Johan Sundberg
Ph.D. in Musicology Uppsala University
Biography
Johan Sundberg (born in 1936, Ph.D. in musicology Uppsala University 1966, doctor honoris causae 1996 University of York, UK) has a personal Chair (Emeritus) in Music Acoustics at the department of Speech Music and Hearing (KTH), Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm.
He early became interested in the acoustical aspects of music, starting with a doctoral dissertation work on organ pipes. After the dissertation, singing voice and music performance have been his main research topics.
He led the music acoustics research group from 1970 to 2004. In Musikens Ljudlära Sundberg presents music acoustics in popularized form to the interested layman.
As the President of the Music Acoustics Committee of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, Sundberg has been the editor of eight volumes in a series of proceedings of public seminars on music acoustic themes arranged in Stockholm since 1975. Sundberg has also had extensive experience of performing music.
For 24 years he was a member of the Stockholm Bach Choir, 9 years as its president. He has studied singing for Dagmar Gustafson and made his public debut with a Lieder recital on his 50th birthday. He is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, of the Swedish Acoustical Society (President 1976-81) and a fellow of the Acoustical Society of America.
Interview with Johan Sundberg
What would you consider to be the main focus of your career, or your “specialty”?
Acoustics and physiology of singing voice, music perception, theory of music performance
How did you discover your calling for your speciality? How did it start?
Contact with the Gunnar Fant department at KTH, Stockhom
What do you love the most about your work?
Finding new facts and communicating them to interested audiences
In your opinion, what qualities do you feel make an "excellent" Vocal Pedagogue?
Excellent results of teaching
Can you speak to the importance of having mentors? How have mentors influenced your life/career? Can you tell us about some of your mentors?
They share their experiences, so you don’t need to earn them yourself. A kind of shortcut. Radio engineer flutist bassoonist Frans Fransson was my first mentor, guiding me to acoustic measurement; phonetician Björn Lindblom guided me to scientific research technique, particularly the analysis-by-synthesis method; singing teacher Dagmar Gustafson have guided me in finding the essence of vocal music, violinist Lars Frydén guided me to the principles underlying expressiveness in musical performance. In addition, some of my many doctoral students have guided me to the joy of cooperation
Building Blocks - Questions About Ten Key Areas of Voice
The below topics cover ten key areas of voice. In regard to each topic, what are the most influential tips, insights, or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
Breathing
Tracheal pull, Need to tailor subglottal pressure for each pitch and its position in the phrase, Need to master glottal adduction/resistance
The Larynx
Relevance of larynx position
The Vocal Folds
Relevance of phonation type, the continuum between pressed and breathy, particularly finding flow phonation; Avoiding compulsory couplings between the three main phonatory parameters pitch, loudness, phonation type
Acoustics/Resonance
Never let fundamental frequency pass first formant; vowel egalisation
Vocal Registration
Learn how to avoid breaks and learn seamless transition between registers
Vocal Health
Pay attention to how it feels in your body
Vocal Style
Listen and contemplate
Posture & Body Alignment
Important during learning
Teaching Methods/Communicating complex ideas about singing
Take into account what type of instruction works
Final Thoughts (Words of Wisdom, Recommended Books, or Resources)?
In the absence of theoretical knowledge, misconceptions and superstition rage
Please note that Johan Sundberg is not affiliated with VocalPedagogy.com and we do not disclose contact information. We hope you enjoyed the interview!
