The Intelligent Vocalist

Health is extremely important for the singer and performer, as our body is our instrument. In this follow-up episode, John continues his discussion of losing a large amount of weight in a short period of time, with the help of scientist Ray Cronise.

Food is everpresent in our lives and is part of a large percentage of our social interactions. The trap of hyper-palatable, calorically dense foods is creating a global health crisis of obesity and overnutrition. The singer's instrument is their body and vocal, as well as full-body health, should be a priority. In this episode, John discusses his looming health crisis and how he was able to lose 150 lbs in just eight months to reclaim his health.

The piano is the perfect instrument for developing a greater understanding of music. Having basic piano skills can help you be a better voice teacher, but it can also help you as a singer, making your practice sessions more efficient and helping you learn songs quicker. In this episode, John discusses the benefits of learning piano and gives some quick tips on understanding basic keys and common chords.

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.