The Intelligent Vocalist

Practicing correctly can speed your progress greatly, but singers often wonder how to get the best from their voice during these sessions. In this episode John gives his best advice for having a successful practice session. Practice well and you will sing well!

One of the main reasons to listen to music, and especially good vocalists, is to feel an emotion. Being able to deliver strong (and honest) emotions in your singing is extremely important. Acting your song is not just for musical theatre or opera.  You can use these techniques to up your performances of any style. In this episode John shares some of his favorite techniques to emotionally connect w...

Skype lessons tend to bring our very strong opinions amongst voice teachers.  Some love 'em, some hate 'em. In this episode, John looks at the challenges of learning voice on-line, starting with his early days of teaching over the telephone (yes, he's that old). If you have thought about learning or even teaching over Skype (or zoom, Facetime, etc.) this is a must-listen episode!

Keeping your vocal folds properly hydrated is essential for good healthy speaking and singing, but it is not always easily done. Just drinking more fluids is often not enough, especially for those who use their voices on a professional level. In this episode, John again looks at some of the latest research on vocal fold hydration and the best practices for achieving good vocal health. John also di...

Vocal science has gone from being hidden within the halls of academia to a greater acceptance by voice teachers, and increasingly, singers as well. However, is vocal science becoming overhyped and stopping singers from actually learning to sing? John delves into this subject with his own viewpoint of how vocal science has transformed his approach to the voice and how to use science to help your te...

Singers often talk about "mix," but what does it really mean? In this episode, John delves into the world of mix and discusses it from a physical and acoustic standpoint. If you are confused by what mix singing is, this episode is for you!

Singing with more power is usually a high priority for singers.  Unfortunately, if done wrong, attempting to get more power out of the voice can lead to vocal problems and even damage. In this episode John explains how vocal power works and how to begin to safely find it in your own voice.

Belting can be one of the most thrilling types of singing a vocalist can attempt, but if done incorrectly it can lead to devastating vocal problems. In this episode, John breaks down the right and wrong ways to belt, and exactly what is happening in the voice when belting correctly. This basic knowledge can be an absolute voice saver for singers!

One of the key ways to become a great singer is to gain mastery over rhythm and phrasing. This can make the difference between mediocre vocal performances and ones that will have listeners flocking to you. In this episode, John covers how to learn to accurately subdivide beats and how syncopation can make you singing more interesting. He also gets into the magic of phrasing and how great singers u...

Some believe that only natural singers can truly reach the heights of singing. In this podcast John discusses why pure natural talent, while a desirable gift, can also cause problems for singers, and how the singer that has to work harder actually has some advantages. If you are doubting your ability to become a world-class singer, you need to listen to this episode.

In this episode, John goes over the many benefits of learning an instrument as well as breaking down the advantages of some of the most popular instruments. Learn which musical concepts are vitally important for a singer, and why you don't need to become a virtuoso player in order to dramatically impact your musical skills.

People use YouTube to learn how to do all sorts of things, and singing is no exception. There are literally thousands of free singing lessons on YouTube, but can you actually learn to sing from them? In this episode, John Henny breaks down how to use YouTube to your best advantage, and what mistakes to avoid.

In this podcast John goes into the three reasons to sing any song. He also delves into how you should choose your material to help grow and strengthen your voice, and why some songs may not be the best choice. Don't waste your precious practice time with songs that aren't serving your vocal goals.

The number one goal for most beginning singers is to expand their current range, however if done incorrectly, a huge number of vocal issues can occur. In this episode John explains how the voice can get those elusive high notes and gives some simple exercises to get you started on the right path to singer higher.  

A career in singing is a dream shared by many, but so few achieve this elusive goal. In this episode, John discussing the different types of career path, and the skills you need in each one. John also gives singers looking for a recording career some vital tips to getting started, and how to begin to find their own unique identity and persona as an artist.

Proper hydration is absolutely essential for a healthy speaking and singing voice, but how can you make sure your voice is properly hydrated? In this episode, John covers both how to best hydrate your voice through your body as well as your environment. He also covers one of the most effective devices he has found to get moisture directly onto your vocal cords. This episode is a must for all singe...

Breathing, another controversial singing subject (what isn't?).  We can all agree breath is essential to singing, but you obviously know how to breath, and are probably doing it now, so why is singing so different? There are different schools of thought on the subject, and some teachers make breathing the most important thing in singing.  Other very successful teachers hardly touch on the subject....

In this episode, John explains how to get and maintain a healthy speaking voice, and why it is essential for all singers to work on this.  Learn best practices and simple exercises you can use to get your best voice.  

This is one of the questions voice teachers get asked the most.  People are fascinated by singers, and would love to be able to do it, but don't think they can ever learn. John goes into his past experience with students, and explains how those with very little natural ability were able to become proficient, if not great, singers. John also explores ideas if tone deafness, and how he once thought...

The passing of the great David Bowie is a great loss to the artistic community. In this episode, John reflects on one of Bowie's greatest vocal recordings, "Heroes," and looks into the debate of vocal technique versus vocal performance.  John gives his thoughts on how to strike a proper balance between giving your all in artistic expression, while still protecting your instrument.

Voice teachers are often divided into two camps: classical and contemporary.  There are often disagreements between these groups, sometimes it's not pretty. In this episode, John looks at the two major voice camps and gives his thoughts on some controversial points - specifically singers who are studying classically, but want to sing contemporary musical theatre or pop.  

In this episode you will learn about vocal registers and why they cause the dreaded cracks and breaks in the singing voice. John also tackles some of the myths and misunderstandings surrounding vocal breaks. Understanding why these breaks occur is one of the best ways to begin to correct them. 

There has been a move in recent years to denigrate singing scales, even accusing their use of hampering your vocal progress. John has his own opinion of singing scales, and how you can best use them in your own practice. John also shows you how to move from scales to sings more smoothly, eliminating a major source of frustration for singers.

Vocal health might be a somewhat unglamorous list of dos and don'ts, but it is a major part of being a good singer.   John explains key points you need to know to keep yourself healthy and to make sure your voice lasts. Understand key foods, medications, and lifestyle choices that can create serious problems for the singer. No matter how good your vocal technique is, if you don't stay healthy you ...

Vocal resonance really is the difference between sounding awful, sounding just okay, or being absolutely amazing.  Resonance acts as the filter and the amplifier for the sound waves you create, and correctly adjusting your resonance is a must for good singing. John breaks down this complex subject into easy to understand bites.  Join him in this podcast and get crucial knowledge to become a better...