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Does singing feel so difficult, painful, or embarrassing that you hide it from the people you love? Does speaking feel scratchy, exhausting, breathless, or forced? It doesn't have to be that way. Your voice can sound and feel amazing, even in stressful situations. You just need to know how to use it. Singer and voice teacher Michèle Voillequé teaches the art and science of sounding and feeling the best you can. If you love the sound of your ideas, but hate the sound of your voice, be sure to ...
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The Only Way to Improve is to Embrace Failure
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Few things make me happier than the annual return of major league baseball. This year, as the season gets into full swing, I’ve been thinking a lot about baseball and the role failure plays in getting better at a skill. Like singing or speaking in public, hitting a fastball is a mental exercise as much as a physical one. Trying, missing, and trying…
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This one is for all my singers out there. (Don’t worry, speakers, I’ll be back for you soon.) Many of my students are either singing in groups or are hoping to get into a group situation, so they’re nervous about blending in with other voices. I love singing in harmony. Being part of a group sound can be so restoring for the spirit, and I want you …
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When death is near, music can comfort us: it can ease our pain, it can help us grieve. Songs can transport us back in time to a summer picnic, a winter fireplace, the road trip to grandma’s, and to so much dancing! Recent events have me thinking about mortality, and how music helps us remember those we’ve lost. I’d love to share with you, and honor…
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Biden and Britt and How Your Face Affects Your Sound
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When you’re working to hone your vocal technique, watching experienced singers or speakers use their voices can be very useful. President Biden’s State of the Union address, and Senator Katie Britt’s response, provided two very different, but very instructive examples. They demonstrate how facial expression, posture, setting, and other choices can …
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Learning to speak as an infant is an instinctive process of mimicking the sounds and voices around us. It only makes sense that the intentional practice of honing your voice might involve trying to imitate someone whose voice you like. Your own voice is uniquely shaped by your body, your heart, and your mind, so in the end you’ll always only sound …
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Your whole body is the instrument when you’re singing or speaking, and no part of that instrument is more crucial than your mind. Your feelings of comfort and confidence, your sense of self, and the connection you want to make with your audience all have a deep influence on how your voice sounds and feels. This time I’ll share some examples of how …
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I’m honored to introduce you to my good friend Matthew Brown. Matthew is a speech-language pathologist, a keyboardist, and one of the warmest, kindest souls I’ve ever known. In this episode, he shares how learning to sing the Psalms supported him through a really hard time. Maybe not surprisingly, the singing was so helpful that this musical, spiri…
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In my last episode, I talked about how to prepare when you only have two weeks before an audition. But how do you keep yourself from feeling overwhelmed when the big, scary thing is happening in two minutes? Here are some techniques for helping you feel into your body, and keep yourself grounded and centered when you need to show up in the face of …
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Auditioning for something often comes with a lot of anxiety, and time pressure only adds stress! Fortunately, it is absolutely possible to polish a song and get yourself into an audition mindset, even on short notice, without dropping everything else in your life. Here is my tried and tested three-step plan that will help you cultivate peace while …
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Getting stuck on a project happens, including when you’re developing your voice. I’ll discuss some different kinds of “stuck” and share what’s helped me and my students get moving again. There aren’t any magic bullets, but a little trial and error, some curiosity and self-compassion will help you find what you need. Michèle Voillequé is a singer an…
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What to Do with Grief and Other Big Feelings, with Michelle Favreault
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The practice of art, no matter the medium or your experience level, is a powerful tool for helping us process emotion. Very few people know this better than my wonderful friend Michelle Favreault. Michelle is a multi-disciplinary artist and teacher who helps people find the spark of their creativity, and access it to stay grounded and centered when…
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I keep a tiny hand mirror in my vocal studio and sometimes invite students to look at their mouths when they’re singing or speaking. It sounds a little awkward, right? So why would I suggest it? Most of us work way too hard when we’re using our voices. There are so many muscles that try to help that aren’t actually helping. The mirror shows us that…
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Noticing What Is keeps you in the present, which is really the only place you can change anything about how you’re singing or speaking. Noticing What Is also decreases the chances you’ll waste time and energy judging yourself and your circumstances, which allows you to respond more effectively to them. Today’s episode contains a couple of simple, s…
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I’ve talked about opening courageously before. It’s one of the vital steps you can take to support the physical act of singing or speaking. It requires building awareness and strength in your body, but it’s not just about posture and muscles. Opening courageously engages your mind and your heart. It means developing a connection to your surrounding…
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Generally, the more we do something, the better we get at it and the more confident we feel. A baby learning to walk is a really obvious example. But when it comes to speaking and singing in public, we often imagine that increased confidence will come from taking a huge risk, and then we wonder why we get stuck. Let’s talk about some smaller, more …
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Nearly every vocal problem has a solution, and those solutions often grow out of treating your entire, integrated self as your instrument. Physical strength, neurological calm, and a grounded sense of being are all critical to the work of singing or speaking. It might sound overwhelming, but I bet you’re already working on those things in different…
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Today I'm answering your questions! If you have a question you’d like answered in a future episode, please email me at letters@mvmusik.com. [01:19] Question 1. What if lip trills really don't work for me? (in response to Episode 5) My lip trill tutorial video: https://www.mvmusik.com/ltv/ Helpful YouTube videos on straw phonation: https://www.youtu…
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Befores and Afters and the Steps In Between
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Believe me when I tell you that no one is "born ready" for the stage. Really, no one. Sounding amazing, or even simply adopting a new vocal habit takes time and effort, and a ton of self-compassion. Today's episode is heavy on the compassion. Michèle Voillequé is a singer and a voice teacher living in Berkeley, California. A transcript of this epis…
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What should you take when your throat feels scratchy, phlegmy or just plain awful? Science has an answer for you! Listen in to learn what the research says about honey, lemon, ginger and a host of other remedies. I also share what works for me, including some of my favorite recipes. Michèle Voillequé is a singer and a voice teacher living in Berkel…
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Why YouTube Warm-Ups Might Not Work for You
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YouTube is a fantastic resource, and if you’ve gotten frustrated looking for the “perfect” vocal warm-up video, you’re not alone. What works for one person won’t necessarily work for another, and our needs vary from day to day. Learning what your whole self needs to sound the best it can is a practice all its own – and it’s one you can develop. Thi…
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As I see it, performance anxiety is a fact of life – as long as we care about what we’re communicating, we can expect to feel anxious about it sometimes. The challenge is to manage the anxiety. That starts with listening to it, and treating ourselves kindly. Visit http://mvmusik.com/fpa to download the meditation mentioned in this episode. Michèle …
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If you’ve tried to change how you sing or speak and you feel like you’re not getting anywhere, you’re not alone. Changing the voice is hard! Understanding what we're up against – namely, our neurobiology and sense of self – makes it easier. Michèle Voillequé is a singer and a voice teacher living in Berkeley, California. A transcript of this episod…
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I want to save you some time. I want to tell you three things that when I learned them, it was like the heavens opened up. Like, “What? Why didn't anybody ever tell me that?!” I hope you’ll listen to the episode, but if you’re in a hurry: • your lungs are not in your shoulders. • using your voice is a physical activity. • the floor isn’t going anyw…
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I wasn’t always a singer and a voice teacher. In fact, as a child I was told to “mouth the words.” Listen in to hear more about that, and how I found my way to singing, and why, if you struggle with singing or speaking, there’s hope for you, too. Michèle Voillequé is a singer and a voice teacher living in Berkeley, California. A transcript of this …
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Welcome to Can’t Wait To Hear You, a podcast about the relationship between your voice and your body, your heart, and your mind. Singer and voice teacher Michèle Voillequé shares the expertise and encouragement you need to use your voice with confident ease. She has helped hundreds of people sound better and feel more comfortable, even when they’re…
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