Last week’s article seemed to strike a chord (no pun intended) with many clients and readers. It sparked a lot of questions along a variety of different angles. For example, for those who have not studied with me – I accompany clients by playing piano when they want to sing their songs. This means I […]
A common theme has been cropping up with clients over the last few weeks – the topic of singing ballads. For the purpose of this article, I mean slower songs. Typically romantic, sad, tragic, etc. Upbeat songs are more popular Most people want to sing upbeat, fast or overtly intense songs. Hard rock, fast pop,
We love the myth of the “prodigy” because it gives us an excuse. If greatness is just a gift you’re born with, you don’t have to feel bad about not having it. It lets you off the hook. But in my years as a vocal coach, I’ve seen the truth: the gap between a hobbyist
How to Move the Needle: Moving Past “Mediocre” A friend recently reached out to me with a goal for the next few years: they wanted to stop being “mediocre” at his music practice. They listed guitar, piano, drums, and singing. The realisation had hit them that music brought them such joy (I can relate!), and
I’ve written about vocal mechanics from a number of different angles, but here I want to hit a specific issue directly. The number of women who come to me wanting to “fix” their break or find more power is striking. Some arrive with issues around pitch or stamina, but for the vast majority, the primary
Why Men Struggle to Sing High Notes I’ve written about this topic from a number of different angles, but here I want to hit it directly. The number of men who come to me wanting to improve their range is striking. Yes, some arrive with issues around pitch, stamina, or general vocal weakness, but for
I’ve talked before about how some songs are more helpful for the voice, and some songs are less helpful for the voice. A semi-regular discussion I have with clients is closely related: certain songs don’t just test your voice — they actively teach you about great singing. Start Simple When people first learn piano or
For those who may remember, I broke my foot over Christmas. I rolled over my ankle – didn’t even fall down – but a VERY loud crack was audible, like thick bamboo being snapped. And the rest is history. It’s been about 3 weeks since the original injury. As a result of being a husband,
