And that's a wrap! IVACON 2024 was one for the books, and we already can't wait for the next conference! Learning and growing alongside voice teachers from all over the world is an experience like no other. Join Tom and Heather as they review the past 5 days.

Did you enjoy learning more about our conference? Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all the latest coverage of IVACON! We'll also be sharing even more footage and photos on our Instagram and Facebook, so make sure to follow along.

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day five is here, can you believe it? We're fresh off a great karaoke night with our attendees, and we're excited to share a recap of our final day of the conference!

Don't miss out on an episode! Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all the latest coverage of IVACON! 

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As voice teachers, we want to offer good feedback to our students and let them know how they can improve their performance.

But could our delivery of this feedback affect how well our students take in the new information?

As the Associate Director of the National Center for Voice and Speech, Lynn Maxfield, PhD, regularly researches voice pedagogy, vocology, and how motor learning applies to voice teachers. His studies have revealed that although teachers are conditioned to regularly comment on a student’s performance, remaining silent and allowing a student time to process their actions — as opposed to immediately providing feedback — is more beneficial for active learning.

In this episode, we discuss:

1. (4:22) How Lynn’s experiences in vocology gave him an appreciation for the complexity of the cognitive and neuromuscular system.
2. (9:22) Why instructors find it so challenging to not provide feedback.
3. (11:51) The value of creating silent spaces to let students process their performance before they hear your feedback.
4. (17:40) When most teachers begin providing feedback during lessons (and why this disrupts the learning process).
5. (20:38) The difficulties of reflecting on the skills used in a longer performance
6. (25:55) If giving yourself time to process your own performance when practicing alone is helpful
7. (28:13) The debate over whether students benefit more from an internal or external locus of attention (and why their skill level may factor into this)
8. (35:44) Why teachers need to constantly adapt their general teaching skills during each lesson
9. (37:30) Why students need to be in the proper headspace to benefit from a lesson (and the scientific reason for why yelling yourself hoarse at a concert isn’t good for you).
10. (48:08) Why spacing voice lessons further apart can be beneficial for advanced singers

Find Lynn at the Utah Center for Vocology and the University of Utah. The textbook Lynn mentions, “Motor Learning and Performance: From Principles to Application” by Timothy D. Lee and Richard A. Schmidt, can be purchased on Amazon.

Tom started a spirited discussion with Lynn at (25:55) on the value of practicing without feedback. Join in by sharing your thoughts, opinions, and insights by emailing us at hello@vocaladvancement.com and leave us a comment!

And make sure you hear from all of our guests by following us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribing to our YouTube channel! 

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re like many vocal coaches, you’ve probably used the metaphor of a balloon filling up with air to illustrate proper breathing techniques to your students.

But does this type of imagery make sense to everyone?

According to this episode’s guest, vocal health specialist Jenna Brown, a more effective technique is to let students take an active role in creating images that resonate with them during your singing lessons. Using this “symbolic modeling” technique not only builds a stronger rapport between teacher and student but can also offer shortcuts to learning.

In her chat with Tom and Heather, Jenna delves into what she’s discovered as both a voice researcher and vocal coach. She examines the different types of imagery teachers can use in their classes and the effectiveness of using multiple forms of imagery.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. (6:00) Why singing and teaching professionally led Jenna to become a MA voice pedagogy student researching ways of teaching students better.
2. (9:18) How science, the arts, and relationships all play a part in imagery and voice
3. (11:31) What imagery in voice lessons looks like
4. (14:24) Why adopting a multi-modal approach to imagery can be useful for making learning connections.
5. (16:01) Why most teachers tend to use “stock imagery” in their lessons — and how we can make these images more personal to students
6. (18:45) How Jenna helps students discover the singing images that resonate most with them
7. (22:55) When (and if) teachers should impose their own understanding of how the voice works onto a lesson
8. (24:35) The challenges of personalizing imagery when teaching large classes — and the common experiences singers can have with their voices
9. (27:38) How teachers can help students learn faster by building a shared language of personalized metaphors
10. (30:49) The negative side of using imagery — how metaphors can lead to confusion and misinterpretation for some students
11. (34:52) How science is regarding imagery now
12. (39:36) Why students need to develop a toolbox of skills to adapt to the changing needs of their voices
13. (42:40) How voice teachers can use imagery in their classes without realizing it
14. (45:30) The importance of seeing every student in your class as an individual — and how to adapt your lessons to their personal experiences  

You can find Jenna at Bristol Voice Care and her website. Book singing lessons, coaching sessions, or workshops with her at hello@jennabrownmezzo.co.uk.

Check out our YouTube channel — and subscribe to see all our other podcast videos! Is there a teacher, performer, or researcher you think would make a great guest on our show? Email us at hello@vocaladvancement.com and let us know!

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does auditioning for the stage and screen look like in today’s post-pandemic era?

Now, casting directors prefer reviewing “self-tapes” or pre-recorded videos that showcase a performer’s acting or singing talents during the initial audition process. It’s a major shift from the days when actors had to meet in person and perform live.

But according to vocal coach Bob Marks, this break with tradition is opening many opportunities for performers who no longer need to travel across the country to audition for their dream roles. That said, creating an excellent self-tape and leveraging the power of online casting takes skill — which is why Bob now coaches performers on how to produce the type of self-tape that not only showcases their skills but also helps them stand out from thousands of other auditions.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. (7:11) How networking enabled Bob to build a successful career as a vocal coach
2. (13:58) The advantages of using self-tapes in auditions
3. (15:49) How to appear professional when creating self-tapes for auditions
4. (19:11) The number of songs an actor should have ready when auditioning — and how to choose an appropriate song for an audition
5. (20:25) How to pick out a 90-second cut out of a song to include for your self-tape audition 
6. (23:25) The songs you don’t want to pick for your audition (which many other singers often overuse) 
7. (29:37) How Bob helps prioritize and organize material when a performer needs to make and submit a self-tape right away
8. (32:34) Why the self-tape is here to stay — and why that’s a good thing for singers, actors, and casting directors
9. (33:56) How self-tapes can open the door for performers not based in New York and London 
10. (35:02) How online learning is changing the way voice coaches teach, and how singing teachers need to adapt to such changes
11. (45:00) How self-tapes are being used for marketing
12. (50:00) The benefits of being able to email self-tapes vs. traveling to auditions
13. (52:10) How casting practices both limit and increase opportunities for performers

If you’d like Bob to help you with your voice and auditioning technique, contact him via his website.

Bob’s book, “88 Keys to Successful Singing Performances: Audition Advice from One of America’s Top Vocal Coaches” can be purchased on Amazon.

Download Bob’s IVA webinar, “Keys to Audition Success with Bob Marks” which covers how to prepare for your audition, build confidence, choose your music, and work with accompanists.

We’ve got many other exciting guests lined up for this season’s Vocal Advancement Podcast. Make sure you hear from all of them by following us! 

Is there a teacher, performer, or researcher you think would make a great guest on our show? Email us at hello@vocaladvancement.com and let us know!

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As singing teachers, we want our students to be comfortable with their voices and willing to explore their range. But what happens when we instruct non-binary and transgender students who experience voice dysphoria, or discomfort from the feeling that their voice does not match their gender identity?

This episode’s guest, vocal coach, songwriter, and music lecturer Ajay Henry, has been exploring ways to help non-binary and transgender students feel more empowered and comfortable with their voices. Having taught many non-binary and transgender singers, Ajay encourages vocal teachers to focus on what each individual student wants to achieve and let them help guide their lessons.

It’s an approach that requires teachers to rethink common beliefs about music, such as gendered roles in singing. Yet it also helps build trust between student and teacher — and can create a massive impact in a transgender or non-binary singer’s identity that goes beyond their singing.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. (17:57) How early vocal injuries and an experience with a vocal therapist led Ajay to do his Masters study on vocal anatomy and breathing
2. (12:00) How Ajay built on the work of voice educator Liz Jackson Hearns to better help his transgender students
3. (16:07) Why it’s so important to view each singer as an individual when making voice lessons more inclusive and choosing what language to use
4. (18:09) How Ajay deals with voice dysphoria by focusing on each singer’s comfort level and goals for their voice
5. (21:56) How steering away from gendered roles in singing can help students discover the ranges where they feel their voices best fit
6. (29:01) How teachers can prepare to teach transgender or non-binary students — and what type of support network they should have to provide needed help  
7. (32:38) The practice of “binding,” how it can affect a student’s ability to do breathwork, and what adjustments a teacher can make to sensitively work with the student
8. (36:45) How helping students become more comfortable with their voices can positively impact them outside of singing lessons
9. (41:34) The difficulties of adapting current singing curriculums to the needs and challenges of non-binary and transgender singers
10. (44:24) How to find more resources to help teach non-binary and transgender singers

Keep up with Ajay’s activities on his Instagram and his website. The singing teacher Ajay references is Liz Jackson Hearns, co-founder of The Voice Lab, an inclusive voice studio dedicated to cultivating transformative relationships through voice and music education.

Ajay Henry is just one of the many talented performers and educators we’ll be interviewing this season. Make sure you hear from them all by following us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast.

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from an empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style. Learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Think back to your time singing in your favorite choir or band. What did you love most about the experience?

You likely enjoyed the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a group that shares your love of music. Ideally, you found good friends and formed close bonds.

But did you know this feeling of community offers mental, physical, and emotional benefits that go beyond socializing?

This episode’s guest, Lisa Strong, does. An occupational therapist, professional singer, and leader of the Walton Feel Good Choir, Lisa started her singing group to raise community spirit in the Tendring area of Essex, England. As community members, which included retirees, dementia patients, and the socially isolated, joined, Lisa saw improvements in their cognition, multi-tasking abilities, and communication as they sang together and supported each other.

The group even became motivated to raise money for local charities through their performances, further nurturing their sense of belonging and interconnectedness.

These experiences motivated Lisa to conduct formal research on health and singing to show health professionals the holistic benefits of singing and how inclusive choirs can improve the health of an entire community. She shares some of her findings with Heather and Tom, revealing how choir leaders can create a greater sense of belonging in their groups by adopting a more inclusive policy.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. (8:46) How Lisa started the Walton Feel Good Choir to deal with the social isolation in her town 
2. (12:07) Why Lisa is building an evidence-based model to show health professionals the holistic benefits of group singing
3. (16:20) What people need to have to enjoy the mental and emotional benefits of group singing
4. (17:47) How group singing helps improve memory, attention, focus, and other cognitive abilities
5. (21:21) Why certain choirs do not foster a sense of belonging
6. (25:47) How to build a sense of belonging in your choir by welcoming and accommodating choir members of all backgrounds
7. (30:17) Why different styles of choir leadership may attract different types of singers
8. (34:32) How to effectively promote the mental and emotional health benefits of group singing to the mental health community
9. (39:28) The business benefits of creating a space for group singing
10. (42:12) The mental and emotional benefits singing instructors gain from leading a choir

Visit the Walton Feel Good Choir website and its Facebook page to learn more about its mission and Lisa’s work. 

You can hear valuable insights from talented performers and educators right now by listening to the Vocal Advancement Podcast. Follow us and subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode! 

The Institute for Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide both veteran vocal coaches and teachers-in-training with a community that provides teaching tools for your classrooms. And our conferences are fun events where guests can socialize, teach, and learn from each other. Want to see what we can do for you? Learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Season Two of the Vocal Advancement Podcast! Whether you’re a longtime listener or tuning in for the first time, we invite you to delve into all the fun and useful resources we have for you.

Join Tom and Heather as they share the exciting lineup of voice coaches, researchers, and professional singers they’ll be interviewing this season. You’ll also get the inside scoop on IVACON 2024, the first IVA conference open to all voice teachers (not just IVA students and teachers) and all the amazing opportunities you’ll have to practice and level up your teaching skills with veteran vocal coaches.

If you’re just getting started in voice teaching and wondering how to gain the skills and confidence to manage your classes, you’ll love this episode. Heather and Tom reflect on their early teaching days and explain how they turned teaching theory into practice.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. 4:57: Who Tom and Heather will be interviewing about singing and teaching this season
2. (7:13) How to attend this year’s Vocal Advancement conference in June 2024 — even if you’re not affiliated with IVA!
3. (13:00) How Heather got her start as a voice teacher and gained the skills and confidence to build a full-time career offering private vocal lessons
4. (15:34) How Tom’s singing teacher helped him build his career as a voice coach
5. (18:10) Why new teachers have a high turnover of students in their first year — and why this can be a good thing
6. (20:07) The transformation singing teachers go through in their first year as they learn to shift focus from their lessons to their students’ needs
7. (21:40) Why improving your own singing technique can make you a better voice teacher 
8. (22:50) How attending conferences and observing other teachers can improve your teaching
9. (24:42) The challenges that come with teaching an advanced singer — and what you as a voice coach can offer them
10. (29:32) Why it’s important to go off-book and try unconventional teaching methods 
11. (32:11) The importance of taking advantage of every teaching opportunity when you’re starting out — and where you can find those opportunities
12. (39:15) The business side of voice teaching — what realities do you have to be prepared for when you become self-employed?
13. (45:34) The importance of constantly investing in your own education as you grow as a teacher

Ready for our upcoming IVACON 2024 in Edinburgh from June 17-21? Then visit the IVACON 2024 event page to learn all about our event speakers, programming, and accommodations. Be sure to register today to take advantage of all our sessions, resources, goodies — and karaoke night!

Are you excited to hear from all the talented performers and educators we’ll be interviewing this season? Make sure you don’t miss a single episode by following us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast.

This year’s IVA conference may be months away, but you can start enjoying the teaching resources IVA provides you with right now by checking out how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do any of your students dream of performing on a TV show like The Voice or one of the Idols singing competitions?

Then they’ll want to hear the insights of this week’s guest Stephanie Borm-Krüger, co-founder of the Institute for Vocal Advancement and vocal coach for The Voice of Germany. Being a coach on a TV show like The Voice is challenging, especially when you only get a few minutes with each contestant to help them sound their best. Yet according to Stephanie, working in such a high-pressure environment also inspires coaches be more creative in their teaching methods — and unlocks opportunities to work some truly extraordinary people.

Join us as Stephanie reveals what it really takes for anyone — singer and teacher — to succeed in the world of show business. Learn how stepping out of your comfort zone helps you gain more trust in your instincts. And discover where resilience really comes into play when working in such a high-stress field. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How learning how to fix her own damaged voice helped Stephanie discover how to fix hard voices in other singers 8:05
2. The vital role networking played in introducing Stephanie to the world of show business 13:52
3. How much time a vocal coach gets to work with the singers on The Voice — and the challenges this creates 21:54
4. The issues of maintaining vocal health and advocating for singers in a competitive and high-stress atmosphere 26:39
5. How to succeed in a show like The Voice 35:16
6. The importance of realizing if working in a high-stress field is right for you 41:17
7. Why stepping out of your comfort zone is important for developing a good toolbox of teaching techniques 44:11
8. The benefits of observing other master teachers at work 49:47

Stephanie offers professional voice training to singers of all levels and styles. Learn how she can help you by visiting her IVA profile page

Disclaimer: The free November online teaching summit Tom mentions has been pushed to January 2024 — sign up for our mailing list, and we’ll let you know when you can sign up for this and other great free resources!

Can’t wait for the summit? You can hear valuable insights from talented performers and educators right now by listening to the Vocal Advancement Podcast. Follow us and subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode! 

Interested in becoming a better vocal coach? The Institute for Vocal Advancement (IVA) connects you with teachers who can provide you with more teaching tools for your classrooms. The IVA community and trainers teach from the empathic mindset that students of all ages benefit from, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Heather and Tom as they talk about the effects of gestures on singing.

The Vocal Advancement Podcast interviews many talented performers and educators, each with their own unique perspective on music and teaching. Follow us and subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode! 

IVA offers plenty of great resources for singers and voice coaches, including a FREE singing teacher’s summit in November 2023 and a vocal warm-up app for IOS and Android phones that’s due in October 2023. Sign up for our mailing list and be notified when these resources come out! 

Interested in becoming a better vocal coach? The Institute for Vocal Advancement (IVA) connects you with teachers who can provide you with more teaching tools for your classrooms. The IVA community and trainers teach from the empathic mindset that students of all ages benefit from, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you a “triple threat” — a performer who’s adept at singing, dancing, and acting?

If you want to work in musical theater, revue shows, or cruise ship entertainment, you’ll often find producers expect their dancers to have some singing ability.

Unfortunately, many performers who identify primarily as dancers may resist learning how to sing. Having held themselves to extremely high dance standards, many choose to believe they “can’t sing” when they don’t immediately sound like Beyonce Knowles.

This week’s guest helps prevent that perfectionism from getting in the way of performing dreams. A professional singer who identifies as a dancer, Helen Woodley has helped many dancers become comfortable with their singing voices — even when they need to sing in a foreign language. 

Her experiences have showed her the dangers of “maladaptive perfectionism” and how it can lead to anxiety, depression, and avoidant behaviors that keep talented people from expanding their skillsets.

Join us as Helen explains the challenges perfectionism creates for students and teachers. Discover strategies that encourage students to recognize the voice as another muscle that can be trained. And learn where those self-limiting beliefs about singing and performing may originally come from.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How Helen’s early background as a dancer unexpectedly gave way to a singing career 7:43 
2. Why modern musical theater is now requiring more dancers to know how to sing 9:26
3. The unique challenges voice coaches face when working with dancers without a strong singing background 12:38
4. Why students decide they “can’t sing” 15:19
5. The difference between adaptive perfectionism and maladaptive perfectionism 17:48
6. The tendency dancers have in developing maladaptive perfectionism 21:10
7. How to encourage a dancer to develop their singing abilities 23:45
8. How social media and reality shows have helped create limiting beliefs about singing and training 29:28
9. How adult dancers need to look at singing and their ongoing singing education 34:15
10. If singing should be part of a dancer’s early education 38:00 

The Vocal Advancement Podcast interviews many talented performers and educators, each with their own unique perspective on music and teaching. Follow us and subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode! 

IVA offers plenty of great resources for singers and voice coaches, including a FREE singing teacher’s summit in November 2023 and a vocal warm-up app for IOS and Android phones that’s due in October 2023. Sign up for our mailing list and be notified when these resources come out! 

Interested in becoming a better vocal coach? The Institute for Vocal Advancement (IVA) connects you with teachers who can provide you with more teaching tools for your classrooms. The IVA community and trainers teach from the empathic mindset that students of all ages benefit from, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you do vocal warm-ups before you sing?

If you’re like a lot of us, you may gloss over this part of your singing process. Maybe you feel you don’t have enough time. Or maybe you think good warm-ups can’t be done without a piano.

This week’s guest Tessa Smith knows how you feel. In fact, she spent much of her early life skipping her warm-ups and going straight to singing. 

But a chance meeting with session singer Kim Chandler showed Tessa that beneficial warm-ups could be done in five minutes, anywhere and anytime, with no special tools. Intrigued, Tessa began researching vocal warm-ups. What she found enabled her to embrace a new philosophy where warm-ups don’t have to be prescribed exercises but adaptable activities that performers change based on what their voices need.

Join us as Tessa reveals why warm-ups are so important. We’ll also delve into the benefits offered by short and long warm-ups and the obstacles that keep musicians from warming up. Finally, we’ll explore how performers can check-in with themselves to discover what warm-ups or cool-downs will help them the most.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How her early music teachers inspired Tessa to pursue a career in jazz — and later teaching 6:44
2. How a meeting with Kim Chandler caused Tessa to re-evaluate her beliefs about vocal warm-ups 12:25
3. The different benefits offered by short, physiological warm-ups and longer warm-ups 16:25
4. Common obstacles that keep many students from wanting to do warm-ups 18:24
5. What singers need to ask themselves before deciding what vocal warm-ups they need 19:25
6. How much time a singer should spend warming up their voice to avoid straining it 22:58
7. How to approach “cool-down” periods and get your voice back to its base position after performing 25:50
8. How singing lessons can help you understand what warm-ups and cool-downs your voice needs at any given time 31:35
9. The type of vocal warm-ups non-singers (professional speakers, podcasters) can benefit from 32:56
10. Why teaching students how to adapt vocal warm-ups to their needs motivates them to actually use those exercises in the field 34:14
11. The responsibility singing teachers have in properly explain vocal warm-ups and their purpose to students 38:16
12. How Tessa teaches students to alter warm-ups to fit whatever they’re working on 38:59
13. Tessa’s favorite SOVT exercise — and the importance of not relying on external tools for warm-ups 40:32

Find the educational courses and resources on vocal warm-ups Tessa describes at her website.

Ready to get some more help with your warm-ups? IVA is coming out with a vocal warm-up IOS and Android app in October 2023 for both male and female singers. Sign up for our mailing list to be notified when the app is released!  

Interested in checking out our webinars and online courses? See what’s coming up in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to day four of IVACON! Heather and Tom share some reviews of our interactive classes from today! From learning to riff to finding pitch, seeing our attendees get hands-on experience and training is great! We can hardly believe we're already almost at the end, so tune in to hear how our second to last day is going.

Don't miss out on an episode! Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all the latest coverage of IVACON! 

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Different music patterns offer different flavors for performers to sample. But few musicians enjoy indulging in as many flavors of music as Kim Chandler.

Originally planning on being a high school music teacher, Kim spent her early career as a jazz singer and orchestral flautist. Then she founded a heavy metal rock band and learned she was comfortable performing in both leather and frilly blouses. From there, she built a career as a session singer and offered her vocals to Barry Manilow recordings, Romanian commercial jingles, and Kung Fu Panda 3 soundtrack.   

All these experiences helped shape Kim’s perspective on music, showing her the complexity of pop songs and the value of exposure to new musical patterns. She realized that singers could train their voices like musical instruments and began using this philosophy to help her students expand the number of melodies and scales they felt comfortable singing.

Today, Kim is one of the UK’s top vocal coaches. She’s pioneered a revolutionary vocal training series, “Funky ‘n Fun,” that’s helped countless singers develop better breath control, tone production, pitch, accuracy, range, and flexibility through exercises that relate to real-world singing.

Join us as Kim shares how her eclectic background helped many young students learn how to become professional performers. Discover the growing respect that pop music is earning in the academic world. And learn the important roles speed and accuracy have in developing true musical fluency.

In this episode, we’ll reveal:

1. How Kim went from being a music instrumentalist to a multi-talented singer 9:34
2. Kim’s insights into what it takes to make it in the busy world of session singing 15:44
3. How having an eclectic music background helped Kim train music students to become professional performers 19:24
4. Why the vocal pedagogical world is gradually developing more respect for pop music 22:04
5. How Kim applied what she knew about playing a musical instrument to voice training and helped singers view their voice as a musical instrument 25:42
6. How introducing artists to new musical patterns helps expand their creative expression 29:31
7. Why Kim would like to see vocal exercises cover a wider spectrum of scales and notes 32:50
8. How Kim’s vocal training series “Funky ‘n Fun” engages and challenges students by going beyond classical music patterns 33:56
9. How vocalists who don’t come from a music instrument background can benefit from improving their musicianship knowledge 40:49
10. Why Kim feels that vocal exercises need to relate more to real songs 42:53  
11. Why training singers to get comfortable with fast lessons is so important to develop true music fluency 44:29

Learn more about Kim’s career and voice coaching services at her website and follow her on Instagram at @KimChandlerSinger.

Interested in seeing what we have to offer? See what’s coming up in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As voice coaches, we need to properly assess our students’ voices before we can devise effective lesson plans for them.

But what happens when you get a student who can’t match the pitch you want them to sing?

It’s an issue that comes up a lot in our chat box. Many voice teachers wonder if these students are “tone deaf.” They worry their students can’t recognize different notes or sing tunes accurately. This creates a lot of stress when they try to understand the student’s issues and come up with proper exercises.

When this happens, it’s important to have the right teaching tools ready to help students sing in tune. In this episode, IVA co-founder and mentor teacher Heather Baker shares the “pitching tools” she collected after encountering many “tone deaf” students in her classroom.

Join us as Heather reveals why the term “tone deaf” is such a misconception. You’ll also learn what the research says about pitch recognition and formation — and how popular video games can help students improve their pitching skills!  

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why the term “tone deaf” is so inaccurate 12:20
2. What “amusia,” the neurodevelopmental disorder that affects perception and production of musical sounds, really is — and why it isn’t a problem for most voice teachers 13:22
3. Why only listening to different pitches doesn’t help many “tone deaf” people match pitch 16:14
4. How growing up in musical or non-musical environments affects your ability to match pitch 20:18 
5. What the phrase “practice makes permanent” means when developing motor functions 21:30
6. Why listening to recordings of your own singing voice makes recreating notes easier 24:03  
7. Why accurately demonstrating singing techniques in front of students is so important 26:41 
8. How to pinpoint where a student’s pitching issues come from 30:07
9. What research says about taking the time to form a mental representation of a desired pitch before producing the pitch 32:42 
10. How the brain interprets feedback to create a more accurate pitch 36:56
11. Why nursery rhymes are used so often when training the brain to sing 38:53 
12. How playing the singing version of the “Guitar Hero” video game can improve pitching 40:40

Learn more about Heather’s insights into music instruction by subscribing to the Vocal Advancement Podcast.

Heather’s teaching tools are only the start of what you’ll gain when you join the IVA community. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset students benefit from, offering numerous insights and techniques for improving your own teaching style. You’ll gain access to webinars and online courses taught by leaders in the music industry and gain the benefits of their perspectives. 

Interested in seeing what we have to offer? See what’s coming up in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some people are born to perform.

Take Savannah Stevenson. This English singer and actress got her first job understudying for Mary Poppins with the Original Cast of the West End production of Mary Poppins before she graduated from the Guilford School of Acting. She’s gone on to have a very successful career on stage, playing Glinda for three years in the West End production of Wicked, has acted in multiple TV shows, and also built quite a name as a voice actress.

But as much as Savannah loves acting, she also loves teaching. She taught younger students while studying at GSA and has gone on to teach several masterclasses and coach young actors intent on beginning their own stage and screen careers. 

This passion for education, coupled with her real-world experience, gives Savannah a valuable insight into what performers and teachers need to know about the acting industry. In this episode, she shares how the auditioning process has changed, the type of actors that schools and casting agencies are looking for, and even how prospective students can stand out when applying for drama schools.  

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How Savannah got her first professional gig before graduating from drama school 9:15
2. The differences between performing on stage and performing on a TV show 12:34 
3. What teens pursuing a career in acting need to know about the industry 17:16 
4. How important it is to attend a good drama school 21:32
5. How embracing diversity has opened new doors for performers from different financial and racial backgrounds 23:00
6. The advantages modern technology provides in the auditioning process 24:01
7. Whether or not living in a theater district is important for getting cast in theater and film 24:35
8. How each of Savannah’s favorite roles helped her grow as an actress 26:40
9. How an acting coach can help performers sing better 33:34
10. Why students need to understand the type of roles they can be cast in when auditioning for drama school 35:51
11. How different body types, accents, and ages are more accepted now in casting 38:07
12. How certain music choices can help prospective drama students stand out in an audition 41:43
13. What teachers and acting coaches need to know about working with young performers 44:05

Learn more about Savannah’s private coaching and masterclasses by visiting her website.

Learn practical techniques to help your students best explore the character they are portraying within the musical theatre genre with Savannah's IVA Webinar, "Tools/Application for Acting the Song."

Gain the teaching tools you need to become a better vocal coach by joining the IVA community. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset that students of all ages benefit from, showing you how to improve your own teaching style. You’ll gain access to webinars and online courses taught by industry leaders like Savannah and enjoy the benefits of their perspectives. 

Interested in seeing what we have to offer? See what’s coming up in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How old should your voice students be before they start taking singing lessons? For many instructors, the idea that only prodigies with natural singing talent should start training as children continues to influence which students they choose to work with.

But for child singer expert and voice teacher mentor Dana Lentini, teaching kids how to sing doesn’t mean giving college-level instruction to children. Instead, Lentini, whose online classes include teenagers she started training at the age of five, feels that imparting the fundamentals of singing is something that can be done at any age. More importantly, she feels singing lessons can help all young students — not just future opera singers and pop stars.

In our talk with Lentini, she shares why working with young pupils is beneficial for both students and instructors. She offers resources for creating age-appropriate singing lessons that allow students to leave classes filled with joy. And she explains how choosing the right songs is fundamental to help young singers discover not only what their voices can do but also what music can accomplish.   

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How teaching college courses and elementary school classes simultaneously showed Lentini that singing instruction can be adapted to suit younger students 9:46
2. Why more voice teachers should consider taking on young pupils who aren’t pursuing a singing career 17:11
3. Lentini’s response to voice teachers who believe children shouldn’t be taking voice lessons 19:08
4. What teaching “singing technique” means when instructing young children 24:47
5. The advantage of being able to work with young students for several years 28:32 
6. What Lentini looks for in a song that can help young singers develop better oral skills, personal expression, and singing technique 30:38 
7. How singing instruction can be as much about opening minds up to other cultures as it is about teaching singing technique 40:34
8. How a game of “carpool karaoke” can reveal much about student preferences and musical awareness 42:04
9. Classroom techniques that make singing classes for engaging for young learners 45:22

Find teaching resources (and freebies!) by visiting Dana’s website and sign up to receive her blog updates. Dana’s songbook Singing Kids’ Songbook is filled with music choices for students of all ages.

And don’t forget to download Dana’s IVA webinar “Teaching Singing Techniques to Children” where she addresses the unique physical and mental aspects of teaching singing techniques to young children.

At IVA, we provide the teaching tools to help you offer the type of functional training voice students need. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset students benefit from, showing you how to be a better vocal coach by example. Join the Institute for Vocal Advancement and you’ll be able to participate in webinars and online courses used by teachers in every part of the music industry.

See what’s coming up in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As voice teachers, we regularly help our students with multiple vocal challenges — but few of us probably deal with the range of clients this week’s guest has.

As a speech language pathologist and clinical singing voice specialist, Marci Rosenberg works with anyone who uses their voice professionally in front of an audience — from singers to preachers to lawyers to sports announcers — at the University of Michigan Vocal Health Center.

Specializing in repairing injured voices, Rosenberg’s work in vocal health has helped her see that no two patients are alike and everyone deserves to be treated holistically. As such, she tailors the vocal exercises she teaches to match each client’s psychological state so they gain the maximum physical, spiritual, and mental benefits from her treatment.

In this episode, Marci reveals the most common vocal issues people come to her clinic with. She shares her views on mistakes singers make when trying to rush through their vocal exercises. And she emphasizes the value of moving toward your goals slowly.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How a field trip to a voice clinic led Marci to pursue a career in speech language pathology 12:22
2. The number of diverse clients a speech language pathologist can see in a day 20:41
3. How collaborating with patients and getting them to do the bulk of their voice work helps Marci manage her large workload 23:16
4. Why addressing a patient holistically helps them better than just focusing on their vocal folds 23:55  
5. The most common vocal issues people are now seeking help with 25:19
6. How COVID-19 has created entirely new populations of patients for clinics to accommodate 26:25
7. Why taking a person’s performing and psychological needs is essential when tailoring voice lessons 28:33
8. Common mistakes singers make when using straw exercises to improve their singing 32:10
9. How focusing on the process of your voice lessons leads to better results than rushing through voice exercises 41:40

Learn where Marci will be lecturing and presenting next by following her on her website.

Marci’s IVA webinar “To Sing or Not to Sing? The Performer’s Guide to Managing Illness and Performance Demands” offers practical strategies for singers to manage their voices when they become ill. Download the recording to hear her insights.

See Marci demonstrate effective ways to use vocal straw exercises by checking out the video version of this podcast on YouTube. Don’t forget to comment, subscribe, like, and follow us!  

At IVA, we provide the teaching tools to help you offer the type of functional training voice students need. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset students benefit from, showing you how to be a better vocal coach by example. Join the Institute for Vocal Advancement and you’ll be able to participate in webinars and online courses used by teachers in every part of the music industry.

See what’s coming up in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine a job where you’re asked to sing backup vocal for Lady Gaga, record songs for Disney, or perform as a singing penguin — sometimes the day before recording begins. This week’s guest Gerald White has done all of this and so much more.

As a session singer, Gerald is on call regularly by recording studios and production companies who need him to perform in recording sessions and live performances. This has allowed him to provide vocals for films ranging from “Happy Feet” to “Avatar” to “Deadpool 2.” He’s performed for multiple Academy Awards, done live shows at the 2003 Olympic Festival in Dodger Stadium, and even lent his vocal skills to video games like “Call of Duty” and “World of Warcraft.”

But what is it really like being a session singer — and more importantly, how do you get into this industry? In this podcast, Gerald gives many behind-the-scenes stories about a session singer’s life. You’ll learn about the type of skills that are invaluable to a session singer, how social media is changing the way session singers can work, and how session singers “stay on the list” and get regular work.

In this episode, we’ll reveal

1. How a childhood spent singing R&B and pop in Mississippi led Gerald to pursue a singing career in LA 6:08 
2. How a sight singing course led to work in the session singing industry 9:37
3. How quickly a recording session moves for session singers — and why they don’t get a lot of rehearsal time 13:19
4. Why providing a penguin’s singing voice for “Happy Feet” remains one of Gerald’s favorite projects 14:55  
5. Why different groups of session singers remain local while others tour more 17:47
6. Why “getting on the list” and becoming part of a contractor’s talent pool is vital to getting regular session singing gigs 20:01
7. Why the fast-paced world of session singing requires singers to maintain their voices regularly, especially during the heavy season 23:08
8. The challenge of finding the balance between performance and teaching for a session singer 28:00
9. The different types of versatility session singers offer in recordings 30:38 
10. The importance of remaining professional around celebrities in the world of session singing 38:41

Gerald offers personalized individual and group voice lessons online and in-person for performers interested in becoming better singers. He also teaches sight singing and vocal masterclasses. Visit his website to learn more.

Interested in learning how to become a session singer? Download the recording to hear all his insights. Gerald’s IVA webinar, “Managing a Successful Career as Both a Voice Teacher & Performer.”

At IVA, we provide the teaching tools to help you offer the type of functional training voice students need. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset students benefit from, showing you how to be a better vocal coach by example. Join the Institute for Vocal Advancement and you’ll be able to participate in webinars and online courses used by teachers in every part of the music industry.

See what’s coming up in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Birthday! Can you believe it’s been ten years since we began the Institute of Vocal Advancement?

In that time, we’ve had the opportunity to connect with teachers, performers, and voice scientists from around the world. We’ve built global communities of music teachers who have been very generous with their knowledge and expertise. And we’ve had the pleasure of hosting conferences where educators get to sharpen their teaching skills — and show off their prowess at the karaoke machine.

As we look toward the next ten years, we thought it would be fun to look back at how far we’ve come since we were just a group of ten people looking to make a difference in music education. Get ready to enjoy some fun memories… and discover what really happens when you put a large group of performers and voice teachers in the same room.  

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. What we wanted IVA to be when we first founded the group ten years ago. 9:20 
2. How we’re evolving our programs moving forward to benefit teachers 13:44
3. The close-knit communities that form within an IVA conference 16:15
4. What happens when you put a group of music teachers in a bar that plays live music 23:40 
5. The generosity you can expect at an IVA conference where everyone — from veteran teachers to newcomers — have valuable knowledge to share 31:35 
6. The principles IVA was founded on that foster open conversations about the vocal world and a constantly expanding knowledge base 34:26
7. Why IVA is being taken seriously by voice scientists 36:10
8. What Tom and Heather are most looking forward to in the next ten years for IVA 37:13
9. How IVA training helps music teachers develop an ear for identifying issues in their students’ voices 40:40
10. How sharing your teaching techniques with others improves your own teaching skills 43:25
11. How advances in AI, voice apps, and VR may shape voice lessons moving forward 45:07

Do you have a favorite IVA experience you’d like to share? Post your memories (and photos!) on our Instagram page by looking for the hashtag “#IVA10.”

And be sure to email us your stories by contacting us on our website! We look forward to hearing from you!

At IVA, we provide the teaching tools to help you offer the type of functional training voice students need. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset students benefit from, showing you how to be a better vocal coach by example. Join the Institute for Vocal Advancement and you’ll be able to participate in webinars and online courses used by teachers in every part of the music industry. 

See what’s coming up in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes, all you need to take your life in an innovative direction is the right questions. This week’s guest, Dr. Jenevora Williams, became a specialist in the field of singer vocal health by teaching boy choristers at Westminster Abbey.

Realizing no one had done a lot of research into how vocal training was affecting children’s health, Dr. Williams took it upon herself to studying the groups of singers she was working with. What she found made her understand how important it is to have someone advocate for the safety and mental well-being of not only children but also singers in general.

Today, Dr. Williams is helping to advance the study of vocal health by training the next generation of rehab specialists. She also continues to work one-on-one with singers and has many important insights into how a person’s mental health influences their physical well-being and performance.

Join us as Jenevora shares how her work with children now impacts all singers. Discover how a singer’s state of mind relates to the state of their voice. And learn what a rehab specialist can do to help untangle a singer’s mental issues — and which professional lines they must learn not to cross.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

1. The music and science background that led Dr. Williams to become the first singing teacher to earn a PhD in voice science in the U.K. 8:27
2. The unexpected discoveries she made about how vocal training impacts young singers 13:25
3. The importance of advocating for the well-being of child performers — and allowing children to advocate for themselves 19:15
4. The training program Dr. Williams is developing to help train rehab specialists 24:02
5. The charity she’s developing to benefit speech therapy departments and music teachers 27:25
6. The time it takes to properly diagnose a person’s vocal issues 29:30
7. Ways teachers can structure their in-person and online classes to care for their voices 30:50
8. The trends Dr. Williams sees in the problems singers come to her with 35:32
9. The way social, mental, and emotional problems can manifest physically in a singer 38:01
10. How Dr. Williams works with singers to acknowledge their emotions and link them to their physical state 39:16
11. The professional lines a vocal coach must be careful not to cross when working with a singer’s mental and emotional issues 41:38

Dr. Jenevora Williams offers many free resources for teachers and students on her website. You can gain access to her courses on teaching children’s voices as well as online courses for music teachers and choral directors beginning their careers.

The “running commentaries” that detail Jenevora’s thoughts on teaching and learning can be found on her YouTube.

Find Jenevora's book, “Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults” on Amazon.

Gain access to a global network of seasoned voice teachers eager to share their expertise and help you become a more effective instructor. By joining the Institute for Vocal Advancement, you’ll be able to take part in webinars and online courses used by teachers who work in every part of the music industry. See what’s coming up in our list of upcoming events and see how our Teacher Training Programs can help your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you’re preparing your students for a career in the performance arts, technical knowledge isn’t enough. Sometimes, even the most gifted students experience performance anxiety, preventing them from fully expressing themselves on stage or participating in lessons. Unfortunately, not every performer is willing or able to turn to a therapist, making it difficult for them to reach their goals.

This week’s guest Dr. David Juncos is looking to change that. A clinical psychologist and musician, David trains voice teachers in a non-clinical version of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), allowing them to address student anxiety issues. With David’s aid, teachers learn to help students be more mindful when they experience music performance anxiety (MPA) and put that anxiety in its place.

In our talk with David, we learn more about his background in music and psychology. We discover why certain students develop performance anxiety. And we learn how overcoming performance anxiety doesn’t mean getting rid of anxiety but rather working with anxiety when we need to perform.  

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. What motivated David to work with musicians and performers 9:14
2. How David’s early studies in MPA helped singers and musicians with performance anxiety 14:17
3. Why David believes voice teachers don’t need to outsource music performance anxiety problems to psychotherapists 17:27
4. How David trains teachers in ACT coaching 18:01
5. The type of students most likely to have performance anxiety 22:32
6. The two major patterns David sees in people with performance anxiety 24:13
7. How diffusion techniques help performers distance themselves from anxious thoughts 26:51
8. Why mindfulness training and journaling help you sustain attention and choose which thoughts to focus on 28:49
9. How David’s book “ACT for Musicians” provides resources for understanding MPA and incorporating ACT into music lessons 32:40 

The book David co-authored, “ACT for Musicians: A Guide for Using Acceptance and Commitment Training to Enhance Performance, Overcome Performance Anxiety, and Improve Well-Being” by David G. Juncos and Elvire de Paiva e Pona is available on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

David’s IVA webinar course, “Treating Music Performance Anxiety with Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT)” shows how singing teachers can use ACT to treat MPA issues in their students.

Connect with David on LinkedIn, where you can find links to many of his publications on ACT.

We hope you enjoyed our podcast. You can also find video versions of our podcast on YouTube!

Would you like access to a global network of voice coaches eager to share their expertise and help you become a more effective teacher? Join the Institute for Vocal Advancement, and you’ll be able to participate in webinars and online courses used by teachers in every part of the music industry. 

See our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s nothing like someone saying, “You’re never going to do that again” to make you want to find a way to beat the odds.

For years, Heidi Moss Erickson worked as a professional singer in the U.S. and abroad. Then a cranial nerve injury left her with a nearly career-ending case of facial paralysis. Told she’d never sing again, Heidi turned to her background in neuroscience to study how the brain signals motor skills so she could rewire herself to sing and speak clearly again.

What she discovered enabled her to not only perform again but also help voice students calibrate their own brains and become better singers.

Today, Heidi is considered a leading expert in evidence-based vocal pedagogy. She’s taught many courses, lessons, and master classes on voice and has written numerous articles for the Journal of Singing, The Washington Post, and other popular publications.

In this episode, Heidi tells us all about her early life, education, and journey of self-discovery. Join us as Heidi shares insights on how to train the brain to perform fine motor tasks. Learn why “mistakes” are an essential part of developing a good singing voice. And discover how embracing new vocal science still allows you to honor classic voice pedagogy.                 

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

1. How Heidi’s early education gave her a background in both music and science 5:30 
2. The link she discovered between music and neuroscience 11:49 
3. How studying brain function allowed her to recover from a rare cranial nerve injury 13:40 
4. Why making mistakes while performing is necessary to give the brain the data it needs to calibrate itself 15:37  
5. Why Heidi intentionally makes her students sing notes improperly to help their brains develop better performance techniques 17:36 
6. How accepting new findings in voice science doesn’t mean you’re not honoring classic music pedagogy 20:46 
7. How recognizing that a brain’s calculations are made in the absence of respiration helps you train yourself to keep from feeling you’re running out of breath 24:48 
8. The value of accepting you can be wrong in your beliefs 30:25 
9. How the brain treats the voice differently from any other muscle due to the speed it takes to coordinate all your vocal muscles 33:00 

The book Heidi references on human breathing is “Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art” by James Nestor

Heidi has helped many singers struggling with pitch in her IVA webinar course “Do you hear what I hear?”

And be sure to keep up with Heidi on her website where she shares many articles and resources.

Would you like access to a global network of voice coaches eager to share their expertise and help you become a more effective teacher? Then join the Institute for Vocal Advancement and you’ll be able to participate in webinars and online courses used by teachers in every part of the music industry.

See what’s coming up in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The conference has been flying by! Day three of the IVACON was filled with lectures from our guest speakers. From learning about teaching singers with Sensory Educational Needs and Disabilities, to teaching our students how to practice-- there is something for everyone! Join Tom and Heather for this recap from today.

Don't miss out on an episode! Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all the latest coverage of IVACON! 

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being a good singing teacher is an art. You need to explain voice science to your students in a way that lets them understand how their voices work. At the same time, you want to make sure they don’t get so caught up in vocal theory that they can’t use their knowledge to perform.

Our guest this week knows the challenges of balancing theory and skill. Ken Bozeman is a naturally gifted singer who began his career as a performer and then spent years studying voice science. After developing his own breakthroughs in the understanding of vocal physics, he began sharing his findings in articles, books, and personal lessons. Today, he continues to teach and lecture, and has presented at several IVA conferences and workshops.

We chatted with Ken and got to know more about his early life singing in the church and practicing “shape-note singing” with his grandfather. We also learn how his vocal journey let him work with legendary vocal pedagogy pioneers like Richard Miller and vocal scientists like Heidi Moss. Join us as Ken shares his history and offers a unique perspective on the role voice science plays in effective vocal instruction.  

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

1. How Ken began singing in church performances before he was nine 6:48
2. How his grandfather introduced him to the practice of “shape-note singing” 8:10
3. Why it took Ken eighteen years to have his first “Ah-ha!” moment on the physics that allowed professional singers to produce the sounds they need to perform 10:51
4. How working with Richard Miller led to the discovery of what Ken considers the Holy Grail of vocal passaggio 14:49
5. Why modern voice science doesn’t replace historic pedagogy but helps explain what the original pedagogues knew about how the voice works 19:55
6. The difference between declarative knowledge and procedural knowledge — and how both contribute to voice lessons 20:55
7. Ken’s in-depth explanation of how different singer’s brains cause them to hear and perceive harmonics differently 23:25
8. How the procedural knowledge of music teachers allows them to know things vocal scientists don’t 27:29

Read Ken’s article “A Case for Voice Science in the Voice Studio”

The book by Richard Miller that Ken references is “The Structure of Singing”

Find Ken on his website. You’ll find a wealth of free pedagogic resources to help with your education.

You can also order his books Kinesthetic Voice Pedagogy and Practical Vocal Acoustics.

Gain access to a global network of seasoned voice teachers eager to share their expertise and help you become a more effective instructor. By joining the Institute for Vocal Advancement, you’ll be able to take part in webinars and online courses used by teachers who work in every part of the music industry. See how our Teacher Training Programs can help your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

And don’t forget to review this podcast and check out our other episodes full of fun insights from voice professionals around the world!

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How well does your classical singing training prepare you to teach music students today? With the market demanding different skillsets from singers who want to build careers in music theatre, CCM, and other fields, teachers must be familiar with multiple methodologies to prepare their students.

Dr. Elizabeth Ann Benson realizes this. As an Associate Professor of Music Theatre Voice at Auburn University, Elizabeth saw the need for a teaching resource that shares the core values and systems different teachers use to instruct their students. Such a resource not only helps teachers learn new methodologies but also familiarizes them with techniques their students were taught by other teachers.

This led Elizabeth to interview 26 expert CCM pedagogues — including Irene Bartlett, Mark Baxter, and Kim Chandler — who work with leading CCM and musical theatre singers around the world. The resulting book, Training Contemporary Singers, offers teachers a wealth of collective wisdom they can apply in their own classrooms.

Join us as we chat with Elizabeth about the current diversity in modern voice teaching. Listen to her thoughts on the influence voice teachers have over their students and the need for inclusivity and representation in music programs. And learn how connecting with different teaching techniques helps you place students on the right path for their singing goals.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. The advantages Elizabeth’s book offers singing teachers on learning different teaching methodologies 06:22
2. New perspectives on belting in musical theatre that go against commonly held beliefs 10:48
3. The different backgrounds in today’s voice teaching world 14:39
4. The value of being able to refer students to music teachers better suited for the type of singing students want to learn 15:27
5. The need for representation, inclusivity, and genre equity in today’s diverse music programs 20:23
6. How creating a hierarchy of the “best” kinds of music can lead to exclusion and less accessibility for students who come from different backgrounds 24:30
7. The importance of making sure students feel seen, heard, and empowered 25:59
8. The role of size discrimination in the music industry 27:20
9. The importance of taking student body perception when designing your teaching practices 29:12
10. The new expectations Generation Z has for their music teachers 36:07

Find Elizabeth’s book, Training Contemporary Commercial Singers, on Amazon.

Connect with Elizabeth on her website.

And be sure to check out Elizabeth’s IVA webinar, “Trends in Teaching CCM Singing.” Use the code “iva-podcast” to receive $5 off any upcoming webinar event.

Interested in attending professional development webinars with leading voice experts and becoming a more effective instructor? The Institute for Vocal Advancement grants you access to a thriving global community of teachers who work in every area of the music industry. Learn more by visiting our list of upcoming events and Teacher Training Programs.

Use the code “iva-podcast” to receive $5 off any upcoming webinar event.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being aware of your body and how it affects the way you can use your voice is a skill every performer needs. That’s why Chris Johnson, vocal coach and co-host of the popular podcast “The Naked Vocalist”, emphasizes the use of Feldenkrais, an exercise therapy that improves motor performance through body movement exercises.

By incorporating movement exercises into his voice lessons, Johnson helps his students become more aware of how certain positions affect their breathing and voice. This not only improves their singing but also influences the way their stage scenes are choreographed to optimize their voice and movement.

We chatted with Chris Johnson to learn more about his approach to voice lessons. We also learned more about his own performance career, including a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sing for then-Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. Chris even shared his thoughts on how to host a successful podcast and the importance of letting yourself “find your groove.”     

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1.    How Chris learned movement could be used as a diagnostic tool for singing 02:17

2.    The benefits of learning how your body affects your singing 05:53

3.    How Chris determines which Feldenkrais exercises are right for certain singers 10:27

4.    Why negative feedback can be beneficial for singers 12:31

5.    How an awareness of the relationship between body and voice helps choregraph scenes that facilitate singing 16:19

6.    When singing is more important than movement — and vice versa 19:09

7.    The surprising way Chris got to sing for His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales 20:06

8.    The importance of keeping your love of performing alive while teaching 27:30

9.    How podcasting newbies can reach their ideal audience 32:05

10. Chris’ favorite podcast guest 34:40

11. The future of “The Naked Vocalist” and Chris’ other projects 35:48

Learn more about the Feldenkrais Method Chris discusses at “Voice, Singing, and Feldenkrais.”

Discover how to assess and address vocal issues through movement by watching Chris’ IVA webinar “Movement as Assessment: Let the body tell you what to do” Use the code “iva-podcast” to receive $5 off any upcoming webinar event.

Find Chris on at his teaching website Chris Johnson Vocal Coach and Teach Voice. You can also follow him on Instagram.

Interested in attending professional development webinars with leading voice experts and becoming a more effective instructor? The Institute for Vocal Advancement grants you access to a thriving global community of teachers who work in every area of the music industry. Learn more by visiting our list of upcoming events and Teacher Training Programs. 

Use the code “iva-podcast” to receive $5 off any upcoming webinar event.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With 2022 ending, now’s the perfect time to look back on everything you’ve accomplished and look forward toward everything you’ll achieve in the coming year. In this podcast, we do just that by discussing how setting goals and coming up with ways to measure your achievements is important to being a successful voice teacher.

We’ll examine the importance of setting achievable goals while also remaining adaptive to unexpected changes. We’ll look at the goals we’ve set for ourselves and discuss how we measure our progress. And we’ll talk about how investing in our own education can benefit not only us but also our students as we become better teachers.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. The importance of setting goals for your business while remaining adaptive 6:52
2. Measuring the success of your business 9:10
3. The importance of being able to measure the success of your actions to ensure they’re helping your business 14:45
4. Using your life goals as motivation to build the business model that fits your needs the best 19:00
5. How making a year-long plan can help you stick to your goals 21:51
6. How to know when you need to take the leap and move forward with your plans 23:59
7. The demands on your time as your business grows 25:15
8. The importance of having clear outcomes and solid figures to let you know you’re reaching your goals 27:09
9. Breaking your goals down into achievable steps 28:36
10. Making investing in your own personal education one of your prime goals 30:35
11. BONUS! The mental health benefits of singing 34:34

The workbook Tom mentions that will help you reflect on your year, consider what you want to work on, and creating achievable goals can be found here.

Is professional development on your list of goals? Then check out all the webinars at the Institute for Vocal Advancement. Use the code “iva-podcast” to receive a $5 discount on any upcoming webinar event.

Interested in attending professional development webinars with leading voice experts and becoming a more effective instructor? The Institute for Vocal Advancement grants you access to a thriving global community of teachers who work in every area of the music industry. Learn more by visiting our list of upcoming events and Teacher Training Programs. 

Use the code “iva-podcast” to receive $5 off any upcoming webinar event.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our latest episode, Tom and Heather dive into the world of TikTok, trying to unpick why a video went viral on Heather's TikTok Channel.

You can watch the viral video here: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.singingteacher/video/7153160111509245189

Interested in attending professional development webinars with leading voice experts and becoming a more effective instructor? The Institute for Vocal Advancement grants you access to a thriving global community of teachers who work in every area of the music industry. Learn more by visiting our list of upcoming events and Teacher Training Programs. 

Use the code “iva-podcast” to receive $5 off any upcoming webinar event.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes, getting your voice to do what you want it to means more than just practicing the right vocal exercises. That’s what professional voice coach Line Hilton discovered after working with thousands of talented performers who found their progress hindered by anxiety, self-doubt, and a lack of motivation.

Combining her background as a performer and a nurse, Line developed a unique tool kit that utilizes Rapid Transformational Therapy to identify a performer’s limiting beliefs. From there, she works with students to develop new thinking patterns that foster better creativity, improved performance, and a healthier mindset.

In our chat with Line Hilton, she shares the unexpected journey that led her to become a singing teacher. We learn how a singer’s mindset can impact their performance positively and negatively. And we discover how opening yourself up to multiple schools of thought can lead to many benefits — for both instructors and students.    

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) differs from hypnotherapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 18:08
2. How an RTT session works 19:17
3. Health conditions RTT can help people with 21:38
4. The value of merging multiple disciplines to build a stronger skillset 22:46
5. How RTT helps more than just singers 24:29
6. Why our modern lifestyle contributes to burnout 25:00
7. Reasons why our attention spans are shrinking 25:50
8. How to condition yourself to want to do difficult tasks 28:30
9. Why admitting you don’t need to know everything can be beneficial for singing teachers 32:47

The book Line talks about is Singing for the Stars: A Complete Program for Training Your Voice by Seth Riggs.

Learn about the “5 Second Rule” that Line and Tom talk about at Everything You Need to Know About The 5 Second Rule | Mel Robbins.

And learn more about unraveling mindset obstacles by watching Line’s Masterclass “It All Starts with Mindset!” Use the code “iva-podcast” to receive $5 off any upcoming webinar event.

Find Line on her website, Facebook, and Instagram.

Interested in attending professional development webinars with leading voice experts and becoming a more effective instructor? The Institute for Vocal Advancement grants you access to a thriving global community of teachers who work in every area of the music industry. Learn more by visiting our list of upcoming events and Teacher Training Programs. 

Use the code “iva-podcast” to receive $5 off any upcoming webinar event.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we talk to the author of The Singing Athlete, Andrew Byrne, about the body and the voice connection. Andrew shares his extensive knowledge with us, and Heather tells us her tea-making routine that helps her voice :-)

Find out more about Andrew Byrne: https://www.andrewmbyrne.com.

Get Andrew's book: https://geni.us/andrewbyrne

Interested in training to teach singing or attend Professional development webinars with leading voice experts through the Institute for Vocal Advancement: www.vocaladvancement.com

(Use the code: “iva-podcast” to receive $5 off any upcoming webinar event)

Watch Andrew Byrne's Masterclass “De-swell the Vocal Cords”, which is discussed in this episode: 

https://vocaladvancement.gumroad.com/l/andrew-bryne

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Heather and Tom interview the incomparable John Henny - voice teacher, podcaster, author, teacher trainer and all round funny bloke! John shares his advice for voice teachers who want to build their businesses, and we debate the pros and cons of social media! Plus.. we answer the question, “what IS pudding?!!” 

Find out more about John Henny: www.johnhenny.com.

To listen to John’s podcast “The intelligent vocalist”: www.intelligentvocalist.com.

Interested in training to teach singing or attend Professional development webinars with leading voice experts through the Institute for Vocal Advancement: www.vocaladvancement.com

(Use the code: “iva-podcast” to receive $5 off any upcoming webinar event)

Watch John Henny’s Masterclass “Growing Your Teaching Business”, which is discussed in this episode: 

https://vocaladvancement.gumroad.com/l/john-henny

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Vocal Advancement Podcast! In this episode Heather and Tom interview performance anxiety specialist Melissa Toy who shares her advice on helping singers who have gone beyond stage fright into performance anxiety and her experience using brain stimulation in her research! Meanwhile, Heather and Tom continue their debate on what the best biscuit is around the world!

Find out more about Melissa Toy: www.meltoymusic.com.

Interested in training to teach singing or attend Professional development webinars with leading voice experts through the Institute for Vocal Advancement: www.vocaladvancement.com

Use the code: “iva-podcast” to receive $5 off any upcoming webinar event or previous webinar recording.

Watch Mel Toy’s Masterclass “Performance Anxiety: the personal and social influences”, which is discussed in this episode: 

https://vocaladvancement.gumroad.com/l/mel-toy

Watch Heather’s TEDx talk “Chase the joy: Sing!”, which is discussed in this episode: https://youtu.be/Oh43sZFje-k.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Vocal Advancement Podcast! In our first full episode, Heather and Tom interview the phenomenal Kerrie Obert (Speech Language Pathologist and Voice researcher) and find out all about her disastrous first experience in an operating theatre, her reasons for focusing her research on the role of the tongue in singing as well as her top tips for voice teachers and singers!

Find out more about Kerrie Obert on her website www.obertvoicestudios.com and her training resources at www.getvocal-now.com.

Interested in training to teach singing or attend Professional development webinars with leading voice experts through the Institute for Vocal Advancement: www.vocaladvancement.com

Use the code: “iva-podcast” to receive $5 off any upcoming webinar event or previous webinar recording.

Watch Kerrie Obert’s Masterclass "Tongue: The most unappreciated structure", which is discussed in this episode: 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back from another exciting day at IVACON 2024! Join us as Tom and Heather give a recap of our second day at conference. From masterclasses and workshops to lectures and community building— there’s a lot to unpack!

Don't miss out on an episode! Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all the latest coverage of IVACON! 

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first episode, you'll get to know all about Heather and Tom as they have a good old chinwag and attempt to make a podcast trailer.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to IVACON 2024, the premiere 5-day conference for voice teachers. We are thrilled to host our first in-person conference in several years in beautiful and historic Edinburgh, Scotland! Voice teachers join us from around the world to learn, grow, and deepen their knowledge and training, and of course, have plenty of fun along the way. Join us each day this week as Tom and Heather share some behind-the-scenes from the conference. Without further ado, here's a recap of day one.

Don't miss out on an episode! Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all the latest coverage of IVACON! 

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here at the Vocal Advancement, we give teachers access to a wealth of knowledge. Between our webinars and conferences — not to mention our delightful podcast — you can learn a lot about vocal anatomy, singing careers, vocal pedagogy, and much more.

But how much of this knowledge should you share with your students when you teach?

It’s a question that has no “right” answer. Some beginners get confused when you bombard them with too much technical information, slowing down their progress. Other students hunger for this knowledge and will take up class time bombarding you with questions about vocal theory. Ultimately, it’s up to each teacher to walk that fine line between teaching theory and practice.

In this episode, Tom and Heather talk about how to effectively impart technical knowledge to students and turn that theory into practice. They look at the art of teaching and the importance of learning how different students process information to instruct them better.    

We explore:

1. How imposter syndrome can cause beginner teachers to overshare their knowledge — and why that can be detrimental to students (8:30)
2. The type of students who can benefit from learning theory, and the type who require more practical instruction (13:50)
3. What to do when you encounter students who do want to learn more about theory (16:03)
4. How to explain voice concepts without being overly technical (17:40)
5. The art of using your technical knowledge to help a singer develop their vocal techniques (23:58)
6. What to do when a student comes to you with a question you don’t know how to answer (26:47)
7. The value of being a teacher with more experience (28:40)
8. Teaching voice concepts to students who are neurodivergent or have other educational needs (30:49)
9. The importance of having enough self-knowledge and humility to know when you’re not the right teacher for a student (32:16)
10. Understanding the different goals of your students and the importance of letting them have fun in the lessons (33:59)
11. How to keep students motivated and aware of what they’ve learned and achieved through their lessons (39:39)
12. What’s next for the Vocal Advancement Podcast — and how you can listen to our bonus episodes! (47:19) 

The 2024 IVACON Conference is just around the corner. It will run from June 17 to 21 in Edinburgh, Scotland. But don’t worry if you can’t join us in person; we’ve got you covered! Tom and Heather will host a special bonus podcast season with daily episodes so you can feel like you're part of the action! 

Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up! 

The Vocal Advancement Podcast will return with many more exciting guests later this year. If you know a teacher, performer, or researcher who would make a great guest on our show, email us at hello@vocaladvancement.com!

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style. Learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you help your students make pop music “pop”?

At one point, many voice teachers saw pop music as a performance that flaunted the conventions of traditional music and didn’t need to be studied as a singing technique.

This episode’s guest, vocal instructor Renee Maranan, disagrees. To Renee, breaking the rules of classical singing requires singers to have a firm grasp of those rules in the first place so they can make deliberate, sustainable choices that form emotional connections with their audience.

This means pop singers need to be instructed in vocal science and conventional singing techniques even as they build their own aesthetic. 

Come hear how Renee breaks down both the art of singing pop music and the challenges of teaching this music style to students. Learn how the very definition of “pop music” encompasses a wide range of sounds, requiring singers to become comfortable with exploring their voices and the places they can take it. And discover why becoming an effective pop music singer ultimately requires training to produce an effective — and intentional — sound of their own. 

In this episode, we discuss:

1. How growing up in a Filipino musical culture of pop music provided Renee with a unique perspective on pop music performance and teaching (3:03)
2. Why teaching multiple genres of music help reveal new teaching techniques that are more effective with different students (4:40)
3. The style choices that create the aesthetic of “pop music” (7:07)
4. Cultural differences in pop — and the rising popularity of collaborating with pop singers from different states and countries to produce new flavors of music (11:17)
5. How artists find a “good” pop sound through exploration and being open to change (16:08)
6. The value of listening deliberately to pop music and picking out the details (20:11)
7. Why mastering pop music singing requires training (25:00)
8. How the relationship between pop musicians and their audience has changed in today’s online age (26:48)
9. New opportunities for sharing your pop music and passion projects (30:05)
10. How to direct students’ attention to the details of a pop music singer’s technique (32:30)
11. Renee’s advice for new voice coaches just starting to teach pop music (35:07)
12. The importance of developing a strong musical foundation in your pop singer students (41:55)

Book a session with Renee Maranan by visiting her website and follow her on Instagram to learn more about her upcoming classes.

Is there a teacher, performer, or researcher you think would make a great guest on our show? Email us at hello@vocaladvancement.com and let us know!

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style. Learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Voice teachers today can build expertise in so many different fields — vocal anatomy, musical theory, acting, multiple singing techniques — that many teachers feel they need to have all the answers.

And that’s too much to ask of anyone. Because the more you learn, the more you realize how much you don’t know — and how developing a network of experts is essential to provide you and your students with the knowledge they need.

Our guest today, singing voice specialist Kari Ragan, knows a lot about the power of collaboration. While she’s been teaching singers for over forty years, Kari appreciates that she doesn’t know everything about vocal health and regularly collaborates with medical experts to help rehabilitate singers with injured voices or vocal pathology.

Join Tom and Heather as they learn more about how Kari has collaborated with doctors, teachers, and other experts in her decades-long career to help singers. Reflect on when it’s important to know when you need to refer out to provide students with the best teachers for their needs. And discover all the resources available today (including many provided by the IVA!) for developing a support network that helps everyone achieve their full potential.

In this episode, we cover:

1. How Kari’s teaching career led her to work with many music genres, age groups, and singers (5:12)
2. What a Singing Voice Specialist (SVS) is, and why they need to work in tandem with a medical team (9:47)
3. The major trends and changes Kari has witnessed in vocal pedagogy and research over her decades-long career (16:01)
4. Misconceptions surrounding evidence-based pedagogy, and how this form of pedagogy includes multiple areas of expertise (22:01)
5. The purpose of Kari’s book, “A Systematic Approach to Voice” (30:56)
6. The evolution of teaching classical and contemporary singing techniques (37:29)
7. Why being willing and able to refer to outside experts is important (41:45)
8. The necessity of staying current with vocal research for voice coaches (45:19)
9. All the opportunities for collaboration available to modern voice teachers (46:10)
10. The strength that comes from admitting what you don’t know (54:30)

Stay in touch with Kari at her website where you can find links to many of her articles. Check out Kari’s webinar “A Systematic Approach to Voice,” which covers the definition and application of Evidence-Based Voice Pedagogy (EBVP).

And make sure you hear from all our other guests by following us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribing to our YouTube channel! Is there a teacher, performer, or researcher you think would make a great guest on our show? Email us at hello@vocaladvancement.com and let us know!

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from an empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style. Learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Disclaimer: This podcast mentions suicide in connection with the music industry

Sometimes, students become so passionate about building a music career that they jeopardize their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Beyond that, the music industry is competitive and has been linked to depression, anxiety, and even suicide among occupational musicians. Even performers who overcame huge odds to become professionals later discover they don’t want to be part of such a stressful world and seek an exit plan.

This episode’s guest Dr. George Musgrave has a unique perspective on this. A former professional rap artist once signed with Sony Records, Dr. Musgrave now enjoys a position as a Senior Lecturer in Cultural Sociology and Creative Industries at Goldsmiths, University of London. His research focuses on the psychological and emotional experience of musicians building their careers.

In this episode, we’ll discuss:

1. (5:07) How George made the shift from the music world to academia — and used his experiences to improve research on music and mental health.
2. (11:04) Why music careers can be sources of great joy and great suffering.
3. (17:00) The “dark side of optimism.”
4. (19:42) How and why musicians who see music as their main career can have worse mental health outcomes compared to those who do not.
5. (25:01) The challenges of monetizing music in today’s online industry — and why the average musician’s earnings can be worse than a McDonald’s employee.
6. (29:22) How your personal view of success has a positive or negative impact on your mental health.
7. (33:56) The importance of having a “Plan B” backup plan when pursuing a music career
8. (36:40) The responsibility teachers have for equipping students with skills they can use in their careers, no matter how “big” they make it.
9. (40:20) The inequalities and hazards of the music industry
10. (49:10) Why the performing lifestyle is not for everyone
11. (51:40) If turning your hobby into a career can take some of the pleasure away
12. (53:14) Why having a backup plan is useful when training to be a voice teacher

George lists many mental health resources for musicians. These include:

• Tonic Music for Mental Health: Training and support for music industry professionals
• https://www.thecalmzone.net/: Suicide support
• Music Support: Support for peers in the music industry affected by mental illness and/or addiction

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline can offer additional helpful resources.

Visit George on his university page and read his papers.

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network that provides you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Vocal Advancement Podcast: Season 3!

Tom and Heather delve into a side of being a self-employed voice teacher that we seldom cover — the business side! Because, let’s face it, when you’re running your own business, keeping good records and promoting your services are skills we all need to develop.

Here at the Institute of Vocal Advancement, we’re all about sharing what worked for us when we built our careers. So, join Tom and Heather as they discuss strategies and provide tips for running a successful voice teacher business.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. (5:43) How digital tools and spreadsheets help you keep accurate records and complete your taxes.
2. (9:20) The importance of understanding your country’s tax laws.
3. (9:40) Where to find business advice (for free!) using online and offline resources
4. (11:30) Tips for creating a simple recording system
5. (12:33) How to reduce your tax liability by learning what you can claim as a business expense.
6. (14:08) How grants can help you get your business started.
7. (14:33) What type of equipment you need to start your teaching business (and how to keep your startup costs low!)
8. (15:55) What type of online presence you need to promote your business — and what important information many voice teachers neglect to include! 
9. (18:09) Why continuing to invest in your own education is important (and how this can be a business expense you can write off).
10. (19:19) Why you might need to invest in a professional studio space outside your home.
11. (20:11) How to determine what to charge for your lessons
12. (22:15) When working with other voice teachers in the same studio space makes sense — and the importance of having a waiting area.
13. (25:22) How to increase your income by offering complementary services
14. (27:20) The true cost of teaching in a commercial building
15. (28:15) How to retain and attract more students by offering choirs and workshops
16. (31:07) How offering group classes can build student confidence and help establish teacher-student rapport
17. (32:32) When to start increasing your teaching rates — and what to do when you start pricing yourself out of certain student budgets.
18. (34:32) How to use your growing skillset to justify your higher rates.
19. (36:17) How to create a fair teaching rate by studying your local market.
20. (38:04) How to adjust your rates for inflation — and how offering advance warning can help you retain students.
21. (39:19) When (and how) to offer scholarship opportunities for exceptional students
22. (41:00) Why offering lessons at a lower price point can provide you with valuable teaching experience
23. (42:17) Where to find offline opportunities to promote your business — and how offering free or discounted lessons can build your client list.
24. (44:06) Good online marketing opportunities — from Facebook groups to lead generation companies
25. (48:04) How to test marketing strategies and learn which ones work best for you.
26. (51:00) Strategies for nurturing cold leads into warm leads

We want to hear from you! What business strategies helped you the most when you were building up your teaching career? What questions do you still have about starting out as a vocal coach? Send us your comments and questions to hello@vocaladvancement.com. 

We’ve got many more guests coming up this season, including experts in social media marketing and more! Make sure you hear from them all by following us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribing to our YouTube channel! 

About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from an empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learning how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Not many vocal coaches get to have a studio in The London Palladium or help Oscar-winning actors like Javier Bardem discover their singing voice — but then, most vocal coaches aren’t Fiona McDougal.

A singing teacher since the age of 18, Fiona now oversees vocals globally for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production company, the Really Useful Group. When she’s not coaching the stars of Broadway and the West End, you can find her on movie sets working with global superstars like Taylor Swift or in TV studios helping the next generation of X Factor hopefuls wow the judges.

But while getting celebrities to access their full potential is exciting, this work also comes with its share of challenges. From managing demanding schedules to advocating for a singer’s vocal health, Fiona finds building a successful career in the music industry requires as much diplomacy as excellent teaching techniques.

Join Fiona as she shares her experiences with Tom and Heather — letting them (and you) know whatreallyhappens behind the scenes of your favorite movies, musicals, and television shows. Think you’d like to break into this industry? You’re about to learn what it takes to be a vocal coach for the stars.   

In this episode, we’ll discover:

1. (7:35) How natural curiosity and a willingness to teach everyone helped Fiona become a vocal coach in her teens.
2. (10:17) How a job singing backing vocals for Jesus Christ Superstar led her to a career in the music industry.
3. (11:28) The challenges of working in television
4. (14:00) Why vocal coaches often become “vocal arrangers” when working on a TV show like The X Factor.
5. (17:31) The types of networks that exist in theater and television, and how to build relationships in each industry.
6. (19:28) The advantages of coaching performers in film vs. coaching them in television
7. (20:35) How much time you have to coach actors in different types of theater productions  
8. (22:51) How to go about advocating for a singer’s vocal health when asked to “fix” their voice  
9. (27:20) The issues of working with a celebrity unaccustomed to performing in a live theater environment.
10. (33:19) Important advice for singers and vocal coaches interested in working in the music industry
11. (35:35) The role of diplomacy when working with a production team
12. (37:44) When working out scheduling and technical issues is more challenging than working with the performer.
13. (44:30) The challenge of juggling a music industry career with motherhood

You can hear Fiona’s work in major motion pictures like “A Complete Unknown” (2024), “Wonka” (2023), and “Being the Ricardos” (2021). Follow her career onInstagram and get in touch with her through herwebsite.

Want to learn more about the music industry and other exciting opportunities in the voice teaching industry? Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to ourYouTube channel to hear from all our guests! 

Do you know of a teacher, performer, or researcher you think would make a great guest on our show? We’d love to hear about them! Email us athello@vocaladvancement.com and let us know!

About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list ofupcoming events and learning how ourTeacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

In this episode of the Vocal Advancement Podcast, hosts Tom and Heather are pleased to welcome Natasha Burns to speak on her expertise on managing performance anxiety.

Throughout her career, she confronted the pervasive issue of performance anxiety, both in her students and herself. Inspired by this shared struggle, she delved into research during her MA studies, uncovering the transformative potential of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a pragmatic solution for music educators.

Today, through her coaching practice, Natasha empowers musicians to reclaim confidence, perform authentically under pressure, and reignite their passion for music.

Natasha discusses her research focused on teenagers, introducing techniques from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). She shares practical tools and metaphors to help manage anxiety and emphasizes the importance of understanding why students pursue singing. The conversation also touches upon the unrealistic expectations set by advanced recording technologies and the role of vocal teachers in nurturing a supportive environment for their students.

In this episode we'll cover:

• 00:00 Welcome to the Vocal Advancement Podcast

• 04:20 Singer's Expectations vs. Reality
• 04:59 Introducing Today's Guest: Natasha
• 05:41 Understanding Performance Anxiety in Teenagers
• 10:50 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• 27:29 Exploring the Love for Singing
• 28:36 Setting Goals and Committed Actions
• 31:11 Performance Anxiety and Vocal Technique

• 35:18 The Importance of Unique Voices
• 38:05 Handling Performance Anxiety in Students
• 48:12 Teachers Leading by Example
• 50:28 Comparing Yourself to Technology

Interested in learning more about Natasha's work? Click here to learn more and stay connected.

Want to hear more interesting episodes like this one? Make sure you hear from all of our guests by following us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribing to our YouTube! 

About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learning how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Does acid reflux impact your singing performance?

Perhaps you’ve searched the internet and found multiple articles on “The 10 Foods Singers Should Avoid” or medications promising to cure reflux.

But before you start making radical changes to your diet, you might want to listen to this episode’s guest. Duncan Rock is an acclaimed operatic baritone who’s performed with the Metropolitan Opera, The Royal Opera House, English National Opera, and Glyndebourne Festival Opera for over a decade.

More importantly, he’s a nutritionist and registered exercise professional with a Masters degree in Human Nutrition. He now uses his dual passions for singing and health to help performers maintain their health as they enjoy long, successful careers.

According to Duncan, much of what allows singers and performers stay healthy comes not from a specialized exercise regimen or dietary supplements, but a common-sense approach to diet and personal fitness. His holistic take on healthy living makes his advice easy to follow and highly effective for vocal coaches and their students.  

Listen as Duncan shares his expertise in nutrition and physiotherapy, and learn:

1. (4:32) How a music scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music & Drama jumpstarted Duncan’s decade-long career as a professional opera singer.
2. (5:31) How the 2020 pandemic caused Duncan to switch gears and begin working as a nutritionist for the Voice Care Centre in London.
3. (7:21) How Duncan’s personal experiences with dieticians shaped his common-sense views towards nutrition and healthy diets.  
4. (10:05) Why Duncan initially wasn’t interested in working as a nutritionist for singers — and how this changed. 
5. (15:27) Why good, old fashioned advice on health and nutrition is the most valuable information you can receive in this age of polarized nutritional content.
6. (16:47) Why singers should maintain balanced diets in an industry with performers like Luciano Pavarotti who don’t always follow healthy eating habits. 
7. (20:43) What research says about how our diets affect our body composition, and how this affects our vocal performance. 
8. (23:22) Why being underweight can potentially be more damaging than being overweight or obese.
9. (25:36) How nutritionist advice can help performing singers deal with stress and weakened immune systems.
10. (28:42) The link between eating well and exercising
11. (33:33) The common-sense approach to managing acid reflux.
12. (37:36) The problems caused by myths surrounding singer nutrition
13. (39:55) How the body positivity movement can place negative pressure on singers and performers who change their appearance by adopting healthier habits. 
14. (53:44) How vocal coaches benefit from a basic understanding of vocal nutrition in their classrooms.

Get more nutritional advice from Duncan by visiting his website. Interested in a more in-depth consultation? Connect with him via email at duncanrocknutrition@gmail.com. 

You can also download Duncan’s IVA webinar, Nutrition and Exercise for Singers — The Missing Link in Vocal Health and Longevity — from the Institute of Vocal Advancement.

Tom and Heather have a lot of fascinating guests like Duncan lined up for our podcast! Make sure you meet them all by following us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and see them by subscribing to our YouTube channel! 

Is there a teacher, performer, or researcher you think would make a great guest on our show? Email us at hello@vocaladvancement.com and let us know!

About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Professional development. Continuing education. Ongoing training. Whatever you choose to call it, regularly assessing and improving your skills as a teacher and performer is something every good voice coach needs to do. 

For some, adding to your skillset is a way to increase your value and charge higher rates. For others, learning how different people understand voice helps you communicate better with multiple audiences. 

Whatever your reasons, at the Institute for Vocal Advancement, we’re committed to supporting our students in their professional development. Join Tom and Heather as they discuss the challenges of continuing your education and the rewards that come from being an eternal student. 

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. (1:49) Why self-employed voice teachers can find professional development more of a challenge than other educators. 
2. (2:52) The challenge of finding reputable sources of information to build your skillset.
3. (6:23) The importance of deciding whether you want to focus on improving your general expertise or becoming an expert in a key niche. 
4. (8:10) The value of understanding your preferred learning method — and when it can be useful to step out of this comfort zone. 
5. (11:15) Why part of your professional development needs to focus on self-marketing. 
6. (12:17) Why “learning how to learn” is often the most valuable skill teachers can develop.
7. (14:20) How investing in your professional development allows you to charge higher rates.
8. (18:00) How learning how to teach a subject lets you learn that subject in greater depth.
9. (21:30) The value of “learning by doing” — and how to learn by observing others.
10. (25:40) Additional ways of approaching professional development when you begin to teach instinctively.
11. (28:30) The importance of learning vocal theory and practical application — and how to build a balance between the two.
12. (33:02) How to better communicate vocal concepts to students, teachers, scientists, and singers by expanding your own understanding of voice.
13. (37:10) How being willing to self-reflect on your own lessons can help you better understand your strengths and weaknesses.
14. (39:43) What to look for when assessing teachers and programs for your continued professional development.

How do you manage your professional development? Do you have a formal way of scheduling continued education into your regular routine? Or do you just squeeze it in where you can?

We want to know! Send us an email at hello@vocaladvancement.com and let us know how you hone your skills. Share your learning resources and tell us if you know of a teacher, performer, or researcher we should interview on the show.

And learn more about our teachers and professional connections by following us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribing to our YouTube channel! 

About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

Are you a professional seeking to build expertise in a specific field or a voice coach who wants to learn more about a particular subject? At the Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA), we offer resources and support for everyone who’s enthusiastic about music and singing. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset and provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your own career.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learning how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

In this episode of the Vocal Advancement Podcast, hosts Tom and Heather welcome Abigail Mann-Daraz from 'The Musical Self,' who specializes in working with neurodivergent students and those with special educational needs.

Abby shares her approaches, including the use of tactile tools, singing as a communication method, and understanding individual learning preferences. The discussion also delves into the challenges and rewards of creating an inclusive teaching environment and provides practical tips for voice teachers.

The episode underscores the importance of meeting students where they are and adapting teaching methods to accommodate diverse needs.

In this episode, you’ll discover:00:00 Introduction00:35 Heather's Visa Adventure05:37 Upcoming Asia Teaching Tour07:51 Special Guest: Abby from The Musical Self09:23 Inclusive Teaching for Neurodivergent Students14:03 Strategies for Teaching Autistic Students24:21 Teaching Students with ADHD26:07 Grounding Techniques for Students with ADHD27:23 Using Toys and Fabrics to Channel Nervous Energy28:04 Exploring Stammering as a Form of Neurodiversity30:05 The Impact of Singing on Stammering35:12 Advice for Voice Teachers on Inclusivity38:49 Understanding Your Role as a Singing Teacher39:20 Where to Find More Information About Abby40:27 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Connect with Abigail and learn more about her work by visiting The Musical Self website.

Learn more about our teachers and professional connections by following us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribing to our YouTube channel! 

About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

Are you a professional seeking to build expertise in a specific field or a voice coach who wants to learn more about a particular subject? At the Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA), we offer resources and support for everyone who’s enthusiastic about music and singing. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset and provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your own career.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learning how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

As voice teachers, we may dream of working with major stars like Taylor Swift or helping young performers prepare for a career on Broadway.

Yet voice students have many needs — and sometimes the best thing you can do as an educator is adapt your lessons to the individual goals of each client and focus on their personal development. While this might sound simple, many voice coaches find it challenging early in their careers to set aside their egos and listen to their students. 

Those who do achieve this mindset, however, gain a reputation for being truly helpful — and enjoy long-lasting careers.

Our guest this week knows the rewards of developing such a reputation. One of the original founders of the Institute for Vocal Advancement, Linda Tomkinson has been teaching professional and non-professional singers for 27 years. While some of her students have enjoyed major success singing with Rihanna’s world concert tours or performing on The Voice, Linda is just as happy helping church singers develop their voice or helping a beginner sing on-key.

Listen in as Linda shares how being willing to constantly re-evaluate and change your beliefs about teaching can help improve your craft. Learn how to place your lesson’s focus on the student and balance their needs with your teaching goals. And discover what to do when students come with you with ambitious — and possibly unrealistic — expectations for their future in singing.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. (9:53) How Linda built a career on word-of-mouth recommendations and not social media. 
2. (15:33) How listening to students helps you find the balance between what they want to learn and what you feel they need to know.
3. (20:50) The dangers of only wanting to work with highly talented performers or established artists.
4. (23:26) How working with an organization like the Institute for Vocal Advancement changes your perceptions of your self-worth and reasons for teaching.
5. (29:03) The importance of taking your ego out of the equation when choosing to teach. 
6. (33:17) The questions you should be asking your students in your first meeting — and all subsequent lessons — to learn about their changing needs. 
7. (39:17) Why it’s so important to meet students where they are and not box them in pre-determined roles.
8. (42:44) What to do when a student comes to you with unrealistic expectations about their singing ability and career goals.

Find Linda at her website and contact her at singwithlinda@msn.com. 

The book Linda describes is Leadership and Self-Deception, published by the Arbinger Institute.

We’ve got many more talented teachers and singers waiting in the wings to share their insights and knowledge for season three of the Vocal Advancement Podcast. Make sure you hear from them all by following us and subscribing to our YouTube channel! 

Is there a teacher, performer, or researcher you think would make a great guest on our show? Email us at hello@vocaladvancement.com and let us know!

About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learning how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

With over 257,000 followers on Instagram and a staggering 1.5 million followers on TikTok, it’s safe to say that this week’s guest — musical stage star and voice coach Emily Kristen Morris — has found a way to make social media work for her. 

And while some of Emily’s social media success can be attributed to her career (she’s played Bea in the Broadway National Tour of “Something’s Rotten”, Elphaba’s standby in the “Wicked” National Tour, and Elsa in Disney’s “Frozen: The Broadway Musical”), it’s worth noting that her TikTok channel started in 2020 when musical theater wasn’t active due to the pandemic. 

So, what does it take to grow such a following and leverage the power of social media? Join us as Emily takes us through her journey and explores the challenges of growing a vocal coaching business online, navigating the ever-changing social media algorithm, and finding a balance between performing and teaching.    

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. (8:43) How Emily built an online presence on Instagram and TikTok — and how she needed to scale up her business as her social media following grew.
2. (13:35) The people Emily turned to for business advice — and the entrepreneurial skills she feels voice teachers must learn.
3. (16:34) How social media has changed the business landscape since the early days of the internet.
4. (17:25) Why there’s no one “right” way to do social media, even for the experts.
5. (18:00) The rewards of occasionally sharing personal stories about your music career — and why setting boundaries is important. 
6. (22:39) How Emily manages the challenges of balancing a performing career with a teaching career.
7. (27:31) The value of running your own teaching business while pursuing a performing career
8. (29:43) Why being a “social media influencer” can make certain producers nervous about hiring you as a performer
9. (32:07) Why producers should be excited about using the power of social media to bring more audiences to live performances.
10. (33:30) How the musical theater industry is currently using social media and influencer marketing to promote itself.
11. (36:12) Tips and tricks for teachers who want to build a strong online presence
12. (41:49) How to handle the “haters” and negative comments that crop up on social media.
13. (44:27) Behind-the-curtain stories about what really happens between scenes in “Wicked” and “Frozen.”
14. (55:04) Why Emily feels she also owes her vocal coaching business to the IVA community, and how its support has changed her life.

Pro tip: Emily might not respond to all her TikTok comments, but you can reach her by contacting her via email at Emily@EmilyKristenMorris.com. 

Follow Emily’s career by checking out her website and join her Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok channels (if you’re not there already!). 

Here at the Vocal Advancement Podcast, we like to show different approaches to finding success. In Season 3 Episode 7, you met Linda Tomkinson who built a successful career via word-of-mouth. In this episode, we cover the other side of the coin by showing how voice teachers like Emily Kristen Morris can build careers from huge social media followings. 

If there’s a teacher, performer, or researcher who you think would offer a new perspective, be sure to email us at hello@vocaladvancement.com so we can feature them on Season 4!

And make sure to follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learning how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!