The Intelligent Vocalist

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...

Do you struggle with pitch?  Are you worried you might be tone deaf?  In this podcast John explains the main causes of singing out-of-tune and how to correct them. Struggling with pitch is an almost certainty if you are not using correct technique.  John gives you the understanding to fix these issues and to get your voice on path to in-tune singing. This episode is a must for anyone struggling wi...

As a singer, understanding the vocal cords is an important part of learning your instrument, yet so few singers really know how they work.   In this episode, John breaks down the anatomy and function of the vocal cords in easy to understand language, in order to give you greater knowledge and control over your singing.  

Finding the right voice teacher is critical for your future success as a singer.  What are the most important things to look for when choosing a teacher?  You might be surprised at John's answers. The voice teaching industry is marketed like any other.  In this episode, John helps you see what is hype and what is real when looking at potential teachers.

In any skill there is usually one technical shift that can bring a big change. In this episode, John reveals his one technical trick and how it has helped bring about big changes in singer's abilities to hit higher notes and remove strain. The reasons why this "trick" works are also explored, including what is happening at the physical level of the voice. This episode is a must for singers!

In this introductory episode, renowned Los Angeles voice instructor John Henny gives you the lowdown on the show's philosophy, what you can expect from future episodes, and why he's doing this in the first place. The Intelligent Vocalist explores singing on every level.  It is based on the idea that the more you know about the voice and how it works, the better you can sing.  John's insights into...