Episode 396 - Range and Beyond with Cathal Jack
The Intelligent Vocalist with John Henny
In this episode, John Henny and Cathal Jack discuss the intricacies of vocal range development, addressing common misconceptions and emphasizing the importance of strength and tone over volume. They explore the emotional connection in singing, the essence of impactful performances, and the significance of finding one's unique voice. The discussion also touches on the use of accents and language to unlock higher notes, as well as the importance of play in building vocal technique. Episode highlights: Trying harder and putting in more effort will not help you reach higher notes. Great...
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Episode 395 - Slow Down
The Intelligent Vocalist with John Henny
In this episode, John Henny emphasizes the importance of slowing down in vocal practice to foster better development and understanding of one's voice. He discusses the necessity of patience and the value of deliberate practice. John encourages singers to embrace their unique voices, celebrate small progress, and cultivate kindness towards themselves throughout their vocal journey. Episode highlights: Patience is crucial in vocal development, regardless of age. Quality of practice is more important than quantity. The taste gap highlights your standards in what you love, and your...
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Episode 394 - Reducing Tension
The Intelligent Vocalist with John Henny
In this episode, John discusses the common issue of vocal tension and shares his favorite techniques to reduce it. He emphasizes the importance of understanding phonation threshold pressure, maintaining proper airflow and support, and the role of body alignment and mental relaxation in achieving a balanced singing experience. John also introduces the concept of negative practice and effective imagery as tools to enhance vocal performance and reduce tension. Episode highlights: Hydration and SOVT exercises help lower the phonation threshold pressure (PTP) value. Support involves a dynamic...
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Episode 393 - The Enemy Is the Self
The Intelligent Vocalist with John Henny
In this episode, John Henny explores how the ego and the sense of self can hinder our progress and limit our potential as singers and creatives. It’s important to turn our attention outward and focus on helping others, rather than being self-centered. He also talks about the role of practice in overcoming the self and achieving a state of flow in singing. Dissolve the self and trust in the process of singing in order to experience the highest level of singing. Episode highlights: The self doesn’t want failure; it just wants protection. Imposter syndrome is when you make it about you....
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Episode 392 - The Discipline of Professional Singing with Leigh McRae
The Intelligent Vocalist with John Henny
In this episode, John Henny interviews Leigh McRae, a 30-year veteran of the music industry as a singer, actor, songwriter, vocal coach and recording artist. They discuss Leigh’s journey as a singer, the influence of his professional experience on his teaching, and the importance of consistent vocal habits and skills. They also touch on the challenges performers face, the impact of the pandemic on singers, and the importance of maintaining vocal health and technique. Leigh shares his daily regimen for vocal maintenance and emphasizes the need for preparation and conditioning in order to...
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Episode 391 - The Right Time Never Comes
The Intelligent Vocalist with John Henny
In this episode, John Henny shares his own experiences of waiting for the right time to work on projects and emphasizes the importance of taking action and starting now. Time is limited, and waiting for the perfect moment is a fantasy. The right time doesn’t exist, and if you wait for that, you’ll never get started. Episode highlights: There is never a perfect time to work on your voice, so start now. Successful musicians like the Beatles had a strong work ethic and didn't wait for inspiration or the right time. Even if you can't afford private lessons, there are affordable or free...
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Episode 390 - Don’t Fear the Teacher
The Intelligent Vocalist with John Henny
In this episode, John shares a story of a student who was afraid to bring new information to their teacher. The need for trust and open communication in the student-teacher relationship is especially crucial when it comes to the voice. The role of the teacher is a guide, and it is important to take control of your own voice and education. He encourages students to question their teachers and bring in outside information, while also respecting the expertise and guidance of their teacher. Episode highlights: Trust and open communication are essential in the student-teacher relationship....
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Episode 389 - Learning to Sing with AI
The Intelligent Vocalist with John Henny
In this episode, John Henny discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in learning to sing, and the potential benefits and challenges of AI. He explains how he uses AI, particularly ChatGPT, to train and have conversations with custom AI models. He also explores the future possibilities of AI in voice teaching and learning. John encourages listeners to embrace AI as a tool for learning and expanding their knowledge. Episode highlights: AI has the potential to make focused voice instruction more accessible to a wider audience. The human element and connection in voice teaching will...
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Episode 388 - The Power of Learning an Instrument
The Intelligent Vocalist with John Henny
In this episode, John shares the story of his mother, who decided to learn piano in her 80s and how it has improved her musical abilities. John emphasizes the importance of audiation skills for singers and how learning a fixed instrument like piano or ukulele can enhance these skills. He also highlights the impact of rhythm and phrasing on vocal performance and the benefits of playing an instrument for singers. Episode highlights: Learning an instrument can enhance audiation skills for singers. Rhythm and phrasing are crucial for vocal performance. Playing a fixed instrument like piano or...
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Episode 387 - The Spotlight Effect
The Intelligent Vocalist with John Henny
In this episode, John explains that the spotlight effect is a cognitive bias that leads us to believe that we are being noticed more than we actually are. This can hinder our progress and make us afraid of taking risks and making mistakes. John shares personal experiences from his own life to illustrate the importance of taking risks and embracing failure in order to grow and improve. He encourages us to change our perspective, understand that the fear of failure is unfounded, and invest in ourselves to become better singers. Episode highlights: Taking risks and embracing failure are...
info_outlineIn this episode, John Henny discusses the impact of social media on our focus and attention. He warns about the addictive nature of platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, and how they can consume our time and mental energy. John emphasizes the importance of reclaiming our focus and taking control of our time by limiting our use of social media. By doing so, we can have more time and mental clarity to focus on our passions, such as singing.
Episode highlights:
- Social media platforms can be addictive and consume our time and mental energy.
- It is important to be mindful of the content we consume on social media and the impact it has on our focus and attention.
- Removing social media apps from our phones and limiting our use can help us reclaim our focus and have more time, energy, and mental clarity for our passions, like singing.
To learn more about John Henny, his best-selling books, on-line courses, Voiceschool.com featuring his Teaching Team of Experts, Speaker Training and the Contemporary Voice Teacher Academy, visit: JohnHenny.com