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Vocal Advancement Podcast
Institute for Vocal Advancement
50 episodes
6 days ago
Join IVA co-founders Heather Baker and Tom Bathgate as they explore the art and science of singing. From vocal technique and mindset to health, business, and beyond, they bring practical tips and inspiring conversations to help voice teachers thrive. Each episode features expert guests from around the globe who share their unique insights and experiences. Expect lively chats, actionable advice, and plenty of laughs—with the occasional biscuit tale thrown in! Listen in and elevate your vocal journey.
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Performing Arts
Arts
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All content for Vocal Advancement Podcast is the property of Institute for Vocal Advancement and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Join IVA co-founders Heather Baker and Tom Bathgate as they explore the art and science of singing. From vocal technique and mindset to health, business, and beyond, they bring practical tips and inspiring conversations to help voice teachers thrive. Each episode features expert guests from around the globe who share their unique insights and experiences. Expect lively chats, actionable advice, and plenty of laughs—with the occasional biscuit tale thrown in! Listen in and elevate your vocal journey.
Show more...
Performing Arts
Arts
Episodes (20/50)
Vocal Advancement Podcast
Power of Social Media with Emily Kristen Morris

With over 257,000 followers on Instagram and a staggering 1.5 million followers on TikTok, it’s safe to say that this week’s guest — musical stage star and voice coach Emily Kristen Morris — has found a way to make social media work for her. 

And while some of Emily’s social media success can be attributed to her career (she’s played Bea in the Broadway National Tour of “Something’s Rotten”, Elphaba’s standby in the “Wicked” National Tour, and Elsa in Disney’s “Frozen: The Broadway Musical”), it’s worth noting that her TikTok channel started in 2020 when musical theater wasn’t active due to the pandemic. 

So, what does it take to grow such a following and leverage the power of social media? Join us as Emily takes us through her journey and explores the challenges of growing a vocal coaching business online, navigating the ever-changing social media algorithm, and finding a balance between performing and teaching.    

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  1. (8:43) How Emily built an online presence on Instagram and TikTok — and how she needed to scale up her business as her social media following grew.
  2. (13:35) The people Emily turned to for business advice — and the entrepreneurial skills she feels voice teachers must learn.
  3. (16:34) How social media has changed the business landscape since the early days of the internet.
  4. (17:25) Why there’s no one “right” way to do social media, even for the experts.
  5. (18:00) The rewards of occasionally sharing personal stories about your music career — and why setting boundaries is important. 
  6. (22:39) How Emily manages the challenges of balancing a performing career with a teaching career.
  7. (27:31) The value of running your own teaching business while pursuing a performing career
  8. (29:43) Why being a “social media influencer” can make certain producers nervous about hiring you as a performer
  9. (32:07) Why producers should be excited about using the power of social media to bring more audiences to live performances.
  10. (33:30) How the musical theater industry is currently using social media and influencer marketing to promote itself.
  11. (36:12) Tips and tricks for teachers who want to build a strong online presence
  12. (41:49) How to handle the “haters” and negative comments that crop up on social media.
  13. (44:27) Behind-the-curtain stories about what really happens between scenes in “Wicked” and “Frozen.”
  14. (55:04) Why Emily feels she also owes her vocal coaching business to the IVA community, and how its support has changed her life.

Pro tip: Emily might not respond to all her TikTok comments, but you can reach her by contacting her via email at Emily@EmilyKristenMorris.com. 

Follow Emily’s career by checking out her website and join her Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok channels (if you’re not there already!). 

Here at the Vocal Advancement Podcast, we like to show different approaches to finding success. In Season 3 Episode 7, you met Linda Tomkinson who built a successful career via word-of-mouth. In this episode, we cover the other side of the coin by showing how voice teachers like Emily Kristen Morris can build careers from huge social media followings. 

If there’s a teacher, performer, or researcher who you think would offer a new perspective, be sure to email us at hello@vocaladvancement.com so we can feature them on Season 4!

And make sure to follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learning how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

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6 days ago
1 hour 9 minutes

Vocal Advancement Podcast
Meeting Your Clients' Needs with Linda Tomkinson

As voice teachers, we may dream of working with major stars like Taylor Swift or helping young performers prepare for a career on Broadway.

Yet voice students have many needs — and sometimes the best thing you can do as an educator is adapt your lessons to the individual goals of each client and focus on their personal development. While this might sound simple, many voice coaches find it challenging early in their careers to set aside their egos and listen to their students. 

Those who do achieve this mindset, however, gain a reputation for being truly helpful — and enjoy long-lasting careers.

Our guest this week knows the rewards of developing such a reputation. One of the original founders of the Institute for Vocal Advancement, Linda Tomkinson has been teaching professional and non-professional singers for 27 years. While some of her students have enjoyed major success singing with Rihanna’s world concert tours or performing on The Voice, Linda is just as happy helping church singers develop their voice or helping a beginner sing on-key.

Listen in as Linda shares how being willing to constantly re-evaluate and change your beliefs about teaching can help improve your craft. Learn how to place your lesson’s focus on the student and balance their needs with your teaching goals. And discover what to do when students come with you with ambitious — and possibly unrealistic — expectations for their future in singing.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  1. (9:53) How Linda built a career on word-of-mouth recommendations and not social media. 
  2. (15:33) How listening to students helps you find the balance between what they want to learn and what you feel they need to know.
  3. (20:50) The dangers of only wanting to work with highly talented performers or established artists.
  4. (23:26) How working with an organization like the Institute for Vocal Advancement changes your perceptions of your self-worth and reasons for teaching.
  5. (29:03) The importance of taking your ego out of the equation when choosing to teach. 
  6. (33:17) The questions you should be asking your students in your first meeting — and all subsequent lessons — to learn about their changing needs. 
  7. (39:17) Why it’s so important to meet students where they are and not box them in pre-determined roles.
  8. (42:44) What to do when a student comes to you with unrealistic expectations about their singing ability and career goals.

Find Linda at her website and contact her at singwithlinda@msn.com. 

The book Linda describes is Leadership and Self-Deception, published by the Arbinger Institute.

We’ve got many more talented teachers and singers waiting in the wings to share their insights and knowledge for season three of the Vocal Advancement Podcast. Make sure you hear from them all by following us and subscribing to our YouTube channel! 

Is there a teacher, performer, or researcher you think would make a great guest on our show? Email us at hello@vocaladvancement.com and let us know!


About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learning how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Show more...
1 month ago
1 hour 3 minutes 37 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
Nutrition in Singing with Duncan Rock

Does acid reflux impact your singing performance?

Perhaps you’ve searched the internet and found multiple articles on “The 10 Foods Singers Should Avoid” or medications promising to cure reflux.

But before you start making radical changes to your diet, you might want to listen to this episode’s guest. Duncan Rock is an acclaimed operatic baritone who’s performed with the Metropolitan Opera, The Royal Opera House, English National Opera, and Glyndebourne Festival Opera for over a decade.

More importantly, he’s a nutritionist and registered exercise professional with a Masters degree in Human Nutrition. He now uses his dual passions for singing and health to help performers maintain their health as they enjoy long, successful careers.

According to Duncan, much of what allows singers and performers stay healthy comes not from a specialized exercise regimen or dietary supplements, but a common-sense approach to diet and personal fitness. His holistic take on healthy living makes his advice easy to follow and highly effective for vocal coaches and their students.  

Listen as Duncan shares his expertise in nutrition and physiotherapy, and learn:

  1. (4:32) How a music scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music & Drama jumpstarted Duncan’s decade-long career as a professional opera singer.
  2. (5:31) How the 2020 pandemic caused Duncan to switch gears and begin working as a nutritionist for the Voice Care Centre in London.
  3. (7:21) How Duncan’s personal experiences with dieticians shaped his common-sense views towards nutrition and healthy diets.  
  4. (10:05) Why Duncan initially wasn’t interested in working as a nutritionist for singers — and how this changed. 
  5. (15:27) Why good, old fashioned advice on health and nutrition is the most valuable information you can receive in this age of polarized nutritional content.
  6. (16:47) Why singers should maintain balanced diets in an industry with performers like Luciano Pavarotti who don’t always follow healthy eating habits. 
  7. (20:43) What research says about how our diets affect our body composition, and how this affects our vocal performance. 
  8. (23:22) Why being underweight can potentially be more damaging than being overweight or obese.
  9. (25:36) How nutritionist advice can help performing singers deal with stress and weakened immune systems.
  10. (28:42) The link between eating well and exercising
  11. (33:33) The common-sense approach to managing acid reflux.
  12. (37:36) The problems caused by myths surrounding singer nutrition
  13. (39:55) How the body positivity movement can place negative pressure on singers and performers who change their appearance by adopting healthier habits. 
  14. (53:44) How vocal coaches benefit from a basic understanding of vocal nutrition in their classrooms.


Get more nutritional advice from Duncan by visiting his website. Interested in a more in-depth consultation? Connect with him via email at duncanrocknutrition@gmail.com. 

You can also download Duncan’s IVA webinar, Nutrition and Exercise for Singers — The Missing Link in Vocal Health and Longevity — from the Institute of Vocal Advancement.

Tom and Heather have a lot of fascinating guests like Duncan lined up for our podcast! Make sure you meet them all by following us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and see them by subscribing to our YouTube channel! 

Is there a teacher, performer, or researcher you think would make a great guest on our show? Email us at hello@vocaladvancement.com and let us know!


About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Show more...
2 months ago
59 minutes 50 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
The Value of Continued Education with Tom and Heather

Professional development. Continuing education. Ongoing training. Whatever you choose to call it, regularly assessing and improving your skills as a teacher and performer is something every good voice coach needs to do. 

For some, adding to your skillset is a way to increase your value and charge higher rates. For others, learning how different people understand voice helps you communicate better with multiple audiences. 

Whatever your reasons, at the Institute for Vocal Advancement, we’re committed to supporting our students in their professional development. Join Tom and Heather as they discuss the challenges of continuing your education and the rewards that come from being an eternal student. 

In this episode, you’ll discover:

  1. (1:49) Why self-employed voice teachers can find professional development more of a challenge than other educators. 
  2. (2:52) The challenge of finding reputable sources of information to build your skillset.
  3. (6:23) The importance of deciding whether you want to focus on improving your general expertise or becoming an expert in a key niche. 
  4. (8:10) The value of understanding your preferred learning method — and when it can be useful to step out of this comfort zone. 
  5. (11:15) Why part of your professional development needs to focus on self-marketing. 
  6. (12:17) Why “learning how to learn” is often the most valuable skill teachers can develop.
  7. (14:20) How investing in your professional development allows you to charge higher rates.
  8. (18:00) How learning how to teach a subject lets you learn that subject in greater depth.
  9. (21:30) The value of “learning by doing” — and how to learn by observing others.
  10. (25:40) Additional ways of approaching professional development when you begin to teach instinctively.
  11. (28:30) The importance of learning vocal theory and practical application — and how to build a balance between the two.
  12. (33:02) How to better communicate vocal concepts to students, teachers, scientists, and singers by expanding your own understanding of voice.
  13. (37:10) How being willing to self-reflect on your own lessons can help you better understand your strengths and weaknesses.
  14. (39:43) What to look for when assessing teachers and programs for your continued professional development.


How do you manage your professional development? Do you have a formal way of scheduling continued education into your regular routine? Or do you just squeeze it in where you can?

We want to know! Send us an email at hello@vocaladvancement.com and let us know how you hone your skills. Share your learning resources and tell us if you know of a teacher, performer, or researcher we should interview on the show.

And learn more about our teachers and professional connections by following us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribing to our YouTube channel! 


About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

Are you a professional seeking to build expertise in a specific field or a voice coach who wants to learn more about a particular subject? At the Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA), we offer resources and support for everyone who’s enthusiastic about music and singing. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset and provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your own career.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learning how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Show more...
3 months ago
45 minutes 30 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
Working with Singers with SEND with Abigail Mann-Daraz

In this episode of the Vocal Advancement Podcast, hosts Tom and Heather welcome Abigail Mann-Daraz from 'The Musical Self,' who specializes in working with neurodivergent students and those with special educational needs.

Abby shares her approaches, including the use of tactile tools, singing as a communication method, and understanding individual learning preferences. The discussion also delves into the challenges and rewards of creating an inclusive teaching environment and provides practical tips for voice teachers.

The episode underscores the importance of meeting students where they are and adapting teaching methods to accommodate diverse needs.

In this episode, you’ll discover:00:00 Introduction00:35 Heather's Visa Adventure05:37 Upcoming Asia Teaching Tour07:51 Special Guest: Abby from The Musical Self09:23 Inclusive Teaching for Neurodivergent Students14:03 Strategies for Teaching Autistic Students24:21 Teaching Students with ADHD26:07 Grounding Techniques for Students with ADHD27:23 Using Toys and Fabrics to Channel Nervous Energy28:04 Exploring Stammering as a Form of Neurodiversity30:05 The Impact of Singing on Stammering35:12 Advice for Voice Teachers on Inclusivity38:49 Understanding Your Role as a Singing Teacher39:20 Where to Find More Information About Abby40:27 Final Thoughts and Reflections


Connect with Abigail and learn more about her work by visiting The Musical Self website.


Learn more about our teachers and professional connections by following us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribing to our YouTube channel! 

About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

Are you a professional seeking to build expertise in a specific field or a voice coach who wants to learn more about a particular subject? At the Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA), we offer resources and support for everyone who’s enthusiastic about music and singing. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset and provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your own career.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learning how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Show more...
4 months ago
55 minutes 17 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
Working in the Music Industry with Fiona McDougal

Not many vocal coaches get to have a studio in The London Palladium or help Oscar-winning actors like Javier Bardem discover their singing voice — but then, most vocal coaches aren’t Fiona McDougal.

A singing teacher since the age of 18, Fiona now oversees vocals globally for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production company, the Really Useful Group. When she’s not coaching the stars of Broadway and the West End, you can find her on movie sets working with global superstars like Taylor Swift or in TV studios helping the next generation of X Factor hopefuls wow the judges.

But while getting celebrities to access their full potential is exciting, this work also comes with its share of challenges. From managing demanding schedules to advocating for a singer’s vocal health, Fiona finds building a successful career in the music industry requires as much diplomacy as excellent teaching techniques.

Join Fiona as she shares her experiences with Tom and Heather — letting them (and you) know whatreallyhappens behind the scenes of your favorite movies, musicals, and television shows. Think you’d like to break into this industry? You’re about to learn what it takes to be a vocal coach for the stars.   

In this episode, we’ll discover:

  1. (7:35) How natural curiosity and a willingness to teach everyone helped Fiona become a vocal coach in her teens.
  2. (10:17) How a job singing backing vocals for Jesus Christ Superstar led her to a career in the music industry.
  3. (11:28) The challenges of working in television
  4. (14:00) Why vocal coaches often become “vocal arrangers” when working on a TV show like The X Factor.
  5. (17:31) The types of networks that exist in theater and television, and how to build relationships in each industry.
  6. (19:28) The advantages of coaching performers in film vs. coaching them in television
  7. (20:35) How much time you have to coach actors in different types of theater productions  
  8. (22:51) How to go about advocating for a singer’s vocal health when asked to “fix” their voice  
  9. (27:20) The issues of working with a celebrity unaccustomed to performing in a live theater environment.
  10. (33:19) Important advice for singers and vocal coaches interested in working in the music industry
  11. (35:35) The role of diplomacy when working with a production team
  12. (37:44) When working out scheduling and technical issues is more challenging than working with the performer.
  13. (44:30) The challenge of juggling a music industry career with motherhood


You can hear Fiona’s work in major motion pictures like “A Complete Unknown” (2024), “Wonka” (2023), and “Being the Ricardos” (2021). Follow her career onInstagram and get in touch with her through herwebsite.

Want to learn more about the music industry and other exciting opportunities in the voice teaching industry? Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to ourYouTube channel to hear from all our guests! 

Do you know of a teacher, performer, or researcher you think would make a great guest on our show? We’d love to hear about them! Email us athello@vocaladvancement.com and let us know!

About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list ofupcoming events and learning how ourTeacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Show more...
5 months ago
1 hour 7 minutes 1 second

Vocal Advancement Podcast
Helping Singers with Performance Anxiety with Natasha Burns

In this episode of the Vocal Advancement Podcast, hosts Tom and Heather are pleased to welcome Natasha Burns to speak on her expertise on managing performance anxiety.

Throughout her career, she confronted the pervasive issue of performance anxiety, both in her students and herself. Inspired by this shared struggle, she delved into research during her MA studies, uncovering the transformative potential of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a pragmatic solution for music educators.

Today, through her coaching practice, Natasha empowers musicians to reclaim confidence, perform authentically under pressure, and reignite their passion for music.

Natasha discusses her research focused on teenagers, introducing techniques from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). She shares practical tools and metaphors to help manage anxiety and emphasizes the importance of understanding why students pursue singing. The conversation also touches upon the unrealistic expectations set by advanced recording technologies and the role of vocal teachers in nurturing a supportive environment for their students.

In this episode we'll cover:

  • 00:00 Welcome to the Vocal Advancement Podcast
  • 04:20 Singer's Expectations vs. Reality
  • 04:59 Introducing Today's Guest: Natasha
  • 05:41 Understanding Performance Anxiety in Teenagers
  • 10:50 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • 27:29 Exploring the Love for Singing
  • 28:36 Setting Goals and Committed Actions
  • 31:11 Performance Anxiety and Vocal Technique
  • 35:18 The Importance of Unique Voices
  • 38:05 Handling Performance Anxiety in Students
  • 48:12 Teachers Leading by Example
  • 50:28 Comparing Yourself to Technology


Interested in learning more about Natasha's work? Click here to learn more and stay connected.


Want to hear more interesting episodes like this one? Make sure you hear from all of our guests by following us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribing to our YouTube! 


About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learning how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Show more...
6 months ago
56 minutes 20 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
The Business of Running a Voice Studio with Tom and Heather

Welcome to the Vocal Advancement Podcast: Season 3!

Tom and Heather delve into a side of being a self-employed voice teacher that we seldom cover — the business side! Because, let’s face it, when you’re running your own business, keeping good records and promoting your services are skills we all need to develop.

Here at the Institute of Vocal Advancement, we’re all about sharing what worked for us when we built our careers. So, join Tom and Heather as they discuss strategies and provide tips for running a successful voice teacher business.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  1. (5:43) How digital tools and spreadsheets help you keep accurate records and complete your taxes.
  2. (9:20) The importance of understanding your country’s tax laws.
  3. (9:40) Where to find business advice (for free!) using online and offline resources
  4. (11:30) Tips for creating a simple recording system
  5. (12:33) How to reduce your tax liability by learning what you can claim as a business expense.
  6. (14:08) How grants can help you get your business started.
  7. (14:33) What type of equipment you need to start your teaching business (and how to keep your startup costs low!)
  8. (15:55) What type of online presence you need to promote your business — and what important information many voice teachers neglect to include! 
  9. (18:09) Why continuing to invest in your own education is important (and how this can be a business expense you can write off).
  10. (19:19) Why you might need to invest in a professional studio space outside your home.
  11. (20:11) How to determine what to charge for your lessons
  12. (22:15) When working with other voice teachers in the same studio space makes sense — and the importance of having a waiting area.
  13. (25:22) How to increase your income by offering complementary services
  14. (27:20) The true cost of teaching in a commercial building
  15. (28:15) How to retain and attract more students by offering choirs and workshops
  16. (31:07) How offering group classes can build student confidence and help establish teacher-student rapport
  17. (32:32) When to start increasing your teaching rates — and what to do when you start pricing yourself out of certain student budgets.
  18. (34:32) How to use your growing skillset to justify your higher rates.
  19. (36:17) How to create a fair teaching rate by studying your local market.
  20. (38:04) How to adjust your rates for inflation — and how offering advance warning can help you retain students.
  21. (39:19) When (and how) to offer scholarship opportunities for exceptional students
  22. (41:00) Why offering lessons at a lower price point can provide you with valuable teaching experience
  23. (42:17) Where to find offline opportunities to promote your business — and how offering free or discounted lessons can build your client list.
  24. (44:06) Good online marketing opportunities — from Facebook groups to lead generation companies
  25. (48:04) How to test marketing strategies and learn which ones work best for you.
  26. (51:00) Strategies for nurturing cold leads into warm leads

We want to hear from you! What business strategies helped you the most when you were building up your teaching career? What questions do you still have about starting out as a vocal coach? Send us your comments and questions to hello@vocaladvancement.com. 


We’ve got many more guests coming up this season, including experts in social media marketing and more! Make sure you hear from them all by following us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribing to our YouTube channel! 

About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from an empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learning how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

Show more...
7 months ago
1 hour 2 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
IVACON 2024 Final Recap

And that's a wrap! IVACON 2024 was one for the books, and we already can't wait for the next conference! Learning and growing alongside voice teachers from all over the world is an experience like no other. Join Tom and Heather as they review the past 5 days.


Did you enjoy learning more about our conference? Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all the latest coverage of IVACON! We'll also be sharing even more footage and photos on our Instagram and Facebook, so make sure to follow along.


About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1 year ago
41 minutes 13 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
IVACON 2024 Day Five Recap

Day five is here, can you believe it? We're fresh off a great karaoke night with our attendees, and we're excited to share a recap of our final day of the conference!


Don't miss out on an episode! Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all the latest coverage of IVACON! 


About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1 year ago
25 minutes 40 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
IVACON 2024 Day Four Recap

Welcome to day four of IVACON! Heather and Tom share some reviews of our interactive classes from today! From learning to riff to finding pitch, seeing our attendees get hands-on experience and training is great! We can hardly believe we're already almost at the end, so tune in to hear how our second to last day is going.


Don't miss out on an episode! Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all the latest coverage of IVACON! 


About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...
1 year ago
15 minutes 59 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
IVACON 2024 Day Three Recap

The conference has been flying by! Day three of the IVACON was filled with lectures from our guest speakers. From learning about teaching singers with Sensory Educational Needs and Disabilities, to teaching our students how to practice-- there is something for everyone! Join Tom and Heather for this recap from today.


Don't miss out on an episode! Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all the latest coverage of IVACON! 


About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1 year ago
21 minutes 44 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
IVACON 2024 Day Two Recap

We’re back from another exciting day at IVACON 2024! Join us as Tom and Heather give a recap of our second day at conference. From masterclasses and workshops to lectures and community building— there’s a lot to unpack!


Don't miss out on an episode! Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all the latest coverage of IVACON! 


About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1 year ago
24 minutes 27 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
IVACON 2024 Day One Recap

Welcome to IVACON 2024, the premiere 5-day conference for voice teachers. We are thrilled to host our first in-person conference in several years in beautiful and historic Edinburgh, Scotland! Voice teachers join us from around the world to learn, grow, and deepen their knowledge and training, and of course, have plenty of fun along the way. Join us each day this week as Tom and Heather share some behind-the-scenes from the conference. Without further ado, here's a recap of day one.


Don't miss out on an episode! Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all the latest coverage of IVACON! 


About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.

Check out our webinars in our list of upcoming events and learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1 year ago
22 minutes 5 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
How Much Information Should You Share in a Voice Lesson? With Heather and Tom

Here at the Vocal Advancement, we give teachers access to a wealth of knowledge. Between our webinars and conferences — not to mention our delightful podcast — you can learn a lot about vocal anatomy, singing careers, vocal pedagogy, and much more.


But how much of this knowledge should you share with your students when you teach?


It’s a question that has no “right” answer. Some beginners get confused when you bombard them with too much technical information, slowing down their progress. Other students hunger for this knowledge and will take up class time bombarding you with questions about vocal theory. Ultimately, it’s up to each teacher to walk that fine line between teaching theory and practice.


In this episode, Tom and Heather talk about how to effectively impart technical knowledge to students and turn that theory into practice. They look at the art of teaching and the importance of learning how different students process information to instruct them better.    

We explore:

  1. How imposter syndrome can cause beginner teachers to overshare their knowledge — and why that can be detrimental to students (8:30)
  2. The type of students who can benefit from learning theory, and the type who require more practical instruction (13:50)
  3. What to do when you encounter students who do want to learn more about theory (16:03)
  4. How to explain voice concepts without being overly technical (17:40)
  5. The art of using your technical knowledge to help a singer develop their vocal techniques (23:58)
  6. What to do when a student comes to you with a question you don’t know how to answer (26:47)
  7. The value of being a teacher with more experience (28:40)
  8. Teaching voice concepts to students who are neurodivergent or have other educational needs (30:49)
  9. The importance of having enough self-knowledge and humility to know when you’re not the right teacher for a student (32:16)
  10. Understanding the different goals of your students and the importance of letting them have fun in the lessons (33:59)
  11. How to keep students motivated and aware of what they’ve learned and achieved through their lessons (39:39)
  12. What’s next for the Vocal Advancement Podcast — and how you can listen to our bonus episodes! (47:19) 


The 2024 IVACON Conference is just around the corner. It will run from June 17 to 21 in Edinburgh, Scotland. But don’t worry if you can’t join us in person; we’ve got you covered! Tom and Heather will host a special bonus podcast season with daily episodes so you can feel like you're part of the action! 

Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up! 

The Vocal Advancement Podcast will return with many more exciting guests later this year. If you know a teacher, performer, or researcher who would make a great guest on our show, email us at hello@vocaladvancement.com!


About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style. Learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1 year ago
49 minutes 58 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
The Secret to Pop Singing with Renee Maranan

How do you help your students make pop music “pop”?


At one point, many voice teachers saw pop music as a performance that flaunted the conventions of traditional music and didn’t need to be studied as a singing technique.


This episode’s guest, vocal instructor Renee Maranan, disagrees. To Renee, breaking the rules of classical singing requires singers to have a firm grasp of those rules in the first place so they can make deliberate, sustainable choices that form emotional connections with their audience.


This means pop singers need to be instructed in vocal science and conventional singing techniques even as they build their own aesthetic. 


Come hear how Renee breaks down both the art of singing pop music and the challenges of teaching this music style to students. Learn how the very definition of “pop music” encompasses a wide range of sounds, requiring singers to become comfortable with exploring their voices and the places they can take it. And discover why becoming an effective pop music singer ultimately requires training to produce an effective — and intentional — sound of their own. 


In this episode, we discuss:

  1. How growing up in a Filipino musical culture of pop music provided Renee with a unique perspective on pop music performance and teaching (3:03)
  2. Why teaching multiple genres of music help reveal new teaching techniques that are more effective with different students (4:40)
  3. The style choices that create the aesthetic of “pop music” (7:07)
  4. Cultural differences in pop — and the rising popularity of collaborating with pop singers from different states and countries to produce new flavors of music (11:17)
  5. How artists find a “good” pop sound through exploration and being open to change (16:08)
  6. The value of listening deliberately to pop music and picking out the details (20:11)
  7. Why mastering pop music singing requires training (25:00)
  8. How the relationship between pop musicians and their audience has changed in today’s online age (26:48)
  9. New opportunities for sharing your pop music and passion projects (30:05)
  10. How to direct students’ attention to the details of a pop music singer’s technique (32:30)
  11. Renee’s advice for new voice coaches just starting to teach pop music (35:07)
  12. The importance of developing a strong musical foundation in your pop singer students (41:55)


Book a session with Renee Maranan by visiting her website and follow her on Instagram to learn more about her upcoming classes.


Is there a teacher, performer, or researcher you think would make a great guest on our show? Email us at hello@vocaladvancement.com and let us know!


About the Institute for Vocal Advancement


The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style. Learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1 year ago
55 minutes 10 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
Evidence Based Pedagogy with Kari Ragan

Voice teachers today can build expertise in so many different fields — vocal anatomy, musical theory, acting, multiple singing techniques — that many teachers feel they need to have all the answers.


And that’s too much to ask of anyone. Because the more you learn, the more you realize how much you don’t know — and how developing a network of experts is essential to provide you and your students with the knowledge they need.


Our guest today, singing voice specialist Kari Ragan, knows a lot about the power of collaboration. While she’s been teaching singers for over forty years, Kari appreciates that she doesn’t know everything about vocal health and regularly collaborates with medical experts to help rehabilitate singers with injured voices or vocal pathology.


Join Tom and Heather as they learn more about how Kari has collaborated with doctors, teachers, and other experts in her decades-long career to help singers. Reflect on when it’s important to know when you need to refer out to provide students with the best teachers for their needs. And discover all the resources available today (including many provided by the IVA!) for developing a support network that helps everyone achieve their full potential.


In this episode, we cover:

  1. How Kari’s teaching career led her to work with many music genres, age groups, and singers (5:12)
  2. What a Singing Voice Specialist (SVS) is, and why they need to work in tandem with a medical team (9:47)
  3. The major trends and changes Kari has witnessed in vocal pedagogy and research over her decades-long career (16:01)
  4. Misconceptions surrounding evidence-based pedagogy, and how this form of pedagogy includes multiple areas of expertise (22:01)
  5. The purpose of Kari’s book, “A Systematic Approach to Voice” (30:56)
  6. The evolution of teaching classical and contemporary singing techniques (37:29)
  7. Why being willing and able to refer to outside experts is important (41:45)
  8. The necessity of staying current with vocal research for voice coaches (45:19)
  9. All the opportunities for collaboration available to modern voice teachers (46:10)
  10. The strength that comes from admitting what you don’t know (54:30)


Stay in touch with Kari at her website where you can find links to many of her articles. Check out Kari’s webinar “A Systematic Approach to Voice,” which covers the definition and application of Evidence-Based Voice Pedagogy (EBVP).


And make sure you hear from all our other guests by following us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribing to our YouTube channel! Is there a teacher, performer, or researcher you think would make a great guest on our show? Email us at hello@vocaladvancement.com and let us know!


About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from an empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style. Learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1 year ago
1 hour 53 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
Can being a singer damage your mental health? with Dr George Musgrave

Disclaimer: This podcast mentions suicide in connection with the music industry


Sometimes, students become so passionate about building a music career that they jeopardize their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Beyond that, the music industry is competitive and has been linked to depression, anxiety, and even suicide among occupational musicians. Even performers who overcame huge odds to become professionals later discover they don’t want to be part of such a stressful world and seek an exit plan.


This episode’s guest Dr. George Musgrave has a unique perspective on this. A former professional rap artist once signed with Sony Records, Dr. Musgrave now enjoys a position as a Senior Lecturer in Cultural Sociology and Creative Industries at Goldsmiths, University of London. His research focuses on the psychological and emotional experience of musicians building their careers.


In this episode, we’ll discuss:

  1. (5:07) How George made the shift from the music world to academia — and used his experiences to improve research on music and mental health.
  2. (11:04) Why music careers can be sources of great joy and great suffering.
  3. (17:00) The “dark side of optimism.”
  4. (19:42) How and why musicians who see music as their main career can have worse mental health outcomes compared to those who do not.
  5. (25:01) The challenges of monetizing music in today’s online industry — and why the average musician’s earnings can be worse than a McDonald’s employee.
  6. (29:22) How your personal view of success has a positive or negative impact on your mental health.
  7. (33:56) The importance of having a “Plan B” backup plan when pursuing a music career
  8. (36:40) The responsibility teachers have for equipping students with skills they can use in their careers, no matter how “big” they make it.
  9. (40:20) The inequalities and hazards of the music industry
  10. (49:10) Why the performing lifestyle is not for everyone
  11. (51:40) If turning your hobby into a career can take some of the pleasure away
  12. (53:14) Why having a backup plan is useful when training to be a voice teacher


George lists many mental health resources for musicians. These include:

  • Tonic Music for Mental Health: Training and support for music industry professionals
  • https://www.thecalmzone.net/: Suicide support
  • Music Support: Support for peers in the music industry affected by mental illness and/or addiction


If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline can offer additional helpful resources.


Visit George on his university page and read his papers.


About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network that provides you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style.


Learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1 year ago
1 hour 1 minute 32 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
Delivering Helpful Feedback with Lynn Maxfield

As voice teachers, we want to offer good feedback to our students and let them know how they can improve their performance.

But could our delivery of this feedback affect how well our students take in the new information?


As the Associate Director of the National Center for Voice and Speech, Lynn Maxfield, PhD, regularly researches voice pedagogy, vocology, and how motor learning applies to voice teachers. His studies have revealed that although teachers are conditioned to regularly comment on a student’s performance, remaining silent and allowing a student time to process their actions — as opposed to immediately providing feedback — is more beneficial for active learning.


In this episode, we discuss:

  1. (4:22) How Lynn’s experiences in vocology gave him an appreciation for the complexity of the cognitive and neuromuscular system.
  2. (9:22) Why instructors find it so challenging to not provide feedback.
  3. (11:51) The value of creating silent spaces to let students process their performance before they hear your feedback.
  4. (17:40) When most teachers begin providing feedback during lessons (and why this disrupts the learning process).
  5. (20:38) The difficulties of reflecting on the skills used in a longer performance
  6. (25:55) If giving yourself time to process your own performance when practicing alone is helpful
  7. (28:13) The debate over whether students benefit more from an internal or external locus of attention (and why their skill level may factor into this)
  8. (35:44) Why teachers need to constantly adapt their general teaching skills during each lesson
  9. (37:30) Why students need to be in the proper headspace to benefit from a lesson (and the scientific reason for why yelling yourself hoarse at a concert isn’t good for you).
  10. (48:08) Why spacing voice lessons further apart can be beneficial for advanced singers


Find Lynn at the Utah Center for Vocology and the University of Utah. The textbook Lynn mentions, “Motor Learning and Performance: From Principles to Application” by Timothy D. Lee and Richard A. Schmidt, can be purchased on Amazon.


Tom started a spirited discussion with Lynn at (25:55) on the value of practicing without feedback. Join in by sharing your thoughts, opinions, and insights by emailing us at hello@vocaladvancement.com and leave us a comment!


And make sure you hear from all of our guests by following us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribing to our YouTube channel! 


About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1 year ago
56 minutes 45 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
Personalising the Use of Imagery in Voice Lessons with Jenna Brown

If you’re like many vocal coaches, you’ve probably used the metaphor of a balloon filling up with air to illustrate proper breathing techniques to your students.

But does this type of imagery make sense to everyone?


According to this episode’s guest, vocal health specialist Jenna Brown, a more effective technique is to let students take an active role in creating images that resonate with them during your singing lessons. Using this “symbolic modeling” technique not only builds a stronger rapport between teacher and student but can also offer shortcuts to learning.


In her chat with Tom and Heather, Jenna delves into what she’s discovered as both a voice researcher and vocal coach. She examines the different types of imagery teachers can use in their classes and the effectiveness of using multiple forms of imagery.


In this episode, you’ll learn:

  1. (6:00) Why singing and teaching professionally led Jenna to become a MA voice pedagogy student researching ways of teaching students better.
  2. (9:18) How science, the arts, and relationships all play a part in imagery and voice
  3. (11:31) What imagery in voice lessons looks like
  4. (14:24) Why adopting a multi-modal approach to imagery can be useful for making learning connections.
  5. (16:01) Why most teachers tend to use “stock imagery” in their lessons — and how we can make these images more personal to students
  6. (18:45) How Jenna helps students discover the singing images that resonate most with them
  7. (22:55) When (and if) teachers should impose their own understanding of how the voice works onto a lesson
  8. (24:35) The challenges of personalizing imagery when teaching large classes — and the common experiences singers can have with their voices
  9. (27:38) How teachers can help students learn faster by building a shared language of personalized metaphors
  10. (30:49) The negative side of using imagery — how metaphors can lead to confusion and misinterpretation for some students
  11. (34:52) How science is regarding imagery now
  12. (39:36) Why students need to develop a toolbox of skills to adapt to the changing needs of their voices
  13. (42:40) How voice teachers can use imagery in their classes without realizing it
  14. (45:30) The importance of seeing every student in your class as an individual — and how to adapt your lessons to their personal experiences  


You can find Jenna at Bristol Voice Care and her website. Book singing lessons, coaching sessions, or workshops with her at hello@jennabrownmezzo.co.uk.


Check out our YouTube channel — and subscribe to see all our other podcast videos! Is there a teacher, performer, or researcher you think would make a great guest on our show? Email us at hello@vocaladvancement.com and let us know!


About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1 year ago
54 minutes 55 seconds

Vocal Advancement Podcast
Join IVA co-founders Heather Baker and Tom Bathgate as they explore the art and science of singing. From vocal technique and mindset to health, business, and beyond, they bring practical tips and inspiring conversations to help voice teachers thrive. Each episode features expert guests from around the globe who share their unique insights and experiences. Expect lively chats, actionable advice, and plenty of laughs—with the occasional biscuit tale thrown in! Listen in and elevate your vocal journey.