The Intelligent Vocalist

John Henny

Hosted by world renowned vocal coach John Henny, The Intelligent Vocalist delves into all things singing - from anatomy and vocal science, to performance, lessons, health, artist development and inside industry practices, Join John as he opens the door to the world of singing and gives insights gleaned from his many decades of teaching everyone from beginners to superstars, as well as training other leading voice teachers.

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476 episodes
Updated July 14

Episodes476

Newest first

Nov 15, 2019 · 18 min
Episode 135 - A Voice Lesson from Bruce Lee
"Research your own experience. Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is essentially your own." - Bruce Lee Bruce Lee's quest to fuse the martial arts in his way still inspires. His philosophies are also applicable to the art of singing. In this episode, John discusses how to adapt and apply Lee's approach to find your technique and artistry. EPISODE LINKS: Voice Teacher Influencer book Science and Saucery podcast Voice Teacher Reacts YouTube video Boldly Belting course
Nov 12, 2019 · 18 min
Episode 134 - Mind Your Tongue
The tongue is a critical part of good, balanced singing, but our awareness can often be lacking. In this episode, John discusses why tongue placement helps with registration and balance, and how to control the tongue when belting high, strong notes. EPISODE LINKS Boldly Belting
Nov 8, 2019 · 18 min
Episode 133 - Why Are You Practicing?
The repetition of practice can often lead to unfocused and "mindless" sessions. The question "why?" is a great way to filter and focus your efforts and awareness and to get better results from your efforts. In this episode, John explores the power of knowing why you are practicing.
Nov 5, 2019 · 21 min
Episode 132 - Mindfulness and Singing
Mindfulness is becoming extremely popular, and for good reason. The scientific consensus is that meditation has concrete benefits, including increased focus, awareness, and brain function. The ability to direct your focus is one of the cornerstones of mindful meditation, and the practical applications for singers are immense. In this episode, John discusses how to begin the practice of mindfulness and how it can positively impact your practicing and performance. EPISODE LINKS Waking Up App
Nov 1, 2019 · 20 min
Episode 131 - Listen to the Music
Singing is such a mind intensive endeavor that it is easy to ignore the richness of information around us. The music we are singing over is full of clues and instructions to help us deliver fantastically musical performances - but we need to listen. In this episode, John discusses the cues embedded in the music and how to listen to bring your vocal performance to a higher level. SHOW LINKS: The Boldly Belting course.
Oct 29, 2019 · 21 min
Episode 130 - What Makes a Great Voice Teacher?
There endless debates about what makes a great voice teacher - celebrity clients, excellent singing voice, scientific expertise, the list goes on. In this episode, John draws on his years of experience training hundreds of voice teachers to discuss the traits he finds in exceptional teachers.
Oct 25, 2019 · 18 min
Episode 129 - So You Had a Bad Performance
No one enjoys giving a bad vocal performance - but it happens to us all. The aftermath of failing onstage can be devastating, but there are great lessons to be learned from a less than perfect performance. In this episode, John discusses how to recover and improve from your vocal disasters.
Oct 23, 2019 · 19 min
Episode 128 - Practice Less, Improve More
We all have 24 hours in a day, and the time we can take out of this limited resource for practicing is precious. Inspired by James Schramko's bestselling book, Work Less, Make More, John applies this concept to practice sessions. Learn John's best tips for getting real results from your practice sessions so you can get out there and really sing!
Oct 18, 2019 · 21 min
Episode 127 - Don't Hesitate
He (or she) who hesitates is lost. This should be the mantra of every singer. Plunging into scary, risky situations is what propels us and helps create musical breakthroughs. In this episode, John discusses why you should push hesitation aside and embrace the fear of the unknown. EPISODE LINKS Penn's Sunday School Podcast
Oct 15, 2019 · 19 min
Episode 126 - Using Your Eyes
The eyes are indeed the window to the soul, and the secret to emotionally capturing and moving an audience. In this episode, John discusses how to use your eyes to impact an audience and to help raise your vocal performances to new heights. EPISODE LINKS Carole D'Andrea Singing Performance Classes
Oct 11, 2019 · 23 min
Episode 125 - Singing in BELTinese
High, intense belting requires finely-tuned resonance, otherwise, the results can be disastrous. In this episode, John discusses the concept of BELTinese - the language adjustments necessary to sing thrilling high notes with balance and ease.
Oct 8, 2019 · 20 min
Episode 124 - How to Make Rapid Singing Improvement
The voice is an incredibly tricky instrument, and there are periods when our improvement can seem to stall or even go in the opposite direction. In this episode, John discusses how to create a routine that can help propel your voice to the next levels.
Oct 4, 2019 · 23 min
Episode 123 - Information Overload
Voice science is advancing our understanding of singing by leaps and bounds - but it's also becoming a bit overwhelming. In this episode, John looks at the role of knowledge in singing and why an overreliance on science can be a problem.
Oct 1, 2019 · 17 min
Episode 122 - The Crumbling Walls
East is East and West is West - so went the Kipling poem and opposing voice teacher camps. But now the walls between educators are crumbling as science and knowledge are creating a common language and understanding. In this episode, John discusses the bridges between the classical and contemporary voice teachers and why it's a great time to be a singer.
Sep 27, 2019 · 20 min
Episode 121 - Your Two Voices
We are born with two voices - one that flips into high falsetto and one that can speak and yell. These voices work great for communicating, cheering, or calling for help. But for singing strong high notes? Not so much. In this episode, John discusses these two natural voices and why we need to navigate the middle between them in order to expand our vocal range and color.
Sep 24, 2019 · 22 min
Episode 120 - Your Brain on Singing
Singing is a skill that can frustrate even the most gifted musicians. Part of the problem is the tenuous connection between our brain and instrument. In this episode, John discusses how to approach your brain and singing, and how the right thoughts can help you improve as a singer.
Sep 20, 2019 · 29 min
Episode 119 - Singing and Diet
We are surrounded at all times by incredibly cheap and tempting foods that are destroying our health and lifespan. In this episode, John discusses how to eat for maximum creative health and energy so you can keep singing and teaching for years to come. EPISODE LINKS: Healthspan Solution Book
Sep 17, 2019 · 17 min
Episode 118 - High Note Mistakes
Higher and Louder! The battle cry of singers everywhere. Singing higher is an important skill, and there are common mistakes singers make when attempting to increase their upper range. In this episode, John reveals the most significant mistakes and how to avoid them. EPISODE LINKS: Free Straw Warmups Course
Sep 13, 2019 · 16 min
Episode 117 - Nasal Sounding Voice?
A nasal sounding voice is a common complaint of singers. In this episode, John discusses what is (and isn't) a nasal voice and gives some simple methods for making your voice sound richer and more natural. EPISODE LINKS: IVTOM Conference
Sep 6, 2019 · 20 min
Episode 116 - Guarding Your Attention
There is much current discussion of social media sites compiling your private data - but that's not what they want to steal from you. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube....what they want is your attention - the very fabric of your life experience. In this episode, John discusses the battle for your attention and how to guard your creative work time. EPISODE LINKS Deep Work by Cal Newport Pomodoro Timer Waking Up Meditation App Self Journal Evernote