The Intelligent Vocalist

Life can be hectic and unpredictable and our vocal practice can often fall by the wayside. "Working in the margins" is an idea John learned from a client who is also a bestselling author. He utilizes this concept to stay prolific in his output while maintaining a rigorous performing schedule. John has adopted the idea and applied it to vocal practice and growth, which he shares in this episode. SHOW LINKS: Contemporary Voice Teacher Academy Evernote

Breathy singing can be a useful vocal color, but it is often overused or not in the singer's control. Even worse is when the singer is unable to get out of a chronically breathy condition. In this episode, John gives some tips and exercises to help overcome an overly-breathy voice.

"I feel like I'm singing from my throat." "My voice is stuck in my throat." Singers complain of feeling like their voice is trapped in their throat, unable to break free and soar. But if your vocal cords are in your throat, shouldn't your voice be there? How can you be stuck? In this episode, John looks at this common singing complaint, breaks down what is happening, both physically and acoustically, and gives helpful tips to get you unstuck quickly.

Words have meaning, but they also have sounds. Inside of each word are musical colors, textures, and rhythms just waiting to be brought to life by the singer. In this episode, John discusses a deeper way to look at language and how to add this new layer of depth and complexity to your singing.

"What should I think about?" This is often a hard question to answer when working on your voice. There are so many different variables going on during a practice session and our focus can feel divided and erratic. In this episode, John discusses developing a fruitful mindset and focus. Use the power of awareness and attention to sing better! Show Links: Sam Harris Waking Up App

We all want to avoid mistakes, especially when singing. Who wants to sound terrible? Yet mistakes are one of the best ways to learn, providing you use them to your benefit. In this episode, John discusses why making mistakes is all a part of the learning process and the problems with trying to avoid them.

Few singers reach their full potential. Often, singers will raise their skill level to the demands of their current situation, but not much more. John will ask his advanced students "how good do you want to be?" This question is intended to inspire, to make the serious student think about possibilities and the level of commitment required. This episode is for singers who want to explore growth and potential, and the possibilities of fully realizing their natural talents.

A great vocal can be magic. It is the essential element to creating hit songs and classics that are listened to for generations. There are vital elements the singer needs to bring together for a vocal to work on the highest levels. In this episode, John breaks down these essential parts and explains what you need to do to raise your recorded vocal to a top-level performance. Episode Links: Episode 28 - Acting Your Song  

Proper vocal exercises are a lifesaver for the singer. A vocal exercise can diminish certain difficulty levels when warming up or trying to gain new levels of skill. Unfinished sounds can be particularly useful when used correctly. These exercises can make specific tasks such as extending range or finding balance through difficult vocal transitions much more accessible. However, there is often a temptation to get "stuck" in these exercises as full, finished sounds add back in levels of difficulty. In this episode, John explains the proper usage of these exercises and how to be careful not to allow them to creep into your natural singing voice. Links Mentioned: Contemporary Voice Teacher Academy $1 Trial    

Taking risks is part of the creative process (and life) but there may be those in your life who are stopping you from moving forward. Not needing permission is a theme social media expert Gary Vaynerchuk speaks about often - and this attitude is vital if you want to have a career as a singer or voice teacher. In this episode, John talks about why you need to develop a resolve against those who place "ladders" in front of you - keeping you from your goals until you climb to their satisfaction.