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…

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…

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,…

Why is preparation so important to success in Vocal Training? Remember, 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…

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…

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…

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…

“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…

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…

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 vocal performances heard at the the opening-night ceremonies of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris proved…