Episode 62 – Fixing a Breathy Voice
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.
Episode 61 – Voice Stuck In Your Throat?
“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,…
Episode 60 – The Power of Words
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.
Episode 59 – Mindset for Practicing
“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…
Episode 58 – You Must Make Mistakes
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.
Episode 57 – How Good Do You Want to Be?
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…
Episode 56 – How to Record a Great Vocal
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…
Episode 55 – Overusing Vocal Exercises
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…
Episode 54 – You Do Not Need Anyone’s Permission
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…
Episode 53 – Why Singing Terms Are Confusing
Singing terms such as “pulled chest” or “mix” can certainly cause confusion. Not only are the terms imperfect descriptions of what is occurring in the voice, they also mean different things depending on the teacher or singer. In this episode, John explains where some of the more popular terms come from and how to understand the…