The Little Book of Speaking Up

August 19, 2019
Ritschel, a voice instructor and lecturer at the University of Augsburg in Germany, offers simple, and sometimes simplistic, physical practices meant to strengthen voice in her brief, snappy debut. These playful practices often reveal Ritschel’s professional history as a children’s music educator, and thus may take adult readers outside of their comfort zones. Activities include crawling on all fours to imitate a cat (to loosen tense muscles) and pretending to be an airplane by mimicking engine noises and spreading one’s arms (to vibrate, and thus awaken, the body). Not all of the exercises seem directly related to strengthening vocal expression; many are more generally aimed at promoting physical mobility and emotional well-being. To emphasize the generally positive feelings she wishes to produce with her book, Ritschel inserts feel-good quotes and poems throughout, authored by a broad array of historical and contemporary figures, including the Buddha, Marcus Aurelius, and her own son. The approachable style is complemented by colorful, lively illustrations. Ritschel’s exercises and prompts will provide helpful ways to facilitate expression for all members of a family.