Episode 159 – Your Dynamic Speaking Voice
We speak much more than we sing, yet while we work to have a dynamic singing voice, we can often neglect these qualities in our speech. By utilizing the concepts of music in speech, we can be more convincing and exciting to our listeners. In this episode, John discusses the elements of great speakers and…
Episode 158 – Dealing with Intimidation
“The results a person obtains are inversely proportionate to the degree to which he is intimidated.” – Robert Ringer Being a singer is to face constant intimidation, real or imagined. The fear of criticism or the idea you need to wait until it’s your turn can stymie and choke your goals and progress. In this episode, John…
Episode 157 – Brute Force Learning
Brute force learning is a concept taken from computing. The idea is to approach a problem or area of learning from multiple angles. With singing, it can be highly beneficial to get a wide array of sources to increase your understanding and skill. In this episode, John discusses how brute force learning has helped him…
Episode 156 – Within and Without
The poet, David Whyte, has a beautiful poem entitled, The Bell and the Blackbird. The verse speaks of the pull to deep inner work and the contrasting pull to take our wares to the outside world. This contrast is a constant pull for the artist – how much more do I need to practice? Am…
Episode 155 – The Acoustics of Belting
Belting is the high-wire act of singing. To vocalize intense high notes while not falling into vocal stress and shouting requires a precise balancing of resonances. In this episode, John discusses the acoustic aspect of belting, to help you better navigate this sought after vocal skill.
Episode 154 – Singing on Tour with Mindy Pack
Mindy Pack is a leading celebrity voice teacher who is steeped in the latest voice science. In this episode, Mindy gives her best advice for staying healthy on the road, as well as her approach to straw-based phonation. EPISODE LINKS: Mindy’s Website Voice Straw
Episode 153 – The Top Ten Episodes of 2019
2019 was a year of explosive growth for The Intelligent Vocalist. The monthly downloads have tripled in just the past 12 months alone. John looks back at this past year and recaps the ten most popular episodes.
Episode 152 – How to Sing In Tune
Singing in tune is an essential skill for singers (autotune aside). If you struggle with pitch, you may think you are tone deaf (don’t worry, it’s very rare), but you may be a bit tone shy. In this episode, John discusses effective ways to build your ear and the ability to match pitch and sing…
Episode 151 – Mind and Heart with Voice Science Works
We all want pure emotion in singing, but we also need to control and analyze our instrument to effectively deliver this emotion. How do we find a balance? In this episode, John once again welcomes Laurel Irene and David Harris of Voice Science Works to discuss how they fuse the mind and heart, as well…
Episode 120 – Your Brain on Singing
Singing is a skill that can frustrate even the most gifted musicians. Part of the problem is the tenuous connection between our brain and instrument. In this episode, John discusses how to approach your brain and singing, and how the right thoughts can help you improve as a singer.