Can't Wait to Hear You

A bedrock goal of singing is to make sure all the right notes are coming out of your mouth. But apps that claim to tell you whether you’re “in tune” can actually do more harm than good. In this episode, I explain What a voice-tuning app is actually measuring (spoiler alert: it’s not really your voice). How trying to match pitch with an app can introduce counter-productive tension into your body. T...

For most of us, using our voices to speak feels effortless. But performing demands that we slow down and really understand what we’re doing and why. In this episode, I explain Why the deliberate process of singing has to be so different from the instinctive behavior of everyday conversation. How to practice noticing and adjusting your vocal production to make performing as stress-free as possible....

Our desire to give a perfect performance will always be derailed by forces beyond our control. What if we choose instead to practice as perfectly as possible so that good performances become inevitable? In this episode, I explain Why practicing perfectly is within our reach, and delivering a perfect performance isn’t. How practicing perfectly makes performing less stressful and our voice more reli...

When you’re preparing to practice singing or speaking, it’s great to have goals. But if you let those goals dominate your focus, you could miss other kinds of progress. In this episode, I explain Why - and how - to pause and reflect before you dive into a practice session. How stress and time pressure interfere with the process of learning. Why it’s important to invite all of yourself to participa...

I and my students often get "stuck" because we're afraid of "doing it wrong." The "it" could be anything. In this episode, I explain The difference between the fear of technical, physical wrongness and the fear of being embarrassed by the way you sound. How very young children model a fearlessly playful response to failure. Warmup practices that can help you explore and expand the capabilities of...

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has predicted that Artificial Intelligence could automate as many as 40% of tasks currently performed by humans in our current economy. Teaching voice will not be one of them. Let me tell you why. In this episode, I explain How singing and speaking are body-to-body and heart-to-heart ways of communicating. Our physicality matters as much as our words. How singing is fundament...

Like singing, being a leader is both a mental and physical practice. This makes it possible (and vital) to practice and prepare just by using your imagination. In this episode, I explain How to think about expanding yourself - physically and energetically - to the bounds of a larger space Why imagining yourself in the shoes of the person in charge can help you get comfortable leading from the side...

Conflict is scary. In relationship, at work, or when you’re singing in a group, it can be tempting to sit in discomfort rather than speak up. How can you give yourself permission to advocate for positive change? In this episode, I explain The very simple - but very big - place to start grounding your ability to change things. Ways to develop the sense of belonging that will empower you to advocate...

More this time on how to be a leader when you aren’t in charge, by tapping into what you really love about singing and using it to set an example. In this episode, I explain How to identify - and model - what brings you the most joy when you’re singing in a group. Ways to think about setting an example that others will want to emulate, without being overbearing. How to channel the irritation you m...

Singing in a choir can be a chaotic experience, and the conductor can’t be everywhere (or hear everything) all at once. How can you guide and inspire the people around you when you’re not the final authority? I find the Colbert Questionnert to be incredibly helpful when it comes to deciding how I want to move through the world. If you haven't yet explored this self-development tool, listen to toda...

You’ve probably heard someone say that singing is “all about the breath.” It’s a simple saying that belies a surprisingly multifaceted practice. In this episode, I explain How breathing precedes every sound we make with the voice (and why we often don’t notice). What’s going on anatomically as your brain, breath, and body collaborate to produce sound. Exercises you can use to understand and direct...

Your voice is a core part of your identity, so it’s natural to feel conflicted about changing it, even if the change is ultimately for the better. In this episode, I explain Why we often have emotional discomfort around changing our voices, even when using our body differently feels physically better. How our instinctive need for safety can complicate the process of learning to use the body differ...

We all feel nervous when we’re doing Big Things, and singing in front of others is definitely a Big Thing. What would it help to be thinking when you’re doing something Big? In this episode, I explain The mental and physical benefits that accompany the work of building your voice. Why feeling vulnerable is an important part of singing and speaking. How to reframe that vulnerability so that perform...

Happy New Year! Here are two resolutions that will help you improve your relationship with your voice in 2026 and in all the years to come: Practice in the shoes you’re going to wear on the day you do the thing. Try not to judge your out-of-tune singing. Tune in to find out why, and in the case of judging yourself, what to do instead. To Register for A Singer's Advent: https://mvmusik.mvsite.app/p...

When things aren’t going well, we can let music carry us through. In this episode, I talk about The profound connections music builds between people from all walks of life. How the experience of a group of people singing together can transform your day, even when you’re just watching. An example of the joy and community created when we share our singing with each other. The Leo Choir Boys performi...

It might sound like wishful thinking, but I truly believe that everyone who wants to should experience the joy of feeling comfortable with and appreciated for their singing. In this episode, I explain Why I believe that singing is for anyone and everyone. The themes and lessons that the Advent season holds for experienced and aspiring singers alike. The benefits of singing for your physical and me...

I've had an epiphany about why listening to ourselves is so different when we're singing than when we're talking! In this episode, I explain What we focus on when we’re listening to ourselves, and how it changes when we’re singing vs. talking. How that difference contributes to the common anxiety we feel about singing in front of other people. Experiments you can try to help you hear yourself more...

 Practicing is a perennial challenge, but if we broaden our concept of “practice,” it can make the whole process more rewarding. In this episode, I explain Why a rigid definition of practice can stifle our creativity. What distinguishes a habit from a behavior, and how we can take advantage of the difference. How to develop creative practicing behavior that will pacify your inner perfectionist. I’...

 Just a few simple habits can give you the best chance of living a long, happy, healthy life. In this episode, I explain The four lifestyle changes you can make that will improve your odds of longevity and good health. Why singing, particularly with friends and family, is a rewarding way to check most of those behavioral boxes. How to start a singing-in-company practice without losing your mind fr...

Singing in a chorus can feel safer than soloing at karaoke or going to an open mic, but it comes with its own set of challenges.  In this episode, I explain How our fear of failure can sabotage us in a group setting. Why singing in a group is a vulnerable experience for both the singers and the conductor. The one thing your conductor wants from you (even more than the right notes!) &nbsp...

Are you frustrated by gruff, gravelly sounds in your voice? Do you wish there was a fairy godmother who could (gently) bonk you on the head and make them all go away? Me, too, dear listener. Me, too. And after years and years of looking, I’ve yet to find her. But there are exercises we can do to feel and sound better, often sooner than we think.  In this episode, I explain Where gravelly and...

When I was in fifth grade, my classroom teacher told me I should "mouth the words" rather than sing with the class. For years after that, I was convinced I had a voice that nobody wanted to hear. And even though I loved to sing, I kept it mostly to myself. Do you feel that way about your voice? If you do, you’re not alone. I’ve helped lots of students go from silent to singing, and this time I wan...

Like it or not, the voice is affected by our moods. Whether we’re feeling confident, excited, schlumpy, or sad, our emotional truth can easily come out in how we sound. A lot of the time, this isn’t a problem at all. But sometimes, feeling a feeling, or suppressing a feeling generates muscle tension that makes it hard for the voice to work well. Finding a new way to think about our situation can o...

Two complaints I often hear are, “I sound flat” and “my voice sounds nasal!” These very common problems are totally fixable, and they often happen together.  In this episode, you’ll learn: What people mean by “flat” and “nasal” Why “flat” and “nasal” often happen together What you can do to make a more vibrant, ringing tone instead.  Was this episode helpful? Do you have more questions?...

Do you have more than one voice? Most of us do. Often, the voice we use when we’re performing for an audience or practicing with a teacher is different from the voice we unleash when we’re alone. Whether you’re singing in the shower, in the car, or while you’re doing dishes, that effortless freedom can feel like your own special magic. What if you could capture some of that carefree confidence and...