Fear – The Singer’s Nemesis

by | Aug 6, 2018 | Performance Anxiety, Video

Fear is an instinct that keeps us alive. But for the singer it can impede our progress in a multitude of ways. In this video lesson I talk about the various ways fear can get in our way. The most obvious fear we face is stage fright, or performance anxiety. You can...

My Vocal Injury

by | Mar 2, 2018 | Injury, Video

Shortly after I published the last post about Laryngitis I suffered a scary vocal injury. While playing basketball I was accidentally elbowed in the side of the larynx. It caused a hemorrhage on my right vocal fold and fractured the left superior horn of the thyroid...

Laryngitis and the Singer

by | Jan 19, 2018 | Uncategorized

If you haven’t joined the FREE VocalWisdom.com community leave your email and receive my Cheat Sheet for Optimal Vocal Coordination. It will take you through the 7 steps to create your easiest singing! I recently went through a cold that pretty much only existed in my...

The Pitfalls of Vocal Technique

by | Dec 14, 2017 | Function, Technique, Video

If you haven’t joined the FREE VocalWisdom.com community leave your email and receive my Cheat Sheet for Optimal Vocal Coordination. It will take you through the 7 steps to create your easiest singing! If you are reading this you are probably interested in vocal...

The Sweet Attack

by | Nov 29, 2017 | Perfect Attack, Swedish/Italian School, Video

I am often describing the feeling we want when starting the voice. It is a thin, elastic feel to the vocal cords so they come close together to create a very efficient vibration. This condition of the vibrator causes the sensation of the tone reaching the front of the...

Lamperti Lesson | The Breath is the Bow

by | Oct 31, 2017 | Uncategorized

Everyone knows that the breath is a very important piece of the vocal puzzle. But what many don’t recognize is the breath is only productive if it is feeding the vibration of the vocal cords. The breath is not helpful, in fact it is harmful, if it is just going...

The Role of the Mouth in Singing

by | Oct 11, 2017 | Uncategorized

Today I have a video for you about the role the mouth plays in singing. It might seem obvious that the mouth is a major part of the vocal instrument, but there can be confusion on just how it should be used. Traditional instructions like, “the pharynx is the...

Lamperti Lesson | On the Lips

by | Sep 6, 2017 | Lamperti, Placement, Resonance

G.B. Lamperti is a pedagogue that I have used as a reference since early in my vocal development. The book “Vocal Wisdom” is a compilation of his teaching from notes taken by his student William Earl Brown. There are so many valuable insights and concepts...

What is the Correct Speech Level for Singing?

by | Jul 24, 2017 | SLS, Video

You might be familiar with the popular voice school SLS, Speech-Level Singing. There is another popular off-shoot of SLS called Singing Success. These systems have a large number of followers and success stories. Over the years I have had quite a few questions about...

Video – Belly Breathing

by | Jun 26, 2017 | Breathing, Video

Hello! It has been some time since I’ve had a post here on the blog. I’ve been focusing most of my attention on the VocalWisdom.com Private Community since the beginning of the year. There are lots of video lessons available on many topics that will help...

Singing Through a Straw

by | Feb 27, 2017 | Exercises, Video

I was asked about a popular exercise for vocal rehab. Singing through a straw. I have since been told that it is supposed to be done with a stirring straw, which is smaller than a standard drinking straw that I used. But I think my observations are still valid. If you...

Video – Posture for Singing

by | Dec 12, 2016 | Posture, Video

Today I have a video talking about Posture for Singing. This is a pretty well recognized topic for singers. And I think most people would agree that it is important. But even though the general opinion agrees with the importance of the topic, I still think in practice...

Video – How to Open the Mouth for Singing

by | Nov 28, 2016 | Jaw, Mouth, Video

Last Thursday was Thanksgiving here in the US. It’s a day to relax with family and enjoy a nice meal together. And especially think about what we are thankful for. I hope you had a chance to spend time with those you care about. I know I haven’t been very active with...

Video – Head Voice or Falsetto

by | Mar 18, 2016 | Falsetto, Registers, Video

There are a lot of differing opinions about what Head Voice and Falsetto are. Some use the terms interchangeably while others consider them to be different things. I am one that thinks of them as different. For me Head Voice is a true voice that is generally...

Video – Jaw Tension

by | Mar 14, 2016 | Jaw, Video

Here is a video discussing a common issue – Jaw Tension. When we experience Jaw Tension we naturally desire to get rid of it. Usually this involves attempts to relax the tension. We assume that if we eliminate the tension we will be OK. What we don’t...

Video – Open Throat

by | Mar 10, 2016 | Open Throat, Video

Today I have a video discussing the concept of an Open Throat. We certainly need an open throat when we sing in order for the larynx to be free and flexible. An open throat is also necessary for us to resonate appropriately. So see if you find anything new in these...

New Year

by | Jan 6, 2016 | Uncategorized

Here we are starting another new year. This is the time we traditionally make resolutions and set goals to improve our lives. Unfortunately, for many their resolutions don’t last beyond January. I’ve never been a big resolution person. I’ve always tried to just...