Maybe it's time to get out there! Are you eager to start performing as a soloist or in a band, but unsure of how to transition from singing in the shower or karaoke to gigging professionally? One great starting place is to attend Open Mic Nights! They are often held at restaurants, taverns, churches, or performance venues and allow singers and musicians to get onstage and perform together. Some are rather informal, while others are highly organized and require scheduling a time slot to get up and sing. Not only can these settings provide great performance practice with a live audience, but they’re also an ideal way to network with other singers and musicians. Maybe it’s time to get out there!
You’ve got TWO Options. Option 1 - hold back the breath with the VOCAL FOLDS. Option 2 - hold back the breath with the BODY. When we take an inhalation into our ribs and belly, we’ve taken an ideal singing breath. From there, though, the difficulty often begins. Sending air too forcefully towards the vocal folds causes tension and strain. With Option 1, the vocal folds and the larynx will have to hold back this air. With Option 2, the muscles of the torso create resistance so that the air doesn’t exit the body too quickly. This assures that the vocal folds receive their small, steady stream of air. “Breath Support” like this allows them to vibrate freely and naturally without bearing the brunt of the breath’s force. Efficient airflow leads to great control of your voice. From there, you won’t just have TWO Options. You'll have INFINITE Options!
Just like our bodies, our vocal anatomy changes with every passing year. We all know about the vocal changes that happen in our teen years. But, did you know a male’s larynx doesn’t even finish growing until his late 20s? Female larynxes and vocal folds also experience changes that correspond with fluctuating hormone levels. Male and female vocal folds continue to change throughout middle age. This slightly alters the sound of both the speaking and singing voice. Not being able to produce the exact same sound you did 10 years ago can either be frustrating or freeing. Many singers get better and better as they age and their voices mature like a fine wine! There are even singers that sing very well into their 80s and 90s! To do this though, you must embrace your ever-changing voice and sing with the instrument and body you have TODAY!
A True Artist is someone who never asks when they are going to be “DONE”. Or, when they are going to “MAKE IT”. Or, when they are going to be a “GREAT SINGER”. A True Artist is instead a LIFELONG LEARNER. Someone who isn’t seeking an ending point, but rather seeking the endless Joy that comes from learning about their body, craft, and soul. Even the most elite artists continue to take voice lessons, listen to new music, and develop their craft. Being a lifelong learner doesn't mean that you'll never be "good enough" or that you shouldn't set goals! It just means that your True Goal should be much bigger than any ONE goal. Let this take the pressure off of you so that you can develop an Artistry that fulfills and satisfies you... for LIFE!
Have you ever tried practicing your songs AMBIENTLY? While doing the dishes? While taking a walk or jog in the park? While laying in bed? While drawing a picture? If you haven’t, you might want to. Especially before a big audition or performance. We're so used to singing and practicing with 100% razor sharp focus - our technique, our placement, and our posture. We even think of our acting choices, our objectives, and our scene partner. But, while these things might result in a stellar performance, they don’t help us to be “NATURALS”. There are performers who seem like they could just fall out of bed and be right on point. Almost like they are “at home” on stage. This quality can actually be practiced and rehearsed! That is, through AMBIENT practice. Think it’s not “practice time”? Think again!
Atten…TION! Standing at attention with “perfect” posture can conjure images of rigid, tight muscles constricted in a frozen state - not the ideal conditions for singing. Great singing requires “tension” to be sure, but tension that’s supple and ready to move. Imagine your singing posture NOT as a "set" position, but instead as a combination of energies moving in opposing directions. For instance, let your spine have an upward momentum out of the crown of your head AND a downward motion into the floor. Or, keep your ribcage and abdomen expansive AND free to move inward. Keeping your posture at ease AND intentionally in motion will help keep your singing free and agile. Don’t let your posture command a tension… Let it command Attention!
Do you have EXPECTATIONS about what your voice should sound like or what it should be able to do? It’s very easy to focus on our end goals and then get discouraged when we don’t sound like our expectations. While setting long-term goals is very important to vocal success, you’ll move a lot faster if you live in THIS vocal moment. Establish a vocal journey where each step of your process is as valuable to you as your final product. Set small achievable goals and focus on these much more than your final goals. Take time to celebrate your successes and appreciate the progress you’ve already made. Give thanks for the voice you have TODAY. Because, no matter where you go on your journey - there will never be another voice like it!
Happy 4th of July to all of our USA singers! Did you know that the tune for the American National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” was originally written for a British gentlemen’s club called the Anacreontic Society? The melody has a range of an octave and one fifth. That’s a pretty big range for many singers to navigate! If you're having trouble hitting those high notes at the end, be sure you're starting the first phrase in a very low range for your voice. There's a long way to go before you reach the top! But, never forget that all great nations and all great singers start in low and humble places before they reach their greatest heights! This Independence Day, let freedom (and your voice) RING!
“He’s got a big voice!” “She sounds so powerful!” Think of the biggest, strongest, fullest voice you’ve ever heard. Now consider this: the human Larynx is roughly the size of a golf ball, and even smaller sometimes. The vocal folds of an adult are 18 to 23 millimeters long - not even one inch! It’s a wonder something so small can produce a huge range of sounds of all kinds: singing, laughing, shouting, crying, cheering, beat boxing, etc. So MIGHTY is the little Larynx that it can produce sounds that can be heard over an entire orchestra. So, the next time you're feeling small and defeated as a singer - remember that the most fantastic feats are often accomplished by the littlest heroes. And the unlikeliest underdog, the strongest sounds, and the greatest victories are already inside you!
Is there a difference between Listening and Hearing? Absolutely! Hearing is the PASSIVE way we listen to a sound, while Listening is the ACTIVE way. Both skills are needed in order to master our singing. When we work on our vocal technique or perform, it’s actually important to NOT listen to ourselves too carefully. To do so often tightens the body and the breathing system and causes us to be overly critical of ourselves. Instead we want to FEEL the sound while Hearing ourselves more ambiently. The time to Listen is after the fact. Play back recordings of your lessons, practices, and performances. This is the best time to analyze and understand if your technique is translating. Your ears are an amazing tool! Just understand when it’s time to Hear and when it's time to Listen!
Breathing can be both voluntary AND involuntary. We breathe all the time without thinking. Yet, we can also breathe in a conscious and controlled fashion. Apply this truth while you sing. Use your breath voluntarily when you need to take a good deep breath before singing a long phrase. Consciously resist and control your exhale through engaged and energized Breath Support. On the other hand, use your breath more involuntarily when you feel that you’re pushing your voice. Try letting your exhale happen more naturally. If you happen to run out of air, just let your inhale happen on its own. Celebrate your body’s ability to relax and do the work for you. Or, celebrate your ability to consciously take control over your breathing system!
Everyone knows that if you want to make it in the Music Industry, you’ve got to have CONNECTIONS! But, for most of us, that seems very discouraging. We don’t have an uncle who is the President of Sony Records or a cousin who won a Grammy. Yet, we can still take heart! “Connections” are not always these obvious examples. In fact, they RARELY are. Connections will happen to you naturally if you are dedicated to your craft and respectful to everyone in the industry. Your colleagues, your teachers, the people you meet at auditions - all of them can become Connections. The stage manager, the sound person, the custodian - also Connections. You truly never know who will be the one to open a huge door for your career. Remember - Connections aren’t something you HAVE, they are something you MAKE. That’s why it’s called “making CONNECTIONS!”
Adjusting your Larynx position can be quite jarring to the soul! It sometimes feels like you aren’t yourself anymore. Or, that your voice isn’t YOUR voice anymore. If you’re having trouble accessing new skills or stepping outside your comfort zone, then embrace the RIDICULOUS by imitating character voices! Need a higher Larynx? Sing like a cartoon baby, a tiny mouse, or someone on fast forward mode. Need a lower Larynx? Pretend you’re a giant, a sad or dopey character, someone moving in slow motion, or even Darth Vader. Embracing the silly and the comical gives you the security to explore the extremes of your vocal abilities and discover new vocal abilities that you never knew you had! LUKE... I AM YOUR LARYNX…
How many times have you started singing a song you love, only to discover you don't actually know the words? It's easy to listen to songs and enjoy the tune without really paying attention to the lyrics. Yet, lyrics are essential to a song's success. How do the song’s words communicate a story or a feeling? From a technical perspective, how do the consonants and vowels in each word establish style and texture? Do the breaths within the song change the meaning of the phrases and sentences? Lyrics give singers countless opportunities to communicate and express themselves. Your musicality, technique, and acting will all benefit from awareness of how the lyrics complement the music. So, next time you listen - or sing along - give the words the attention they deserve!
✨We're celebrating!✨ June 2025 marks the 20th year of teaching for our Founder & President, Justin Stoney. Twenty years ago he reluctantly began coaching singers on the recommendation of Barry Moss, having always told himself that the one thing he "would never do" was teach. Soon after, New York Vocal Coaching was born. It started out of his apartment using flyers on street posts to gather students and grew to be the largest vocal studio in New York City. Justin never imagined that he would be where he is today. We're celebrating everything he's built over the last twenty years, his students, his creativity, and the joy he brings to the world. As you navigate your own journey, stay inspired, stay dedicated, and stay open to all the possibilities. Celebrate every victory and every milestone, and focus on serving the people around you with the gifts God has given you!
Vocal HEALTH is easy if you treat your body right! First, stay HYDRATED! This means more than just drinking plenty of water. It also means monitoring the climate in your home, practice space, recording studio, or performance venue. Do everything you can to make sure that these spaces aren’t too dry. If possible, use a humidifier. Next, STRETCH! This includes both your physical body as well as your vocal folds. Some yoga or calisthenics coupled with vocal warmup exercises can get the body prepped for vocal athleticism. Finally, REST! If you can, schedule one day off per week to recharge your instrument. Especially if you perform often. Maintaining a healthy voice can really be as easy as staying true to these basics!
True or False: locking your knees while singing makes you PASS OUT? Under the right circumstances, it is indeed True! But why? Standing completely still with locked knees causes blood to collect in the veins of your legs, reducing blood flow to your brain. It’s called Orthostatic Syncope and it’s a common occurrence in choral concerts, graduations, and anywhere else people stand for a long time. But that’s not all! Additionally, your primary inhalation muscles are your External Intercostals (which expand your ribcage), and your Diaphragm (which contracts downward to pull in air). For exhalations, the Internal Intercostals close the ribcage and the Diaphragm returns to its upward position. However, the muscles of your back, abdomen, and legs also indirectly affect the QUALITY of your breathing. Locked knees or flexed quads cause tension in the lower back and abdomen - limiting Diaphragm and ribcage movement. Prolonged shallow breathing can cause light-headedness and, in extreme cases, passing out. So, keep your knees loose, keep moving, and sing out - you’ll never pass out!
One of the most important aspects of being an Artist is LISTENING. First, you must listen to your OWN voice - not just your singing voice, but your INNER voice. The voice that guides your taste, choices, decisions, and, ultimately, your path. Second, you must listen to the voices of your TEACHERS and mentors. It’s unwise to try to tackle singing completely alone. It’s a communal art, and you should find a set of ears that you can trust to help you grow. Lastly, you must listen to the voices that DISAGREE with you - those that give thoughtful (not mean, negative, or hurtful) critique. Have the toughness to listen objectively. True critique can be difficult to hear, but it’s crucial to growth. Be willing to listen to yourself, your mentors, and your critics - you’ll have no choice but to become a True Artist!
Laryngitis. A true vocal killer. Just about everyone has experienced it at some point. But, do you know what it is? Laryngitis is the inflammation of the larynx and, thus, the vocal folds. It can cause hoarseness, sore throat, coughing, and pain when you swallow. It can also feel like it takes much more energy than usual to speak, let alone sing. Colds, flus, infections, and allergies can cause this swelling. However, Laryngitis can also be caused by vocal abuse or very poor vocal technique. Talking or singing too loudly or harshly for long time periods can sometimes be the source. So, if you notice a DRASTIC change in your voice after an overly aggressive vocal session - give it a rest. If you suspect you have Laryngitis, check with your doctor to see whether it’s caused by illness. The good news is that Laryngitis will definitely heal! Just be patient and conscientious if it comes your way!
How many times have you started singing a song you love, only to discover you don't actually know the words? It's easy to listen to songs and enjoy the tune without really paying attention to the lyrics. Yet, lyrics are essential to a song's success. How do the song’s words communicate a story or a feeling? From a technical perspective, how do the consonants and vowels in each word establish style and texture? Do the breaths within the song change the meaning of the phrases and sentences? Lyrics give singers countless opportunities to communicate and express themselves. Your musicality, technique, and acting will all benefit from awareness of how the lyrics complement the music. So, next time you listen - or sing along - give the words the attention they deserve!