My vocal lesson with amazing child performer Jordan Futch Children start experimenting with singing quite early and naturally. Singing does so many good things for the psyche and the spirit, little ones seem to intuitively know this (as well as those blessed by hearing them). Many observant parents ask when they should start getting vocal… Read More » about When Does A Child Need Vocal Lessons? Top 5 Reasons
All Things Vocal Blog & Podcast
How to Get Mucus Off Vocal Cords – updated 2023
If you’re a singer, you have probably experienced the feeling: You start vocalizing and notice it’s ominously more difficult than usual. It doesn’t feel like your vocal cords (folds) are inflamed, sore or swollen.. it just feels like something is gunking them up. You, my friend, most probably have too much mucus (commonly known as phlegm) on… Read More » about How to Get Mucus Off Vocal Cords – updated 2023
Maybe You Should NOT Do Vocal Exercises
A bit of a rant here: I am really sad that so many people end up hurting their voices with vocal exercises. I’m even sadder because without good vocal warmups, I don’t believe a voice can be as good as it can otherwise be. It can also be more easily damaged, as vulnerable as any… Read More » about Maybe You Should NOT Do Vocal Exercises
Singers on Stage: Don’t Talk Til You Earn The Right!
Pick your spots so words don’t turn into blahs! Why say anything during a singing performance? It should be a strategy to endear and connect an artist to the audience. Yet one of the biggest turn-offs I see in amateur performers is when they do a long spoken introduction to the first song of their… Read More » about Singers on Stage: Don’t Talk Til You Earn The Right!
Advice About Cancelling Shows from Vinny Ribas
My supportive friend Vinny Ribas and me at my gig For this post, I invited my great friend Vinny Ribas, founder of ‘Indie Connect‘ and wellspring of practical music business wisdom, to give us his thoughts about cancelling gigs when we find ourselves suddenly sick. I don’t know about you but I never anticipate… Read More » about Advice About Cancelling Shows from Vinny Ribas
A Vocal Coach Gets Laryngitis (It Happens!)
I’m not in pain… I’m pulling back pressure- and it worked! I just got a fresh reminder of the depression, angst and abject fear laryngitis can give a singer or public speaker. That’s because I, your trusty vocal coach, caught a cold! It’s amazing the research I do for you guys, you know?! I started… Read More » about A Vocal Coach Gets Laryngitis (It Happens!)
Jaw Movements and Vocal Consequences
How open does your jaw need to be for your voice? As is often true in ‘all things vocal’… it depends. I just read a great article in the NATS “Journal of Singing”. In the latest segment of his article series, author and professor Stephen F. Austin discussed the controversies concerning how far one should… Read More » about Jaw Movements and Vocal Consequences
Voices and Allergies… Practical Tips To Quell The Muous Monsters
Ah spring! Tis the season to be sneezin’ – and it’s no laughing matter for singers and public speakers! Your body decides that some particle is a foreign invader and has to be stopped at all costs… even at the cost of inflaming your sinuses, nasal passages, throat and/or vocal cords. Sometimes allergies can trigger… Read More » about Voices and Allergies… Practical Tips To Quell The Muous Monsters
Using Hands For Singing and Speaking
Your voice needs your whole physical and emotional being to sing or speak best. Today I’d like to focus on the use of hands – without which our voice is missing out. The first time I actually noticed the importance of singing with my hands was many years ago when an unenlightened recording engineer told… Read More » about Using Hands For Singing and Speaking
The Writing Voice: Punctuation Communicates!
Ron Oates Hi all… In keeping with my theme for this blog “All Things Vocal”, I want to address the writing voice today. It matters. Music makers also need to be able to communicate in non-musical ways, and be assessed as somewhat intelligent to be taken seriously. I am stunned at the bad presentation of… Read More » about The Writing Voice: Punctuation Communicates!