The Intelligent Vocalist

Episode 479 - Your Note Starts Before You Hear It

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John takes a close look at the onset, the tiny moment when a note begins, and how it can affect breath, pitch, and vocal clar

Episode 478 - The Voice You're Chasing Doesn't Exist

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John explores why singers can get stuck chasing an idealized version of their voice instead of working with the instrument th

Episode 477 - The Real Reason You're Not Practicing

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John explores why practicing can become difficult when your voice no longer does what it once did. He explains how turning pr

Episode 476 - Myths That Help You Sing

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John looks at several common singing myths that may not be scientifically accurate but can still be useful. He explores why s

Episode 475 - What Aging Athletes Can Teach Us About Singing

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John explores what singers can learn from the way modern athletes approach aging, recovery, and long-term performance. He exp

Episode 474 - The Symptom is Not the Cause with Jeremy Ryan Mossman

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John speaks with innovative vocal educator Jeremy Ryan Mossman about why vocal problems are often symptoms of deeper patterns

Episode 473 - The Mind Science of Vocal Breakthroughs

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John explores new research on how the brain learns and why certain vocal moments suddenly "click." He explains how attention,

Episode 472 - Sing Anyway with Linor Oren

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John speaks with vocal coach, choir director, and former opera and music theater performer about the fear, shame, and self-do

Episode 471 - Vocal Fold Geometry, and the Science of Mix

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John breaks down the science behind mix and explains how vocal fold geometry and airflow work together to create smooth trans

Episode 470 - Voice Teaching's Language Problem

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John explores how the language we use to teach singing can sometimes create confusion instead of clarity. He explains how voc

Episode 469 - The Right Kind of Imagery: Why Most Vocal Imagery Fails and What Actually Works

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John explores why some vocal imagery works while other common cues fall flat. He explains how kinesthetic imagery, based on r

Episode 468 - Singing as Signal Flow: Stop Singing Words and Start Singing Sound

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John explains why thinking in words can make phrasing feel choppy and disconnected, and shows how shifting your focus to a co

Episode 467 - The Brain-Voice Speed Gap, Part 2: Six Pathways to Rewire Your Voice at Any Age

In this episode, John continues the discussion of the brain-voice speed gap, and explains six practical ways to help your brain and voice work together more efficiently.

Episode 466 - The Brain-Voice Speed Gap, Part 1: Why Your Voice Is Aging Where You Don't Expect

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John explores a surprising reason the voice can feel different with age. He explains how changes in the brain and nervous sys

Episode 465 - The One Number That Explains Your Vocal Struggles

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John talks about phonation threshold pressure, or PTP, and explains why it may be the hidden factor behind days when your voi

Episode 464 - AI Slop is Coming for Singers

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John looks at the rise of AI-generated vocal advice and why so much of it is misleading, fear-driven, or simply wrong. He exp

Episode 463 - Why Your Practice Isn't Sticking

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John explains why good moments in practice can sometimes fail to stick, not because of talent or effort, but because we miss

Episode 462 - Confidence is Not a Belief - It's a Skill

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John challenges the idea that confidence is a feeling or belief you either have or do not have. He explores the importance of

Episode 461 - The Real Job of Vocal Exercises

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John explains the real purpose of vocal exercises and why they are not meant to test or prove your voice. He shares how exerc

Episode 460 - Strength Training for the Aging Voice

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John explains why voices can feel weaker, breathier, or less stable over time and why those changes are not a reason to panic