This Is A Voice

Send us a textMost singers can learn the notes and the words. That isn’t the part that gets in the way. The real block sits under the surface. It’s the moment where the song should land and somehow doesn’t. You can feel it. The audience can feel it. Something is missing.In this episode, we dig into that missing pieceHow singers learn songs too fastHow the ear follows the recording but not the keyHow interpretation can be lovely but still emptyAnd how inhabiting a song changes everythingWe talk through the internal logic sitting inside every piece of musicThe logic of the harmonyThe logic of the textThe tiny decision points singers often sail past without noticingThe moments of energy change, tempo change, key change, and emotional shift that carry the storyThere are real examples from our masterclasses, including:A classical song that suddenly locked into tune once the chords were stripped back.A singer who delivered a perfect interpretation but didn’t sound like himself until we dug for his version of the truth.A musical theatre song that revealed its turning point in the silence between phrases.00:00 Why your song isn't landing01:24 A shift in vocal technique03:32 Being honest about your background05:17 Helping a singer with tuning08:39 Learning the song but not the key10:15 Change points help you map the song11:23 Do you memorise too quickly?12:23 The Speed Run and other techniques13:40 Acting without acting training16:14 Green Finch and Linnet Bird19:23 Not For The Life Of Me - Hidden in the text21:47 Gimme Gimme - When ARE decisions made?24:03 I Remember Sondheim25:54 I Don't Sound Like Me!30:30 Interpretation versus Inhabitation35:06 The "studio-perfect" voice myth37:44 This is our context, what's yours?If you teach singers, this episode gives you tools to diagnose why a performance isn’t landing.If you’re a singer, it shows you how to slow down, listen differently, and find the place where your voice actually sits inside the song.Tell us how you approach learning or teaching songs.What do you notice, break down, strip back, or question?We’d love to hear it.I Cain't Say No (Oklahoma) analysed by FlyNorthTheatricals https://www.tiktok.com/@flynorththeatricals/video/7566630322780081439Remember to like and subscribe for more insightful episodes. Leave a comment below on what inspired you the most! 👇You can find out about our Teacher Accreditation for singing teachers, vocal coaches and choir leaders and start your own journey here https://vocalprocess.co.uk/teacher-accreditation/We've also got this ↓ For the best self-guided learning, check out the Vocal Process Learning Lounge - 22 years of vocal coaching resources (over 600 videos) for less than the price of one private singing lesson. Click on the link https://vocalprocess.co.uk/learning-lounge/learning-lounge-level-2-deep-dive/ If you want to discover if our singing teacher training programme works for YOU, message us - we can share the process for joining Cohort26. https://www.cognitoforms.com/VocalProcess1/TheAccreditationProgramme Get the One Minute Voice Warmup app here, it's got a 4.9star rating Appstore https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/one-minute-voice-warmup/id1212802251 Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.speechtools.warmup&hl=en_GB   Check out our Voice Journal, written with Rayvox's Oren Boder https://www.rayvox.co.uk/products/voice-journal?ref=VOCALPROCESS  Find us - follow us on the socials! 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/Vocalprocess   📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vocalprocess  📖 Facebook - h

Send us a textBurnout can creep up quietly - until one day you realise you’ve got nothing left to give.In this honest, wide-ranging conversation, Dr Gillyanne Kayes, Jeremy Fisher and guest Dr Marisa Lee Naismith (host of A Voice and Beyond) talk about burnout in the performing arts: how it happens, what it feels like, and what recovery really takes.We explore:The link between trauma, stress, and burnoutBoundaries and learning to say “I don’t have the capacity”Why people-pleasing drives exhaustionThe real brain changes in burnout and how to resetWhat it means to honour yourself as a creativeThis episode includes insights from Stress Burnout Reset by Kerry Norton, reflections on somatic recovery, and practical tools for singers and teachers finding their way back to balance.00:00 Intro and Phlegm Alert02:10 When Burnout Creeps Up On You03:23 Losing Everything and Working Harder05:39 Adversity vs Trauma07:53 Burnout in the Performing Arts08:41 Self-Worth and People-Pleasing11:11 Learning To Say No And Setting Boundaries15:19 The 24-7 Access Problem19:28 The Power Of Saying "I Don't Have The Capacity"22:07 What Burnout Does To The Brain25:25 Recovery Tools and Somatic Practices33:45 Maria's Final Reflections - Honouring YourselfWatch, reflect, and share your experience of burnout in the comments.Remember to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon for more insightful episodes. Leave a comment below on what inspired you the most! 👇You can find out about our Teacher Accreditation for singing teachers, vocal coaches and choir leaders and start your own journey here https://vocalprocess.co.uk/teacher-accreditation/We've also got this ↓ For the best self-guided learning, check out the Vocal Process Learning Lounge - 22 years of vocal coaching resources (over 600 videos) for less than the price of one private singing lesson. Click on the link https://vocalprocess.co.uk/learning-lounge/learning-lounge-level-2-deep-dive/ If you want to discover if our singing teacher training programme works for YOU, message us - we can share the process for joining Cohort26. https://www.cognitoforms.com/VocalProcess1/TheAccreditationProgramme Get the One Minute Voice Warmup app here, it's got a 4.9star rating Appstore https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/one-minute-voice-warmup/id1212802251 Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.speechtools.warmup&hl=en_GB   Check out our Voice Journal, written with Rayvox's Oren Boder https://www.rayvox.co.uk/products/voice-journal?ref=VOCALPROCESS  Find us - follow us on the socials! 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/Vocalprocess   📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vocalprocess  📖 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/vocalprocess #vocalprocess #teacheraccreditation #voicetraining

Send us a textIf you’ve ever felt exhausted, cynical or “not good enough,” this episode will help you spot the signs, set boundaries and start recovering - without guilt.What really causes burnout in musicians, singers, teachers, and students?In this second episode of This Is A Voice on burnout, Dr. Gillyanne Kayes and Jeremy Fisher discuss the physical, emotional, and systemic roots of burnout - with two special guests offering different perspectives.Dr Ayan Panja (NHS GP, Saving Lives In Slow Motion podcast) explains why burnout isn’t just “being tired” - and what really happens when empathy and perfectionism collide.Richard Delaney (Programme Leader, BA Hons Acting: Contemporary and Devised at Royal Central School of Speech & Drama) reveals how time poverty and constant assessment are burning out a generation of creative students.Plus, Gillyanne and Jeremy share their own stories of freelance burnout, people-pleasing and finding balance as performers and coaches.Listen now and share it with a friend who might need it.Featuring clips from Saving Lives In Slow Motion (used with permission).You can find out about Ayan's work and join his podcast on https://drayan.co.uk/You can find out about Richard's work on https://www.richardddelaney.com/Remember to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon for more insightful episodes. Leave a comment below on what inspired you the most! 👇You can find out about our Teacher Accreditation for singing teachers, vocal coaches and choir leaders and start your own journey here https://vocalprocess.co.uk/teacher-accreditation/We've also got this ↓ For the best self-guided learning, check out the Vocal Process Learning Lounge - 22 years of vocal coaching resources (over 600 videos) for less than the price of one private singing lesson. Click on the link https://vocalprocess.co.uk/learning-lounge/learning-lounge-level-2-deep-dive/ If you want to discover if our singing teacher training programme works for YOU, message us - we can share the process for joining Cohort26. https://www.cognitoforms.com/VocalProcess1/TheAccreditationProgramme Get the One Minute Voice Warmup app here, it's got a 4.9star rating Appstore https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/one-minute-voice-warmup/id1212802251 Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.speechtools.warmup&hl=en_GB   Check out our Voice Journal, written with Rayvox's Oren Boder https://www.rayvox.co.uk/products/voice-journal?ref=VOCALPROCESS  Find us - follow us on the socials! 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/Vocalprocess   📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vocalprocess  📖 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/vocalprocess #vocalprocess #teacheraccreditation #voicetraining

Send us a textBurnout isn’t just “being tired.” For many musicians, singers, and creatives, it creeps in quietly until suddenly you can’t think clearly, you can’t create, and you feel stuck in cycles of exhaustion.In Season 12 Episode 1 of This Is A Voice, Jeremy Fisher and Dr. Gillyanne Kayes open up about their own experience with burnout, how it affected their work and creativity, and what they did to recover. They’re joined by singer and coach Franka van Essen, who explains burnout through the lens of Polyvagal Theory - and why creatives often toggle between burnout, boredom and overdrive.We talk about:The real signs of burnout (that you might be ignoring)Why freelancing makes burnout more likelyHow Polyvagal Theory can help you recognise the “zones” you live inPractical ways to step back into rest, creativity, and connectionIf you’ve ever felt exhausted, disconnected, or wondered “is this burnout?”, this episode will help you recognise it - and give you hope that you can recover.#burnout #singerburnout #polyvagaltheory  #musicianmentalhealth #vocalcoach  #singingteacher  00:00 Mood swings and despair01:19 What burnout looks like02:56 Measuring burnout05:21 Jeremy’s change of behaviour07:12 Franka on how burnout can start09:19 Singing teachers and burnout12:16 Musicians and task switching13:49 Polyvagal theory and the zones17:10 Toggling between the zones19:01 Compassion fatigue22:25 Household boundaries25:08 A plate of raspberry puddings25:44 Getting back in the green zone28:44 Learning to say noYou can contact Franka van Essen on http://www.voice2blossom.nl/Instagram and Facebook voice2blossomLinkedIn Franka van EssenAnd Franka’s short course on Polyvagal Theory for singers, teachers and coaches is included in our monthly Learning Lounge membership here https://vocalprocess.co.uk/learning-lounge/learning-lounge-level-2-deep-dive/Remember to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon for more insightful episodes. Leave a comment below on what inspired you the most! 👇You can find out about our Teacher Accreditation for singing teachers, vocal coaches and choir leaders and start your own journey here https://vocalprocess.co.uk/teacher-accreditation/We've also got this ↓ For the best self-guided learning, check out the Vocal Process Learning Lounge - 22 years of vocal coaching resources (over 600 videos) for less than the price of one private singing lesson. Click on the link https://vocalprocess.co.uk/learning-lounge/learning-lounge-level-2-deep-dive/ If you want to discover if our singing teacher training programme works for YOU, message us - we can share the process for joining Cohort26. https://www.cognitoforms.com/VocalProcess1/TheAccreditationProgramme Get the One Minute Voice Warmup app here, it's got a 4.9star rating Appstore https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/one-minute-voice-warmup/id1212802251 Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.speechtools.warmup&hl=en_GB   Check out our Voice Journal, written with Rayvox's Oren Boder https://www.rayvox.co.uk/products/voice-journal?ref=VOCALPROCESS  Find us - follow us on the socials! 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/Vocalprocess   📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vocalprocess  📖 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/vocalprocess #vocalprocess #teacheraccreditation #voicetraining

Send us a textWhat does it take to be an effective singing leader? Why is community music is so vital for social health? How can positivity counteract our innate negativity bias?In this powerful follow-up with Dr Melissa Forbes, we talk about how singing transforms lives far beyond the stage. From rethinking the deficit mindset of traditional music training to leading groups for people with Parkinson’s, Melissa challenges us to see singing through a new lens: Connection, not perfection.Whether you're a singer, teacher, coach, or someone who just loves voices, this episode will shift how you think about music, leadership and human connection.#musicleadership #positivity #mentalhealth 00:00 The singing skill no-one talks about05:09 Performative versus Experiential music07:28 What makes a great singing leader?09:52 Singing for health and Parkinson’s choirs15:02 A moving story about the power of choirs19:04 Negativity bias & deficit mindset in music training22:36 Helping people see beyond their limitations24:46 Melissa’s three-word mantraRemember to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon for more insightful episodes. Leave a comment below on what inspired you the most! You can find out about our Teacher Accreditation for singing teachers, vocal coaches and choir leaders and start your own journey here https://vocalprocess.co.uk/teacher-accreditation/We've also got this ↓ For the best self-guided learning, check out the Vocal Process Learning Lounge - 22 years of vocal coaching resources (over 600 videos) for less than the price of one private singing lesson. Click on the link https://vocalprocess.co.uk/learning-lounge/learning-lounge-level-2-deep-dive/ If you want to discover if our singing teacher training programme works for YOU, book a Discovery Call with Gillyanne here https://DrGillyanneKayesJeremyFisherInspirationSession.as.me/ACCREDITATIONCHATGet the One Minute Voice Warmup app here, it's got a 4.9star rating Appstore https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/one-minute-voice-warmup/id1212802251 Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.speechtools.warmup&hl=en_GB   Check out our Voice Journal, written with Rayvox's Oren Boder https://www.rayvox.co.uk/products/voice-journal?ref=VOCALPROCESS  Find us - follow us on the @VocalProcess socials!  #vocalprocess #teacheraccreditation #voicetraining