Grand Rapids Voice Collective

Another fabulous highlight from our Spring Showcase: Mari & Matty brought Popular to life with so much variety of tone color, unique acting choices, and a Glinda that is one-of-a-kind.

When you’re performing such a well-known piece, it can be hard to make your rendition stand out from the crowd, but Mari is making it look easy! She’s explored this text from so many different angles, played with the physicality of the character, and allowed her voice to flexibly move throughout the vocal line.

Congrats on your performance, Mari & Matty Owen 🎶🎤🥳

Tune in for ‘s take on the mix, everyone’s FaVoRiTe topic.

Ok, let’s stop guessing at what a mix is and look at it functionally.

Calling it a ‘mix’ implies that there is more than one element being mixed together to varying degrees to create that sound. And that’s a nice way to sum up what we’re doing. When we break it down, we are really developing the coordination of registration and resonance. These two systems are interdependent upon one another, and the coordination between them requires a lot of flexibility. We run into issues because many of us try to mix before we have full access to our registration and/or our resonance system. Or maybe you’re getting stuck because you think head voice has to be lofty, and chest voice has to be brassy. Your thought process around what a mix is might be inhibiting the flexibility needed to produce it!

While this visual isn’t perfect, and can’t necessarily show you how breath pressure plays a role, it is nice to have a visual representation of what we’re doing when we’re playing an instrument that we can’t see.

(I also think it’s nice to know that they’re actually is science behind all this voice stuff, and we aren’t just throwing spaghetti at the Walls and guessing at what’s going to help us develop the voice.)

Is this graphic helpful to you? Want to understand more about how your voice works and how to strengthen it? Then be sure to follow along. And if you want some personalized guidance along the way, head to the link in our bio and book your next à la carte session today!

Just the first of SO MANY thrilling performances at Showcase.

has been working for the past year to build consistency, efficiency, and versatility in her voice. Building this much skill doesn’t happen in one coaching, folx: this is the result of months of dedicated, passionate work!

Wowza.

Also is a star - girl, your music did a Meadowlark and FLEW AWAY and your fingers just keep tickling those ivories 😂😂 magical unicorn. (Jk, that’s also what happens when you practice as much as she does)

Want to grow your voice? Fill out the new membership inquiry at the link in our bio, and let’s get started!

Did you know that GRVC instructors are constantly training, learning new skills, and staying up on the latest in voice science?

Our instructors aren’t guessing at what’s going to help you achieve your goals - we’re working with evidence-based voice science, and it’s super fun to dig in and get nerdy about the voice together. I could not be more grateful for our team - y’all ask the best questions, overflow with curiosity, and LIGHT UP when you are sharing your knowledge.

We do this every week, but this week, we’re spending some extra time exploring, getting curious, and learning new skills to help our singers break through vocal plateaus.

We’re excited to get summer rolling next week with our brains refreshed and packed full of fun new tools to use in the studio with you!

Thank you for deep diving into the nuances of the voice this week!!

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Inclusivity. It’s one of our Core Values as a company, and this month, it’s particularly relevant. We believe everyone belongs. Everyone’s authentic voice matters. This month, we’ll be sharing some of our favorite artists, composers, & performers who exemplify this idea through the LGBTQIA lens, so be sure to follow along to learn about some amazing artists!

Let’s use June to build community, promote self-acceptance, and explore authentic expression.

Let’s use June to remind those around us (*cough cough this administration cough cough*) that every human being has equal rights.

Every. Human. Being.

🏳️‍⚧️

Never underestimate the power of a quality onset!

If you are always running out of air at the ends of phrases, check the beginning. Chances are good that at the onset of sound, your abdominal muscles are squeezing out most of the air in your lungs. This doesn’t leave you with very much to support your sound with.

Instead of initiating sound with a squeeze in your abdomen, notice how the body initiates airflow when you’re just exhaling. The exhale actually begins with the action of the internal oblique muscles, and it’s more of a subconscious gesture than a conscious contraction of that musculature. If we can replicate that in our singing, we are going to have a lot more air to utilize!

This exercise is a simple one but, as you might notice, requires an awful lot of concentration. Take your time with every onset to really build this fundamental coordination. Happy practicing!

Want to try it with some guidance specific to your instrument? Head to the link in our bio and book your first à la carte session today!

You have to love what you’re singing.

You might have to learn to love some styles, some characters, some pieces, but you MUST find your way into it.

Your audience can feel your connection to your music! Whatever you feel about it, they sense.

So spend the time to learn to love your music.

And if you can’t find a way? There’s a link in bio to our à la carte calendar - let us help you find the songs that really speak to you!