The Intelligent Vocalist

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 leading voice specialists.

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 Instagram

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 studying with some of the world's top voice teachers. EPISODE LINKS: Daniel's Website Daniel's YouTube Channel  

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 stability

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 your performances reach new artistic heights.

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 Gerald's Website Sight Singing Online Course

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.