Mark Johnson Vocal Training Academy

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                                                                                                            We Are Here!!!

Those of  you who know me well, or have done Vocal Training for some time, know that I’m very much a ‘work hard/play hard’ kind of person.

What we do in elite-level Vocal Training is hard work … but too great a focus on the ‘hardness’ of the work can lead to stagnation and/or an Inner Narrative. Sometimes, somehow it can become less than positive. Let’s avoid that with a little humor.

In this final blog post of the Fall 2024 term, I want to do two things:

  • Acknowledge everyone’s (very) hard work this Term; and
  • Have a bit of fun and laugh at least a little bit.

Having arrived at Week 15 of the Fall Term, what comes to mind is the classic Dr. Seuss story Horton Hears A Who.  In the story, Horton the elephant hears The Whos (no, not the band … 😊) on a speck he’s holding.

As the drama unfolds, the tiny Whos resort to making the most vocal sound they can. Horton has them do this so the creatures who are about to roast and destroy them all can hear that he’s not crazy. They shout over and over, along with making all the noise they can:

                                                                                                           We are Here!
                                                                                                           We are Here!!
                                                                                                           We are Here!!!

So, MaJoVTA Members, thank you for making it “here” – the last week of Fall Term 2024!

Thank you for all your hard work, and the commitment  you make to your weekly Vocal Training session with me.

You’ve heard me say before, and it’s true: most people don’t do what you do.

Most people simply don’t (or won’t) make a deep personal commitment to this level of work. But you have.

Never underestimate what that means or the value it holds for you … and for me as your Vocal Trainer. I am deeply humbled and grateful for this opportunity.

After this week, we’ll be away from training for one month. See my earlier blog post Rest on why there is great value in taking time away. You’ll see it works to improve your growth over time, when we take regular time away.

See you soon in the room.

MJ

#wearehere
#dothereps
#majovta

 

                                                                                                         Are We There Yet???

Back in the day, we lived in North Carolina and most of our family lived in Oklahoma and Texas. For a period of years, we made many an epic, two-day holiday journey overland with first one, then two young kiddos.

The destination? My in-law’s house. They lived about the same distance from I-40 as we did – there were just several states between us. The directions from Point A to Point B were as follows:

                                                                             Go to I-40. Take a right. Go 1,000 miles. Take another right.

As today’s theme says, on pretty much any journey, as mile after mile unwinds along the way, the patience of the passengers begins to flag. The cry goes up from the back seats. And even if unspoken, the older ones do sometimes think it (come on, folks, you know you do…admit it).

                                                                                                            Are We There Yet???

In our world of Vocal Training, the journey is also long. But unlike a car trip, which eventually reaches a destination, in Vocal Training we never do that. Think about that for a moment: we are on a journey –sometimes for years – but we never arrive.

If you’re going to succeed in elite Vocal Training, this idea is at the same time one of the most difficult of all ideas to grasp and one of the most important of all ideas to master.

                                                                                         How can I possibly master this?!?

Effective Mental Conditioning and persistent, weekly training over a longer period is how you master it. And you master it by recognizing that this factor is simply part of the journey.

Each of us must eventually come to this insight – or face the potential of great difficulty moving forward.

                                                                                                 Are We There Yet???

Now, after our brief Holiday time away, we come to the final two weeks of our 15-week Fall Training Term. My best and strongest encouragement to you is this:

                                                            Find a way to be open to accepting that Vocal Training is a journey.

                                                             And that Mental Conditioning is an integral part of that journey.

                                                   Both must be mastered. Frustration and impatience must be accepted and overcome

                                                                                      for any meaningful growth to occur.

Have I seen meaningful growth in each of you this Term? Absolutely.

                                                                                                   Are We There Yet???

Not hardly … and my job every week is to joyfully bring to you the Glad Tidings that you never will be!

#itsaboutthejourney
#thereisnodestination
#dothereps
#majovta

In celebration of the Thanksgiving Holiday, the MaJoVTA will be on hiatus next week. Please know how grateful Molly and I are for each of you and what you represent to us: an opportunity for us to “pay it forward” with the skills, talents and gifts that we have been given, so that you might thrive and grow in your talent and artistry. Maybe it is a platitude, but there’s a reason most platitudes exist: they do have real meaning. Let’s break it down: Active vocal Training that follows Time-honored vocal training ideas means I know you’ll develop Techniques that help you Understand what you need to Do to become Effective in your own vocal artistry. Over time, you Keep Moving Forward…and Gradually, as you Do The Reps And Train effectively, I know you’ll develop Techniques that help you Understand what you need to Do to become Effective in your vocal artistry. Here’s my takeaway, MaJoVTA Members: While both acrostics begin differently –just like each of you is different in how you approach your Vocal Training – they end the same way. Similarly, each of you continues to grow in your understanding of what to do and how to do it (think: How To Allow). In this, you find focus on your sustained drive and dedication to Vocal Training. Once again: thank you. M&M #trainhard #singeasy #majovta #dothereps

                                                                                                                  E=mc2

Einstein’s theory simplifies best for me like this. Think of a small amount of “mass” that can “convert” to an enormous amount of “energy.” In his case the “c” is the speed of light and the “2” or “square” exponentially outputs the small amount of mass into an incredible amount of “energy” (think atomic fission).

Instead of splitting atoms, let’s do our own “break down” of how it applies to Vocal Training:

E = energy. If you are into elite Vocal Training, you know you need to be ready with lots of energy! But just like any kind of energy, the energy required comes from various sources:

  • Traditional – think the good ‘ole “fossil fuels” supply. Coal, and especially oil. Both come from within the earth, but oil comes from deep within the earth. So it is when you take a Vocal Training Session with me, or practice on your own. You must dig down deep to find that inner energy that fuels your passion to succeed.
  • Wind – Frustrations abound in Vocal Training. But how about this: instead of being frustrated, simply think of growing a large wind turbine from your forehead and lean into the “headwinds” of frustration. Understand that frustration is not bad, but is part of the process. This will help you generate the additional energy necessary to overcome and outlast the frustrations.
  • Solar – Let The Sun Shine In isn’t just a song title! It matters who you’re around and what kind of ‘light’ you absorb to generate the energy you need. Regularly engaging in positive interaction with others of “our kind” (performers) is healthy. And it’s a great way to feel the warmth of good vibes about us and our singing.

M = mindset. Also known as “Positive Mental Attitude” or “Mindfulness.” This is how we approach the “mental conditioning” part of Vocal Training. It ‘matters’ a great deal (you see what I did there, right?). Just like interacting with others, interacting with motivational materials and sources of inner strength matters, too. It could be a faith perspective, yoga, meditation – whatever works for you. So long as it moves you mindfully forward. 

C = convert. The payoff. Sourcing energy and mindfulness is the first step. Then, we ‘convert’ these elements into elite vocal artistry through effective, sustained, repetitive Vocal Training.

To rephrase Einstein, then:

Energy = Mindfulness Converted to the Power needed to Fuel your Vocal Training!

How’s your E=mc2?

#energy
#mindfulness
#convert

#dothereps
#majovta

                                                                                                           Learn To Fail

                                                      “There was no epiphany when the instrument panel suddenly and mystically
                                                                                   revealed to me my location in the airspace.
                                                                                                  Those few days were just
                                                                                                       slogging, brute-force
                                                                                     repetitions. But the actions of rote procedure
                                                                         slowly became a little less scripted and a little more natural.
                                                                     Gradually I fused together the information from each instrument to
                                                                       know where I was, where I needed to go, and what I needed to do.”

This quote is taken from a recent article in Air and Space Magazine. It’s about Heather Penny, and the title of the article is “…She Had To Learn How To Fail First.”

Capt. Penny did eventually pass her check ride. Today she is most known for being one of two fighter pilots tasked with bringing down United Airlines Flight 93 with her unarmed F-16. That’s right: she and her wingman were sent to ram the airliner to prevent it from reaching Washington DC.  As we all know, the hijackers put the airliner into the ground in Pennsylvania, killing all aboard. Unknowingly, they also spared the lives of Capt. Penny and her wingman that day.

This remarkable story and the quote have many takeaways for us in Vocal Training.

  • The instrument panel did not suddenly and mystically reveal itself to her. Instead, and over time, it did so almost without conscious thought (unaided?) as she continued to work at it.
  • Slowly, things became a little less scripted and a little more natural. Yes – it’s exactly that way in the study of elite singing, too.
  • Sometimes, even highly skilled, brilliant successful people like USAF pilots require slogging, brute-force repetitions. They sometimes have to Just. Keep. Going. no matter how it feels. They are required to work Patiently – with themselves and with the process.
  • Gradually, the information in her brain fused together and the information from each instrument (vocal training techniques to us) made sense.

My three big takeaways for Vocal Training are the same as hers. Eventually she:

  • Knew where she was;
  • Where she needed to go; and
  • What she needed to do.

And so it is, MaJoVTA members, that each of your weekly training sessions keeps you in the flow of learning. Early on, it’s about where you are. Then, it becomes about where you need to go. Finally, you know what you need to do as a Vocal Artist.

Growth is inevitable once you understand and embrace this process.

M

#learntofail
#slowpatientgradual
#dothereps
#majovta

 

                                                                                                   Severe Perseverance

Last night our phones went off several times with alerts for “severe” weather. The tornado warnings were off to the East, so we were fine. Fortunately, there’s a lot of open space here in Oklahoma, so there was no loss of life and little property damage.

But this got me thinking about the meaning and history of the word ‘severe.’ Sometimes, it seems, weather people in Central Oklahoma overplay their ‘severe weather’ hand. It is true that, most of the time, nothing happens.

Unfortunately, this sometimes results in people failing to take things seriously enough. And as this meme indicates, Okies have even found humor in it:

Merriam Webster’s online dictionary has several meanings for the word ‘severe.’ Interestingly, the one that’s most appropriate for bad weather sits at … number 8 … last in the list.

You hear me say in Vocal Training all the time: “Singing isn’t what you think it is … it’s what it is.”

And the meaning of the word ‘severe’ doesn’t always mean what we’re ‘weather conditioned’ to think it means. Indeed, other meanings of ‘severe’ serve the elite vocal training community (you) quite well:

  • Rigorous in requirement
  • Maintaining a high standard of behavior or self-discipline
  • Establishing exact standards of accuracy and integrity in intellectual process
  • Requiring great effort

Wow. That’s strong stuff.

Now — about your decision to engage in vocal training, and your vision for yourself as a vocal artist – how do you measure up to these meanings of ‘severe’?

Are you mindfully engaged in Vocal Training, or ‘just taking voice lessons’?

Perseverance is another one of those words that has meaning deeper than what we may realize.

Let’s look at it:

  • Continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition
  • The action, condition or instance of persevering

To my way of thinking, the prefix ‘per’ really says it all. From the Latin, it means ‘through.’

Perseverance means we go through difficulties, failure or opposition.

Perseverance encourages us to go through the ‘necessary defeats’ of extended physical and mental endeavor (learning to sing).

Perseverance expects us to go through the process and establish standards of accuracy and integrity in Mental Conditioning.

Perseverance means going through great effort.

Perseverance means going through the mindful effort to commit to strong self-discipline.

It’s week 11.

You’re tempted to coast – but don’t.

Instead: Practice Severe Perseverance.

#persevere
#dothereps
#majovta

                                                                             You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.
                                                                                      In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats,
                                                                                    so you can know who you are, what you can rise from,
                                                                                                            how you can still come out of it.
                                                                                                                         Maya Angelou

To take any kind of rigorous Vocal Training is to encounter defeat.

Sometimes, it is encountered daily.

Certainly, you encounter it in each Vocal Training Session, and rightly so. It is in the struggle with defeat we learn not to be defeated. And that’s a completely different thing.

Said another way, in Vocal Training, it’s necessary to encounter defeats. Right. Without encountering defeats, there is no possible way to Keep Moving Forward.



Here are my takeaways from Maya Angelou’s beautiful statement:

  • Your defeats teach you who you are. What physical and mental habits do you have that are counterproductive to singing? Unless and until they are encountered – that is, we are required to examine them – these things may never (ever!) come up or be discovered. Confronting them, discovering them, and working through them –feeling the defeats – is part of how you become who you are as a Vocal Artist.
  • Your defeats show you what you rise from. We all come to Vocal Training with ‘baggage.’ This can be misinformation (from ourselves or outside sources), and/or a misunderstanding of terms used in singing and Vocal Training. It is only possible to know where you want to go – what you want to become – when you understand and learn what it is you need to rise from.
  • Your defeats show you how you can still come out of it. Ok. But what is “it”?
  • How about a habitual way you’ve always sung that’s counterproductive and harmful?
  • Perhaps you’ve sung for literally years – and now you voice won’t work the way it used to, and you don’t know why. You’re scared it’s ruined.
  • Or perhaps you left singing all together and decided “I’m not a singer anymore” but later decided to begin again.

How can we still come out of these – or any other ‘defeats’?

The way out, MaJoVTA Members – and the way forward – are one and the same: endure the defeats, absorb them … feel them. Then, persevere with your Vocal Training anyway.

#feeldefeats
#butnotdefeated
#dothereps
#majovta

As a Vocal Trainer, I’m always in “how can I learn more” mode, so the idea of reading up on current fitness ideas –trying to find things to help my clients and improve their effectiveness as Vocal Athletes – always seems like a good one to me.

So, there I was … prowling the magazine stand at a local bookstore … when the cover of a Men’s Journal magazine caught my eye.

The image was that of what appeared to be a young Arnold Schwarzenegger – but was definitely *not* him. Intrigued, I bought the magazine, took it home and began to read.



The picture of the young man on the cover was that of Joseph Baena, a previously unknown son of – you guessed it – The Terminator himself.

At age 18, having become aware of who his father was, Banea reached out to his dad, and, to his credit, Arnold began a relationship with the  young man – accepting him as a son.

Unknown to Arnold, the young man had already become a bodybuilder (no real surprise there) but was also a budding actor – talk about DNA!

One day as they were visiting, young Joseph swallowed hard and said: “Hey, dad, I could really use some acting advice. What can you tell me?”

Arnold looked directly at his son and deadpanned: “Do The Reps”

Not understanding, the young man pressed his father and said “Well, yeah, sure, dad, on bodybuilding – I get it. But this is acting.”

Arnold stood, looked at his son and said in a louder, more insistent voice: “Do The Reps.”

Growing frustrated at this point, the young man also stood, now almost confronting his dad and insisting that he wanted acting advice … not bodybuilding advice.

“I have to go now.” His dad said, and Arnold then turned and started to walk out of the room.

As he left, he called out over his shoulder once more “Do. The. Reps.”!

Bemused at his dad’s stubborn insistence on the silly line, the son returned home. Upon arriving home, he found an acting audition notice waiting for him.

“Do The Reps. Do The Reps,” he reflected, “I know what that means for bodybuilding, but what does it mean for acting?”

Finally, he had the idea that he should just recite his lines for the audition over and over again (doing the reps) and just see what happened.

For the next two days, he did exactly that. Washing dishes, walking the dog, making dinner … he recited his lines over and over and over again, until he knew them so well, he could not get them wrong.

The next day, he went for the audition and felt that he’d nailed it. In fact, he did so well that before he even got back home, his agent called with an offer for his first movie role. Baena says his acting career took off from that moment on.

What’s  your vision for the kind of singer and performer you want to be? How hard are  you willing to train to make that vision happen?


#dothereps
#domorereps
#majovta

                                                                                                            Nehemiah 2:20
                                                                                         “The God of heaven will give us success;
                                                                                      therefore we His servants will arise and build…”

                                                                                                              Micah 7:11
                                                                           It will be a day for building your walls and raising up stones.
                                                                                     On that day will your boundary be extended.

 

As some of you have heard and seen recently,  we’ve had a home reno project in the works. I’m happy to report that as of this writing, the work is complete.

What hadn’t sunk in was how similar the process of remodeling is to that of “Voice Building.”

At one point a few days into the project, I made the mistake of going outside to walk the property and look at things.

Yipes…

A pile of busted concrete was over there, a stack of rotted lumber and deck boards were strewn in another place. In still another place, the crew had dug up rotted fence posts and the old concrete footings, chipped, worn and broken from decades of use and weather damage lay in a pile. It was “UH”gly to look at…..

Then, in a session this week, I was talking with a client about the ‘rebuilding’ process of how vocal training works. Yes, sometimes Vocal Training can be … rubble-y …..

For those of you who have been doing this for a while, there are rotted boards here and there, piles of broken concrete, sometimes “UH”gly sounds to be worked through, unearthed and discarded.

I’m thrilled to say that after a couple years of planning, several months of testing different designs, and several weeks of actual construction, our reno project looks amazing.

And so it goes, MaJoVTA Members, with your Vocal Training.

Some of you thought about Vocal Training for years. You spent months looking at different voice teachers. You decided to move forward. By now, people newer to The Academy have accumulated weeks of training. Others of you are in your second, third or even fourth year.

Still our work continues.

As in the Biblical references above, building an ancient city by hand took time. Sometimes even several generations of workers. Right – there was no app for that, and there’s no app for this, either.

It takes time.

But here’s the great thing: I hear gratifying improvement in each of you every week.

This happens when *you* do the hard work of dedicated, determined Vocal Training on  your own between our training sessions.

And I look forward to each weekly session as you ‘lay the foundations,’ raise up the stones’ and ‘extend the boundaries’ of your Vocal Artistry.

#arise
#build
#dothereps
#majovta

                                                                                                 Are You A Bad Person?

This week, I’m stealing a riff from Nike (hey, steal from the best, right?).

It’s Week 7 of the Fall Term at the Mark Johnson Vocal Training Academy, and I’m here to ask: Are You A Bad Person?


The ad campaign I refer to was launched during the Olympics, and featured world-class athletes. Watch the extended version of Nike’s ad campaign launch by clicking here.

We’re about halfway through the Fall Term. At this point, fatigue is normal. There’s nothing wrong with that.

And what I’ve seen in the last week is that some of you are tiring. The preparation (and resolve/determination to do the prep) may be lacking.

But the real question is this: do you allow that fatigue – or the sometimes monotonous, hard work of Vocal Training – to sidetrack you from working towards your vocal performance goals?

As you’ve heard me say before, what we do here at the MaJoVTA is not just voice lessons. What we do is elite, rigorous Vocal Training.

And frankly, folks, like Nike says, it’s not for everyone.

Here’s how what we do is different from “voice lessons”:

  • Yes, you’ll learn to sing, but not just that. You’ll know you in a better way (yes-scary!?!);
  • You’ll have a thorough knowledge of your instrument;
  • You’ll know how to use that instrument in an effective way;
  • And yes, you’ll train your voice, but you’ll also condition your mind; that’s way different from “just voice lessons” isn’t it?

If this sounds like you, and you’re willing to do the hard work of winning, then, stay the course.

If this sounds like too much trouble, or too much work, or what you want is “just voice lessons” then, maybe it’s time to make a different choice.

Please don’t misunderstand my intent here – my goal for each one of you in the Academy is to train your voice and condition your mind. This how every Elite Vocal Athlete releases their “inner winner.”

Never doubt that if you are here, so am I. And I am utterly committed to you winning.

Does wanting you to win make me a Bad Vocal Trainer? Does wanting to win make you a Bad Person?

Not hardly.

See  you in the room, MaJoVTA members.

#winningisnteverything
#itstheonlything
#dothereps
#majovta

 

In and Out and Up and Down

Perhaps you’ve heard of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World? If not, you can read the Wiki article here.

But from a Vocal Training point of view, I’d like to nominate an 8th Wonder of the Ancient World – the human respiratory system.

Yes – that’s right. Not only is it truly a wonder, but it is also by any measure, ancient.

Scientists generally agree that Homo Sapiens first became the dominant species on earth around 300,000 years ago. Further, they began grouping into towns and cities — figuring out how to create a civilization – around 6,000 years ago.

So, any way you slice it, the Wonder that is the human respiratory system is indeed Ancient.

Let’s look at the two primary functions of this ancient (and wonderfully efficient) system.

Up and Down

In a very basic sense, breathing is simply “up and down.” When we exhale, the breath moves up; at inhalation, it moves down. But the “why” is more interesting.

High pressure in the atmosphere around us responds to the low pressure inside the human body. When we relax and avoid aiding inhalation, high pressure seeks low pressure and – you’ve just taken a breath!

To exhale, all one must do is simply relax and let go. The upper body (which weighs around 20 lbs) responds to gravity and gently exerts downward energy on the body. With a gentle ‘sigh’ the breath leaves the body almost instantly – again completely unaided by the singer!

In and Out

I admit, I was a moderate skeptic about this one, until I saw the birth of my daughters.

At the moment their little bodies came into the open air, they drew a breath that went “down” – their shoulders did not move. And then, as the little lungs filled for the first time, I saw the little belly move “out.”

If that’s not a Wonder – what is?

One of the primary goals of Vocal Training is to foster the singer’s ability to allow the Wonder that is the human respiratory system to function unaided. To allow the system to just do what it does.

Yes, the singer does other things to turn the unaided exhale into a singing tone, but that is the topic of another blog post (and one we work on in every single training session!).

See you soon!

#inoutupdown
#dothereps
#majovta

 

Why is preparation so important to success in Vocal Training?

Remember this, MaJoVTA Members: This level of Vocal Training is unusual and cannot be accomplished except by daring, preparation and elite training.

I often think about my friend Rich, a USAF reserve pilot who flies his F-15 faster than the speed of sound, 10 miles up in the sky. Or I watch Simone Biles on the parallel bars. Wow. What Rich and Simone do is not “natural.” And neither is it “natural” to do this kind of Vocal Training.

Generally, people don’t do what you do. It is, in a word, elite – set apart from what most people would even dare try.

And yet, you have decided to do it. Never underestimate the importance of that decision.

Rich and Simone both trained …for years… to achieve their elite level of proficiency as a pilot and gymnast. Slowly, Patiently, Gradually – they did it.

And so can you – with proper preparation.

Ask yourself: What do I need to do?

  • Preparation Matters. The better you prepare, the better your successes in your weekly Vocal Training session. You’ll improve more (and more quickly) over the longer term, too.
  • Any preparation you do is good. More is better, but see Gibb’s Rule #5: “You Don’t Waste Good.” You hear me say this in training sessions all the time. It’s true.
  • Perfectionism kills progress. Every. Single. Time. One of my rules is that you never keep everything you train for, so don’t expect to. Instead, mindfully set a performance goal of 92-94%. That’s an “A” in anybody’s grade book!
  • Self-Talk Matters. At one point or another, I’ve stopped every one of you in the session. I then encourage you to find positive language to describe the training and the hurdles experienced in training. Words matter. Positive words matter more.

Bottom Line: it’s vitally important to prepare outside your weekly Vocal Training session. It could be a little or a lot. Whatever you do contributes to the “cumulative” part of the “cumulative/exponential” equation. Every. Single. Time.

And even when #lifehappens and you don’t feel it, or you miss a training session, don’t blow it off. Decide to keep moving forward. Don’t waste good. Do what you can. You will improve. You will get better.

I’ll close with a paraphrase of a famous quote attributed to coach Vince Lombardi:

Preparation Isn’t Everything. It’s The Only Thing.

#daretoprepare
#dothereps
#majovta

 

 

40T + (M/H = 100) + (3 + A) = YOU       

     

The story of how Michelangelo, created the magnificent statue, David, has always been an inspiration to me.

The stone was rejected by three previous artists due to a significant flaw (a large crack running down one side). But Michelangelo insisted this flawed, 40-ton block of marble be hauled from the quarry to his studio. It took one week, and the combined efforts of approximately 100 men and horses to do the job.

When questioned about why he wanted this block of marble he is said to have replied simply: Non siamo tutti imperfetti? (Are not we all flawed?).

He then began the daily toil (Regimen?) in his Studio. He labored first to remove the larger pieces of stone that were more obvious. Then, he began working to a finer and finer level of detail.

As artists often do, he worked with size and perspective. It was one of the largest free-standing sculptures ever created, standing some 18 feet tall. At the time, about 3 times the height of the tallest man; some say, this was his acknowledgement to the Trinity.

The head, hands and feet were all larger in proportion to signify the dominant philosophy at the time, Humanism. The larger head, hands and feet corresponded to human Intellect, Industry, Exploration, respectively.

 Even though nearly finished, his support staff reported the Maestro would sometimes sit for hours at a time. He sat and (and sat…) and stared at the emerging statue. Then, he would suddenly stand and walk across the room. Taking up his hammer and chisel the staff heard a distinctive – ‘chink’ – as a tiny sliver of stone fell to the floor.

This process went on for months at a time, until finally, after three years (3 years!?!) the Artist’s work was complete.

When unveiled, public response was overwhelming. The Italian public – quite accustomed to Fine Art – had nevertheless never seen anything quite like this. The scope and scale of the work was beyond compare.

Michelangelo was asked “How, Maestro, did you do this?”

He is said to have answered: “It was easy. I chipped away everything that was not a masterpiece.”

“Easy?” we think. Perhaps for someone of his ability…yes.

But for all of us? Right: Not hardly.

Yet he does have a point, and it’s this:

Each time you set up your Vocal Training equipment and go through a practice training session. Or you prepare for our weekly sessions. Or when we work one-on-one in a Zoom or in-person Vocal Training Session, we are essentially doing that same work.

Over time, you learn to identify, release and replace all the tiny vocal and cognitive ‘chinks’ that don’t need to be there. These are the small, almost unnoticeable physical habits that hold us back. Or it could be the swirls and eddies of inner thought that draw us away from mindful best practice.

  • Vocal Training
  • Mental Conditioning.

Yes: every little ‘chink’ and detail matters – inside and out.

And the masterpiece that is finally revealed? Well, my friends, that’s you.

Your God-given talent and intellect, as well as your passion for learning to sing. And your desire to share that gift with others. Those are what make you the Masterpiece.

Now, I’m no Michelangelo. But my job, like his, is simply to help you remove the ‘chinks.’

When we do that work, then the incredible work of art that’s you and your voice can emerge. On its own and in its time.

#chinkinthinkin
#dothereps
#majovta

Previously puslhished as Slow, Patient, Gradually. Edited and updated 15 September 2024 by MaJo.

                                                                                 What’s Next?

One of our all-time favorite TV shows was The West Wing, starring Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Allison Janney and an ensemble of other Hollywood A-listers. See the Wiki here.

Set in the fictional first administration of President Jedediah “Jed” Bartlett, it focused on the behind-the-scenes activities of the administration – elements most people never see or hear.

One of President Bartlett’s normal practices (and one we’ve adopted in our household) was this. After an especially difficult or controversial debate, the President had a brief period of reflection. Then, he made and announced his decision followed by the question: What’s Next?

That question meant: 1) discussion ended; 2) decision made; 3) time to move on.

And it was a one-way trip to Lake Wobegon (Wiki) for anyone who made the mistake of trying to continue the discussion.

If that happened, “Jed” Bartlett would simply stare back at the offending person and repeat, steely-eyed:

What’s…Next.

This coming week is Week 3 of the Fall Term of Vocal Training at the MaJoVTA.

In the first two weeks, here’s what I saw:

  • You were willing to work –hard– thank you;
  • Some of you made great strides and executed vocal technique at a higher level;
  • Others of you grappled with new (or ongoing) vocal and physical issues, but improved;
  • A few of you improved, while failing to achieve everything you wanted, even after working hard.
  • No one quit.

It’s that last one that really matters.

Even when you failed, you didn’t give up.

You got back up, dusted yourself off and were willing to ask yourself: What’s Next?

You took what was good about what you accomplished and moved on.

And regardless of your level of accomplishment—every single one of you did that – each in your own way, but you did it.

Now, as you look ahead at Week 3 of Vocal Training, I’m asking you to think back to when you started.

You looked at all the options. You had your discussion and debate with yourself, sometimes for months. But then you made your decision: you decided to go full-on with Vocal Training.

Now you’re here. You’re doing it. So, I ask again what I asked each of you when you started: what is your vision for who you want to become as a Vocal Artist?

How hard are you willing to work to achieve that vision and truly begin living that life?

In other words: What’s Next?

#whatsnext
#failureisntfinal
#dothereps
#majovta

What a terrific first week of sessions for the Fall Term 2024! It was so gratifying to see and hear your progress – keep it up! Thank you for welcoming me into your lives each week as you follow your dreams and pursue your passion for singing.

And now, the Labor Day holiday is upon us, and many of us have a three-day holiday. Molly and I wish you safe travels, as we and many of you will also be on the road.

This national holiday is an opportunity once each year to take time to reflect on how we make our work more meaningful.

And in our world of Vocal Training, I want you to think about understanding factors that contribute to making the work of Vocal Training more meaningful.

Obviously, just like our day jobs, the individual actions we undertake in Vocal Training sometimes require plodding work. This doesn’t always translate into meaningfulness in the short term. But sticking with it over the longer haul can bring huge rewards.

Here are a few tips:

  • Awareness (of yourself and your wider environment), leads you to be more willing and able to be creative in how you think. And it improves how you deal with challenges and problems. Awareness also helps you come up with better solutions and adapt to changing circumstances. This can positively impact of your everyday Vocal Training tasks.
  • Mindfulness helps us learn to recognize and acknowledge what’s going on in the mind, moment by moment. This increases awareness, and decreases rumination (The “I did that wrong” or “I could do that better” tropes). This Mental Conditioning leads to greater skill in singing and, eventually, meaning making through performance.
  • Journaling is a great way to build awareness into your Daily Vocal Regimen. Before you end the day, ask yourself, “What did I find meaningful about my practice today,” and write it down. You can do this not only for yourself but also for those you perform with. Consider weaving awareness into group discussions and conversations on stage, or in the rehearsal hall or recording studio.
  • Relationships. On a very personal level (which Vocal Training surely is!), time with others who share your dreams and passion is important to feel happy and fulfilled with your training. When possible, you can engage with others through active listening and showing appreciation for their work. These behaviors could then also enable greater psychological safety in the training environment as you feel more confident about what you do – and that fosters meaningfulness.

Have a wonderful weekend and holiday and see you on the other side.

M

Adapted by Mark Johnson for MaJoVTA.com from an article in The Harvard Business Review

                                         “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.”

What is it that you fear?

Talking about the recent climate in the movie industry, director David Leitch (The Fall Guy) had this to say:

                   “The choices that you make, it’s kind of a way to live your life, you know?
                    I think if you want to accomplish things, you have to be fearless and know
                    that you’re going to get knocked down, and you have to get back up.
                    It’s like a stunt guy. Fall down, get back up, fall down, get back up.
                   You have to take these risks in your life and in your relationships
                                            to go the places you want to go.”

Let’s break it down:

  • Choices – you decided that you’re going to become a singer. Whether or not you realize it, that means in my Academy, you agree to work hard to train your body and mind to that goal;
  • Accomplishments – if you’re reading this blog post today, then, you survived. You made it. You got through Summer Term 2024 and you’re a better person and singer than you’ve ever been before. Live in that for a moment . . . feel good about it.
  • Non-linear growth – right, success isn’t a straight line. Vocal Training is not easy. You failed. Often! But you did not stop. You got back up, took that next breath and kept going. Live in that for a moment . . .
  • Risk – anything (anything!) we do carries a certain amount of risk (especially hard stuff like … vocal training). But like driving to the grocery store or crossing the street, everything has a risk. We accept it, keep calm, and carry on.

Fall Term 2024 begins tomorrow.

What are your goals, dreams, desires and desired accomplishments? We’ll visit about these things and more as we begin the term.

See you on the other side ….. of fear.

MJ

                                       Every Step Forward Brings Us Closer To Where We Want To Be

Olympic swimmer, Katie Ledecky, is now the most decorated US Woman in Olympic history. She sealed the deal Thursday with a 13th medal in the Women’s 4×200 meter freestyle relay. They say she has several more opportunities to compete and may well win 2 or 3 more!?!

Amazing.

When asked about the “secret” of her success, here’s how she responded:

                                   I always just focus on what my own goals are, and not what anybody else’s
                                  goals for me are or their expectations. I just know that my family will always
                                   be supporting me and my friends and my coaches. As long as I put in the hard
                                   work and know that I’m giving it my best effort, I will always be happy.

In other words, MaJoVTA members: keep taking those steps (or in Ms. Ledecky’s case … strokes).

We’re at the end of the Summer Term 2024 – next week is the last week of training. We will ‘rest’ for a couple weeks, then restart our Vocal Training regimen the last week of August.

But today I want to ask you to think about the Summer Term:

               1) what did you accomplish? and

               2) how many ‘steps’ did you take?

From my perspective as your trainer – for many of you, it’s been huge. Here’s what I see:

  • Every one of you now sings with better technical skill;
  • Every one of you now sings with increased control and greater freedom in your vocal tone.

These are not small accomplishments, and your actions speak *much* louder than any words.

And most importantly to me as your trainer:

  • With the website rollout, you more clearly understand the concept of “skill building” – knowing what you need to know, finding that information, then — Just Doing It.

These are amazing accomplishments for each of you. I’m delighted by them and more than a little bit proud of all you’ve done. Thank you.

And thank you, too, for being a part of the MaJoVTA.com community.

Your hard work, dedication and passion to make rigorous Vocal Training a part of your life inspires me every day.

Your willingness to commit  resources of time and money – investing in  yourself to make yourself better – fills me with gratitude. I am truly humbled to know and work with all of you.

So, here’s to one more week of training and to your terrific accomplishments of the Summer Term 2024!

M

#stepstepstepping
#keepmovingforward
#dothereps
#majovta

                                                          Good Singing Is Good Singing Is Good Singing

                                               The Style Is In The Music, Not What You Do With Your Voice

Longer term members of my Vocal Training Academy have heard me say this many times before.

But the opening-night ceremonies of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris proved the point far better than I could.

Here are several examples of the amazing vocal artistry on display that night. Take a listen and see how each of these singers used their excellent singing technique. You’ll hear that each sang beautifully — but in very different styles.

Proof positive that our “Foundation Four” – Onset, Breath Management, Agility and Vowel Definition work every time all the time, when we train and use them correctly and consistently.

Enjoy!

Lady GaGa – French Cabaret Style

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a240KhNIL4Q

Celion Dion – Pop Music/Broadway Belt Style

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smKqMiGXxl4

Axelle Saint-Cirel, Mezzo-soprano – Classical style

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZgnT-uVbW4

                                                           The Mark Johnson Vocal Training Academy

                                                    Real, Solid Vocal Training That Works … When You Do!

Focus On The Signal – Tune Out The Noise

In a previous blog post, I wrote about two of the biggest challenges in Vocal Training:

  • Misinformation; and
  • Misunderstand of terms.

Today, I want to address the first of these.

Misinformation comes to us as singers in two primary ways:

  • The misinformation we give ourselves; and
  • The misinformation we accept from others.

Perhaps the most significant source of misinformation we give ourselves is when we try to listen to ourselves sing. Then, we think we can adjust or give physical or mental input based on what think we ‘hear.’ This is wrong, and can be dangerous, as it often leads to manipulation of the voice in an unhealthy way.

Especially for pop or contemporary singers (most of you) another prime example of misinformation we give ourselves is the statement “It sounds too Classical.”

 Vocalogists and Audiologists generally agree that while we do hear ourselves when we sing (roughly an 80% internal-20% external sourcing). But when actively singing we should not also actively listen. Rather, it’s about cultivating an awareness of how good singing feels (the internal sound response is part of this), and not how only we think it sounds (external sound response).

So, if we can’t hear ourselves sing then how do we know it’s “…too Classical”? That’s the point, we can’t. And it isn’t.

In her article in Backstage magazine,  NYC vocal coach, Arden Kaywen, puts it like this:

Most singers think of listening as it relates to sound: listening to the sounds of the accompaniment…the sounds we make when we sing… This kind of listening is focused on external sound and our external experience with it. When we listen this way, we tend to force, manipulate, and push our voice as a means of controlling an outcome.

In another article at Neuroscience.com, the authors refer to a similar mode of brain activity:

…there are two activities that support its ability to establish reliable connections in the presence of significant biological background noise [our own singing sound]. Although the brain’s mechanisms are quite complex, these two activities act as what an electrical engineer calls a matched filter – a processing element used in high-performance radio systems, and now known to exist in nature.

For our purposes, the “…known to exist in nature…” means us – singers – as we sing.

We can train to avoid relying on that 20% of externally sourced ‘noise’ and focus instead on the internal ‘signal’ – how it feels to sing well.

This is training to sing healthfully and sustainably. And that good vocal technique translates across any kind or sort of singing ‘style’ there is. IOW – good singing, is good singing, is good singing, regardless of style.

#stoplookandlisten
#dothereps
#MaJoVTA.com

NtheKno          

                                                           Persistence Is More Important Than Perfection

I read this recently in a pilot magazine. The author talked about the various things that pilots berate themselves over – bad landings, inability to hold altitude, too much speed (too little speed!?!). He listed these and a host of other things that are …yep… *totally* “First-world Problems.”

Yet, we persist in beating ourselves up over these things every time we fly.

Unfortunately, in Vocal Training, the same thing is true.

We often beat ourselves up over not getting the exercise right, not getting the pitch right, missing the entrance, and … well, you get the idea.

News Flash: we will never (and I do mean never) reach “Vocal Nirvana” – perfection. So, it comes down to managing our inner narrative in the most positive way possible. That eventually seeps into every aspect of our training and learning. It motivates us to accomplish our vision for who we want to become as a Vocal Artist.

                                                              Persistence Is More Important Than Perfection

Now that you’re a MaJoVTA Member, use the new website to your full advantage. It is one of the most important aspects of your Vocal Training.

In his book Music Learning and Development, author Robert Woody talks about the two kinds of knowledge:

  • Things we need to know (declarative knowledge); and
  • Things we need to be able to do (procedural knowledge).

He further states that even though each is its own kind of knowledge, each also has its own way of working itself into the human brain. Over time, the two different kinds of knowledge eventually become the same.

Somehow, he says, the knowledge is absorbed and adapted together by the brain into a functional whole. In our case, this results in your increased ability to sing with ever greater skill, ease and artistic expression.

MaJoVTA.com is structured exactly along these lines to help you:

  • The “Learn” tab content is what you need to know (declarative knowledge about Onset, Breath Management, Portamento, Vowel Definition);
  • The “Train” tab content is what you need to be able to do (procedural exercises for Sostenuto, Intervals, Velocity and Vowel Stability).

When you access and use them, these two elements of the website work together to move you forward in your passion for learning to sing. Along with your weekly training session, they give you the tools you need to make Vocal Training a part of your life. And that’s not just…voice lessons.

                                                                  Persistence Is More Important Than Perfection

How persistent are you?

#iwillpersistuntilisucceed
#dothereps
#majovta

Q&A

This week’s blog post answers several questions I’ve been asked lately about the MaJoVTA, the website roll-out and how the website works. Here goes!

  1. Why is it called The Mark Johnson Vocal Training Academy? Isn’t this just … voice lessons?

First, I’ll answer with a question: What’s your vision for who you want to become as a performer?

Developing your ability to sing at an advanced level is something that’s either a meaningful part of your life (vocal training), or it’s just another thing that you do (voice lessons).  

Which is it?

Everyone who joins The Academy is strongly encouraged to make Vocal Training a part of their lives.

With my guidance (and using the website) you’ll:

  • Create and follow a Daily Vocal Regimen;
  • Commit to at least two (2) weekly, individual practice sessions; and
  • Consciously Seek regular performing opportunities.

Sure, life happens, and sometimes your Regimen gets modified. But you’re committed and you do your best. You strive for excellence. Anything else is just … voice lessons.

   2) Why is there a subscription cost to the website?

It’s about accessibility. That your vocal training costs and the website’s training material are affordable is important to us. That’s why we switched recently from charging for single sessions to a “Term”-based model.

With term-based training, when you commit to pay in advance for 8 sessions you receive the 9th free (Summer). When you commit to pay in advance  for 14 sessions you receive the 15th and 16th free (Fall and Spring).

  • Your commitment shows that Vocal Training is in fact part of your life;
  • Paying monthly helps keep the cost of Vocal Training accessible;
  • Over time, the free sessions you receive offset the cost of the website subscription.

   3) How Do We Use The Website?

Once you’ve completed enrollment (you have completed enrollment…yes?), return to the site anytime and click “Login.”

Do the following:

  • Navigate to the “Train” tab to practice vocal exercises and enhance your skills training;
  • Navigate to the “Learn” tab to gain knowledge and information you need to train effectively;
  • Use the “Resources” tab to find other supporting documents for training;
  • Use the “Library” tab to find music, piano tracks and other useful material.

Bottom Line:

Your commitment  to Vocal Training at The Mark Johnson Vocal Training Academy means you follow a complete, vocal training/mental conditioning Course of Study. Right – it’s not just … voice lessons.

So, MaJoVTA Members, I’ll ask once more:

What’s your vision for who you want to become as a performer?

#commit
#train
#learn
#dothereps
#majovta

Baseball legend and Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson

H2kn0w

One of the most successful and celebrated multi-sport athletes in history, Bo Jackson, also knew how to have fun.

Mostly, he played baseball and football, but here’s a commercial compilation of all the different sports he (supposedly) tried. The video gives us a look (and pokes good fun) at some of them. No matter – he was truly an ‘elite’ athlete in every sense of the word.

“Bo Knows” was the running theme of the commercials he did, and you know he understood the importance of hydration – so that’s where I want us to focus today:

You Gotta Know Your H20!

In a recent article, Rayven Nairn, an expert on Performance and Fitness physiology for John Hopkins Medicine, laid out the basics for any individual who trains and performs at a high level.

I encourage you to read the entire article here, and here are several of her most important take-aways:

  • Athletic performance. Water cushions the joints, and being dehydrated can affect your flexibility and speed. Since we stand when we train or perform…this is important!
  • Hydration is essential for proper muscle function (including the heart muscles), and it helps you avoid light-headedness.
  • When you inhale, you need body fluids to moisten the air so it’s easier to absorb oxygen through your lungs.
  • Your brain needs water to work. Just as a drop in blood sugar can make a person “hangry,” dehydration can affect mood and concentration and cause headaches and irritability and cause lack of focus
Several other very important ideas from her article really resonated with me:
  • Any meaningful physical activity for which inhalation and exhalation occur with greater frequency (singing) causes us to lose hydration; air exhaled from the body contains a significant amount of moisture;
  • Think ahead. Since it takes around 45 minutes to one hour for the body to process consumed fluids, if you wait until you feel thirsty to drink water or wait to hydrate until your training session or performance begins literally none of that fluid will help you during the actual training session!
  • The body also needs electrolytes (salt) to properly process the fluid intake. Being low on salt causes the body to simply ‘pass’ the fluid without completely processing it. This is where certain sports drinks can come in handy. But do your homework and make sure it’s a healthy one.
There are many other helpful tips included in Ms. Nairn’s article – please take time to read it – and we’ll discuss setting up your hydration regimen at the beginning of your session this week.

Drink up!

#waterwatereverywhere
#dothereps
#MaJoVTA

Rest…

Probably the most famous “rest” period was the one taken by The Almighty after a hard week’s work of creation. Shortly after, he commanded humankind to do to the same.

That’s worked pretty well for … oh, a few thousand years now … but in our modern, 24/7/365 world, we’d be well served to remember that rest is pretty much a necessity for people who train at a difficult physical skill and succeed at an advanced level.

In a recent article on the idea of Rest and Recovery, Mr. Rick Ansorge laid out a two-phased approach to rest:

  1. Active Recovery; and
  2. Long-term Recovery

I encourage you to read the full article here as it’s chock full of helpful information. It can help steer us in the right direction as we take a “long-term” (one week) rest from our vocal training regimen. And for those whose lives keep moving forward even during our vocal training rest period, the ‘active’ rest plan works well, as you’re mindful of applying the principles of restful living to daily work and leisure activities.

At the MaJoVTA, we do what exercise physiologists define as ‘periodic’ or ‘seasonal’ training.

We just completed a 16-week ‘season’ of training; now, we’ll have one week’s rest.

That will be followed by a shorter (9-week) summer training term, that also incorporates a one-week rest period. After that, we’ll train four more weeks, then take two week’s rest.

The last 16-week ‘season’ of training for 2024 begins in late August and take us up to Christmas time, which will be followed by three week’s rest.

My best encouragement to you –whether you’re in ‘active’ or ‘prolonged’ rest this coming week – is to be mindful of the need to rest, both mentally and physically, so we can return to our training regimen relaxed, renewed and ready to go.

Lastly, as we consider this Memorial Day weekend, we are grateful to those members of the MaJoVTA who served: Bill Nash (USAF) and Jason Berry (US Army). Thank you, gentlemen, for your service. And we join you in remembering those who died in the service of our country that we might enjoy the freedoms we all share.

    Limitations – Bad

    In his career, Clint Eastwood created many memorable characters. Perhaps none stands out more than Detective Harry Callahan, aka ‘Dirty’ Harry.

    Harry’s basically a good guy, but occasionally bends the line as a cop; he just wants to make sure those who deserve justice get it, while at the same time making sure the bad guys get what they deserve.

    We like Harry, but he can get himself into some pretty tight places.

    One of those is at the end of the movie Magnum Force (1973). After an epic battle between cops and organized crime goons, Harry and the crooked DA crime boss are the only two left standing. See the clip here.

    The DA’s got the drop on Harry — he could blow him away and no one would ever know – but he doesn’t. Instead, he says: “I’m gonna prosecute you, Callahan; it’ll be my word against yours.”

    But this time, the DA’s gone too far.

    Now, what Harry may lack in good manners he more than makes up for with “street smarts.” The DA doesn’t see Harry pick up, then toss back in the car a small explosive device (oops). As the DA drives away, the car explodes.

    With just a hint of a wry smile, Harry says: “A man’s gotta know his limitations.”

    Like that crooked DA, who thought he had it all figured out, we sometimes think we know more than we really do about singing (myself included!?!). We think we know certain things about singing, then, suddenly, new information or different experiences come rushing in and … well, everything just kind of explodes.

    How can we avoid that?

    It can be helpful to know where those “tight places” may be for us as singers  – the places we get ourselves into (vocally and mentally) – where there’s potential for limiting ourselves:

    • Inner Narrative – what we say to ourselves about ourselves can have a great positive impact on our training and performing when we make the mindful effort to avoid negative thinking;
    • Prior Learning – maybe something we learned about singing a long time ago sounded pretty good at the time, but now we realize that doing that could cause vocal problems. Once we know, those things are best avoided;
    • Previous Experience – like a pilot who’s flown in bad weather too often and always thought “Well, I made it!”, we sometimes fall back on bad singing habits thinking “Well, that’s kinda worked before!” But that thinking is also best avoided; just because the pilot didn’t crash flying in bad weather this time doesn’t mean it’s a smart thing to do;
    • Misinformation and Misunderstanding – the often (mis)quoted “Sing from the diaphragm!” is probably the most well-known misinformation about singing, but there’s plenty more where that came from! Knowing terms, understanding the meaning of the terms and how to use the knowledge when performing is of utmost importance in vocal training.

    I’m forever thankful for the training I received from my mentor, Dr. Steve Austin, who was a Vocologist (combination of a scientist and voice teacher). He instilled in me the importance of providing two things to all my clients:

    1. The correct information and vocal training they need to become amazing singers; and
    2. The mental conditioning to thoughtfully execute that knowledge and training.

    Like separate ingredients in a wonderful recipe, the blend of these two things is what makes excellent performers!

    Bottom Line: being mindfully aware of the places where we could potentially limit ourselves, while getting and using correct knowledge and information to avoid those places, is absolutely the best kind of “street smarts” I can think of for performing.

    #vocalstreetsmarts
    #dothereps
    #majovta

    Limitations – Good

    The word flibbertigibbet is used in the iconic 1965 film Sound of Music  to describe the young postulate, Maria (see the clip here.) Although they admitted that she made them laugh, in other ways it just wasn’t working for them. We all know the story from there: Maria did indeed leave the convent and became Maria von Trapp. The rest, quite literally, was history.

     

    Many years later, after the Von Trapps had immigrated to the US, Maria travelled from the family farm in Pennsylvania into New York City where sold the rights to her story to Rodgers and Hammerstein for $1,000. The rest (again) became history: first the Broadway musical and then the movie become history-making productions in their own way.

     

    But back to our story, and it’s this: the older nuns of the convent thought Maria’s silly, scatterbrained, offbeat behavior was not how a nun should behave. Her way of approaching life just didn’t fit within the Convent’s proper ‘limitations.’

    In vocal training though –and especially when singing—it’s good to know ones’ limitations.

    • Limitations keep us mindful and help us avoid hurting ourselves vocally by over singing;

    • Limitations help us find songs that best fit our voices and display our voice’s unique beauty and power while helping us avoid those not best suited for us;

    • Limitations steer us towards good singing habits, cultivating the good in our voices;

    • Knowing our limitations can, over time, help us develop an almost instinctive approach to how we sing that results in dramatic and powerful performances; and lastly

    • Limitations on what the voice can do are part of “playing” an instrument that is both delicate and durable and must be handled intentionally in a different way than any other instrument.

    How do we find, learn and know our limitations as vocalists?

     

    We go through active vocal training with a vocal trainer (me).

     

    Then we perform – putting our work on the stage, into the studio, or a combination of both. You use the elements of your vocal technique that you’ve achieved, following the vision you have for  yourself as a performing artist.

    My final point here is that your training –both on your own and in our sessions— must be regular, regimented and vigorous.

     

    In this way you learn your limitations – then the muscles of the body and the mental conditioning of the brain blend powerfully together into a real, solid vocal technique that works, each time you do.

     

    It is always my great joy to see and hear you work each week as you pursue your passion for singing, and I always look forward to it.

     

    And I have one final question for the Mother Superior: how do you hold a moonbeam in your hand, anyway?

    #flibbertigibbetswelcomehere
    #dothereps
    #majovta

    Reach For It!

    Reach for the moon. Even if  you miss, you’ll land among the stars.

                                           Norman Vincent Peale

    Of all the silly myths perpetrated by Hollywood about The West, there is perhaps none more iconic than the two people standing, hands poised, squinting in the late-morning sun. Then, as the clock in the town square strikes “High Noon” one of them calls out: “Reach For It!”

    Hollywood silliness aside (and it is just that), whether or not you realize it, each time you knock or ring the doorbell on my Home or University Studio or hear the little “ding-dong” as you log into your Zoom session, that’s exactly what you do: you reach for it.

    The above quote is one of my favorites and is often used a motivational saying that encourages individuals to set ambitious goals and pursue their dreams despite the difficulty of the journey and the uncertainty of eventual results.

    In our world, the world of Vocal Training, here is what I feel this saying means:

    Aim high: The phrase encourages us to set our sights on learning to sing through the hard work and discipline of high-level vocal training. It emphasizes the importance of aiming for something significant and transformative in life. Learning to sing certainly is this, so that we might grow as artists, but also learn to move others through the expression of our art.

    Embrace failure as progress: Even if you don’t achieve your ultimate goal, or if it takes much longer than you think it “should” (avoiding the “should” will be a future topic) the saying suggests that you will still be in a better position than where you started. It highlights the idea that pursuing ambitious life-long goals –like learning to sing – can lead to other great achievements and personal growth.

    Have a positive mindset: The saying promotes a positive mindset by focusing on the potential for success and the opportunities that come with aiming high. It challenges the fear of failure and encourages individuals to take the calculated risks for the possibility of extraordinary achievements.

    Perseverance and resilience: The saying implies that missing the moon doesn’t mean giving up. It suggests that setbacks should be seen as opportunities to learn, grow, and continue striving for success. It emphasizes the importance of resilience and the ability to bounce back from transitory failures.

    For those of you who’ve been at this for a while, the idea that Vocal Training is hard is nothing new to you. If you’re newer to the process, a true understanding of the difficulty of the task may still lie before you.

    But know this: training at this level also holds the potential for incredible personal and artistic growth, and the prospects for your eventual success are quite literally boundless.

    Keep Reaching.

    #reachforit
    #dothereps
    #majovta

    Slow Patient Gradually

    The story of how the famous sculptor, Michelangelo, created the magnificent statue, David, has always been inspirational to me, and not a few of you have heard me tell my version of the story.

    After having been rejected by three previous artists due to a significant flaw in the stone (a large crack running down one side) Michelangelo insisted that this flawed, 40-ton block of marble be hauled from the quarry to his studio. It took one week, and the combined efforts of approximately 100 men and horses to do the job.

    When questioned about why he wanted this particular block of marble he is said to have replied simply: Non siamo tutti imperfetti? (Are not we all flawed?).

    He then began the daily toil (Regimen?) in his Studio. He labored first to remove the larger pieces of stone that were more obvious. Then, he began working to a finer and finer level of detail.

    As artists often do, the Maestro worked with size and perspective. It was one of the largest free-standing sculptures ever created, standing some 18 feet tall – about 3 times the height of the tallest man at the time; some say, this was his acknowledgement to the Trinity.

    The head, hands and feet were all larger in proportion to signify the dominant philosophy at the time, Humanism. The larger head, hands and feet corresponded to human Intellect, Industry, Exploration, respectively.

    Once the larger work was done, his support staff reported that, near the completion, the Maestro would sometimes sit for hours at a time, staring at the emerging statue. Then, he would suddenly stand, walk across the room, take up his hammer and chisel and – ‘chink’ – a tiny sliver of stone would fall to the floor.

    This process went on for months at a time, until finally, after three years (3 years!?!) the work was complete.

    When finally unveiled, public response was overwhelming – the Italian public, quite accomustomed to Fine Art – had nevertheless never seen anything quite like the scope and scale of this magnificent work.

    The Maestro was asked “How, sir, how did you do this?”

    He is said to have answered: “It was easy. I simply chipped away everything that was not a masterpiece.”

    “Easy?” we think. Perhaps for someone of his ability…yes.

    But for all of us? Right: Not hardly.

    Yet he does have a point, and it’s this:

    Each time you set up your Vocal Training equipment and go through a practice training session on your own, or to prepare for our weekly sessions, or when we work one-on-one in a Zoom or in-person Vocal Training Session, we are esentially doing that same work.

    Slowly, Patiently, Gradually – we learn to identify, relase and replace all the tiny vocal and cognitive ‘chinks’ that don’t need to be there: those small, almost unnoticiable physical habits that hold us back, or the swirls and eddys of our inner thoughts that would draw us away from mindful best practice.

    Vocal Training – Mental Conditioning. Every little ‘chink’ and detail matters – inside and out.

    And the masterpiece that is finally revealed? Well, my friends, that’s you.

    Your God-given talent and intellect, as well as your passion for learning to sing and sharing that gift with others – that’s what makes you the Masterpiece.

    My job, like Michaelangelo’s, is simpy to help you remove the chinks so the incredible work of art that’s you and your voice can emerge.

    #chinkinthinkin
    #dothereps
    #majovta