How do you distort high notes when nothing seems to work? What do you do when your voice is worn out but you have a show in two days? How do you prevent over-singing and sustain your voice long-term? From distorting high notes to sustaining and recovering your voice, join me in exploring essential answers to student questions from the rock singing community.In this episode:Learn why light, comfortable sounds are key to mastering distortionExplore how head voice supports high-note distortionWhy you should avoid forcing distortion at higher pitchesTips to prevent over-compression and strain when adding gritHow thinning and over-crying into higher notes can unlock distortionHow to find balance between breath support and letting air through for distortionUnderstand distortion as a shape supported by airflow, not forced into placeHow mixing head voice and chest voice creates smoother transitions for distortionTechniques for maintaining vocal health while singing with distortionWhy proper warm-ups are crucial before attempting any grit or distortionStrategies for recovering your voice after over-singingThe importance of hydration and rest for sustaining your voice after heavy distortionHow to maintain energy and aggression without over-straining your vocal cords during live showsHow to adjust your set list to protect your voice during live performancesEssential strategies for recording multiple takes without wearing out your voiceJoin the Rock Singing Success community for podcast discussions, courses, and an incredible community of supportive singers who are on the same journey as you.https://www.skool.com/rocksingingsuccess/about

What practices are essential to keeping your voice healthy and letting you sing for longer? What do you do when you’re sick but still need to sing? How do different foods, hydration, and sleep affect your singing? From the impact of personal rituals to adopting exercises that prepare your body for singing, join me in exploring essential strategies to improve your voice, stay healthy, and perform with confidence.In this episode:Essential practices for maintaining vocal healthWhy hydration is crucial for singers and how to stay properly hydratedHow sleep and diet impact your voice and overall singing performanceEffective vocal warm-up routines and exercises for singing wellHow personal rituals can enhance your performance mindsetHow physical exercises help prepare your body for singingStrategies for singing while sick and how to recover your voice safelyThe importance of gradual warm-ups from light to intenseThe benefits of the cry technique in improving your vocal rangeHow to adjust your performance when dealing with illness or recoveryWhy keeping your voice active during recovery is importantThe role of mental preparation and adopting an alter ego for stage confidenceWhy adapting warm-ups to your individual needs is crucial to singing wellWhy avoiding harmful vocal practices is essential for longevity in singingJoin the Rock Singing Success community for podcast discussions, courses, and an incredible community of supportive singers who are on the same journey as you.https://www.skool.com/rocksingingsuccess/about

How did Taylor Swift make over a billion from her last tour? Why is it so much harder to make money in music now vs 30 years ago? What are the top artists doing to create an army of fans? From understanding the major shift in the music business to learning how to build a community of people who support you, join me in exploring essential tips and techniques to enhance your music career.In this episode:How the music industry game has changed and what it means for youLearn from Taylor Swift's strategy of personal connection and building a lasting fanbaseUnderstand the shift from traditional music sales to creating personal connections with fansThe evolution of music formats and its impact on your music salesWhy building a supportive, engaged community is key to a successful music careerKey insights on how to leverage social media to grow your audienceThe significance of knowing your audience and building direct relationships with fansWhy being genuinely social and interested in your fans is the new path to successTips on creating meaningful interactions to enhance your singing careerBenefits of collaboration and finding your tribe in the modern music communityJoin the Rock Singing Success community for podcast discussions, courses, and an incredible community of supportive singers who are on the same journey as you.https://www.skool.com/rocksingingsuccess/about

How can embracing imperfection elevate your performance and turn mistakes into memories? From creating a strong onstage persona to overcoming stage fright, join us in discussing essential strategies to build confidence and connect with your audience in ways that are unforgettable.In this episode:The best ways to prepare for taking the stageBuilding a ritual to get into the right mindset before your rock concert performanceStrategies for overcoming stage fright and building confidenceWhy recording and analyzing your rehearsals and performances is crucial for growthTips for maintaining energy and engagementThe impact and importance of stage setup, lighting, and movementWhy there’s no such thing as a perfect performanceHow to handle mistakes on stage and turn them into memorable momentsCreating an authentic and memorable onstage personaHow to find your unique performance style and express it with confidenceThe value of pushing your comfort zone and experimenting in safe spacesLearning to gauge audience energy and adjust your performance accordinglyThe role of humor and humility in recovering from on-stage mistakesJoin the Rock Singing Success community for podcast discussions, courses, and an incredible community of supportive singers who are on the same journey as you.https://www.skool.com/rocksingingsuccess/about

Let’s explore the rich history of modern rock and metal, what it takes to stand out in a commercialized music industry, and the ins and outs of building a powerful modern music career. From using the democratization of music to build a strong community to experimenting with versatility and combining styles, we discuss the most effective strategies to connect with your audience and redefine marketability.In this episode:Get inspired by the history of modern rock and metalLearn to use the homogenization of music to your advantageStanding out in an industry full of commercialized musicHow to use the democratization of music to build a strong community without losing the artThe freedom you have to experiment with versatility and combine different styles as a singerThe advantages of defining marketability as value and connection rather than commercializationConnecting with people with the voice you have nowNot every song needs to be a hitThe power of a community that’s a safe space, supportive, and gives constructive feedbackJoin the Rock Singing Success community for podcast discussions, courses, and an incredible community of supportive singers who are on the same journey as you.https://www.skool.com/rocksingingsuccess/about

When you feel stuck, getting feedback and direction from an experienced coach is invaluable. In this episode, Draven helps Rock singing Lessons teacher, Matt Sutton, address some student issues and questions about singing on pitch, extending range, and the importance of whistle.In this episode:Pitch is a listening skill: why a reference can be useful when training to sing on pitchThe power of slowing things downHow a pitch meter can be your most effective toolThe importance of hearing notes in the context of the musicHow singing completely off-pitch, in harmony, or only slightly off-pitch have completely different fixesBarring specific medical issues, anyone can learn to sing well; rethink what’s holding you backOvercoming obstacles: the power of starting simple, both in singing and in lifeWhy you have to give yourself time to grow and improveWhy you should be training up high and how it affects your lower rangeWhy cry is essential to singing up high and singing in generalMethods of finding cry: how Ghostbusters can help you achieve cry vocal modeHow to sing higher than the upper range: going from head voice to whistle voiceHow whistle voice helps you develop better compression and stabilityTwo main ways to develop whistle voiceJoin the Rock Singing Success community for podcast discussions, courses, and an incredible community of supportive singers who are on the same journey as you.https://www.skool.com/rocksingingsuccess/about

Explore the benefits of practicing range and dynamics, utilizing voice breaks, and the safe approach to high notes and distortion. From being solid in the basics of singing, to warmups and live recordings, we discuss the absolute best techniques to focus on in order to improve your voice and give you room to grow.In this episode:Why practicing both range and dynamics is valuable for high notes and distortionHow utilizing your voice break can allow you to tap into different harmonicsHow adding distortion can help relax the voice into higher pitchesBe careful on low screams: the danger of pushing distortionThe note vs the approach: knowing what you’re doing wrong when singing high notesUp and over: how to successfully sing higherTwang compression: the power of keeping your resonance up rather than pushingThe power of cry: how feminizing the voice and whimpering makes it easier to singCry vs twang: why cry and twang are useful for belting and distortionIf it feels too heavy, it probably is: going off of what you feel in your voice rather than what you hear in an album When you want to push, cry more: why crying is essential to singing wellThe main benefit of listening to live recordings: holding yourself to realistic standardsSinging is a fine motor skill: how learning new coordinations for the voice is like learning to writeGive yourself time and space to grow: learning to sing is a processThe power of the essentials: you are never too good to go back and touch up on the basicsWhy a good warmup is an essential part of singing wellJoin the Rock Singing Success community for podcast discussions, courses, and an incredible community of supportive singers who are on the same journey as you.https://www.skool.com/rocksingingsuccess/about

Learn how to control the false cords, use fry like an expert, and discover the best exercises for developing your grit and screams beyond what you thought possible. Explore the importance of bracing, breath support, placement, yawning, sobbing, and being versatile with your screams. In this episode, we’ll take you from the basics of vocal distortion to mastering the most advanced techniques, in a great preview of what we teach in our Extreme Singing course.In this episode:The foundations of vocal distortion: the first thing you needWhy learning to sing first is essential for developing effortless grit and screamsHow distortion works and interacts with the voiceHow to gain conscious control of the false cords for ultimate controlHow fry is useful for building vocal distortionWhat an old man’s grunt, witch’s cackle, and smoker’s voice can teach you about vocal distortionHow to use glottal stops, thinning out, and cry to develop fryCrucial steps for combining fry and the singing voiceHow to control compression and why it’s usefulThree main grit placements and how to work on themOne of the best exercises to develop effective gritThe spectrum of the two main distortion typesThe balance between singing and grit placement, and how to use it to shape your soundWhy bracing is essential to effective vocal distortion and breath supportHow yawning can affect the intensity of your distortionIf you can sing it, you can distort itHow to go from grit to screamsA simple exercise for improving your screams by letting your voice fall apartHow to use sobbing to get better at screamingUsing the feeling of the false cords to improve your grit and screamsHow to distort in your lower rangeAdele vs Randy Blythe: how to build versatility and coordination in your screamsWhat to expect about how long it takes to develop great vocal distortion that doesn’t hurt your throatJoin the Rock Singing Success community for podcast discussions, courses, and an incredible community of supportive singers who are on the same journey as you.https://www.skool.com/rocksingingsuccess/about

Delve into the spectrum of vocal distortion, from grit to screams, and how to find the right balance. Discover the physical mechanics of distortion, various screaming techniques, and the parallels with other types of singing. Learn the best improvement methods, warning signs, and the importance of breath support and compression in mastering distortion without harm, allowing you to master your screams and grit with minimal pain.In this episode:The spectrum of vocal distortion and the difference between grit and screamsFinding the proper balance between screaming and gritFixing the most misunderstood thing about screams and distortionWhat actually happens (physically) when distortingScreaming in various ways, from high to lowDistortion is the same position for everyone, but there are a ton of different approachesOne of the best ways to improve distortion early onThe parallels between distortion and classical singingOne of the fastest ways to develop gritIf it hurts, you’re doing it wrong, but don’t be afraid to exploreDeveloping loud distortion and expecting it to take a long time, especially for low distortionThe power of curiosity and following the processThe primary warning signs when learning distortion and knowing when to step awayKnowing the difference between grinding forward and conditioning for the extra vibration happening in the false cordsThe primary reason distortion goes wrong: going too hardPerceived loudness vs physical loudnessChanging the acoustics that distortion happens around vs the actual distortionWhy you should be crying: how to get compression without yellingOne of the easiest ways to get into distortion: learning how to use compression correctlyWhat pushing actually is and its difference from bracingThe importance of breath support and its placementBecoming comfortable with making weird sounds and moving the voice around: learning to screamJoin the Rock Singing Success community for podcast discussions, courses, and an incredible community of supportive singers who are on the same journey as you.https://www.skool.com/rocksingingsuccess/about

In this episode, we explore essential strategies for a successful music career, from the importance of storytelling and balancing creativity with focus to the power of high-quality production. Learn why hiring experts, testing the market, and setting ambitious goals are key to growth, and discover how to leverage your resources and unique skills to amplify your progress.In this episode:Why you need to lean into storytellingCreative distractions vs focusingThe problem with pivoting directions for othersFinishing projects vs releasing at the right timeTesting the market before producing moreCompetition vs being #1 in your own categoryThe power of producing high-quality and working with world-class peopleWhy hiring experts is the best answer to getting things done and growing your music careerHow and when to hire a team to amplify your progress, even without a budgetSpending money on what helps move you forward vs good ideasWorking with what you have to amplify your creativityWhat to learn about or buy for recording on your own to save time in the studioWhen to hire help, like a producer, for songwriting and recordingHiring the RIGHT team of expertsWhy you should lean into what you are good at and what makes you uniqueThe benefits of 10X goals and going bigHow to break the cycle of going nowhere, and finally get the boost you needWhat are the next most critical steps you should take?How to leverage what you have to get the highest quality out of your recordingsJoin the Rock Singing Success community for podcast discussions, courses, and an incredible community of supportive singers who are on the same journey as you.https://www.skool.com/rocksingingsuccess/about

There are far too many myths, ignorant statements, and misconceptions that hold us back as singers; especially in the world of rock and metal. Some are incredibly limiting, others are overly cautious, and even others are downright wrong and a complete misunderstanding of how the voice works – which we’ve heard other vocal teachers repeat as truth! Join us as the other Rock Singing Lessons teachers and I address the top myths we hear far too often, hopefully answering some big questions for you and helping you get the breakthrough in your voice you’ve been wanting.In this episode:Talent vs intuition: why “you have it or you don’t” is BSYou’re not stuck in a certain range and can train to expand itBarring a medical issue, It’s always possible to train for the voice you wantThe benefits of knowing what you’re capable of and looking at live performances of songsThe power of meeting the essentials and not expecting perfectionYou’re allowed to change songs to make them easier to singYou’re not confined to a certain vocal categorizationKnowing what actually impacts your voice vs what people say impacts your voiceThe difference between what hurts your voice and what you should be paying attention toThinking of distortion as an effect rather than a different type of singingWhy you should be trying to keep a natural larynx rather than a neutral larynxVarying techniques: why all technique doesn’t transfer to all genresThe #1 thing holding you back from a successful singing career: thinking you don’t have timeFinding time & space to practice singing even with full-time commitments or limited optionsSimple ways to practice singing when you don’t have much time to dedicate specifically to singingJoin the Rock Singing Success community for podcast discussions, courses, and an incredible community of supportive singers who are on the same journey as you.https://www.skool.com/rocksingingsuccess/about

Is formal education, or any education, necessary for singing rock and metal? The answer might surprise you. In this episode, I’m joined by Rock Singing Lessons' voice teachers and phenomenal musicians Matt Sutton and Drew Cope to discuss this topic.In this episode:The pros and cons of getting a music education or not getting oneWhat it’s like to gain education through performance experienceThe benefits of having a teacher to help you train your voiceOne of the best ways for you to improve your singingOne of the oldest, most popular, and easiest ways to make money as a singer and musician: TeachingThe ins and outs of teaching music and singing and how to get startedHow to avoid the pitfalls we ran into when we got started in teachingStart making money quickly while also improving your skills as a musicianJoin the Rock Singing Success community for podcast discussions, courses, and an incredible community of supportive singers who are on the same journey as you.https://www.skool.com/rocksingingsuccess/about