2009 at 12:00 am

   I’m an advanced singing student, and half of my initial training was done by home-singing kits. I’ve seen good, bad and very mediocre programs. This is an “Ok” Program. I would actually rate it 3.5, but it doesn’t deserve the 4 stars.

   You get what you pay for. If you are new buying this kind of programs, it may seem as a great bundle as it brings audio CDs and also DVDs. The first problem is the book. It is unnecessarily large. It almost seemed like Mr Appell tried to make the lettering even bigger to fit more pages and make the book look thicker. But sometimes a whole page will only have a paragraph that only takes a third of the page, don’t know why, and it’s not like the chapter ends there, so it throws you off.

   The Book’s content seems good and well explained, although there are many times where you will see written testimonials anywhere in the book (not against it, but I would appreciate it at the end of the book, not in the middle of an important chapter). I’m also an engineering student, ( Mr Appell graduated with an Engineering major, originally) So I found his method very interesting, although other people may have some trouble understanding it.

   Now the Audio CDs, my first complaint is that Mr Appell, has a very sweet and relaxed tone in his voice, but is very low, I was listening to it in my Ipod, so I turned the volume up until I was able to heard him clearly, but when the exercise started the volume was so high that it hurt my ears. So as you can imagine I had to keep moving the volume between his explanations and the exercises, which can become very annoying. The books states that he is also a producer and he has a recording studio, which makes this problem very serious and unacceptable when comparing to the other programs where all the levels of volume are balanced nicely. (This happened in all the cds)

   Instructional DVD is good, a little short but then again, you get what you paid for. The never get another cold DVD is very interesting, the other one…to be honest, didn’t even bother watching it.

   Overall, his technique is good, very basic though, don’t expect too much with just that one CD, he clearly states that for further advancement you need private vocal lessons. Then again, practice makes perfection. It depends how much effort you put into it.

   Not a bad Program, but it could be much better: Fill the blank pages of the book with more interesting things about the voice. ( Yes there is more to know), The DVD was great but the exercises are limited, so at least another CD would also be very helpful. Sound editing needs to be fixed, Mr Appell has a great rocking voice when singing, but his speaking voice it’s too low.

   Buy it if it’s all you can afford.

   Reply
3. Reuben Josephe Tapp says:

   February 11, 2009 at 12:00 am

   3.5 probably more appropriate. I very much enjoyed, the book/package “Can you Sing a High C Without Straining.” My bias is being more of a “do it yourself” type of person and get assistance to fill the gaps. I do pop/musical theatre/gospel singing and have done so for sometime. So primarily what I was looking for as a consumer was exercises and instruction that I could work to better my voice.

   Though I like the effectiveness of the exercises and instruction other things get in the way of giving this package a 5. Mainly being “skimpy” on the exercises. An example of easy to follow, though not flawless by any means with adequate exercises is

   The Complete Vocal Workout: A Step-by Step Guide to Tough Vocals by Roger Kain. So I ended up doing the exercises from this book using a mixture of technique from both(Kain & Appell). Sometimes I also just do the 4 exercises (not including vibrato exercises) given over and over for an hour. It does work, but it would be easier if the compilation was done for you.

   Little detailed account

   The good:

   1.The actual item being reviewed, the book and the CD(exercises/examples) were very informative. A lot of information regarding how to approach singing.

   2.How to make a smooth transition regarding your break, or making one less pronounced. The exercises (crescendo/decrescendo (great))are good and watching others perform the exercises are good also.

   3.Also detailed account of the tricks of singing and how the vocal cords look and operate are top rate. Would be hard pressed to find anything remotely as thorough.

   The not-so good:

   1.A plug to take vocal lessons (it feels like on every other page). This is good to know, but if you are testing the methods on your own to see the validity of whether to take lessons it doesn’t sit well.

   2.The Layout of the book could be a little more reader friendly (more of a design thing)

   3.You are asked to do an 1 hrs worth of exercises minimum 6 days a week, but are not given anywhere close to that in terms of exercises. Big disappointment. This is probably the most frustrating, even a solid 20 minutes of exercises not including the instruction and vibrato would have been very helpful.

   4.Though the added books were great information, without getting what you are actually looking for it doesn’t actually added value to the package. It becomes more of a nuisance, because what you really want is instruction.

   Good package, but good be better. If a 5th edition is done, taking care of these things(along with separating instruction from exercises in the tracks) will make it a better product.

   Reply
4. Cheryle Markel says:

   January 5, 2009 at 12:00 am

   Thomas Appell has written an incredibly valuable book. I say this because I am currently his pupil. The book represents the essential foundation of our work together. Through my lessons with Mr. Appell, I am experiencing, first hand, the magic of his vocal instruction as outlined in his book. As a former enthusiastic but rather mediocre Alto in church choirs from my elementary through high school years, I am ecstatic that I am now able now to sing a Tenor High C in full voice with good tone. As a former school administrator at the elementary, middle school and high school levels, I have observed hundreds of teachers teach. Thomas Appell is a master teacher in every respect and I have the good fortune to study with him.

   Reply
5. Dianna M. Appell says:

   December 10, 2008 at 12:00 am

   Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2HB8ITUS5TTSH Can You Sing High C Without Straining? 4th Edition

   Reply