VocalFri Podcast

Our January acoustics miniseries rounds out with Dr. Joshua Glasner telling the #VocalFam about Spectral Moments. If you are interested in voice research, whether as a mentor or researcher, or you are interested in voice acoustics, this is one that absolutely should not be missed. Leave it to Dr. Glasner to make a very complex topic, understandable, enjoyable, and entertaining. 

Longtime #VocalFam Dr. Ian Howell of the Embodied Music Lab joins the pod for the first appearance in some time to tell us about his journey through a new (really old?) lens of voice acoustics. Both Dr. P and Dr. Howell come from a background of the traditional source-filter theory (solid state theory) of voice production, but for the past many months Ian has begun speaking publicly about a reframing of how the voice pedagogy community should consider approaching voice acoustics, through the transient theory of voice production. If you've encountered any of his posts surrounding transient theory, now is your chance to hear him discuss some of the ideas out loud. 

In the old yuletide tradition Michael rejoins us for our sixth annual Christmas special covering a bit of this year's pop culture favorites. We share our favorite all-time Christmas movies or specials and review the new Will Ferrell/Ryan Reynolds/Pasik & Paul musical retelling of a Christmas Carol: Spirited.  We cap off the year with our final thoughts on MCU Phase 4 which finished up with Wakanda Forever in November, and share a few of this year's best from TV and Movies. Happy Holidays everyone!

#VocalFam this was one of our favorite conversations ever! What an incredible journey that Noel Smith, singer, songwriter, voice teacher, and author has had! One of the industries leading pop and Broadway singing teachers, this episode about Noel's journey and her new book Teach Voice Make Money is pure joy. 

#VocalFam! Here is your chance! Your opportunity to make an impact in the lives of young singers and teachers of singing. VocalFri is proud to partner with NATS to bring you this #GivingTuesday event to sponsor the NATS Intern Program. Joining Sarah and Dr. P on the panel were familiar faces Liliana Guerrero, John Nix, Karen Brunssen, along with first time guest Douglas Carpenter. Each has their own special connection to the NATS Intern Program, and each shared with us the value it brings to early career teachers of singing. One NATS Intern Program travel stipend can be sponsored in full by an annual donation of $375. If that seems to high for you, would you consider donating just ONE LESSON FEE to any of the amazing funds listed below. Come join the #VocalFam and help us crowd source this tremendous opportunity for the next generation of voice teachers!

Intern Grants Fund

Barbara Doscher Endowment 

Master Teacher Grants

James C. McKinney Endowment

William Vessels Endowment

Such a great conversation with Nancy Bos! Nancy's first time on the pod in 2022 was for our Singing Through Change episode back in April, but this was our first chance just to feature her alone. We heard about her touching journey through performance anxiety which led to her recent Ted Talk. Learn more about Nancy and find the link to her Ted Talk at https://nancybos.me/ and check out her publishing company's upcoming release on Mindfulness and Singing https://mindfulnessofsinging.com/

VocalFam! Sarah and Dr. P give an update on how the Southern Region NATS conference went this weekend. Also, Dr. P updates us on how the NATS Science Informed syllabus has gone up to this point in the semester. Oh, and by the way, major spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever follow! A major emotional journey. Marvel's best work since Endgame.

#VocalFam, we were joined by a wonderful panel to hear more about collaborations, initiatives, and relationships being developed globally to support voice teachers. Our panel included former NATS President Karen Brunssen, EVTA President Susan Yarnell Monks, NATS International Region Governor Sarah Holman, Bronwen Forbary who played an important role in forming the new NATS South Africa Chapter, and Stephen Ng who played an important role in forming the NATS Hong Kong Chapter. Tremendous conversations about the many international efforts that are underway to have better collaborations between voice teachers all around the world!

VocalFri is joined by Elizabeth Benson to discuss her book Training Contemporary Commercial Singers. A great conversation about her journey from classical singer to contemporary voice teacher. Her book combined pedagogic philosophies from many leading experts from across the the globe and varying generations of contemporary voice teachers. An important text for all of us teaching multiple styles of contemporary singers.

Our spoiler ridden review of Rings of Power. We even brought in a Tolkien aficionado in the form of Sauron...we mean Jamey, Sarah's husband.