As voice teachers, we may dream of working with major stars like Taylor Swift or helping young performers prepare for a career on Broadway. Yet voice students have many needs — and sometimes the best thing you can do as an educator is adapt your lessons to the individual goals of each client and focus on their personal development. While this might sound simple, many voice coaches find it challenging early in their careers to set aside their egos and listen to their students. Those who do achiev...
Jun 12, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Does acid reflux impact your singing performance? Perhaps you’ve searched the internet and found multiple articles on “The 10 Foods Singers Should Avoid” or medications promising to cure reflux. But before you start making radical changes to your diet, you might want to listen to this episode’s guest. Duncan Rock is an acclaimed operatic baritone who’s performed with the Metropolitan Opera, The Royal Opera House, English National Opera, and Glyndebourne Festival Opera for over a decade. More imp...
May 08, 2025•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 6
Professional development. Continuing education. Ongoing training. Whatever you choose to call it, regularly assessing and improving your skills as a teacher and performer is something every good voice coach needs to do. For some, adding to your skillset is a way to increase your value and charge higher rates. For others, learning how different people understand voice helps you communicate better with multiple audiences. Whatever your reasons, at the Institute for Vocal Advancement, we’re committ...
Apr 10, 2025•46 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In this episode of the Vocal Advancement Podcast, hosts Tom and Heather welcome Abigail Mann-Daraz from 'The Musical Self,' who specializes in working with neurodivergent students and those with special educational needs. Abby shares her approaches, including the use of tactile tools, singing as a communication method, and understanding individual learning preferences. The discussion also delves into the challenges and rewards of creating an inclusive teaching environment and provides practical ...
Mar 13, 2025•55 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Not many vocal coaches get to have a studio in The London Palladium or help Oscar-winning actors like Javier Bardem discover their singing voice — but then, most vocal coaches aren’t Fiona McDougal. A singing teacher since the age of 18, Fiona now oversees vocals globally for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production company, the Really Useful Group. When she’s not coaching the stars of Broadway and the West End, you can find her on movie sets working with global superstars like Taylor Swift or in TV stu...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In this episode of the Vocal Advancement Podcast, hosts Tom and Heather are pleased to welcome Natasha Burns to speak on her expertise on managing performance anxiety. Throughout her career, she confronted the pervasive issue of performance anxiety, both in her students and herself. Inspired by this shared struggle, she delved into research during her MA studies, uncovering the transformative potential of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a pragmatic solution for music educators. Today,...
Jan 09, 2025•56 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Welcome to the Vocal Advancement Podcast: Season 3! Tom and Heather delve into a side of being a self-employed voice teacher that we seldom cover — the business side! Because, let’s face it, when you’re running your own business, keeping good records and promoting your services are skills we all need to develop. Here at the Institute of Vocal Advancement , we’re all about sharing what worked for us when we built our careers. So, join Tom and Heather as they discuss strategies and provide tips fo...
Dec 12, 2024•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 1
And that's a wrap! IVACON 2024 was one for the books, and we already can't wait for the next conference! Learning and growing alongside voice teachers from all over the world is an experience like no other. Join Tom and Heather as they review the past 5 days. Did you enjoy learning more about our conference? Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all the latest coverage of IVACON! We'll also be sharing even more footage and photos on our Instagram ...
Jun 22, 2024•41 min
Day five is here, can you believe it? We're fresh off a great karaoke night with our attendees, and we're excited to share a recap of our final day of the conference! Don't miss out on an episode! Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all the latest coverage of IVACON! About the Institute for Vocal Advancement The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching...
Jun 21, 2024•26 min
Welcome to day four of IVACON! Heather and Tom share some reviews of our interactive classes from today! From learning to riff to finding pitch, seeing our attendees get hands-on experience and training is great! We can hardly believe we're already almost at the end, so tune in to hear how our second to last day is going. Don't miss out on an episode! Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all the latest coverage of IVACON! About the Institute for ...
Jun 20, 2024•16 min
The conference has been flying by! Day three of the IVACON was filled with lectures from our guest speakers. From learning about teaching singers with Sensory Educational Needs and Disabilities, to teaching our students how to practice-- there is something for everyone! Join Tom and Heather for this recap from today. Don't miss out on an episode! Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all the latest coverage of IVACON! About the Institute for Vocal...
Jun 19, 2024•22 min
We’re back from another exciting day at IVACON 2024! Join us as Tom and Heather give a recap of our second day at conference. From masterclasses and workshops to lectures and community building— there’s a lot to unpack! Don't miss out on an episode! Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all the latest coverage of IVACON! About the Institute for Vocal Advancement The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a ...
Jun 18, 2024•24 min
Welcome to IVACON 2024, the premiere 5-day conference for voice teachers. We are thrilled to host our first in-person conference in several years in beautiful and historic Edinburgh, Scotland! Voice teachers join us from around the world to learn, grow, and deepen their knowledge and training, and of course, have plenty of fun along the way. Join us each day this week as Tom and Heather share some behind-the-scenes from the conference. Without further ado, here's a recap of day one. Don't miss o...
Jun 18, 2024•22 min
Here at the Vocal Advancement, we give teachers access to a wealth of knowledge. Between our webinars and conferences — not to mention our delightful podcast — you can learn a lot about vocal anatomy, singing careers, vocal pedagogy, and much more. But how much of this knowledge should you share with your students when you teach? It’s a question that has no “right” answer. Some beginners get confused when you bombard them with too much technical information, slowing down their progress. Other st...
Jun 06, 2024•50 min
How do you help your students make pop music “pop”? At one point, many voice teachers saw pop music as a performance that flaunted the conventions of traditional music and didn’t need to be studied as a singing technique. This episode’s guest, vocal instructor Renee Maranan, disagrees. To Renee, breaking the rules of classical singing requires singers to have a firm grasp of those rules in the first place so they can make deliberate, sustainable choices that form emotional connections with their...
May 30, 2024•55 min
Voice teachers today can build expertise in so many different fields — vocal anatomy, musical theory, acting, multiple singing techniques — that many teachers feel they need to have all the answers. And that’s too much to ask of anyone. Because the more you learn, the more you realize how much you don’t know — and how developing a network of experts is essential to provide you and your students with the knowledge they need. Our guest today, singing voice specialist Kari Ragan, knows a lot about ...
May 23, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Disclaimer: This podcast mentions suicide in connection with the music industry Sometimes, students become so passionate about building a music career that they jeopardize their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Beyond that, the music industry is competitive and has been linked to depression, anxiety, and even suicide among occupational musicians. Even performers who overcame huge odds to become professionals later discover they don’t want to be part of such a stressful world and seek ...
May 16, 2024•1 hr 2 min
As voice teachers, we want to offer good feedback to our students and let them know how they can improve their performance. But could our delivery of this feedback affect how well our students take in the new information? As the Associate Director of the National Center for Voice and Speech, Lynn Maxfield, PhD, regularly researches voice pedagogy, vocology, and how motor learning applies to voice teachers. His studies have revealed that although teachers are conditioned to regularly comment on a...
May 09, 2024•57 min
If you’re like many vocal coaches, you’ve probably used the metaphor of a balloon filling up with air to illustrate proper breathing techniques to your students. But does this type of imagery make sense to everyone? According to this episode’s guest, vocal health specialist Jenna Brown, a more effective technique is to let students take an active role in creating images that resonate with them during your singing lessons. Using this “symbolic modeling” technique not only builds a stronger rappor...
May 02, 2024•55 min
How does auditioning for the stage and screen look like in today’s post-pandemic era? Now, casting directors prefer reviewing “self-tapes” or pre-recorded videos that showcase a performer’s acting or singing talents during the initial audition process. It’s a major shift from the days when actors had to meet in person and perform live. But according to vocal coach Bob Marks, this break with tradition is opening many opportunities for performers who no longer need to travel across the country to ...
Apr 25, 2024•1 hr 2 min
As singing teachers, we want our students to be comfortable with their voices and willing to explore their range. But what happens when we instruct non-binary and transgender students who experience voice dysphoria, or discomfort from the feeling that their voice does not match their gender identity? This episode’s guest, vocal coach, songwriter, and music lecturer Ajay Henry, has been exploring ways to help non-binary and transgender students feel more empowered and comfortable with their voice...
Apr 18, 2024•1 hr
Think back to your time singing in your favorite choir or band. What did you love most about the experience? You likely enjoyed the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a group that shares your love of music. Ideally, you found good friends and formed close bonds. But did you know this feeling of community offers mental, physical, and emotional benefits that go beyond socializing? This episode’s guest, Lisa Strong, does. An occupational therapist, professional singer, and leader of t...
Apr 11, 2024•55 min
Welcome to Season Two of the Vocal Advancement Podcast! Whether you’re a longtime listener or tuning in for the first time, we invite you to delve into all the fun and useful resources we have for you. Join Tom and Heather as they share the exciting lineup of voice coaches, researchers, and professional singers they’ll be interviewing this season. You’ll also get the inside scoop on IVACON 2024 , the first IVA conference open to all voice teachers (not just IVA students and teachers) and all the...
Apr 04, 2024•52 min
Do any of your students dream of performing on a TV show like The Voice or one of the Idols singing competitions? Then they’ll want to hear the insights of this week’s guest Stephanie Borm-Krüger, co-founder of the Institute for Vocal Advancement and vocal coach for The Voice of Germany . Being a coach on a TV show like The Voice is challenging, especially when you only get a few minutes with each contestant to help them sound their best. Yet according to Stephanie, working in such a high-pressu...
Nov 02, 2023•1 hr 12 min
Join Heather and Tom as they talk about the effects of gestures on singing. The Vocal Advancement Podcast interviews many talented performers and educators, each with their own unique perspective on music and teaching. Follow us and subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode! IVA offers plenty of great resources for singers and voice coaches, including a FREE singing teacher’s summit in November 2023 and a vocal warm-up app for IOS and Android phones that’s due in October 2023...
Oct 12, 2023•47 min
Are you a “triple threat” — a performer who’s adept at singing, dancing, and acting? If you want to work in musical theater, revue shows, or cruise ship entertainment, you’ll often find producers expect their dancers to have some singing ability. Unfortunately, many performers who identify primarily as dancers may resist learning how to sing. Having held themselves to extremely high dance standards, many choose to believe they “can’t sing” when they don’t immediately sound like Beyonce Knowles. ...
Sep 21, 2023•1 hr
Do you do vocal warm-ups before you sing? If you’re like a lot of us, you may gloss over this part of your singing process. Maybe you feel you don’t have enough time. Or maybe you think good warm-ups can’t be done without a piano. This week’s guest Tessa Smith knows how you feel. In fact, she spent much of her early life skipping her warm-ups and going straight to singing. But a chance meeting with session singer Kim Chandler showed Tessa that beneficial warm-ups could be done in five minutes, a...
Sep 07, 2023•56 min
Different music patterns offer different flavors for performers to sample. But few musicians enjoy indulging in as many flavors of music as Kim Chandler. Originally planning on being a high school music teacher, Kim spent her early career as a jazz singer and orchestral flautist. Then she founded a heavy metal rock band and learned she was comfortable performing in both leather and frilly blouses. From there, she built a career as a session singer and offered her vocals to Barry Manilow recordin...
Aug 10, 2023•1 hr 2 min
As voice coaches, we need to properly assess our students’ voices before we can devise effective lesson plans for them. But what happens when you get a student who can’t match the pitch you want them to sing? It’s an issue that comes up a lot in our chat box. Many voice teachers wonder if these students are “tone deaf.” They worry their students can’t recognize different notes or sing tunes accurately. This creates a lot of stress when they try to understand the student’s issues and come up with...
Jul 27, 2023•53 min
Some people are born to perform. Take Savannah Stevenson. This English singer and actress got her first job understudying for Mary Poppins with the Original Cast of the West End production of Mary Poppins before she graduated from the Guilford School of Acting. She’s gone on to have a very successful career on stage, playing Glinda for three years in the West End production of Wicked , has acted in multiple TV shows, and also built quite a name as a voice actress. But as much as Savannah loves a...
Jul 13, 2023•59 min
