Book Review  By D. Steven Fraser, Vocal Scientist, Bachelors of Music, Millikin University Masters of Music (Choral Conducting), Washington University “Vocal Strength & Power” In her latest book, ‘Vocal Strength & Power’, Dena Murray brings her extensive experience as a vocal technique teacher and coach to the aid of singers working to improve or sustain their singing ability.  The materials are suited for singers of all experience levels, from beginner to professional, and even instructors.  Her writing style is direct, as is her approach to technique, introducing ideas in the same, clear way she would explain them face-to-face.  In this newest offering, author Murray has extended her approach to how the entire body works as a unit in singing: The first book, "Vocal Technique: A guide to Finding Your real Voice", examines the character of the head and chest registers, with emphasis on strengthening the muscles that control the voice in both those areas.  This emphasis prepares for the connection of the registers into a seamless, continuous whole, and also introduces a way of training to induce proper engagement of the diaphragm without pushing. The second book, "Advanced Vocal Technique: Middle Voice, Placement, and Styles" (co-authored with Tita Hutchison,) focuses on placement in the mask and how to bridge.  By using perception of feeling and sensation, it builds a step-by-step progression from a thin to thicker voice without vocal ‘breaks’. In ‘Vocal Strength & Power’, Dena brings our attention to the diaphragm, and especially to the startling results of her enquiry into how to teach proper vocal support without improper control and manipulation of that region.  Together with her prior two books, this volume forms a complete set of understandings and exercises for bringing the voice to its full potential.  When the elements are properly combined, the voice develops and problems are avoided.  Without successful combination, the voice collapses, leading to eventual difficulties and uncomfortable singing. Since singing technique is about doing some things, and avoiding others, Dena’s approach in this volume is very practical.  In these pages, for each concept and singing action described, she provides exercises on the accompanying CD for self-paced practice to build habit.  The book is organized into sixteen content areas, beginning with her foundation concepts of the breath and engagement of the vocal cords.  Once these core concepts are well-established, the middle chapters build and expand upon this foundation, and connect together thoughts on the speaking voice, resonance, projection, placement, self-diagnosis, muscle strength and overall vocal coordination. The latter chapters incorporate the more advanced topics of registers, consonant articulation, accomplishment of multiple vocal styles, and procedures that the student can use to master difficult words and song sections. Rounding out this fine book are two sections of special interest: a comparison of breathing techniques for meditation vs. singing, and a Glossary of voice-related terms.