It seems more and more singers are developing voice problems as they embark on their singing careers. Several recent famous examples include Adele, Sam Smith, Jess Glynne and John Mayer. In this video, Dr. Steven Zeitels talks about surgery like Adele’s and the use of voice in the modern day. Unlike the elite singer, most of […]
No, it is a growth mindset and sheer grit. And science concurs. Whilst I haven’t got my own stats on this, I can certainly vouch for these predictors antidotally. When I look at the success of my students and clients over the years I’ve taught, whether related to developing their voices, overcoming poor singing habits, gaining […]
Over the years I’ve been teaching and working in the music industry I have never really got to the bottom of why, as a whole, contemporary singers don’t think they need vocal technique or training. That is until it’s almost too late, the damage is done, the tour cancelled, gig lost, money rescinded and confidence […]
If you are just starting out as a singing teacher and wondering what gear and resources you need then here is my recommended top 10 list. One of my favourite jobs is being a singing teacher trainer for BAST Training. On the course, we discuss and look at bits of equipment as well as how to successfully […]
Is hypermobility an advantage or disadvantage for singers? I’ve been learning a lot of interesting things about performers and medical issues on the Performing Arts Medicine MSc program at UCL. One topic which piqued my interest and gave me an ah-ha moment was that of hypermobility aka double-jointedness. This condition can be an advantage for some […]
A fantastic BBC World Radio piece on the voice, featuring leading voice scientists such as Dr Ingo Titze and Professor Johan Sundberg and more explaining how the voice works. Find out how vowels are formed, what happens when a boy’s voice breaks, how the vocal folds vibrate, why humans have a descended larynx, what makes our voice unique […]
Good vocal care is not rocket science. Some simple and practical adjustments and considerations will ensure your voice stays in good form for the hard work you put it through when you sing. Here is my Do’s and Don’ts list for good vocal care. DO + Keep well-hydrated 1-1.5l/day. More if energy output increases or […]
I recently had a question from a teacher who was concerned one of her students had Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD) as her jaw clicks and dislocates when she sings on an AH sound. These symptoms could be due to TMJD as common symptoms are jaw joint clicking, pain, joint locking and/or limited movement of the joint. […]
Have you ever found yourself in front of an audience with your knees shaking and sweat trickling down your temple? Maybe you want to throw up, or suddenly there’s not enough air in the room. You may feel like your mouth is as dry as a sandy desert and your voice, normally controlled and strong […]
So guess what? I am back studying again, an MSc in Performing Arts Medicine at UCL. I’m very excited about this course. I feel like it’s been created just for me! Performing Arts Medicine is the equivalent of sports medicine for performing artists. As I am discovering this subject encompasses a very wide spectrum of Performing Arts, […]
