Episodios

  • Why Your Voice Flips—and Why That’s Normal
    Jul 8 2025

    Ever wonder why your voice flips, cracks, or shifts gears when you sing? This episode breaks down why that happens—and why it’s not a mistake.

    Hi, I’m Drew, and on this episode of The Voice Science Podcast, we’re unpacking one of the most misunderstood behaviors of the human voice: register transitions. Whether you call it flipping, cracking, or passaggio, this reflex is built in—not broken.

    We’ll explore:

    • The natural muscular behavior behind your voice’s “gear shifts”

    • Why micromanaging your sound can make things worse

    • How science-based vocal habits lead to long-term confidence

    • What not to do when your voice “breaks”

    • And how to start retraining your voice if it’s stuck in one register


    Understanding these core vocal behaviors is the first step to unlocking control, consistency, and range. And it’s exactly the kind of work we do inside VoSci Academy, launching July 25.


    🎓 Want structured guidance and tools that actually work? Become a Founding Member of VoSci Academy: https://www.voicescience.org/academy

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    9 m
  • Good Teacher, Better Student: What Makes Voice Lessons Actually Work
    Jul 1 2025

    🎤 What actually makes voice lessons effective? It’s not just about finding a great teacher—it’s also about being the kind of student who improves. In this episode of The Voice Science Podcast, we dive into the real factors that drive vocal progress.

    Whether you’re searching for your first voice teacher, returning to lessons after a break, or wondering how to make the most of your time and money, this episode breaks down the science and strategy of effective vocal learning.

    We’ll explore:

    • How to vet voice teachers and avoid common red flags
    • What separates voice teachers from vocal coaches
    • Why credentials and experience both matter (but aren’t enough)
    • How student mindset and habits shape results
    • The #1 myth about talent vs. training


    🧠 This episode is especially relevant for:

    • Singers looking for online voice lessons
    • Parents researching vocal training for their kids
    • Adults returning to singing after years away
    • Teachers rethinking their own pedagogy


    💡 Learn more about VoSci Academy, our guided learning platform for singers built on vocal science. Enrollment opens July 25 and closes August 4. Become a Founding Member and lock in lifetime access: https://www.voicescience.org/academy

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    13 m
  • How to Train a Boy’s Voice: Vocal Development, Puberty, and Repertoire That Works
    Jun 24 2025

    Why do so few boys take voice lessons—and how can we change that?

    In this episode, voice teacher and pedagogue Timothy Wilds joins Drew to unpack the science, strategy, and sensitivity required when training a boy’s voice. From understanding vocal fold changes during puberty to choosing repertoire that fits—not just vocally, but emotionally and developmentally—we explore what it means to meet boys where they are.

    You’ll learn:

    • What happens to the male voice during puberty—and why it matters for training
    • Why thin fold/head voice is essential for pre-pubescent boys
    • How to support vocal development without pushing too far, too fast
    • Repertoire pitfalls to avoid—and what to choose instead
    • The role of gender, identity, and storytelling in young singers’ repertoire
    • Song suggestions across genres: art song, folk, musical theatre, and more


    Whether you’re a voice teacher, choir director, or a parent supporting a young singer, this episode offers grounded, research-informed guidance for working with AMAB students in the crucial years before and during puberty.


    🎧 VoSci Academy is launching July 2025!

    Want science-backed training for singers and teachers? Join the interest list: https://voicescience.org/academy


    Resources & Mentions:

    • Art Song: Edward MacDowell’s Eight Songs, A Child’s Garden of Verses settings
    • Folk/Familiar Tunes: Shenandoah, Lean on Me, Let’s Go Fly a Kite
    • MT Roles for Boys: Oliver, Billy Elliot, The Secret Garden, Les Mis (Gavroche)
    • Lesser-Known MT: Hook, Working, A Bronx Tale, Lost in the Stars
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    17 m
  • What Every Voice Teacher Should Know About Training CCM
    Jun 17 2025

    You wouldn’t teach swimming without water—so why are we still training contemporary commercial music (CCM) singers without microphones or amplification?


    In this episode, Timothy Wilds (writer) and Drew Williams-Orozco (host) unpack the disconnect between traditional voice pedagogy and the real-world demands of CCM styles like pop, rock, country, jazz, and modern musical theatre. From the essential role of microphones to the need for new technical and stylistic frameworks, this episode challenges voice teachers to reexamine how we prepare singers for today’s amplified, genre-diverse performance landscape.


    We discuss:


    • Why amplification isn’t optional in CCM
    • How mic technique affects vocal production and artistry
    • Equipment setups for teachers on a budget
    • Why unplugged training creates a gap between rehearsal and performance
    • What it actually takes to train a well-rounded CCM singer in 2025


    Whether you’re a teacher stuck in classical defaults or a singer seeking training that reflects your actual goals, this episode breaks down the problems—and offers a path forward.


    🔗 VoSci Academy launches this summer with voice science-based courses for real-world singing. Get notified: https://voicescience.org


    🎧 Mentioned Episode: #4 – Ring & Twang: https://podcast.voicescience.org/episode/4

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    12 m
  • How to Sing Legato: A Practical Guide for Smoother, Connected Phrasing
    Jun 10 2025

    Episode Summary:

    Legato is one of the most frequently requested—and least clearly defined—skills in singing. In this episode, we unpack what it really takes to sing legato well. From managing airflow to shaping vowels and navigating consonants, we’ll guide you through practical strategies you can apply today.


    What You’ll Learn:

    • Why breath support alone won’t get you legato
    • How to develop continuous vowel connection
    • Where singers unintentionally “break the line”
    • Exercises to build awareness, precision, and flow


    👀 Coming Summer 2025: VoSci Academy

    Structured courses, expanded Skill Labs, and monthly Q&As to help you train smarter—not just harder.

    👉 Join the waitlist: https://www.voicescience.org/academy/


    🔗 Links & Resources:


    • Episode on Breath Support: https://www.voicescience.org/2025/02/podcast/ep-1-unlocking-breath-support-sing-powerfully-without-more-air/
    • All Podcast Episodes: https://www.voicescience.org/vosci-podcast/
    • Contact or Leave a Question: https://www.voicescience.org/contact
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    12 m
  • What Instrumentalists Know About Singing That Most Singers Don’t
    Jun 3 2025

    Why do instrumentalists seem to improve faster than singers? It’s not about talent—it’s about how they practice.


    In this episode, Josh explores the deep disconnect between how most vocalists approach their training compared to instrumentalists. From scale drills and arpeggios to muscle memory and voice science, this episode takes a critical look at why singers often rely too heavily on repertoire—and what that’s costing them in long-term growth.


    🎯 Topics include:


    • Why singers skip skill-building—and the hidden cost
    • How historic vocal pedagogy differed from today’s common practices
    • The role of muscle memory in singing
    • Why generalized skill drills aren’t “boring”—they’re the fast track to expressive freedom
    • What Estill Voice Training taught Josh about precise control
    • A simple analogy that reveals why singing should be like learning to write


    Plus: Learn about the new VoSci Skill Lab—weekly exercises designed to help you isolate, refine, and master the core ingredients of great singing.


    Whether you’re a student, teacher, or seasoned pro, this episode invites you to rethink how you train—and why focusing on fundamentals might be the key to unlocking your best voice yet.


    🧠 Read more, ask a question, or check out the Skill Lab at VoiceScience.org


    📣 Subscribe for weekly insights into singing, pedagogy, and the science behind the voice.


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    13 m
  • Vox Agnotology: Why So Much of What We Know About Singing Is Wrong
    May 27 2025

    Why do so many singing myths persist—even in college classrooms?

    In this episode of The Voice Science Podcast, host Josh Manuel explores Vox Agnotology—a term he’s coined to describe the willful and unintentional ignorance surrounding how the voice actually works.


    Inspired by the field of agnotology (the study of ignorance), Josh breaks down how outdated or misunderstood vocal concepts continue to be passed from teacher to student, even when science tells us otherwise. He shares personal stories, historical context, and practical advice on how to break free from inherited misinformation and start asking better questions.


    You’ll learn:

    • What Vox Agnotology is (and why you’ve never heard of it)
    • Why even well-meaning teachers pass on incorrect vocal technique
    • How to begin reading research without a science degree
    • Trusted sources to grow your understanding of voice science
    • How emotional attachment to mentors and tradition can hold us back


    🎧 Whether you’re a singer, teacher, or voice nerd, this episode will challenge what you think you know—and empower you to build a more accurate, evidence-based understanding of the voice.


    👉 More resources, articles, and feedback opportunities at VoiceScience.org

    📩 Subscribe for more episodes that uncover the truth behind the art of singing.


    Ologies Podcast with Alie Ward: https://www.alieward.com/ologies
    Agnotology Ologies Episode with Robert Proctor: https://www.alieward.com/ologies/agnotologyencore

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    12 m
  • Are Singing Straws a Scam? The Truth About SOVTEs and Vocal Training
    May 20 2025

    Singing straws promise stronger, easier, and healthier singing—but what does the science really say?

    In this episode of The Voice Science Podcast, we dive deep into the world of semi-occluded vocal tract exercises (SOVTEs)—with a spotlight on the ever-popular singing straws. From lip trills to submerged straws, these exercises are everywhere in voice training and rehabilitation. But are they really as effective as they claim to be?

    🔬 We’ll break down:

    • What SOVTEs are and how they work
    • Why singing straws gained so much popularity
    • What the research actually says about their effectiveness
    • Who might benefit from them—and who might be better off without
    • The surprising truth about adduction, air pressure, and head voice development
    • Better, science-backed alternatives for singers chasing vocal power or mix voice clarity

    Whether you’re a singer, teacher, or just voice-curious, this episode will give you a clear, evidence-based perspective on one of the most hyped tools in modern vocal pedagogy.

    👉 Spoiler: SOVTEs have value—but the way they’re marketed doesn’t always align with what your voice actually needs.

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    11 m