Kent Vocal Studio

14/10/2026

I recently bought this. A great steam inhaler for singers.

Steam is a really great way to ensure the vocal folds keep hydrated . Of course drinking water is also essential but steam provides instant hydration as it does not have to be digested first.

This model is not cheap but as a voice professional who sings and teaches in a few situations vocal care is a priority.

I highly recommend singers use a steamer of some kind as part of their warmup/cool down.

09/10/2026

Got my DrVox pocket vox today.

It is straw in water vocalising but with a dedicated silicone straw and bottle.
You blow air and make sound into the larger straw which causes bubbles in the water which give a massaging effect to the vocal folds through the gentle back pressure.

I've used the silicone straw part of this set years ago and decided to invest in the set with the bottle.

Straw in water is a great way to warmup the voice and recover from heavy voice use.

Combined with developing a great technique it can really help any singer.

You can look up 'drvox basic set' for this product if you are interested.

Definitely something to consider if you are a voice professional or an aspiring artist.

09/10/2026

Well worth watching for those who experience the highs and lows of performing life!

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19kK2FJ96K/

29/09/2026

"We isolate, isolate, isolate, and THEN we can coordinate" - David L Jones (renowned vocal pedagogue)

Breaking down technique into smaller components to practice is a really good strategy to build your vocal technique and confidence.

A few ways I suggest students do this-

Use straw inhales (inhaling as if you have a straw in between you lips) between exercises/lines of songs to practice feeling a deeper inhale- doing it slow

Practice a lyric keeping a focus on one aspect of technique you are working on

Practice an exercise or lyrical line with a focus on keeping the neck,jaw or tongue relaxed. The goal would be to achieve the release of tension not worrying too much about the sound result for now.

One of the key aspects is isolating areas and giving them focused attention.

Then you can better connect them to other parts of your technique for improved singing.

27/09/2026

I was talking to a student recently about using a mirror in their practice to monitor for any bad habits.
In his case he was over using his jaw in some parts of a song and tensing it in other parts.

Learning to keep the jaw from over opening on lower and middle notes really helped him keep a fuller resonance and avoid pushing notes.

In lessons I watch for such things and give feedback but using a mirror or a camera helps students practice and apply such things in their own practice times.
You can also watch for tensions in the neck and you can watch for any shoulder lifting/chest lifting during inhales. These things are not ideal for healthy and free singing.

I highly recommend using a mirror often to watch for vocal habits in exercises and songs you practice!

19/09/2026

One of the core ideas I teach singers!

31/08/2026

Great advice! The gentle chew can really help release tension and retrain the jaw to stay more released while singing!

On the Gentle Chewing Hum: A Factor in the Open Throat

One valuable factor in a concept that Lindquest taught me years ago was the relationship between what he called the 'gentle chew' or the 'chewing hum' and the affect on the upper attachment of the sternocleidomastoid muscles. The chewing motion is straight up and down and very slow. It is designed to release the masseter muscles of the jaw, teaching them a slow elastic movement. Some singers who suffer jaw tension may find that their jaw either locks open or locks closed. But the other advantage to finding release of the jaw is that is assists in releasing the upper neck area just behind the jaw and below the ears.

Exercise: Find a slow down and back release of the jaw in a slow chewing motion. The lips remain closed. You only open as far as the lips can stay closed. This works for most individuals. As you practice this you may find that your jaw will want to thrust downward in a sudden jerking motion. This is to be avoided. Practice slowly until you can find this slow motion of the jaw movement. Now place fingertips directly behind the jaw bone at the upper attachment area of the SCM's. Notice that as the jaw releases the upper neck opens wider. This plays a major factor in the open throat and this kind of work can help the singer to discover more throat release while working on the jaw.

Final Thought: I have found that many singers who suffer from throat tension can actually find release by releasing the jaw and this can play a major role in freer singing.

NOTE: This exercise may not work with individual with TMJ. In such cases, I recommend finding a good doctor who specializes in this field.

Have a great day. David

22/08/2026

It is easy to get into a trap of regretting past mistakes instead of making each day count now towards your goals!

Daily vocal practice with focus and intention will help you build your vocal potential!

Practice quality and focus matters!

16/08/2026

Awesome recording apps for vocal practice.

They enable you to practice a scale or part of a song and immediately hear back the audio and then record again.

There is 'echo' for Android devices and 'repeat recorder audio practice app ' for iOS

They can keep you in the flow of practicing, hearing back and applying any corrections or improvements with minimal phone distractions.

29/06/2026

I have a passion to help singers develop the best voice they can so they can sing freely on stage or even just in the shower!

Lessons tailored to individual needs and goals!

Technique that unlocks your free voice to sing the music you love .

I have taught beginners through to touring professionals over the past 14 years of teaching.