VocalFri Podcast

#VocalFam, Happy 2026! To kick off the new year Prof. Pigott, Alice, and Dr. P hosted Matt Edwards, Aaron Johnson, and Denis Michael Rudisch to discuss their article "Investigating Vocal Tract Configurations Across Different Belting Qualities in Female and Male Musical Theater Singers Using Real-Time Dynamic MRI," which was published in Journal of Voice last April. This episode is a great example of interdisciplinary voice science work that generated from the voice studio, into the lab, and has now returned wonderful insights back to voice teachers. A perfect episode to kickoff this semester!

The 9th annual VocalFri Christmas episode, our sequel to last year's Wicked Part 1 review, our Wicked: For Good review. This was also a special reunion episode. Dr. P and Prof. Pigott were joined again by Dr. P's kids, Charlie and Olivia, but also a surprise visit by original podcast co-host Michael, who joined us for the first time since VocalFri Christmas VI.

We gave our overall impressions, covered the Act structure, the new original songs, John M. Chu's directorial vision, our performers, possible award nominations, and the 2 film structure. Everything you've been waiting for, with no worries about spoilers since this film was released over a month ago. 

#VocalFam, what an incredible conversation to start your December! This week Prof. Pigott and Dr. P were joined by the author Dave Maass and illustrator Patrick Lay of the Graphic Novel Death Strikes, along with CU grad students Alice Del Simone (as a guest), Andrew Konopak. This summer Alice and Andy had the chance to perform the Viktor Ullmann opera Der Kaiser von Atlantis with the Colorado Mahler Fest, and then they were invited by Dave to join the Death Strike panel at San Diego Comic Con!!!! Here about Dave and Patrick's process of creating the graphic novel with their team, which also included Ezra Rose, Richard Bruning, and Karen Berger. Learn about how they travelled to Terezin to create the visuals for the scenic settings and how the letterer created the atmosphere of the text from the original source material from the opera. This is arguably, the most VocalFri episode in history: a graphic novel about an opera! 

This week Alice and Dr. P were joined by Dr. Michaela Kelly to discuss her dissertation work and Journal of Singing article "The Composition of a Voice Lesson: How a Motor Learning Classification Framework Affects Teacher Effectiveness." This was a wonderful chat full of ideas of how to freshen up your teaching, continue towards student centeredness, and avoid burnout. Definitely check out the article and then read more in the full dissertation. 

This week Prof. Pigott and Dr. P were joined by Joanna Cazden, a noted Speech Language Pathologist and voice teacher to share about her new edition of Everyday Voice Care, (Amazon link). The book presents a holistic view for the reader on how to keep their voice healthy, what to look out for in terms of the need to see a doctor, and approaches all of its topics through a multi-faceted lens. This expanded edition was prepared for a post-pandemic world with considerations for today's modern voice user. Also check out one of Joanna's original songs here. 

Today Prof. Pigott and Dr. P were joined by Dr. Anne Slovin to discuss her dissertation work on disability informed practices in our teaching. It is vital that we all become more informed about best practices for how to be aware for our students in the classroom and voice studio. Creating an accommodating environment for all should be a goal that every teacher is striving to do. Please check out Anne's work on this important topic.

#VocalFam, this week Prof. Pigott, Alice, and Dr. P were joined by an esteemed group of colleagues including Devin Dolquist, Victoria Vargas, Shayna Isaacs, and André Chiang to discuss their Journal of Voice article "The Bound Breath: Transmasculine and Gender Nonconforming Singers' Perceived Effects of Chest Binding on Singing." This affirming episode shares the results of their survey on singers who wear chest binding and their observations of the impact of wearing binding material while singing. 

Professor Gautereaux joins the 5-timers club. Longtime #VocalFam Kayla Gautereaux joined us for an awesome chat about how she is using the framework of the scientific method in the applied voice studio both for current voice teachers and for training voice teachers. This episode demonstrates Prof. G's wonderful mastery of conceptualizing new models that enhance voice teaching beyond the mentor/apprentice model in a framework that allows the singer to be the investigator and voice teacher to be the co-investigator of a study into the student's voice. A fantastic conversation!

A Fall VocalFri in house. Dr. P catches us up on his upcoming Faculty Tuesday recital titled "Amok Time," and catches Sarah up on the ongoing tech upgrades and updates for the Berton Coffin Voice Lab at CU. A great chat to enjoy on Fall hike this weekend!

#VocalFam this is a must listen for those of you who are either interested in voice registration or who want to know more about Complete Vocal Technique (CVT). Today, Alice, Sarah, and Dr. P were joined by Dr. Mathias Aaen, a certified CVT voice teacher, but also the head of CVT's voice research efforts. Mathias has already put together quite the significant output of research articles, presentations, and other professional work. Along with Marek Frič they published a new study last June titled "Going Beyond the Register - Vocal Mode Categorization Across Four Octaves in Professional Male and Female Singing Using Voice Range Profile, EGG, Acoustic, and Vibroacoustic Measurements: Double-Case Study," in Journal of Voice. This paper is one we all should read.