The Oxford handbook of singing Singing has been a characteristic behaviour of humanity across several millennia. Chorus America (2009) estimated that 42.6 million adults and children regularly sing in one of 270 000 choruses in the US representing more than 1:5 households. Similarly recent European based data suggest that more than 37 million adults take part in group singing. The Oxford Handbook of Singing is a landmark text on this topic. It is a comprehensive resource for anyone who wishes to know more about the pluralistic nature of singing. In part the narrative adopts a lifespan approach pre cradle to senescence to illustrate that singing is a commonplace behaviour which is an essential characteristic of our humanity. In the overall design of the Handbook the chapter contents have been clustered into eight main sections embracing fifty three chapters by seventy two authors drawn from across the world with each chapter illustrating and illuminating a particular aspect of singing. Offering a multi disciplinary perspective embracing the arts and humanities physical social and clinical sciences the book will be valuable for a broad audience within those fields. Edited by Graham F. Welch Professor and Established Chair of Music Education University College London Institute of Education University College London UK David M. Howard Founding Head Royal Royal Holloway University of London UK and John Nix Professor of Voice and Vocal Pedagogy Department of Music University of Texas at San Antonio College of Liberal and Fine Arts USA