The Intelligent Vocalist

It takes work and dedication to learn to mix and blend through the vocal break. It also requires a period of being very careful to establish the new balanced in the voice. The problem is when the singer gets stuck in this particular place, afraid to sing more openly and robustly. In this episode, John discusses this issue and why you need to get out of this overly careful approach once it has done its job.

"Research your own experience. Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is essentially your own." - Bruce Lee Bruce Lee's quest to fuse the martial arts in his way still inspires. His philosophies are also applicable to the art of singing. In this episode, John discusses how to adapt and apply Lee's approach to find your technique and artistry. EPISODE LINKS: Voice Teacher Influencer book Science and Saucery podcast Voice Teacher Reacts YouTube video Boldly Belting course

The tongue is a critical part of good, balanced singing, but our awareness can often be lacking. In this episode, John discusses why tongue placement helps with registration and balance, and how to control the tongue when belting high, strong notes. EPISODE LINKS Boldly Belting

The repetition of practice can often lead to unfocused and "mindless" sessions. The question "why?" is a great way to filter and focus your efforts and awareness and to get better results from your efforts. In this episode, John explores the power of knowing why you are practicing.

Mindfulness is becoming extremely popular, and for good reason. The scientific consensus is that meditation has concrete benefits, including increased focus, awareness, and brain function. The ability to direct your focus is one of the cornerstones of mindful meditation, and the practical applications for singers are immense. In this episode, John discusses how to begin the practice of mindfulness and how it can positively impact your practicing and performance. EPISODE LINKS Waking Up App

Singing is such a mind intensive endeavor that it is easy to ignore the richness of information around us. The music we are singing over is full of clues and instructions to help us deliver fantastically musical performances - but we need to listen. In this episode, John discusses the cues embedded in the music and how to listen to bring your vocal performance to a higher level. SHOW LINKS: The Boldly Belting course.

There endless debates about what makes a great voice teacher - celebrity clients, excellent singing voice, scientific expertise, the list goes on. In this episode, John draws on his years of experience training hundreds of voice teachers to discuss the traits he finds in exceptional teachers.

No one enjoys giving a bad vocal performance - but it happens to us all. The aftermath of failing onstage can be devastating, but there are great lessons to be learned from a less than perfect performance. In this episode, John discusses how to recover and improve from your vocal disasters.

We all have 24 hours in a day, and the time we can take out of this limited resource for practicing is precious. Inspired by James Schramko's bestselling book, Work Less, Make More, John applies this concept to practice sessions. Learn John's best tips for getting real results from your practice sessions so you can get out there and really sing!

He (or she) who hesitates is lost. This should be the mantra of every singer. Plunging into scary, risky situations is what propels us and helps create musical breakthroughs. In this episode, John discusses why you should push hesitation aside and embrace the fear of the unknown. EPISODE LINKS Penn's Sunday School Podcast