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 13, 2017 · 19 min
Episode 35 - Becoming a Voice Teacher
Have you ever thought about teaching voice, but are intimated? In this episode John talks about the joys of a teaching career, and how you can get started on your path. Teaching voice is incredibly rewarding, and can provide a career full of music. This episode is perfect if you want to get started, but don't know how.
Oct 17, 2017 · 16 min
Episode 34 - Are You Doing the Work?
A career in the entertainment business takes enormous dedication. You are competing against the best in the world and you need to bring your absolute best to the table. Dedication and hard work are essential. Without them, your chances of success are almost nonexistent. In this episode, John gives his best advice about what it takes to have a career in music. Highly recommended listening for anyone who aspires to sing professionally.
Sep 26, 2017 · 24 min
Episode 33 - Fixing Your Vocal Break
The vocal break is the dreaded part of the voice that keeps voice teachers in business. The break is the number issue most singers deal with. If you hit this area too hard you jam up, not hard enough and you fall apart. Why does this happen and what to do about it? In this episode, John dives deeper into this most tricky vocal area and gives you some quick tips and tricks to develop the necessary coordinations.
Aug 21, 2017 · 18 min
Episode 32 - The Focused Mindset
Singing is a high-level art form that takes an incredible amount of skill and artistry. As a student of singing your work is truly never done. But are you really doing the hard work? In this episode, John delves into the idea of "deep work" and how to use uninterrupted focus and intensity to supercharge your musical development. If you want to take your singing and musical skills to greater heights, this episode is not to be missed.
Aug 12, 2017 · 25 min
Episode 31 - Artistry and Vocal Risks
Many in the vocal community are talking about Adele and the recent cancellation of the final nights of her tour. The pressures and demands of a career can take a toll on an artist, and it's something professional singers often find themselves worrying about. There is also the pressure to deliver performances that move and excite audiences, sometimes at the expense of vocal health. In this episode John discusses this tricky area and gives advice about what you ultimately need from both your artistry and your vocal technique.
Jul 13, 2017 · 19 min
Episode 30 - Vowel Perception
The music of the voice is in the vowel, and therein lies a great key to singing. Understanding how to approach vowels is critical for singing, not only for technical mastery, but also vocal color and nuance. However, the vowels you want for singing can be very different from the vowel sounds you commonly use for speaking. In this podcast John delves into vowel perception, and how the listener actually hears the vowels you are producing. Understanding this topic can help the singer adjust vowels correctly, giving the listener the correct vowel perception while keeping vocal balances and color choices.
Jun 27, 2017 · 18 min
Episode 29 - How to Practice
Practicing correctly can speed your progress greatly, but singers often wonder how to get the best from their voice during these sessions. In this episode John gives his best advice for having a successful practice session. Practice well and you will sing well!
Jun 6, 2017 · 20 min
Episode 28 - Acting Your Song
One of the main reasons to listen to music, and especially good vocalists, is to feel an emotion. Being able to deliver strong (and honest) emotions in your singing is extremely important. Acting your song is not just for musical theatre or opera. You can use these techniques to up your performances of any style. In this episode John shares some of his favorite techniques to emotionally connect with your music, including some of what he learned from a legendary Hollywood Acting Coach. If you have trouble communicating what you truly want to say when singing, this episode is for you.
May 16, 2017 · 19 min
Episode 27 - Do Skype Lessons Work?
Skype lessons tend to bring our very strong opinions amongst voice teachers. Some love 'em, some hate 'em. In this episode, John looks at the challenges of learning voice on-line, starting with his early days of teaching over the telephone (yes, he's that old). If you have thought about learning or even teaching over Skype (or zoom, Facetime, etc.) this is a must-listen episode!
May 2, 2017 · 17 min
Episode 26 - Vocal Fold Hydration, Revisited
Keeping your vocal folds properly hydrated is essential for good healthy speaking and singing, but it is not always easily done. Just drinking more fluids is often not enough, especially for those who use their voices on a professional level. In this episode, John again looks at some of the latest research on vocal fold hydration and the best practices for achieving good vocal health. John also discusses why women need to take extra care in making sure they are properly hydrated as research is showing they have particular issues that men do not. This episode is a must for all singers who want their vocal cords to be as healthy as possible.
Apr 6, 2017 · 19 min
Episode 25 - Vocal Science and Singing
Vocal science has gone from being hidden within the halls of academia to a greater acceptance by voice teachers, and increasingly, singers as well. However, is vocal science becoming overhyped and stopping singers from actually learning to sing? John delves into this subject with his own viewpoint of how vocal science has transformed his approach to the voice and how to use science to help your teaching and singing.
Mar 22, 2017 · 17 min
Episode 24 - What is Mix Singing?
Singers often talk about "mix," but what does it really mean? In this episode, John delves into the world of mix and discusses it from a physical and acoustic standpoint. If you are confused by what mix singing is, this episode is for you!
Nov 7, 2016 · 16 min
Episode 23 - Singing With More Power
Singing with more power is usually a high priority for singers. Unfortunately, if done wrong, attempting to get more power out of the voice can lead to vocal problems and even damage. In this episode John explains how vocal power works and how to begin to safely find it in your own voice.
Oct 5, 2016 · 22 min
Episode 22 - Healthy Belt Singing
Belting can be one of the most thrilling types of singing a vocalist can attempt, but if done incorrectly it can lead to devastating vocal problems. In this episode, John breaks down the right and wrong ways to belt, and exactly what is happening in the voice when belting correctly. This basic knowledge can be an absolute voice saver for singers!
Sep 28, 2016 · 18 min
Episode 21 - Rhythm and Phrasing for Singers
One of the key ways to become a great singer is to gain mastery over rhythm and phrasing. This can make the difference between mediocre vocal performances and ones that will have listeners flocking to you. In this episode, John covers how to learn to accurately subdivide beats and how syncopation can make you singing more interesting. He also gets into the magic of phrasing and how great singers use it to move their listeners emotionally. This episode is a must if you wish to stand out vocally.
Aug 16, 2016 · 13 min
Episode 20 - Natural vs Trained Singers
Some believe that only natural singers can truly reach the heights of singing. In this podcast John discusses why pure natural talent, while a desirable gift, can also cause problems for singers, and how the singer that has to work harder actually has some advantages. If you are doubting your ability to become a world-class singer, you need to listen to this episode.
Jul 21, 2016 · 20 min
Episode 19 - Should You Learn an Instrument?
In this episode, John goes over the many benefits of learning an instrument as well as breaking down the advantages of some of the most popular instruments. Learn which musical concepts are vitally important for a singer, and why you don't need to become a virtuoso player in order to dramatically impact your musical skills.
Jun 15, 2016 · 17 min
Episode 18 - Learn to Sing From YouTube?
People use YouTube to learn how to do all sorts of things, and singing is no exception. There are literally thousands of free singing lessons on YouTube, but can you actually learn to sing from them? In this episode, John Henny breaks down how to use YouTube to your best advantage, and what mistakes to avoid.
Jun 7, 2016 · 15 min
Episode 17 - How to Choose Songs
In this podcast John goes into the three reasons to sing any song. He also delves into how you should choose your material to help grow and strengthen your voice, and why some songs may not be the best choice. Don't waste your precious practice time with songs that aren't serving your vocal goals.
May 10, 2016 · 17 min
Episode 16 - How to Sing Higher
The number one goal for most beginning singers is to expand their current range, however if done incorrectly, a huge number of vocal issues can occur. In this episode John explains how the voice can get those elusive high notes and gives some simple exercises to get you started on the right path to singer higher.