Can't Wait to Hear You

You know who sometimes struggles to find time for practicing their songs, speeches, or presentations? All of my students AND me. It can feel really challenging to look at your calendar and imagine squeezing in enough time to improve the way you want to. But there are some easy ways to change your thinking about how and when to practice that will make it seem less overwhelming. Let’s talk about the...

As promised, this week I’m revisiting my top tips for using your voice, but we’re putting the focus on speakers. Projecting your voice with confidence can be an incredible experience for you and your audience (even an audience of one). But some of the ways your body tries to signal strength and security can actually interfere with the sound you body makes. Let’s talk about how to feel what’s going...

A new student recently asked me if there was a CliffsNotes version of the concepts I teach, and I realized that would make a really good podcast episode! This time, I’m sharing my top five “bumper stickers,” advice I’ve shared with just about every student I’ve ever had. (These slogans are for my singers, but don’t worry, speakers, we’ll be back with more for you shortly.) We’ll cover how your bod...

It’s been a little more than a year since we hit publish on the first episode of Can’t Wait To Hear You. I want to celebrate that milestone with you by talking about commitment. The work I had to do - emotional, mental, and physical - to commit to podcasting is similar in a lot of ways to the work of developing your vocal instrument. If you think about it all at once, it can feel overwhelming. But...

When you’re sick, using your voice can be painful, and even dangerous. I want you to know that it's okay to be sick, to put your feet up, to watch trashy TV, to not think about your voice beyond resting it. But if you are sick, and you're scared that you're losing time, that you're falling behind, that your performance is coming up and you're just going to faceplant because you're not prepared, th...

When I first invited my dear friend, speech language pathologist Matthew Brown, onto the podcast, we talked about how singing has helped him maintain his equilibrium through emotional challenges. In the interest of fairness, I agreed to give Matthew a chance to ask questions of me! This time, we discussed the challenges I help my students face, and how their journeys compare to the often scary wor...

Few things make me happier than the annual return of major league baseball. This year, as the season gets into full swing, I’ve been thinking a lot about baseball and the role failure plays in getting better at a skill. Like singing or speaking in public, hitting a fastball is a mental exercise as much as a physical one. Trying, missing, and trying again is a key part of releasing the anxiety that...

This one is for all my singers out there. (Don’t worry, speakers, I’ll be back for you soon.) Many of my students are either singing in groups or are hoping to get into a group situation, so they’re nervous about blending in with other voices. I love singing in harmony. Being part of a group sound can be so restoring for the spirit, and I want you to love it, too! So let’s answer their questions,...

When death is near, music can comfort us: it can ease our pain, it can help us grieve. Songs can transport us back in time to a summer picnic, a winter fireplace, the road trip to grandma’s, and to so much dancing! Recent events have me thinking about mortality, and how music helps us remember those we’ve lost. I’d love to share with you, and honor some amazing people I’ve been fortunate enough to...

When you’re working to hone your vocal technique, watching experienced singers or speakers use their voices can be very useful. President Biden’s State of the Union address, and Senator Katie Britt’s response, provided two very different, but very instructive examples. They demonstrate how facial expression, posture, setting, and other choices can radically change the way your voice sounds, and ho...

Learning to speak as an infant is an instinctive process of mimicking the sounds and voices around us. It only makes sense that the intentional practice of honing your voice might involve trying to imitate someone whose voice you like. Your own voice is uniquely shaped by your body, your heart, and your mind, so in the end you’ll always only sound like you. But studying other voices can help you u...

Your whole body is the instrument when you’re singing or speaking, and no part of that instrument is more crucial than your mind. Your feelings of comfort and confidence, your sense of self, and the connection you want to make with your audience all have a deep influence on how your voice sounds and feels. This time I’ll share some examples of how the mind has affected my voice and the voices of m...

I’m honored to introduce you to my good friend Matthew Brown. Matthew is a speech-language pathologist, a keyboardist, and one of the warmest, kindest souls I’ve ever known. In this episode, he shares how learning to sing the Psalms supported him through a really hard time. Maybe not surprisingly, the singing was so helpful that this musical, spiritual practice has stayed with him, five years late...

In my last episode, I talked about how to prepare when you only have two weeks before an audition. But how do you keep yourself from feeling overwhelmed when the big, scary thing is happening in two minutes? Here are some techniques for helping you feel into your body, and keep yourself grounded and centered when you need to show up in the face of natural anxiety. To Register for A Singer's Advent...

Auditioning for something often comes with a lot of anxiety, and time pressure only adds stress! Fortunately, it is absolutely possible to polish a song and get yourself into an audition mindset, even on short notice, without dropping everything else in your life. Here is my tried and tested three-step plan that will help you cultivate peace while you learn your piece. To Register for A Singer's A...

Getting stuck on a project happens, including when you’re developing your voice. I’ll discuss some different kinds of “stuck” and share what’s helped me and my students get moving again. There aren’t any magic bullets, but a little trial and error, some curiosity and self-compassion will help you find what you need.  To Register for A Singer's Advent https://mvmusik.mvsite.app/products/course...

The practice of art, no matter the medium or your experience level, is a powerful tool for helping us process emotion. Very few people know this better than my wonderful friend Michelle Favreault. Michelle is a multi-disciplinary artist and teacher who helps people find the spark of their creativity, and access it to stay grounded and centered when they’re working through big feelings. I’m so grat...

I keep a tiny hand mirror in my vocal studio and sometimes invite students to look at their mouths when they’re singing or speaking. It sounds a little awkward, right? So why would I suggest it? Most of us work way too hard when we’re using our voices. There are so many muscles that try to help that aren’t actually helping. The mirror shows us that, which helps us to do less, which helps our voice...

Noticing What Is keeps you in the present, which is really the only place you can change anything about how you’re singing or speaking. Noticing What Is also decreases the chances you’ll waste time and energy judging yourself and your circumstances, which allows you to respond more effectively to them. Today’s episode contains a couple of simple, short exercises to increase your capacity for open,...

I’ve talked about opening courageously before. It’s one of the vital steps you can take to support the physical act of singing or speaking. It requires building awareness and strength in your body, but it’s not just about posture and muscles. Opening courageously engages your mind and your heart. It means developing a connection to your surroundings, and to the feeling of whether it’s safe for you...

Generally, the more we do something, the better we get at it and the more confident we feel. A baby learning to walk is a really obvious example. But when it comes to speaking and singing in public, we often imagine that increased confidence will come from taking a huge risk, and then we wonder why we get stuck. Let’s talk about some smaller, more manageable steps that will build confidence faster...

Nearly every vocal problem has a solution, and those solutions often grow out of treating your entire, integrated self as your instrument. Physical strength, neurological calm, and a grounded sense of being are all critical to the work of singing or speaking. It might sound overwhelming, but I bet you’re already working on those things in different areas of your life. Let’s talk about how you can...

Today I'm answering your questions! If you have a question you’d like answered in a future episode, please email me at letters@mvmusik.com. [01:19] Question 1. What if lip trills really don't work for me? (in response to Episode 5 ) My lip trill tutorial video: https://www.mvmusik.com/ltv/ Helpful YouTube videos on straw phonation:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utMGP8h75nM&list=PLRIAPP...

Believe me when I tell you that no one is "born ready" for the stage. Really, no one.  Sounding amazing, or even simply adopting a new vocal habit takes time and effort, and a ton of self-compassion. Today's episode is heavy on the compassion.  To Register for A Singer's Advent https://mvmusik.mvsite.app/products/courses/view/1189528 Michèle Voillequé is a singer and a voice teacher livi...

What should you take when your throat feels scratchy, phlegmy or just plain awful? Science has an answer for you! Listen in to learn what the research says about honey, lemon, ginger and a host of other remedies. I also share what works for me, including some of my favorite recipes.  To Register for A Singer's Advent https://mvmusik.mvsite.app/products/courses/view/1189528 Michèle Voillequé i...