The Intelligent Vocalist

The global pandemic has stopped all live performance and in-person lessons for the time being. How soon can we get back to singing with and for others in a communal setting? Unfortunately, for singers, the news is not encouraging. In this episode, John discusses the latest information regarding COVID-19 and singing and the realities of moving forward as vocal performers. EPISODE LINKS: NATS Chat - What Do Science and Data Say About the Near-Term Future of Singing?

The voice is a difficult instrument to control. One of the main ways we interact with our voice is through sensation. However, the sensations of singing are often misleading and can differ from singer to singer. In this episode, John discusses how to catalog the varying sensations of singing to help improve consistency and confidence.

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 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.