The Intelligent Vocalist

Drop your jaw! If you take voice lessons you have no doubt heard this command. You have even likely felt the beneficial effects of doing the jaw drop. Why does dropping the jaw help? And why do we often resist doing it? In this episode, John looks at the acoustic science behind dropping your jaw and why it is critical to vocal balance in the upper register. He also digs into why singers resist this and how it can be done wrong. A jaw-droppingly good episode - ok, sorry for that.  

We all know the feeling. Our voice sounds great in the practice room, only to fall apart when we go to sing in front of others. How can we get the same confidence we feel when singing alone? How can we sing like no one's listening? This question comes from a listener of the podcast, and John gives his unique perspective on having a fearless mindset. The greatest gift of singing is in the sharing.  Don't let fear and nerves keep you from bringing joy to others. Listen to this episode and get on that stage!

When you think of singers, Elon Musk usually does not come to mind.  That's because Elon doesn't sing, at least not publicly. But the trailblazing founder of Tesla and Space X does do something amazingly well that we singers can learn from. Elon is able to break complex systems down to the most basic level, and then rebuild the system. We can apply this same thinking to our singing, working on vocal problems at their most basic level. If done correctly, this can lead to rapid development and breakthroughs. In this episode, John looks at Elon's system of "first principles" and how singers can use it to supercharge their learning and vocal growth.  

Fergie recently got roasted for her performance of the National Anthem, setting off a social media frenzy of gleeful attacks. The fear is singers watching this will be afraid to take artistic risks as they could suffer the same fate. In this podcast, John gives an important pep talk on artistic courage and dealing with the inevitable haters and criticism. A must listen for all singers and artists.  

Skilled, in-demand voice teachers see a high number of voice students in a given week, all vying for their attention. With an extensive roster of students, there will always be those that make the teacher's job just a little harder - don't be that student! By being respectful of your teacher's time and policies, and by showing up ready to work, you can become the student every voice teacher loves to work with. In this episode, John gives you his best advice on how to be a model student, how to have your voice teacher to love to work with you, which in turn will give you the best voice lessons and experience possible.      

"Trust, but verify" might come from Ronald Reagan era but it is certainly applicable today. The internet is a wonderful explosion of knowledge, and singing is no exception.  The disruptive force of online content means anyone with a microphone has access to billions of followers - which is good....and bad. In this episode, John talks about the problems of simply trusting singing teachers because they are online (John includes himself in this scrutiny) and why it is important to get to the original (or multiple) source of information to make sure you are gaining an accurate understanding of your instrument. Show Links: Ian Howell, Vocal Acoustics Researcher: https://www.ianhowellcountertenor.com/      

Studying your craft is critical to master your singing. But when does study become a crutch or avoidance mechanism? Fear of failure. Fear of judgment. These can be crippling. Yet if we don't embrace fear and criticism our singing will likely never reach its full potential. In this episode, John explores why you need to get out of the practice room and out of your comfort zones. True artistry must include embracing risk and failure. Listen to this important episode and find your inspiration and courage to get out there and get singing.

The optimal positioning of the larynx is a subject that can certainly keep voice teachers debating. Some feel a low larynx is optimal, while others will argue for a raised position. This can lead to confusion amongst singers, as well as voice teachers. In this episode, John looks at the larynx from an acoustic as well as a singing muscle point of view and discusses options and best practices for singers.  He also goes into how his views on optimal larynx height have changed over the years.  

Have you ever thought about teaching voice, but are intimated? In this episode John talks about the joys of a teaching career, and how you can get started on your path. Teaching voice is incredibly rewarding, and can provide a career full of music. This episode is perfect if you want to get started, but don't know how.

A career in the entertainment business takes enormous dedication. You are competing against the best in the world and you need to bring your absolute best to the table. Dedication and hard work are essential.  Without them, your chances of success are almost nonexistent. In this episode, John gives his best advice about what it takes to have a career in music. Highly recommended listening for anyone who aspires to sing professionally.