The Intelligent Vocalist

Resonance is the essential "polish" of your voice. Balanced resonance will make your voice shine and sparkle. Resonance is also crucial in balancing and blending through your vocal registers. In this episode, John discusses how to find and enhance your awareness and control of essential resonance, helping you to find your best voice. EPISODE LINKS: Chadley Ballantyne

Without a clear vision of why we sing and where we want to go, it can be all too easy to wander off the path of daily vocal improvement. In this episode, John discusses how clarity can help you find a laser focus to take you to your vocal goals.

Singing is a mental game, and we need to keep our minds as positive and focused as possible. Yet there are common traps singers often find themselves falling into - traps that can sap our confidence and growth. In this episode, John covers five of the most common traps he sees in singers and how to reframe and regain a positive mental outlook.

The vocal break is what keeps voice teachers in business, and you can find plenty of advice on how to smooth out the break. But what do you do when nothing seems to work? In this episode, John discusses how to approach this problematic vocal area and gives some tips on how to patiently eliminate cracking and straining.

As we approach a new year (and decade), we tend to have a period of new beginnings, with resolutions and promises of doing and being better. But rather than wait for a new year, we can begin again, moment to moment, continually renewing our promise and purpose. This works particularly well for singers, as it is all too easy to drag baggage from the past into each practice session and performance. In this episode, John discusses the benefits of this renewing mindset and how to apply it to your voice.

Nikki Loney is a well-regarded vocal educator who specializes in teaching young children. In this episode, John and Nikki discuss the debate around children and voice lessons and how to best help your child discover the joy of singing. EPISODE LINKS: The Full Voice Website

Singers often want to sing in a breathy style - but it is usually done in a way that weakens their vocal performance. What singers often miss is the variety of texture and intensity great singers use when sounding breathy. In this episode, John discusses how and when to sing breathy for maximum musical effect.

Being a working musical theatre actor is not just the bright lights of Broadway. There is opportunity working in touring and regional companies in the US and all over the world. Alexander Mendoza has a flourishing career touring the world in musical theatre. In this episode, John and Alex discuss his vocal journey and the demands of singing at a very high level.

Learning to sing is an evolving process, and you will need to change your approach as you improve. Exercises to help with common beginner problems can get you "stuck" if you continue with them too long. In this episode, John discusses two of the most common "helpful" exercises that can become a hindrance for singers.

Putting yourself out there is an essential step for a singer. Getting your music heard by other than friends or family can give you invaluable feedback from which to improve. But the troll culture is out there, waiting to derail you. And it's only getting worse. In this episode, John discusses his recent experiences with online trolls, and why you need to prepare to handle this often vicious criticism mentally, so you can get out there and SING!