美國國傢聲樂教師協會前主席William Vennard博士的《歌唱：機理與技巧》是一部集當代聲樂科研與個人歌唱與聲樂教學心得於一體的悉心之作。它在國際上具有廣泛影響，尤其在英語國傢，被認為是聲樂教師應人手一冊的聲樂文獻。在本書中，他詳盡地剖析瞭發聲器官的生理與機理，客觀地論述瞭歌唱的技巧與手段。這種理論與實踐相結閤的方法，體現瞭本書極高的參考價值。

William Vennard (31 January 1909 Normal, Illinois–10 January 1971 Los Angeles, California) was a famous American vocal pedagogist who devoted his life to researching the human voice and its use in singing.

He was one of the driving forces behind a major shift within the field of vocal pedagogy during the middle of the 20th century. Along with a few other American singing teachers, such as Ralph Appelman at Indiana University, Vennard introduced contemporary scientific research in the areas of human anatomy and physiology into the study of singing. This shift in approach led to the rejection of many of the beliefs and practices held since the bel canto era, most particularly in the areas of vocal registration and vocal resonation.

Vennard was renowned as an excellent teacher whose written works have influenced generations of singers, vocal pedagogues and voice scientists. He taught many successful singers including acclaimed mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne, who studied under him at the University of Southern California.