The Intelligent Vocalist

Some argue that great performances should never be analyzed, but rather, only enjoyed. While no musician would take this argument seriously, we still need to remember not to lose the joy of listening. In this episode, John discusses how to practice both types of listening, to grow your skills as a musician as well as a communicator of emotion.  

Dr. Reena Gupta is one of the premier ear, nose, and throat doctors in Los Angeles. Dr. Gupta is the "go-to" specialist for A-list professional voice users. In this episode, John and Dr. Gupta discuss vocal health during the current pandemic, the importance of science and knowledge for the singer, and her upcoming Voice Forum conference, which will give singers virtual access to the world's leadin...

Sidonie Smith is a leading musical theatre star in Europe. Sidonie not only has a fantastic work ethic, but she also specializes in helping singers with mindset coaching. In this episode, John talks with Sidonie about her journey to musical theatre success and how singers can keep their voices and minds in top shape while dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown. EPISODE LINKS Sidonie's Ins...

Our schedules and habits are a bit out of whack these days. Amid quarantine and confusion, our practice sessions can take a backseat. Consistency is vital in vocal development, and short practice sessions of just a few minutes can still be effective. In this episode, John discusses how to utilize and structure micro practice sessions to help you stay on the path of improvement.  

Daniel Formica has 25 years of experience singing with some of the top show and corporate bands in the US. Daniel has to be vocally ready to sing a wide variety of material, including Journey and Whitesnake. Daniel's vocal skills are the result of study and hard work. In this episode, Daniel shares with John what it takes to reach your vocal potential, as well as the insights he has gained from st...

Stability is something that's missing in all our lives right now, but we can still find stability in our voice. Having a stable voice across your range is not the product of one aspect of singing, but a blending of optimal balance in breath, phonation, and resonance. In this episode, John discusses how all parts of the voice need to come together to create the ultimate singing goal of rock-solid s...

Singers tend to focus on the money notes, the big, high notes usually found in the chorus of a song. But there is a world of musical expression to be found in the verses. Although the verse tends to be lower and less vocally exciting, there is much of a song's story to be found there. In this episode, John discusses how to inject more color and musical contrast into the verse of a song, to help yo...

Phonation is the act of creating sound waves from the vocal folds. While we phonate naturally in speech, singing requires a higher level of awareness and control. In this episode, John discusses the three main types of phonation and the elements you need to be aware of for healthy singing.

We often like to think of our musical heroes as being more than human, imbued with supernatural talent. This belief is unfair to both our heroes and ourselves, as it ignores a great deal of the hard work and constant learning all singers and musicians must go through. In this episode, John discusses the myth of pure talent and why education and practice is a vital part of the process.  

No matter where you live, you have likely heard Gerald White sing. Gerald is a first-call session singer in Los Angeles, whose voice has appeared on numerous TV shows and major motion pictures. Gerald is also a highly skilled voice teacher, and sight-singing instructor. In this episode, Gerald discusses the demanding world of session work and how he keeps his voice in top shape. EPISODE LINKS Gera...

It's the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, and social distancing has already begun in earnest. In this episode, John discusses online voice lessons and how to get the most from your remote study.

Sam Johnson is a leading online voice teacher whose YouTube Videos have garnered tens of millions of views. John talks with Sam about his journey to teaching voice, the current state of pop singing, the role of voice science in his teaching, and much more. EPISODE LINKS: Sam's Website Sam's YouTube Channel

We spend so much time depressed about the past or anxious about the future that we often miss the miracle of the present. Every moment you get to spend with your voice should be treasured and experienced fully. In this episode, John discusses the mindset of gratitude and awareness that will bring a new sense of joy to your singing and practicing.

When you get serious about singing, it's not uncommon to go through periods of feeling like you are getting worse instead of improving. The path of learning to sing is not a straight one, and we often need to take detours that can lead to frustration. In this episode, John discusses why we may need to take a step back in our singing before we get better, but also how not to get stuck there.

Body acceptance is a growing trend, freeing us from attempting to fit into narrowly defined concepts of attractiveness. Yet this often doesn't happen with the voice. Singers struggle to make their voice some it's not, often to frustrating results. In this episode, John discusses the concept of vocal acceptance, and why your natural voice is more than good enough.

We speak much more than we sing, yet while we work to have a dynamic singing voice, we can often neglect these qualities in our speech. By utilizing the concepts of music in speech, we can be more convincing and exciting to our listeners. In this episode, John discusses the elements of great speakers and how you can develop these qualities in your voice.

"The results a person obtains are inversely proportionate to the degree to which he is intimidated." - Robert Ringer Being a singer is to face constant intimidation, real or imagined. The fear of criticism or the idea you need to wait until it's your turn can stymie and choke your goals and progress. In this episode, John discusses why you shouldn't be intimated by anyone or anything and how to pu...

Brute force learning is a concept taken from computing. The idea is to approach a problem or area of learning from multiple angles. With singing, it can be highly beneficial to get a wide array of sources to increase your understanding and skill. In this episode, John discusses how brute force learning has helped him and why it might very well work for you.

The poet, David Whyte, has a beautiful poem entitled, The Bell and the Blackbird. The verse speaks of the pull to deep inner work and the contrasting pull to take our wares to the outside world. This contrast is a constant pull for the artist - how much more do I need to practice? Am I ready to perform for others? In this episode, John discusses the importance of finding this balance to grow as an...

Belting is the high-wire act of singing. To vocalize intense high notes while not falling into vocal stress and shouting requires a precise balancing of resonances. In this episode, John discusses the acoustic aspect of belting, to help you better navigate this sought after vocal skill.

Mindy Pack is a leading celebrity voice teacher who is steeped in the latest voice science. In this episode, Mindy gives her best advice for staying healthy on the road, as well as her approach to straw-based phonation. EPISODE LINKS: Mindy's Website Voice Straw

2019 was a year of explosive growth for The Intelligent Vocalist. The monthly downloads have tripled in just the past 12 months alone. John looks back at this past year and recaps the ten most popular episodes.

Singing in tune is an essential skill for singers (autotune aside).  If you struggle with pitch, you may think you are tone deaf (don't worry, it's very rare), but you may be a bit tone shy. In this episode, John discusses effective ways to build your ear and the ability to match pitch and sing in tune.

We all want pure emotion in singing, but we also need to control and analyze our instrument to effectively deliver this emotion. How do we find a balance? In this episode, John once again welcomes Laurel Irene and David Harris of Voice Science Works to discuss how they fuse the mind and heart, as well as their upcoming NEO Voice Festival, which brilliantly combines the two with singers from all ov...

Mix singing is a key way to move smoothly through your vocal range. However, this skill is often misunderstood and tricky to develop. In this episode, John discusses some of the common problems singers have when developing their mix and ways you can break through to a seamless voice.