The Intelligent Vocalist

The voice is an incredibly tricky instrument, and there are periods when our improvement can seem to stall or even go in the opposite direction. In this episode, John discusses how to create a routine that can help propel your voice to the next levels.

Voice science is advancing our understanding of singing by leaps and bounds - but it's also becoming a bit overwhelming. In this episode, John looks at the role of knowledge in singing and why an overreliance on science can be a problem.

East is East and West is West - so went the Kipling poem and opposing voice teacher camps. But now the walls between educators are crumbling as science and knowledge are creating a common language and understanding. In this episode, John discusses the bridges between the classical and contemporary voice teachers and why it's a great time to be a singer.

We are born with two voices - one that flips into high falsetto and one that can speak and yell. These voices work great for communicating, cheering, or calling for help. But for singing strong high notes? Not so much. In this episode, John discusses these two natural voices and why we need to navigate the middle between them in order to expand our vocal range and color.

Singing is a skill that can frustrate even the most gifted musicians. Part of the problem is the tenuous connection between our brain and instrument. In this episode, John discusses how to approach your brain and singing, and how the right thoughts can help you improve as a singer.

We are surrounded at all times by incredibly cheap and tempting foods that are destroying our health and lifespan. In this episode, John discusses how to eat for maximum creative health and energy so you can keep singing and teaching for years to come. EPISODE LINKS: Healthspan Solution Book  

Higher and Louder! The battle cry of singers everywhere. Singing higher is an important skill, and there are common mistakes singers make when attempting to increase their upper range. In this episode, John reveals the most significant mistakes and how to avoid them. EPISODE LINKS: Free Straw Warmups Course

A nasal sounding voice is a common complaint of singers. In this episode, John discusses what is (and isn't) a nasal voice and gives some simple methods for making your voice sound richer and more natural. EPISODE LINKS: IVTOM Conference

There is much current discussion of social media sites compiling your private data - but that's not what they want to steal from you. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube....what they want is your attention - the very fabric of your life experience. In this episode, John discusses the battle for your attention and how to guard your creative work time.     EPISODE LINKS Deep Work by Cal Newport Pomodoro Time...

Working in voice over used to be a very select group of people in major metropolitan areas. Now, the internet has created new opportunities for singers. Liz Hill is a gifted vocalist and voice artist who has built a thriving voice-over business from home. In this episode, John and Liz discuss how to prepare and launch a voice-over career, as well as Liz's best tips for success.   EPISODE LINKS Liz...

We all want to create our best work, reaching for an ideal. But when we attempt to attain "perfection," we can often end up spinning our wheels, afraid to show our creative work to the public. In this episode, John discusses how you can avoid the perfectionist trap and get your voice, songs, and teaching out to the world.

Singing is such a high-level skill that it can be a struggle to know what to think about or focus on. In this episode, John breaks down the different levels of mental focus, from the practice room to the stage to help you get clarity of mind when singing.

Learning about the voice can be a confusing journey, especially online. Teachers will tell you to "always" do one thing and "never" do another and why other methods and instruction are "wrong." Much like our current political climate, nuance is often left wanting as more extreme arguments are better able to cut through the clutter and noise. In this episode, John discusses how to approach online c...

Natalie Weiss is a gifted vocal educator, as well as an amazing singer and performer. Her popular YouTube channel is a must-watch for singers. In this interview, Natalie gives us insights into her own vocal development, as well as how to learn to riff, prepare for performances, and how to get the sensations of singing into your awareness and control. EPISODE LINKS Natalie's Website Natalie's YouTu...

It's not enough to understand your voice - you must feel it in a knowing and precise way. Cataloging all the various sensations of pitch, vowel, color, and intensity is a large part of becoming a masterful singer. In this episode, John discusses the sensations of singing and how you can develop a greater awareness of your own voice. EPISODE LINKS The New Science of Singing 2.0  

The recent bio picks of Queen and Elton John share a common villain - the music business.  Record labels and managers are shown at odds with the creative spirit. But without these business people, we likely would have never heard the music of these great artists.  In this episode, John discusses why you need to embrace business and marketing in order to get your music (or your teaching) out to a w...

Making the jump from the practice room to the stage can be a bit nervewracking. It is common for these jitters to affect your performance in ways you might not be aware of. In this episode, John discusses some of the most common performance mistakes and how to make your connection with your audience focused and strong. EPISODE LINKS New Science of Singing 2.0 course

"Good composers borrow, great ones steal." Igor Stravinsky In light of the recent Katy Perry - Dark Horse lawsuit, it would seem copyright enforcement has run amok. But borrowing from great artists has been a long tradition in music, and great singers certainly "steal" from other singers. In this episode, John discusses why you need to borrow from a wide variety of artists in order to create your...

This continued conversation with Laurel Irene and David Harris of Voice Science Works delves into judgment culture, the emotion of singing, as well as our evolving understanding of vocal registers. EPISODE LINKS: Voice Science Works Vocal Registers  

Join John as he talks with Laurel Irene and David Harris of Voice Science Works. Topics covered include the importance of voice science, how neuroscience and singing, and the learning mindset. VoiceScienceWorks.org

Learning to sing involves breaking down and examining the voice - which can lead to overthinking and self-criticism. In this episode, John discusses why you need to keep finding the joy and to occasionally "sing stupid!"

Falsetto is an often misunderstood part of the voice. Do women have falsetto? What is happening in the voice? How do I find falsetto? Are there different kinds? In this episode, John answers these questions as well as some tips on how to get effective falsetto in your own singing.

Singers are often unsure how much to practice on a daily basis. There are a number of variables that come into play, and each singer is different. In this episode, John discusses guidelines to make your practice productive and positive.

The balancing of tiny, unseen muscles is critical for singing, but these coordinations can be tricky. In this episode, John explains the muscles of pitch - how they work and how they need to balance for powerful singing.

When first starting to sing, there are usually major technical skills that need to be developed.  Once a baseline level of technique is established, there is a new mountain to climb - the mountain of musicianship. In this episode, John discusses the path to singing mastery and the skill sets you should be aware of along the way.  EPISODE LINKS: Weekly Lesson Special Discount