Studio Sessions: Sounding More Powerful The Sustainable Way with Singer Ali
What if singing powerfully had less to do with pushing, and more to do with control? Ali came in thinking she needed to “do more” with her voice—but what really changed things was doing less. This coaching session shows what happens when a singer shifts their focus from volume to balance, and learns how to smooth out their sound without losing strength. I sat down with VTS coach Kate, a vocal anatomy enthusiast and expert, to talk about how to understanding vocal anatomy can help you coach yourself and others much better. If you are a singer, vocal coach, music teacher or director and want to understand how your voice actually works (without going to med school), this is a great place to begin. Of course, it hasn’t always been easy. Even with support, choosing a creative path comes with doubt, fear, and a million unknowns. But when you grow up feeling like the people who know you best believe you’re capable — not just talented, but actually capable — it shapes the way you move through the world. This conversation is a reflection on what that support looked like, how it helped me navigate the messy middle of making music into a career, and why I believe the way we parent creative kids matters more than we think. If you've ever felt torn between your passion and practicality — or if you're a parent wondering how to support your child without pushing — I think you’ll relate.
The Kind Of Vocal Anatomy That Will Help You Sing (And Teach!) Better
Starting voice training can feel overwhelming, especially when everything’s wrapped in scientific terms no one remembers. Most singers don’t need to memorize words like “thyroarytenoid” or “cricothyroid” to improve their voice. What actually helps? Understanding what your vocal muscles *do* — not what they’re called. I sat down with VTS coach Kate, a vocal anatomy enthusiast and expert, to talk about how to understanding vocal anatomy can help you coach yourself and others much better. If you are a singer, vocal coach, music teacher or director and want to understand how your voice actually works (without going to med school), this is a great place to begin. Of course, it hasn’t always been easy. Even with support, choosing a creative path comes with doubt, fear, and a million unknowns. But when you grow up feeling like the people who know you best believe you’re capable — not just talented, but actually capable — it shapes the way you move through the world. This conversation is a reflection on what that support looked like, how it helped me navigate the messy middle of making music into a career, and why I believe the way we parent creative kids matters more than we think. If you've ever felt torn between your passion and practicality — or if you're a parent wondering how to support your child without pushing — I think you’ll relate.
Mental Health, Music & Community with Artist and VTS Student Ari Welkom (aka Avatari)
After struggling with addiction, Ari found his way back to himself through music—and created Mental Health & Music, a collaborative space for artists to talk about the connection between creativity and mental wellness. We also talk about why authenticity attracts the right fans, how singing is deeper than sound, and what it really means to use your voice as a tool for connection. Whether you’re coming back to music after a hard season, or just trying to figure out how to show up more fully in your art—this one’s for you.
Studio Sessions: Increasing Vocal Stamina With Singer Cam
Singing live can be brutal—especially when you’re not used to it or you took a break for a while. I worked with singer Cam - who’s an experienced performer, but took a long break from performing live - to help him build up his stamina again. We quickly realized that working on singing as effortlessly as possible and reducing tongue tension will be key to building up his stamina again. This episode is the coaching session we had together so that you can see what all goes into building stamina and reducing effort.
