Blog Posts

The "Should" On Your Shoulder

10/22/2018

A shift in language can shift your mindset!
--Liz Jackson Hearns

We all have them, those things that keep us stagnant and prevent us from hearing wisdom. They stick to us and hold us back and get in the way of truly seeing ourselves. We all have Shoulds on our shoulders. Shoulds are tricky little buggers that can get very loud, and they are hard to get rid of. They say things like, “you should be better” or “you should practice more” or “you should look more confident on stage” or “you should have a passing voice.” Sometimes Shoulds get really mean and say things like, “you should not sing/play/make music” or “you should give up.” Oof.

Here’s the thing, though. Shoulds, loud and obnoxious as they are, have no power. Shoulds usually appear as distorted repetitions of something you heard from someone else, and are often driven by blind obligation to either other people or to society’s (completely made up) rules about voice, music, art, gender, etc. Shoulds can influence how you see and hear yourself, but they are not you. They probably didn’t even come from your own thoughts! You get to decide how much you listen to those pesky Shoulds. You can even take all their power away with some simple shifts in language that bring the focus back to you and away from what anyone else has told you to believe about yourself.

What if, instead of giving the Should a chance to nag at you with its inherent judgment, you replace it with the word “Could”? Coulds can give you courage, and Coulds give you agency. You could practice more. You could start to explore gender perception in voice, and you could learn skills that will make sure the world hears you accurately. You could sing into a mirror so that you could learn about how badass you look on stage. You could step into private lessons with boundless joy and real vulnerability. You could even acknowledge the Should that you’ve just taken off your shoulder, because now it’s pouting and wants attention, which you could give it, but now you know better.

As a teacher, I see those Shoulds on your shoulder all the time. I see them try to shut down your confidence and drive toward self-improvement and self-love. I can always tell when someone walks into a lesson with a Should; the weight of it slows us down and sometimes we all (including the Should) get frustrated. I can also tell when you have looked that Should square in the face and torn it down Labyrinth style (“You have no power over me!”) and the difference is astounding!

So I invite you to use those Coulds. Coulds are great! They are honest, they help remind you how much choice you have, and they support you on the way to your voice and music goals without judgment.

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It’s like having a lesson in your pocket

7/30/2018

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"Like most things I begrudge, I needed a kick in the butt..."
Here is my gift to you: my most loving 'kick to the butt.'
--Alexandra

Early in my undergraduate career, much to my chagrin, I began recording my voice lessons upon request of my teacher. Back then, I had a rather “dumb” phone, so I purchased a Zoom recorder and an SD card. I would walk into the lesson room, pop on the recorder, leave it on the desk, and turn it off at the conclusion of the lesson. I didn’t listen to many of the early recordings because I thought I sounded… strange. I was uncomfortable listening to myself sing, let alone talk!

Like most things I begrudge, I needed a kick in the butt, which I gave to myself. I fortified my resolve and started listening to the recordings, all of the recordings. It’s still awkward to listen to myself speak, but it’s much less so now than it was in the beginning. As with any sound (or song, or voice, or idea), it becomes familiar with time, and we become more comfortable with it. Here’s a New York Times article about why we hear our voices differently than everyone else (In other words: You hear the sound vibrations through your muscles and skull, which gives it different qualities!)

Once I got over the hurdle of awkward, I understood a few reasons why recording lessons (and this goes for any kind of rehearsal, too) is a MUST.

It’s like having a lesson in your pocket
Most of us only see our voice teachers once a week. Few of us have the luxury of having a lesson every day, or even a few times a week. When you record your lessons, you can revisit all of the exercises, comments, repertoire, and details during the days in between lessons. This keeps the ideas fresh in your mind so that more progress can be made.
Hear comments you might have missed
I don’t know about you, but when my voice teacher (sorry, Annie!) says comments to me while singing, I rarely can hear or process them. Here is another benefit from having a recording–you have the opportunity to go back and hear all of the mid-singing comments.
Hear the product as the rest of the word does
Remember just a few paragraphs ago when I acknowledged that we hear our voices differently than others do? Well, yeah. Here’s how you can hear your voice as they do! With time it will become less awkward. I promise. (Take a look at the mere-exposure effect.)
It’s a GREAT way to mark progress
Over time, you will collect a large number of recordings–that’s assuming you are not deleting them each week. I encourage you to keep some of the recordings to use as reference. Every so often, maybe once a month, every three months, once a year, etc, revisit the earlier recordings and you can hear the progress that has been made! I’ve needed this often, especially during grad school, when my technical progress seemed to hit a HUGE wall. I went back to recordings from the recent past (earlier that year) and the distant past (early undergrad). That gave me clear, undeniable proof that I had made progress. It’s like a self-pat on the back for all the hard work.

Now to the logistics of recording… It’s hard to find a non-smart phone these days, and because of this, I’m willing to bet that your cell phone has a “voice recorder” or “voice memo” app pre-installed. If you prefer to separate the recorder from your phone, then there are a number of accessible recorders ranging from $20 - $100 and beyond. I mentioned Zoom earlier–I’m a big fan. You can find an entry-level recorder of theirs around $100.

Whichever recording tool you prefer, start recording your lessons and reap the benefits.

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You Wouldn't Want to Hear Me Sing

5/5/2018

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Yes I would!! Now, let's talk about what's underneath that.
--Liz Jackson Hearns

Being somewhat of a textbook extrovert I make a point to meet a lot of new people, and I love hearing other people’s stories. It’s such a generous thing to share pieces of what make you who you are with a total stranger and I’m grateful to be listening. Especially in Chicago, where almost everyone has a story about arriving in the city from somewhere else, I am captivated by the events and situations that brought you here to this moment, talking with me. You’re from the suburbs and you need the spark of city life? I totally get that. You’re from L.A. and you want to be closer to family? That’s amazing! You’re from Austria pursuing a career as an architect? How cool! I’m here to hear you, and I’m honored to do so.

Sometimes when I’m out in the world and I meet someone new, they ask me what I do. When I respond by telling them that I’m a voice teacher, so many people say “Oh wow that’s cool! You wouldn’t want to hear me sing.” Those exact words. You wouldn’t want to hear me sing. I think those words are so interesting and insightful, because what I really hear when someone says that is, “I don’t deserve to sing.” This is a common sentiment especially among adult beginners, and I am passionate--compelled, even--to listen to where this comes from.

Too often I think the idea of “singing” is exaggerated as a sacred magical art form, that it’s reserved only for the truly gifted and any attempt to express yourself through singing without achieving perfection is an assault on everyone within earshot. “Singing” is either done publicly with great virtuosity and showmanship by those who have spent thousands of hours honing their craft, or it’s done privately in the shower where no one can hear. And if you try to “sing” for fun, you better not be too loud about it, and you definitely should not show emotion or let on that you’re connecting to yourself through your voice in any way, because someone is probably about to throw tomatoes or stones at you for opening your mouth at all.

Any of that resonating with you? Yes? Let’s talk about it.

Singing, or as my AT teacher Jeremy and I call it, Body Imagination Sound, is a joyful expression that everyone gets to experience. You deserve to experience the feel-good, messy, raw sensations of making noise with this amazing instrument that lives in your body. You are allowed to connect with yourself through your voice and share that connection with other people. It is a gift to connect with someone else through singing because it can literally make your hearts beat together. Have you ever found yourself singing along when your friend starts humming a song you like? Doesn’t it feel great to be at a live concert, sensing the energy around you? I was at a Tool show not too long ago and found myself overwhelmed with joy at hearing 18,000 people singing along at the same time. Singing is cathartic, pleasurable, beautiful, immersive, calming, healing, and of course you deserve to experience all those good things!

You deserve to feel good, and it’s ok for you to sing just because it feels good. And it’s ok to sing, just because it feels good, out loud.

There is no threshold, no gatekeeper, no sign that says “You Must Be This Talented To Sing.” So when someone says, “you wouldn’t want to hear me sing,” I always respond enthusiastically with “yes I would!” And I mean it, of course. I want nothing more in the world than to hear you sing, to witness and participate in your unique vocal expression because no one’s voice is exactly like yours, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to listen. Tell me your story, in your own voice, with your own special musical sauce. You don’t have to be an expert to have a voice you love and to share it, if you want to, with the world!

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Life of a student: Dalia S.

4/5/2018

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Singing and performing is for every. single. person.
-Liz Jackson Hearns

Although The Voice Lab primarily works with adult students we love working with kids, too. It's amazing to see a young singer step into their own space as a thoughtful, energetic artist, and Dalia is a perfect example of that. We've seen her grow from a shy beginner in her first performance to her most recent gig fronting a large band (check out the video here!). We are constantly impressed and excited to support you, Dalia!

Dalia has been working with Katherine for just over a year and we have seen some amazing transformation from this dedicated and enthusiastic student. Upon suggestion from her parents, Dalia decided to start singing lessons simply for the joy of it. When asked about why she started lessons, Dalia says, "I love to sing all the time. I was singing along to a music video and had all of these notes come out. That's when my parents encouraged me to try lessons. I always knew I had music in me to sing, but didn't have the confidence to try things with my voice yet."

Confidence is among the things Dalia says she's learning, along with perspective about what it means to be a singer. "I used to only sing at home, but now I feel super confident and excited to share my voice. It also changed my outlook on pop stars. I used to think that performing was for famous people like Ariana Grande, but after taking lessons I realized that singing and performing is for every. single. person. Including me!" And her technique is supporting her new vocal adventures as well, "high notes are still a bit scary, but once I remember my technique and tell myself to just go for it, it usually comes out great!"

As Dalia's teacher, Katherine has a knack for finding the balance of serious technique and silliness in lessons, and you may have heard a few of her character voices before. From South Park Canadians to British royalty, Katherine uses creative vocal imagination to help her students find new sounds. Dalia says of Katherine's lessons, "We do so many funny weird things, but my favorite is when we sing I like pie. I can feel it stretch and help my soft palate stay lifted. It works!"

Dalia certainly seems to have caught the singing bug and is excited for things to come. In the upcoming year she hopes to "work on playing guitar while singing and perform way more! I'd also love to meet more kids my age who like to perform music together, and maybe even try writing my own songs."

When asked what impact singing lessons have had on her life, and what she might tell folks who are thinking about lessons, she says, "I've really learned how to let go and try new things and I feel way braver. It's a fun activity to help me express myself and feel good about my voice. And if you're thinking about it, you should totally do it! It's so worth it! When you take voice lessons you expand the possibilities of what your voice can do."

We're amazed by you Dalia, and we are thrilled and grateful to be a part of your vocal journey and growth!

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"Holy crap! That was actually beautiful!"

3/8/2018

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Qiana's story of confidence-building through creative techniques
--Liz Jackson Hearns

Qiana has been a student of art most her life through church choir, dance lessons, singing lessons and soon, her first opera performance! Finding the confidence to keep building toward her goals and uncovering new ones along the way has been a journey of self-trust and self-exploration. Here are some of her thoughts about singing lessons, why she decided to start and where she hopes to go next!

I've been taking lessons with Liz since September of 2014, and I started because I wanted to become a more confident singer. I used to sing in my church choir and loved it, but was always worried that someone would hear me. Not exactly something you should worry about when you're singing in front of other people. I thought I could start to overcome that worry if I knew more what I was doing as a singer.

Some of my goals when I started lessons were about building confidence singing in front of people, especially as a soloist. The experience is so much different when you're singing solo versus singing in an ensemble as a choir. I also wanted to be able to sing un-amplified in a good sized space and be easily heard. I'm not planning my debut at the Lyric or anything, but hey, wouldn't it be cool if I could sing there and be heard in the very back row?!

Along the way, of course, some new goals have popped up. Since I started lessons, I have a much better idea of what I want to do when I'm singing and how to control it. And I'm getting better at actually being able to follow through with those new techniques when I want to, and build good vocal habits. Which leads to a new goal--not being so nervous (stage fright) when I sing. Part of that goal is just doing it more to get more comfortable. But also realizing that when my technique is secure, if I'm in a blinding panic while performing, my body will just go on autopilot and sing the way I've practiced thousands of times. And much more frequently, I listen to myself sing and think "Holy crap! That was actually beautiful!" It's nice to like my voice and not merely tolerate it!

Liz is constantly cheering me on and getting me to try new, weird things. One of the weirdest was bending over at the waist and singing upside-down in order to work on my breathing, to feel what it's like to breath really deeply. And it worked! I haven't been able to completely reproduce the feeling while standing up normally, but it gives me something to aim for. Another weird thing is doing my Kevin McCallister impression from Home Alone to help my mouth find a more oval shape as I'm singing. I do this one all the time when I'm practicing. It's still weird to just be there with my mouth wide open, but I can tell it's helping.

Liz asked me to talk about some of the awesome changes that have happened at the studio, since I was one of the very first students. The biggest change is the new North Center space which has made meeting and interacting with other students easier. Seeing other people perform at open mic nights has been an unexpected way of learning new things. And it's also been neat to see all the new teachers. It's been great to be able to do workshops with some of the other teachers and try out different techniques. I did a workshop with Katherine and was laughing the whole time!

Working on my voice like this, I think anyone could benefit from lessons. If you're thinking about it, do it!! In addition to learning good techniques and understanding theory, there is something liberating about having a place to sing songs you love in full voice. Let your voice out to run and play!

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Life of a student: Jessica U.

2/7/2018

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Jess has been with us since the beginning, and she shares her journey, full of self-discovery and absolute silliness, as a Voice Lab voice nerd!
--Liz Jackson Hearns

It's such a gift to be able to work with the same singer over the course of years, to witness the personal and artistic growth and see someone step into their full selves as a singer and a super amazing human. Jessica has been a student with me for about two years and we've done so much great stuff together!

Liz: Darling! Thank you so much for sharing your story. Let's start with the easy stuff. How long have you been studying and who is your teacher?

Jessica: I started taking singing lessons with The Amazing Liz Jackson Hearns in the spring of 2015, almost two years ago. This was before The Voice Lab North Center location even existed, my lessons were in the basement of a nearby church while you and Alexandra were building up your clientele.

Liz: For a lot of folks I meet, the decision to take music lessons as an adult is about reclaiming a part of your identity or hoping to uncover you inner diva. What about for you? Why did you decide to take lessons?

Jessica: My career is demanding and stress levels can get sky high if I don't force in time to take care of myself and enjoy a life outside of work. At the particular time of seeking lessons, aspects of my personal life were unraveling inside me and I didn't want to face it. So I was working, working, working and then coming home feeling trapped in sadness. Because I grew up playing the piano, hand bells, guitar lessons, and singing in the school chorus, I knew that music could take me to another head space. I desperately needed a creative outlet.

Liz: Truth!! To say that music is an escape is kind of an understatement, right?

Jessica: Exactly. There's a special kind of high when you immerse yourself, fully focused, into music and all the pieces come together while the rest of the world falls away.

Liz: So aside from seeking self-care and finding ways to immerse yourself into music, did you have any goals in mind when you started lessons?

Jessica: Aside from relieving stress and finding a healthy, productive way to bring lightness and creative expression into my life, I really wanted to learn to enjoy my voice. I hadn't sung since middle school and to me, my voice still sounded like an annoying little girl, not a strong woman. I also didn't want any requirements to perform for anyone, I was only singing for myself, for the fun of it. Performing was too much pressure and singing for a teacher was a challenge enough at the time. You understood and gave me the space to be comfortable.

Liz: I did my best! It's funny, as a teacher I think I always hear where your voice is going, and I know there has been a lot of trust-building between us and a lot of...shall we say experimentation? But we'll get to that in a sec. In the pursuit of those goals, I think some other things have emerged. Have some other goals come up along the way?

Jessica: Yes! It's so crazy when I unlock a beautiful sound from my own body that even my most critical self can't ignore. Learning to love, or even like my voice can be really hard and for me, it's a long, slow road. You are relentless with pointing out the good things that are going right and sounding awesome and making sure I appreciate that in myself. Of course I don't always get things right and sometimes I still feel ridiculous, but now when that happens, I have plenty of experiences to remember that when I do lock into the right space, I'm happy with my sound and it truly does exist inside me. It's easier to accept all the imperfections knowing that they are part of the learning process, practice brings real improvement, and I'm not just inherently doomed.

Liz: I love that! That's our whole thing, right? "Love your voice" is as much a promise from me to you as it is the process that you learn in lessons--to love your voice means to be patient with it and help it be its best self. I think in turn that means that you are unlocking yourself and it's so much like watching a flower bloom from my perspective.

Jessica: Oh, Liz that's so sweet!

Liz: Gross.

Jessica: Not gross. It's sweet.

Liz: Fine. *sticks tongue out* You're so great. Tell me more!

Jessica: As for new goals, after a year of singing only for myself, I was encouraged to consider joining the ColLABorate program and try something new with performing and harmonizing with other students. So I did - and loved it! So much so that my band mate and I continued working together on our own after the program ended. We just signed up for the next ColLABorate session and I'm super excited to have another public performance in the plan and conquering those fears.
Of course I have technical goals too, like having better control in keeping my soft palate lifted, improving breath suspension and exploring my vibrato.

Liz: And I can't wait to see you shine on stage again!
So some pretty crazy and experimental things have happened in lessons, which we touched on earlier. What's the weirdest thing I've ever asked you to do?

Jessica: Uh yep... I have to pick just one? Quacking like a duck, howling, singing into a kazoo, smooshing my face into funny shapes, power poses, singing upside down... There's no shortage of weirdness but it all serves a purpose. Readers, if you know Liz, you know she loves straws. We've used them in every. Single. Lesson. They really do help though, as a tangible tool to manage my breath. The best key to unlock my voice is usually my imagination. You're fantastic at translating what physically needs to happen inside me, in an instrument that I can't see, into a creative but practical visual to help my brain send the right signals through my body.

Liz: I want you to know that you're not the only one who has quacked in a lesson. I'm wondering how many of those things we've done in a single lesson...there's a research project!
Ok. So what's next? ColLAB is coming up, what else are you looking forward to in your music life?

Jessica: I actually just started piano lessons with Gene and one of my goals will be to learn how to accompany my singing so I can offer a more well-rounded experience when performing. Only two lessons in and it's already added a new level of creativity and excitement into practicing both voice and piano together.

Liz: Awesome! It's so special to be able to grow our faculty and provide that opportunity for you. We have grown SO MUCH since you started almost two years ago. What changes have you seen at The Voice Lab?

Jessica: SO much! One of the many reasons I love The Voice Lab is that Liz is an inspiring person to know. She has worked so hard to bring The Voice Lab to life and she does it all with an amazing attitude, impressive determination and an infectious laugh. The passion just oozes out of the team and creates such a wonderful environment to immerse ourselves in (I basically live here).

Ok, what's changed? In the beginning, like I said, Liz and Alexandra were teaching lessons in a church in Boystown on irregular schedules while they both worked elsewhere. Clientele built up and they opened their own full time storefront in North Center. Workshops and events like ColLABorate were offered. Third Thursday open mic sessions became a monthly opportunity to perform free of judgement, and to observe our teachers sing and play and be awesome but also screw up, laugh, move on, etc. proving that it doesn't have to be all perfect all the time for your audience to enjoy you. Katherine joined and brought a new level of laughter and light to the team (and South Park references). Lesson offerings expanded to include some really adorable children. There's so much business to track, Rachel came on as Office Manager. Meanwhile Liz's offerings to the trans community expanded and grew and are integral to The Voice Lab culture of goodness. Diane joined as a dedicated, trans focused resource on the team. Gene recently joined to teach piano and music theory (and ColLAB!). What's next? Whatever it is will be exactly what the world needs today.

Liz: Oh my gosh, Jess! Thank you for that beautiful description. It's been so amazing to be able to share all this with you as a student and now a friend. I feel that I've been given a gift to be able to do this work! Last question: what would you tell someone who is thinking about taking lessons?

Jessica: Be good to yourself, take them and go to The Voice Lab. I tried 3 other teachers around Chicago and never felt understood or relaxed until meeting Liz and the gang. I've had the pleasure of singing with Katherine, Alexandra and Liz and they are each joyful, fun, passionate and compassionate people who live and love their art. Their goals are for their students to be happy, healthy singers/humans who love their voice. It works. Boosh!

Liz: Boosh! Ha! Thank you, Jess!

--

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2016 was an incredible year!

12/31/2016

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And it's all thanks to you, our students!
--Liz Jackson Hearns

2016 was another incredible year.

This being my first full year working only for The Voice Lab as a teacher and business owner, I have a lot to be grateful for. I’m grateful for my amazing business partner, Alexandra, and our wonderful staff of teachers; I’m grateful to Rachel our office manager; and of course I’m grateful to my husband, Sean, for his constant support and grounding.

Mostly, though, I’m grateful to our students for sticking with us through this year of rapid growth, for meeting and getting to know each other, and for providing encouragement to each other to create a loving and supportive community! What a gift you have given! You have joined us for open mic nights, geeked out with us at workshops, celebrated us in our travels to conferences, colLABorated with us (two times!), welcomed us to your social and support groups, told us your stories, and conquered this whole “love your voice” thing with panache and grace. I am constantly in awe of you!

To show our gratitude, we have done our best to provide new and evolving ways for you to explore your voice and find more confidence and joy. 2017 will be no exception, and in fact we might even try to do more (the mantra for 2017 so far is All the things!). So without any more mushy gooey lovey nonsense, here are some of the awesome things we did in 2016 and what we’re looking forward to next year!

THANK YOU for another great year at The Voice Lab!!

2016 Stats:

Welcomed Katherine, Diane, and Rachel to our team of voice nerds!
Expanded our offerings to include singing lessons for kids!
Hosted 11 Third Thursday open mic nights!
Geeked out at 7 workshops and performances!
Visited nearly a dozen trans and queer organizations to offer free voice workshops!
Presented at 2 conferences to advocate for trans voice care!
Co-sponsored Trans Turning Point with Live Oak and Center on Halsted!
Celebrated student Asher Brown’s debut album!
Celebrated our 1 year anniversary in the Northcenter neighborhood and joined the Chamber of Commerce!
Hosted a super rad first annual Holiday Shindig at Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro!
Taught more than 1,400 lessons!

Dreams and plans for 2017:

Piano lessons! It’s finally happening!
Another two seasons of ColLABorate: Unplugged
Coll’Opera! Our first collaborative opera scenes program
Return of Sing ouT, a workshop for trans and GNC singers
Group speaking voice classes for trans and GNC folks
Music theory group sessions
Teaming up with folks like Jeremy Cohn for combined workshops
Summer musical activities for kids
Karaoke master class with the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce
Kids’ open mic night
A trip to Sweden to present on a panel for trans voice care at the International Conference of Voice Teachers
A trip to Earlham College where Diane will present at the Transgender Singing Voice Conference

And we will continue to build our Love Your Voice! community, fill the lesson rooms, and see our students shine! Thank you!

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My 20 favorite metal bands

12/20/2016

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No, Evanescence is not on this list (no judgement! Well, maybe a little...)
--Liz Jackson Hearns

I know, I know, the sweet teachery exterior betrays me, but I. Love. Metal.

I love metal because it’s fun and loud and over the top. I love a deep, rumbly, dirty death metal growl and a heavy groove. Music is an escape for most of us, and voice teachers need a little musical getaway sometimes, too! When I listen to death metal, I get the drama and flair of opera with the existentialism of romantic german lieder, and a vocal style that I don’t spent an ounce of energy analyzing. It’s blissful.

A disclaimer of sorts: there are some bands listed that are a little out there and if you didn't know me you might think I was into some crazy nonsense. I don't espouse the wild things in the lyrics--they are intentionally explicit, and that's part of death metal's charm. Listen with girded ears if you’re new to the genre, but I encourage you to fill your soul with some juicy, heavy goodness.

In no particular order:

At The Gates - You'll know it's a classic, because the first lyric is "GO!"
Strapping Young Lad/Devin Townsend - Devin Townsend is one of my vocal idols. He has a long roster of awesome songs, and he can seamlessly go from screaming to operatic tenor vocals. What a virtuoso!!
Lamb of God - I like comparing old Lamb of God to new Lamb of God, before they started working with Melissa Cross and after. Love their vocals.
Everdying - A local Chicago one-man band, this guy is crazy talented and speaks to all the things I love! And the fact that he introduced to me to this genre, for which I am ever grateful, should be noted.
Arch Enemy - Particularly old Arch Enemy, this female lead vocalist makes me want to be all I can be.
Dark Tranquility - My all-time favorite metal band. So good.
Samael - Orchestral and overbearing and I love it.
Children of Bodom - Just a raucus of music. Try to keep up with these insane solos and screechy vocals!
Dethklok - Yes, they're a cartoon band. But I love them. Toki is my favorite, of course, followed closely by Murderface.
Opeth - I could listen to that juicy bass forever. Another of my all-time favorites.
Amon Amarth - Classic Viking metal. Channel your inner gods of war!
Gojira - Djenty djent goodness. I wouldn't count on a downbeat anywhere, but when the groove hits you, you'll know.
Meshuggah - Favorite #3?
Tesseract - That bowyn-bownt that I crave, plus gorgeous harmonies? Yes please!
Volumes - Though it has kind of an early 2000's feel, there's still a good groove in there.
Tool - Of course. I chose Vicarious because I think it highlights Tool's ability to grip you into a story while lulling you into odd rhythmic patterns.
After the Burial - A little play on some panning and endless subdivisions = happy ears.
Within the Ruins (also their take on the Inspector Gadget theme which is super fun)
Angel Vivaldi - These last two are my favorite instrumental-only bands. A beautiful blend of classical and...other.
Paul Gilbert - I dare you not to play air guitar while you listen to this.

This list is of course incomplete, and I am constantly on the look out for new musical experiences. Who are your favorite metal bands?

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Life of a student: Emily P.

11/10/2016

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Finding your voice is more fun together!
--Liz Jackson Hearns

Emily is one of the most joyful people I've ever met. She can put a positive spin on just about anything, and she has as much determination as she does generosity. I had the pleasure of working with Emily to find a voice that felt complete, authentic, and healthy. It didn't take long, because she was ready to dive in to this fun and transformative process with enthusiasm. She was practically an expert even on her first day of lessons, having already completed several DIY training programs for voice feminization. As we explored some of the basics like breathing, pitch, and resonance she gained strength and stamina in her voice and found new ways to express herself. It was my privilege to be a part of that process with her, and I am grateful that she took the time to answer a few questions below. What I love most about what she said here is the reminder that no one has to do this alone. We're here to welcome you, and to help you love your voice!

Liz: When and why did you start taking voice lessons?

Emily: I started taking lessons back in April, after trying several online and self-study trans voice lessons. They helped a little, but I had nowhere near the voice I wanted, even after several months of practicing. I felt I needed the benefit of private voice instruction to get to where I needed to be.

Liz: What do you think was the weirdest thing we ever did in a lesson?

Emily: I have to pick just one? :)
To interject, Emily was excited and willing to try all manner of nerdy voice stuff, including straw phonation, character voices, and repeating the rainbow passage about a million times.

Liz: What are the most fun and most challenging aspects of voice work?

Emily: I never realized how exhausting it could be! I'm often both mentally and physically drained after a lesson, but it's just so satisfying to know the progress I've made.

Liz: What has been your most proud moment while working on voice?

Emily: When strangers on the phone kept gendering me as female, and insisted I could never have been anything else, I knew all that work with my voice had finally paid off!

Liz: And you had an interesting experience getting your license changed, right?

Emily: Yes! They wouldn't believe me that my old license was really mine, they thought it must have been my husband's or something. It was pretty funny!

Liz: How would you describe your teacher, never mind the fact that I'm right here.

Emily: (laughing) of course! Liz has an amazing talent for making the lessons encouraging and uplifting while at the same time working me so hard that I'm sooo tired at the end of the lesson! I'm also really impressed by her ability to pinpoint exactly what I need to work on, based on the sounds I'm making and even the way I look while making those sounds. And I don't know how, but she does it all in a way that's uniquely fun!

Liz: Emily, thank you. I had so much fun working together, too!
What would you say to someone who is thinking about taking lessons?

Emily: There's really no substitute for private voice lessons. Being in the same room with a professional instructor, who can give you immediate feedback on everything you do, is immensely helpful!

Liz: Is there anything else you want to say about voice, or about your vocal journey?

Before taking trans voice lessons with Liz, I tried Andrea James, Kathe Perez, and numerous other online sources. I tried all kinds of tips and tricks from other trans women. But none of them worked. It wasn't until I started taking lessons with Liz that I truly found my female voice. And I was shocked at how quickly it happened once I did! Finding my voice has finally allowed me to live as my true self, and I'm grateful to know Liz as both an instructor and as a friend.

Liz: I'm grateful to know you, too, Emily.

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Mirroring your emotions

9/26/2016

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Find the balance between technical perfection and emotional availability
--Katherine Werbiansky

When I first began studying voice I had two modes of singing: completely removed and robotic, or so emotional I could barely phonate.

I knew that once I let my guard down, stopped thinking technically, and really invested my spirit into a song it would open up the floodgates. The nature of singing lends itself to this cathartic experience because the instrument lies within our own bodies. There is a physical and mental release that happens when you've finished singing with all of your being. However, the lyrics we sing can be so entrenched with memories and feelings that our minds overwhelm our bodies and the tears start flowing. While it is a wonderful thing to let music affect you so greatly, as a singer it is our job to reflect the emotion through music so that the audience can have that emotional response instead.

There are a few tips I'd like to share with you on how to trigger this response within yourself, and also how to harness it to create art.

The first step is to find a song that truly speaks to you. For me, it was studying the American folk song "The Wayfaring Stranger." When I was studying this piece in college, the lyrics made me think about being alone and on my own for the first time. I didn't know it then, but I was sorely missing my family. I didn't know who I was or how to be a whole person on my own. This folk song triggered a massive emotional response when it was assigned to me in lessons. My teacher knew how I was feeling and purposely picked this song to break me from my robotic, technical state of singing.

Once you've picked a song that you relate to, find multiple recordings of the piece. Avoid videos and just rely on your ears. Which artists make you feel the most connected? What part sparks a specific memory? Did you cry, shudder, or laugh? Write down specific emotional language above the musical phrases when what you hear makes you feel something significant. This will serve as your emotional map to the song.

The next step is to practice with only the lyrics and emotions. Read the lyrics aloud as a script and tell the story. It may seem bizarre and feel awkward, but stripping the lyrics from the music will help you discover your own interpretation of these words. Try speaking it directly into a mirror and look yourself in the eye. Use the text to create a mini dramatic scene. Speak the text, build the emotion, and let yourself become overwhelmed.

The last step is to harness and sculpt all of those wonderful, raw feelings you just had into a piece that resonates with your audience as much as it does with you. Grab a camera and film yourself trying out different facial expressions and body language positions. What do you look like when you're feeling distraught? Mad? Sad? Happy? Excited? In love? Record yourself while performing your mini dramatic scene. Take note of facial and physical changes that portray honest emotion. Do the same process while singing as well. Were there certain words that created an unexpected response? Did your voice create a different color when you were feeling something more intensely? If you make the emotional expression part of a planned script, just like following a technical or musical direction, you know what to expect and how to execute it.

It can take away the fear that you'll completely indulge the emotion, and instead allows you to mirror it so that your audience can have all of the feels.

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Voice science meets musical artistry

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Mirroring your emotions

Find the balance between technical perfection and emotional availability
--Katherine Werbiansky

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Voice science meets musical artistry

A shift in language can shift your mindset!--Liz Jackson Hearns

Yes I would!! Now, let's talk about what's underneath that.--Liz Jackson Hearns

Singing and performing is for every. single. person.​-Liz Jackson Hearns

Qiana's story of confidence-building through creative techniques--Liz Jackson Hearns

Jess has been with us since the beginning, and she shares her journey, full of self-discovery and absolute silliness, as a Voice Lab voice nerd!--Liz Jackson Hearns

And it's all thanks to you, our students!--Liz Jackson Hearns

No, Evanescence is not on this list (no judgement! Well, maybe a little...)--Liz Jackson Hearns

Finding your voice is more fun together!--Liz Jackson Hearns

Find the balance between technical perfection and emotional availability --Katherine Werbiansky

Authors

Archives

Location

Quick links

Connect with Us

Subscribe

A shift in language can shift your mindset!
--Liz Jackson Hearns

Yes I would!! Now, let's talk about what's underneath that.
--Liz Jackson Hearns

Singing and performing is for every. single. person.
-Liz Jackson Hearns

Qiana's story of confidence-building through creative techniques
--Liz Jackson Hearns

Jess has been with us since the beginning, and she shares her journey, full of self-discovery and absolute silliness, as a Voice Lab voice nerd!
--Liz Jackson Hearns

And it's all thanks to you, our students!
--Liz Jackson Hearns

No, Evanescence is not on this list (no judgement! Well, maybe a little...)
--Liz Jackson Hearns

Finding your voice is more fun together!
--Liz Jackson Hearns

Find the balance between technical perfection and emotional availability
--Katherine Werbiansky