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# MVMusik

Michèle Voillequé

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.mvmusik.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Notes on Notes](https://www.mvmusik.com/notes-on-notes/) - Real help for singers and speakers: breathing, vocal health, practicing courage, gaining confidence. Can't Wait to Hear You is a must-listen podcast.
- [Warming Up after a Month of Not Singing](https://www.mvmusik.com/warming-up-after-a-month-of-not-singing/) - It's a human reality: we need to make a deliberate effort to coax our body into singing if we want the voice to be free, easy, full and tuneful.
- [Episode 80: The Cure for Pitchiness (is not an app)](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-80/) - Apps that claim to tell you whether you’re singing in tune can actually do more harm than good.
- [how to stop straining when you sing](https://www.mvmusik.com/how-to-stop-straining-when-you-sing/) - My group class will teach you to how to stop straining when you sing. Here's how the process works.
- [Episode 79: The Value in Slowing Down](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-79/) - For most of us, using our voices to talk feels effortless. But performing demands that we slow down and really understand what we’re doing and why.
- [how to manage forgetting](https://www.mvmusik.com/how-to-manage-forgetting/) - Everyone forgets. It's not the end of the world. Except when it feels like it is. How do we manage forgetting?
- [Episode 78: Sounding Consistently Good](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-78/) - Our desire to give a perfect performance will always be derailed by forces beyond our control. Sounding consistently good is possible, though!
- [Episode 77: Pause Before Practicing](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-77/) - When you pause before practicing, you will make more progress, faster, than if you just dive into the work.
- [Episode 76: Afraid of Doing It Wrong](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-76/) - I and my students often get "stuck" because we're afraid of "doing it wrong." The "it" could be anything. Here's how I get out of that rut.
- [Episode 75: Why AI Won't Take My Job](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-75/) - Artificial Intelligence could automate as many as 40% of tasks currently performed by humans. Teaching voice will not be one of them. Let me tell you why.
- [how to practice [anything] regularly](https://www.mvmusik.com/how-to-practice-anything-regularly/) - What's the difference between people who practice [anything] regularly and people who don't?
- [Episode 74: Embracing Larger Spaces](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-74/) - Learning to feel comfortable in larger spaces and in front of larger groups starts in your imagination. Today's episode Embracing Larger Spaces shows you how.
- [managing anxiety](https://www.mvmusik.com/managing-anxiety/) - My time in California so far has been a 31 year-long opportunity to practice managing my anxiety.
- [Episode 73: Expanding Our Capacity](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-73/) - Expanding our capacity to lead means expanding our capacity for conflict. Conflict is scary. It can be tempting to sit in discomfort rather than speak up.
- [Episode 72: The Power of Your Presence](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-72/) - Your presence matters more than you know! Part Two of "Leading When You're Not In Charge" – how to set a powerful example by accessing what you love.
- ["I am not a go-to-a-protest kind of person"](https://www.mvmusik.com/i-am-not-a-go-to-a-protest-kind-of-person/) - For years, I've said, "I am not a go-to-a-protest kind of person." No Kings has changed that. No Kings 2026
- [Episode 71: Leading When You're Not In Charge](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-71/) - How do you lead when you're not in charge? Tune in for an exercise that will help you become a more effective singer/leader, even when you're not in charge.
- [Episode 70: Why It's All About the Breath](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-70/) - You’ve probably heard someone say that singing is “all about the breath.” It’s a simple saying that belies a surprisingly multifaceted practice.
- [Episode 69: Expanding Your Comfort Zone](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-69/) - It's natural to feel conflicted about changing your voice, even if the change is ultimately for the better. Today I'm talking about expanding your comfort zone.
- [Episode 68: Practicing Thoughts](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-68/) - We all feel nervous when we’re doing Big Things. Practicing thoughts ahead of time can help you manage those nerves.
- [Music as Medicine](https://www.mvmusik.com/music-as-medicine/) - Music weaves its way into our lives in both blaring and subtle ways, and it's become my strongest personal medicine.
- [Episode 67: Two New Year's Resolutions](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-67/) - Two New Year's Resolutions to help you improve your relationship with your voice in 2026: practice in shoes, and try not to judge your out-of-tune singing.
- [Episode 66: How Music Carries Us Through](https://www.mvmusik.com/episode-66-how-music-carries-us-through/) - When things aren’t going well, we can let music carry us through.
- [About Tone Deafness](https://www.mvmusik.com/about-tone-deafness/) - Tone deafness affects only a tiny percentage of the population. If you can ask a question and be understood, I believe you can learn to sing.
- [On Hope and Openness](https://www.mvmusik.com/on-hope-and-openness/) - The more hope I allow myself to feel, the more openness I can find in my body. The more openness I can find, the easier it is to sing. More singing, more hopefulness!
- [Episode 65: Who Is Singing For?](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-65/) - Who is singing for? Singing is for everybody! December is the best time for it. A Singer's Advent can get you started!
- [Episode 4: Me and Performance Anxiety](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-4/) - As I see it, performance anxiety is a fact of life – as long as we care about what we’re communicating, we can expect to feel anxious about it sometimes. The challenge is to manage the anxiety. That starts with listening to it, and treating ourselves kindly.
- [Episode 64: How to Hear Yourself](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-64/) - To sing well, you have to listen to yourself differently. In this episode offer my best tips on how to hear yourself.
- [Episode 63: Practicing as a Reliable Behavior](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-63/) - Practicing is a perennial challenge, but if we broaden our concept of “practice,” it can make the whole process more rewarding.
- [Episode 62: Singing for Health](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-62/) - Just a few simple habits can give you the best chance of living a long, happy, healthy life. Singing for health can be one of them.
- [Episode 61: What Conductors Want](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-61/) - Singing in a chorus can feel safer than soloing at karaoke or going to an open mic, but it comes with its own challenges. Listen in to learn what conductors want.
- [Episode 60: Gravelly and Stuck](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-60/) - Does your voice feel gravelly and stuck? There are things you can do about that! Experiment with these exercises to feel and sound better quickly.
- [Episode 59: Moving from Silent to Singing](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-59/) - Moving from silent to singing is no small task – it takes a lot of courage! Today's episode outlines your first steps to becoming a person who sings.
- [Episode 58: Thoughts that Help](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-58/) - Our moods affect our voice, and our thoughts affect our moods. Here are some thoughts that help get us vocally back on track.
- [Places to Sing in the East Bay](https://www.mvmusik.com/places-to-sing-in-the-east-bay/) - Are you looking for places to sing in the East Bay? Most of these choruses are up and running again, even with COVID-19 still in our midst. They’re all good – and challenging – in their own ways.
- [Episode 57: Why Flat and Nasal Often Happen Togeher](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-57/) - Two complaints I often hear are "I sound flat" and "my voice sounds nasal!" Flat and nasal often come together. These very common problems are totally fixable.
- [Episode 56: Hiding Your Real Voice at Home](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-56/) - Do you find yourself hiding your real voice at home and working on a different voice in your lessons? There are ways you can bridge the gap.
- [Episode 55: Overcoming Embarrassment](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-55/) - Overcoming embarrassment boils down to understanding and respecting where it comes from, and then choosing to focus on what we have control over.
- [Episode 54: Beliefs that Make Change Easier](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-54/) - Changing how we sound changes how we think of ourselves, and it can generate a lot of doubt, fear and resistance. Seven beliefs make the change process easier.
- [Episode 53: Alternatives to Perfectionism](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-53/) - "perfect" isn't the only goal to strive for, in fact, it's unachievable. I offer a 5-step questionnaire for self-evaluation that's significantly more useful.
- [Episode 52: Why Taking a Deep Breath Doesn't Always Work](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-52/) - taking a deep breath doesn't always work to stabilize the voice if there is too much tension in the neck, shoulders and torso
- [Episode 51: More on the Possibility of Change](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-51/) - paradoxical vocal fold motion and learning from functional disorders
- [Episode 50: Is Change Possible?](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-50/) - Is change possible? Yes! You can change how your voice feels and sounds!
- [Episode 49: Music as a Place of Refuge](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-49/) - Music as a place of refuge
- [Episode 30: Finding Time to Practice](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-30/) - You know who sometimes struggles to find time for practicing their songs, speeches, or presentations? All of my students AND me.
- [Episode 48: Look for the Helpers](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-48/) - Raising your voice - in anger, in resistance, or in defense - is one way to make a difference in the world. But emotions can tie the voice in knots.
- [Hydrate hydrate hydrate](https://www.mvmusik.com/hydrate-hydrate-hydrate/) - What's amazing to me about Sen. Cory Booker (NJ) speaking for over 25 hours this week is that his voice was not trashed at the end of it.
- [Episode 34: I Don't Know How to Sing Anymore!](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-34/) - Changing old habits can leave you feeling like you don't know how to do anything anymore. Here are some techniques you can use to feel less alone, and more certain about the progress that (I promise) you’re making.
- [Episode 35: I'm Afraid of Long Notes](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-35/) - When you’re looking at a piece of vocal music, what’s the most intimidating thing you can imagine? For a lot of my students, a single note that gets held for 4, 8, or 12 beats is right at the top of the list.
- [Episode 36: Capable of More](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-36/) - This week anyway, I feel that life is a bit of a dance around this idea, "I am capable of more."
- [Episode 37: Using Your Breath Generously, or Me and the Mack Truck](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-37/) - When I’m singing long phrases, I lean on a vivid image from my childhood, of a massive truck sharing the narrow mountain highway with my tiny family car.
- [Episode 38: My Mom and Leading By Example](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-38/) - We all manage disappointment in our own way, but we have to work at it. Not surprisingly, I use singing to help me. I hope this personal story gives you some tools to help you through any difficult time.
- [Episode 39: "I love music, but I'm not musically inclined."](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-39/) - Do you know someone who thinks that making music is beyond their reach? Please send them this episode!
- [Episode 40: Why Private Lessons for Choral Singers are a Good Idea](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-40/) - You can learn a lot from singing in a good choir or chorus, and having one-on-one lessons will more effectively show you how to make the most of your instrument.
- [Episode 41: Three Skills You Need, Regardless of Vocal Style](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-41/) - Here is my take on how genres differ from one another, and three basic skills you need to bring any song to life.
- [Episode 42: Some Ways to Think about Breath Support](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-42/) - Few things are both as universal and personal as our breath. Everyone needs good breath support to sing or speak effectively, and we all describe what that feels like differently.
- [Episode 43: How to Get Out of Our Own Way](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-43/) - This week, I’m giving myself permission to rest, to be patient with myself, and to resist the feeling that I’m not doing enough.
- [Episode 44: Waking Up with a Sore Throat](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-44/) - Let me show you some easy ways to (gently) exercise your instrument when it hurts to use it.
- [Have you tried stagger breathing?](https://www.mvmusik.com/have-you-tried-stagger-breathing/) - There’s a thing in choral singing called “stagger breathing.”
- [Episode 45: Managing the Anxiety that Comes with Growth](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-45/) - In this episode, I introduce you to my tool called the Quality Inventory, which can help you navigate the process of growing your speaking or singing voice.
- [The Flyswatter or the Sea?](https://www.mvmusik.com/the-flyswatter-or-the-sea/) - Resistance is something I talk about all the time with students: too much of the wrong kind of resistance makes singing and speaking harder than they need to be.
- [Episode 46: Three Questions to Help You Prepare for Any Presentation](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-46/) - How do you manage stage fright? Do you have calming rituals, or ways to pump yourself up? Do you try to ignore it and power through?
- [Episode 47: How Reading Music Can Set Your Voice Back](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-47/) - Many of my students think of singing and reading music as parts of the same skill. I don’t think that’s exactly right.
- ["I sound better after a couple drinks"](https://www.mvmusik.com/singing-and-drinking/) - Monday night, a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter sang the National Anthem. It did not go well.
- [Episode 33: When You're Freaking Out](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-33/) - What do you do when your heart is racing so fast that you can’t focus?
- [Episode 32: Vocal Takeaways from the DNC](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-32/) - You can learn a lot by watching singers and speakers with the sound off. Let's look at what makes experienced speakers so darn effective, regardless of their word choices.
- [Episode 29: My Top 5 Tips for Speakers](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-29/) - As promised, this week I’m revisiting my top tips for using your voice, but we’re putting the focus on speakers.
- [Episode 28: My Top 5 Tips for Singers](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-28/) - Tune in to hear the five pieces of advice I've had for nearly every singer I've ever worked with. Speakers, do not despair! Your top five tips are coming soon!
- [Episode 31: The Voice and Aging](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-31/) - A number of things affect the voice as we age – our hormones, our physical fitness, our attitudes about aging – just to name a few.
- [Harmonizing isn't about "getting along"](https://www.mvmusik.com/harmonizing-isnt-about-getting-along/) - Harmonizing – when it comes to music – isn't about "getting along." It's not about giving in so that someone else can have it their way. It's not about denying that you have a preference when in fact you do. It's not about accepting you're not the center of the universe. To harmonize effectively, we each need to feel solidly centered in ourselves so that our differences can be fully revealed and celebrated.
- [Tongue Twisters](https://www.mvmusik.com/tongue-twisters/) - Tongue twisters can be a fun and useful addition to your vocal warm-up, whether you’re a singer or a speaker. They encourage flexibility in your articulators (your tongue, lips and teeth). Flexibility is important because a flexible instrument gets tired less quickly.
- [Episode 27: Committing to a Year](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-27/) - It’s been a little more than a year since we hit publish on the first episode of Can’t Wait To Hear You, so let's talk about commitment! The emotional, mental, and physical I had to do to pull off a year of episodes has a lot in common with committing to vocal change.
- [Episode 26: How to Make Progress When You're Not Feeling Well](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-26/) - When you’re sick, using your voice can be painful, and even dangerous. I want you to know that it's okay to be to put your feet up, but if you are sick, and you're scared that you're losing time, there is always something you can do.
- [Episode 25: Geeking Out about the Voice with Michèle and Matthew](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-25/) - Today, my friend Matthew and I geek out about the parallels between voice teaching and rehabilitating from brain injury. I hope you find them as fascinating as we do!
- [Episode 24: The Only Way to Improve is to Embrace Failure](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-24/) - Few things make me happier than the annual return of major league baseball. This year, as the season gets into full swing, I’ve been thinking a lot about baseball and the role failure plays in getting better at a skill.
- [Episode 23: Harmony Singing Q & A](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-23/) - This one is for all my singers out there. (Don’t worry, speakers, I’ll be back for you soon.) Many of my students are either singing in groups or are hoping to get into a group situation, so they’re nervous about blending in with other voices.
- [Episode 22: When Death is Near](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-22/) - When death is near, music can comfort us: it can ease our pain, it can help us grieve. Songs can transport us back in time to a summer picnic, a winter fireplace, the road trip to grandma’s, and to so much dancing!
- [Episode 21: Biden and Britt and How Your Face Affects Your Sound](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-21/) - President Biden’s State of the Union address and Senator Katie Britt’s response demonstrate how facial expression, posture, setting, and other choices can radically change the way your voice sounds, and how hard you have to work to project it. Let’s talk about how their techniques can inform your voice practice.
- [Episode 20: Should I Copy Someone Else's Voice?](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-20/) - Should I listen to other voices to try to sound better? Should I model my speaking or singing after somebody else's? Should I try to copy other people? Should I try to copy the voices that I like, and will that help me sound better, faster? Like my answer to most things, my answer to this one, too, is “yes and no.”
- [Episode 19: Vocal Vulnerability](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-19/) - Your whole body is the instrument when you’re singing or speaking, and no part of that instrument is more crucial than your mind. Your feelings of comfort and confidence, your sense of self, and the connection you want to make with your audience all have a deep influence on how your voice sounds and feels.
- [Episode 18: Singing Through Grief with Matthew Brown](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-18/) - I’m honored to introduce you to my good friend Matthew Brown. Matthew is a speech-language pathologist, a keyboardist, and one of the warmest, kindest souls I’ve ever known. In this episode, he shares how learning to sing the Psalms supported him through a really hard time. Maybe not surprisingly, the singing was so helpful that this musical, spiritual practice has stayed with him, five years later.
- [Episode 17: Get Ready With Me](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-17/) - Auditioning for something often comes with a lot of anxiety, and time pressure only adds stress! Fortunately, it is absolutely possible to polish a song and get yourself into an audition mindset, even on short notice, without dropping everything else in your life. Here is my tried and tested three-step plan that will help you cultivate peace while you learn your piece.
- [Episode 16: Help! I Have an Audition in Two Weeks!](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-16/) - Auditioning for something often comes with a lot of anxiety, and time pressure only adds stress! Fortunately, it is absolutely possible to polish a song and get yourself into an audition mindset, even on short notice, without dropping everything else in your life. Here is my tried and tested three-step plan that will help you cultivate peace while you learn your piece.
- [Episode 15: When You're Stuck](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-15/) - Getting stuck on a project happens, including when you’re developing your voice. I’ll discuss some different kinds of “stuck” and share what’s helped me and my students get moving again. There aren’t any magic bullets, but a little trial and error, some curiosity and self-compassion will help you find what you need.
- [Episode 14: What to Do with Grief and Other Big Feelings with Michelle Favreault](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-14/) - The practice of art, no matter the medium or your experience level, is a powerful tool for helping us process emotion. Very few people know this better than my wonderful friend Michelle Favreault. Michelle is a multi-disciplinary artist and teacher who helps people find the spark of their creativity, and access it to stay grounded and centered when they’re working through big feelings.
- [Episode 13: Why Should I Look in the Mirror??](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-13/) - I keep a tiny hand mirror in my vocal studio and sometimes invite students to look at their mouths when they’re singing or speaking. It sounds a little awkward, right? So why would I suggest it? Most of us work way too hard when we’re using our voices. There are so many muscles that try to help that aren’t actually helping.
- [Episode 12: Noticing What Is](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-12/) - Noticing What Is keeps you in the present, which is really the only place you can change anything about how you’re singing or speaking. Noticing What Is also decreases the chances you’ll waste time and energy judging yourself and your circumstances, which allows you to respond more effectively to them.
- [Episode 11: Opening Courageously](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-11/) - Opening Courageously is one of the vital steps you can take to support the physical act of singing or speaking. It requires building awareness and strength in your body, but it’s not just about posture and muscles.
- [I throw things at my students](https://www.mvmusik.com/i-throw-things-at-my-students/) - Well, we throw things back and forth. It helps more sound to come out of the body.
- [Episode 10: Confidence Comes from Doing](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-10/) - Generally, the more we do something, the better we get at it and the more confident we feel. A baby learning to walk is a really obvious example. But when it comes to speaking and singing in public, we often imagine that increased confidence will come from taking a huge risk, and then we wonder why we get stuck.
- [Episode 9: Your Whole Self is the Instrument](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-9/) - Nearly every vocal problem has a solution, and those solutions often grow out of treating your entire, integrated self as your instrument. Physical strength, neurological calm, and a grounded sense of being are all critical to the work of singing or speaking.
- [Episode 8: Q & A #1](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-8/) - Today I’m answering your questions! What if lip trills really don’t work for me? What if I don’t get nervous when I’m performing? How do I sing a song that’s making me cry?
- [Episode 7: Befores and Afters and the Steps In Between](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-7/) - Believe me when I tell you that no one is “born ready” for the stage. Really, no one. Sounding amazing, or even simply adopting a new vocal habit takes time and effort, and a ton of self-compassion. Today’s episode is heavy on the compassion.
- [Episode 6: Vocal Remedies that Really Work](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-6/) - What should you take when your throat feels scratchy, phlegmy or just plain awful? Science has an answer for you! Listen in to learn what the research says about honey, lemon, ginger and a host of other remedies. I also share what works for me, including some of my favorite recipes.
- [Episode 5: Why YouTube Warm Ups Might Not Work for You](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-5/) - YouTube is a fantastic resource, and if you’ve gotten frustrated looking for the “perfect” vocal warm-up video, you’re not alone. What works for one person won’t necessarily work for another, and our needs vary from day to day. Learning what your whole self needs to sound the best it can is a practice all its own – and it’s one you can develop. This episode will get you started!
- [Episode 3: Why It's So Hard to Change How You Sound](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-3/) - If you’ve tried to change how you sing or speak and you feel like you’re not getting anywhere, you’re not alone. Changing the voice is hard! Understanding what we’re up against – namely, our neurobiology and our sense of self – makes it easier.
- [Episode 2: I Want to Save You Some Time](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-2/) - I want to save you some time. I want to tell you three things that when I learned them, it was like the heavens opened up. Like, “What? Why didn’t anybody ever tell me that?!” I hope you’ll listen to the episode, but if you’re in a hurry, 1) your lungs are not in your shoulders; 2) using your voice is a physical activity; 3) the floor isn’t going anywhere.
- [Episode 1: Why I Can't Wait to Hear You](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-1/) - I wasn’t always a singer and a voice teacher. In fact, as a child I was told to “mouth the words.” Listen in to hear more about that, and how I found my way to singing, and why, if you struggle with singing or speaking, there’s hope for you, too.
- [Welcome to Can't Wait to Hear You](https://www.mvmusik.com/cant-wait-to-hear-you/) - My podcast, Can’t Wait to Hear You, is launching in July 2023! I’ll be talking about the relationship between your voice and your body, your heart, and your mind. There will be tons of encouragement (and useful tips!) to help you use your voice with confident ease. Subscribe so you don’t miss a bit of it!
- [How we sound to ourselves isn't how we sound to everyone else!](https://www.mvmusik.com/video-how-we-sound-to-ourselves-isnt-how-we-sound-to-everyone-else/) - Play along at home as we conduct a science experiment! If you’ve ever hated the sound of your recorded voice, this video is for you. You’ll want to listen without headphones to get the most benefit.
- [Singing with the Low Breath](https://www.mvmusik.com/video-singing-with-the-low-breath/) - This is Part Three of A Good Breath for Singing is a Great Breath for Life. If you haven’t watched that video, please do that first! You can find it here. And Part Two is here.
- [Speaking with the Low Breath](https://www.mvmusik.com/speaking-with-the-low-breath/) - This is Part Two of A Good Breath for Singing is a Great Breath for Life. If you haven’t watched that video, please do that first! You can find it here. If you try this, please let me know how it goes for you (click that link). If you’re ready for more, click here to watch Part Three: Singing with the Low Breath
- [A Good Breath for Singing is a Great Breath for Life](https://www.mvmusik.com/video-a-good-breath-for-singing-is-a-great-breath-for-life/) - If you find yourself needing to feel calmer, more grounded, more like yourself, I’m pretty sure that taking a breath as if you’re about to sing (even if you’re not) will help. If you try it, I’d love to hear how it goes (click that link). Please turn on the subtitles if you’re having trouble hearing. My audio input was set way too low. Click here to see Part Two: Speaking with the Low Breath.
- [Getting Out of a Vocal Funk](https://www.mvmusik.com/getting-out-of-a-vocal-funk/) - In late February and early March 2020, I had a horrible cough, fever, sore throat, the works. I was just starting to feel like a person again when the shelter-in-place started. With everybody home all the time, in various stages of whatever, and the world upended, I fell into a vocal Funk like none I’ve ever known.
- [What to Do When You're Phlegmy](https://www.mvmusik.com/what-to-do-when-youre-phlegmy/) - Phlegm happens. That sticky, goopy, icky stuff that makes you feel like you can't clear your throat. Here's what helps me (spoiler alert: it's about daily maintenance).
- [Gargling with Listerine Zero helped me recover from COVID-19](https://www.mvmusik.com/gargling-with-listerine-zero-helped-me-recover-from-covid-19/) - Well, along with “everyone and their grandmother,” to quote Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, I contracted COVID-19 in May 2022. I did all the things: checked in on my close contacts, self-isolated, drank lots of fluids, rested. And surfed the UCSF Clinical Trials website to see if my infection could be put to good use. That led to a phone conversation with another UCSF researcher, Dr. Sepideh Banava, that I think you should know about.
- [What Mike Tauchman can teach us about feeling the fear and doing it anyway](https://www.mvmusik.com/video-what-mike-tauchman-can-teach-us-about-feeling-the-fear-and-doing-it-anyway/) - When we’re called on to do something we haven’t done before, or something that stretches us beyond our everyday capacities, it’s an event, we have feelings about it, we experience stress. The good news is, getting through it often follows a predictable pattern.
- [Can anyone learn to sing in harmony?](https://www.mvmusik.com/learning-to-hear-and-follow-more-than-one-part/) - Yes. I believe that anyone can learn to sing in harmony, even if you think you can't carry a tune in a bucket.
- [Can You Teach My Child to Sing?](https://www.mvmusik.com/can-you-teach-my-child-to-sing/) - I can, and my waiting list for children and youth is currently closed (Nov. 2024). Here are some things to consider when it comes to your child and singing.
- [Best Digital Sheet Music Websites](https://www.mvmusik.com/best-digital-sheet-music-websites/) - Here are the best digital sheet music websites I've found, as of July 2022
- [Healthy Yelling? YES YOU CAN!](https://www.mvmusik.com/dont-trash-your-voice/) - If you’re a human on Earth, you’ll find some things in your life to shout about. So how do you do that without trashing your voice?

## Pages

- [Home](https://www.mvmusik.com/) - Singing and speaking well are skills that can be learned. It's time you were heard! In-person and online voice lessons in Berkeley, CA.
- [In A Group](https://www.mvmusik.com/in-a-group/) - Sound better and build confidence in an online or in-person group voice class. Both singers and speakers welcome!
- [opt-in thank you TSSS](https://www.mvmusik.com/thank-you-tsss/) - Thanks for joining The Self-Sustaining Singer! Please check your inbox for your welcome email with instructions on how to access our member area. I have a short intake form for you to fill out there. This is also where our call replays will be housed.The welcome email might land in your promotions or spam folder.If you
- [One–on–One](https://www.mvmusik.com/one-on-one/) - Working one-on-one with a voice teacher is the fastest way to better speaking and singing. Online and in-person voice lessons in Berkeley, CA.
- [Opt-in audio download](https://www.mvmusik.com/fpa/) - Let’s find out if we’re a good fit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean et tempus lacus, sed efficitur risus. Morbi non arcu a leo hendrerit congue. Aliquam erat volutpat. Donec vel diam sem. Cras ullamcorper eros ex, quis pretium augue ornare ac. Praesent sollicitudin porttitor ultricies. Maecenas ullamcorper fringilla lacinia. Schedule
- [opt-in thank you FSTS](https://www.mvmusik.com/opt-in-thank-you-fsts/) - Thanks for your interest in From Silent to Singing! I’ll be sending more information and updates soon. I’m glad we’ve connected!Michèle
- [subscription preferences stay](https://www.mvmusik.com/stay/) - Thanks for your continued interest! I’m glad we’re connected,Michèle
- [subscription preferences](https://www.mvmusik.com/fri-only/) - Thanks for updating your subscription preferences! I’m glad we’re connected!Michèle
- [Yes You Can](https://www.mvmusik.com/yes-you-can/) - Your voice is a muscle. Michèle Voillequé can help you train it. Singing and speaking lessons offered online and in-person, in Berkeley, CA.
- [Overview](https://www.mvmusik.com/overview/) - Changing your voice changes the rest of you – we grow when we're deeply listened to. Online and in-person voice lessons in Berkeley, CA.
- [Mrs French](https://www.mvmusik.com/mrs-french/) - No one should be told, "just mouth the words." Everyone can learn to sing. Online and in-person voice lessons in Berkeley, CA.
- [Asynchronously](https://www.mvmusik.com/asynchronously/) - Real help for singers and speakers is available on my podcast, Can't Wait to Hear You, and in my blog, Notes on Notes.
- [About Michèle](https://www.mvmusik.com/about-michele/) - Singing and speaking lessons for the sensitive, curious and compassionate. Offered online and in-person in Berkeley, CA.
- [Upcoming Events](https://www.mvmusik.com/upcoming-events/) - Upcoming Events Now I Become Myself Michèle Voillequé, soprano Sunday, April 16, 2023 2:00 PM Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley Handel, Mozart, Verdi, Barber, Arlen, Sondheim, some more contemporary Broadway, and a couple of pieces you might not have heard before. It’s an eclectic collection! And one that’s been helping me through my latest life
- [CTA MASTER](https://www.mvmusik.com/cta-master/) - Have a comment or a question? Send me an email at letters@mvmusik.com First Name Last Name Email Message Send me a copy Send me a copy Send Copy main Send Have a comment or a question? Send me an email at letters@mvmusik.com First Name Last Name Email Message Send me a Copy Send me a
- [opt-in thank you](https://www.mvmusik.com/opt-in-thank-you/) - Thanks for joining my email list! Please check your inbox for an email asking you to confirm your subscription. It might land in your promotions or spam folder.I’m glad we’ve connected!Michèle
- [Video thank you](https://www.mvmusik.com/video-thank-you/) - Thank You! A link to my video training – Yes, You Can Sound Better! – is on its way to your inbox right now!Please check your spam or promotions tab if you don’t see it.
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- [Scroll Test](https://www.mvmusik.com/scroll-test/) - Character and word limits are quite common these days on the Internet. The one that most people are likely aware of is the 140 character limit for tweets on Twitter, but character limits aren’t restricted to Twitter. There are limits for text messages (SMS), Yelp reviews, Facebook posts, Pinterest pins, Reddit titles and comments, eBay

## My Templates

- [Post Archive](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=elementor-archive-1298) - Notes on Notes Featured Posts Podcast, How-to, RESOURCES Vocal Remedies that Really Work What should you take when your throat feels scratchy, phlegmy or just plain awful? Science has an answer for you! Listen in to learn what the research says about honey, lemon, ginger and a host of other remedies. I also share what
- [Free Consult CTA](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=free-consult-cta) - Let’s find out if we’rea good fit. Schedule a free 20-minute consultation
- [Contact Popup](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=contact-popup) - Content area
- [Elementor Error 404 #6255](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=elementor-error-404-6255) - 404 Sorry this page doesn’t exist Back to homepage
- [Default Kit](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=default-kit)
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- [Standard Post Footer](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=elementor-footer-1021) - Content area
- [Podcast Footer](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=elementor-footer-1079) - Content area
- [CTA Popup](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=cta-popup) - Content area
- [Header](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=header) - Content area
- [scrollable transcript](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=scrollable-transcript) - TRANSCRIPT Character and word limits are quite common these days on the Internet. The one that most people are likely aware of is the 140 character limit for tweets on Twitter, but character limits aren’t restricted to Twitter. There are limits for text messages (SMS), Yelp reviews, Facebook posts, Pinterest pins, Reddit titles and comments,
- [section-thank-you-page](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=section-thank-you-page) - Let’s find out if we’re a good fit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean et tempus lacus, sed efficitur risus. Morbi non arcu a leo hendrerit congue. Aliquam erat volutpat. Donec vel diam sem. Cras ullamcorper eros ex, quis pretium augue ornare ac. Praesent sollicitudin porttitor ultricies. Maecenas ullamcorper fringilla lacinia.
- [Elementor Single Post #2914](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=elementor-single-post-2914) - Notes On Notes Elementor Single Post #2914 It’s a human reality: we need to make a deliberate effort to coax our body into singing if we want the voice to be free, easy, full and tuneful.This often looks like:rolling our shoulders, loosening up the neck, standing up and unlocking our kneesmaking some easy, siren-y or whooping kinds
- [Podcast master****](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=podcast-master) - Porem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc vulputate libero et velit interdum, ac aliquet odio mattis. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Curabitur tempus urna at turpis condimentum lobortis. Porem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc vulputate libero et velit interdum, ac aliquet odio
- [Mobile Menu Popup](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=mobile-menu-popup) - Content area
- [Master Post 23Oct2023](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=master-post-23oct2023) - Porem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc vulputate libero et velit interdum, ac aliquet odio mattis. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Curabitur tempus urna at turpis condimentum lobortis. Porem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc vulputate libero et velit interdum, ac aliquet odio
- [POST SECTION: heading w/ text](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=post-section-heading-w-text) - Add Your Heading Text Here Porem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc vulputate libero et velit interdum, ac aliquet odio mattis. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Curabitur tempus urna at turpis condimentum lobortis. Porem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc vulputate libero et
- [Post Template](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=post-template) - Notes On Notes BREATHING, RESOURCES Can’t Wait to Hear You Porem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc vulputate libero et velit interdum, ac aliquet odio mattis. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Curabitur tempus urna at turpis condimentum lobortis. Porem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing
- [temp: video](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=temp-video)
- [3-column Images](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=3-column-images) - Combined Choirs at the Unitarian, Universalist Church of Berkeley “The Song that Goes Like This” from Spamalot, with Rod Lowe Directing the Youth and Children’s Choir
- [CTA Mailing List](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=cta-mailing-list) - The best place to learn about my upcoming performances, workshops and other projects is to join my mailing list. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy: We hate spam so we promise to keep your email safe. First Name Email Count me in!
- [UPC Ev](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=upc-ev) - Notes On Notes Featured Posts BREATHING, RESOURCES I throw things at my students Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. READ MORE BREATHING, RESOURCES Vocal Remedies that Really Work Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis,
- [Scrollable Text V2](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=scrollable-text-v2) - Character and word limits are quite common these days on the Internet. The one that most people are likely aware of is the 140 character limit for tweets on Twitter, but character limits aren’t restricted to Twitter. There are limits for text messages (SMS), Yelp reviews, Facebook posts, Pinterest pins, Reddit titles and comments, eBay
- [Scrollable Text Box](https://www.mvmusik.com/?elementor_library=scrollable-text-box) - Character and word limits are quite common these days on the Internet. The one that most people are likely aware of is the 140 character limit for tweets on Twitter, but character limits aren’t restricted to Twitter. There are limits for text messages (SMS), Yelp reviews, Facebook posts, Pinterest pins, Reddit titles and comments, eBay

## Captivate Podcasts

- [The Cure For Pitchiness (Is Not An App)](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/the-cure-for-pitchiness-is-not-an-app/) - If you'd like to join the waitlist for my group class, email me at letters@mvmusik.com with GROUP in the subject line. I'll make sure you receive all the registration information as soon as it's ready.Michèle Voillequé is a singer and a voice teacher living in Berkeley, California.Yes, you can sound better! Opt-in for a free
- [The Value In Slowing Down](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/the-value-in-slowing-down/) - If you'd like to join the waitlist for my group class, email me at letters@mvmusik.com with GROUP in the subject line. I'll make sure you receive all the registration information as soon as it's ready.Michèle Voillequé is a singer and a voice teacher living in Berkeley, California.Yes, you can sound better! Opt-in for a free
- [Sounding Consistently Good](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/sounding-consistently-good/) - Michèle Voillequé is a singer and a voice teacher living in Berkeley, California.Yes, you can sound better! Opt-in for a free video training on my website: https://mvmusik.comA transcript of this episode is available at mvmusik.com/blog/cant-wait-to-hear-you-episode-78. You can subscribe to Can’t Wait to Hear You wherever you get podcasts. If you have a question about your
- [Pause Before Practicing](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/pause-before-practicing/) - I’d love to know if this was helpful! Don’t hesitate to schedule a free 20-minute consultation or to reach out via email to letters@mvmusik.com.Michèle Voillequé is a singer and a voice teacher living in Berkeley, California. Yes, you can sound better! Opt-in for a free video training on my website: https://www.mvmusik.comA transcript of this episode
- [Afraid of Doing It Wrong](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/afraid-of-doing-it-wrong/) - Learning to use the voice more professionally means facing the uncertainty that comes with using our bodies in unfamiliar ways.In this episode, I explainThe difference between the fear of technical, physical wrongness and the fear of being embarrassed by the way you sound.How very young children model a fearlessly playful response to failure.Warmup practices that
- [Why AI Won't Take My Job](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/why-ai-wont-take-my-job/) - I’d love to know if this was helpful! Don’t hesitate to schedule a free 20-minute consultation or to reach out via email to letters@mvmusik.com.Michèle Voillequé is a singer and a voice teacher living in Berkeley, California. Yes, you can sound better! Opt-in for a free video training on my website: https://www.mvmusik.comA transcript of this episode
- [Embracing Larger Spaces](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/embracing-larger-spaces/) - I’d love to know if this was helpful! Don’t hesitate to schedule a free 20-minute consultation or to reach out via email to letters@mvmusik.com.Michèle Voillequé is a singer and a voice teacher living in Berkeley, California. Yes, you can sound better! Opt-in for a free video training on my website: https://www.mvmusik.comA transcript of this episode
- [Welcome to Can’t Wait to Hear You](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/welcome-to-cant-wait-to-hear-you/) - Welcome to Can’t Wait To Hear You, a podcast about the relationship between your voice and your body, your heart, and your mind. Singer and voice teacher Michèle Voillequé shares the expertise and encouragement you need to use your voice with confident ease. She has helped hundreds of people sound better and feel more comfortable,
- [Why I Can't Wait to Hear You](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/why-i-cant-wait-to-hear-you/) - I wasn’t always a singer and a voice teacher. In fact, as a child I was told to “mouth the words.” Listen in to hear more about that, and how I found my way to singing, and why, if you struggle with singing or speaking, there’s hope for you, too. To Register for A Singer's Advent
- [Why It's So Hard to Change How You Sound](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/why-its-so-hard-to-change-how-you-sound/) - If you’ve tried to change how you sing or speak and you feel like you’re not getting anywhere, you’re not alone. Changing the voice is hard! Understanding what we're up against – namely, our neurobiology and sense of self – makes it easier. To Register for A Singer's Advent https://mvmusik.mvsite.app/products/courses/view/1189528Michèle Voillequé is a singer and
- [I Want to Save You Some Time](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/i-want-to-save-you-some-time/) - I want to save you some time. I want to tell you three things that when I learned them, it was like the heavens opened up. Like, “What? Why didn't anybody ever tell me that?!”I hope you’ll listen to the episode, but if you’re in a hurry: • your lungs are not in your shoulders.•
- [Me and Performance Anxiety](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/me-and-performance-anxiety/) - As I see it, performance anxiety is a fact of life – as long as we care about what we’re communicating, we can expect to feel anxious about it sometimes. The challenge is to manage the anxiety. That starts with listening to it, and treating ourselves kindly.Visit https://www.mvmusik.com/fpa to download the meditation mentioned in this
- [Why YouTube Warm-Ups Might Not Work for You](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/why-youtube-warm-ups-might-not-work-for-you/) - YouTube is a fantastic resource, and if you’ve gotten frustrated looking for the “perfect” vocal warm-up video, you’re not alone. What works for one person won’t necessarily work for another, and our needs vary from day to day. Learning what your whole self needs to sound the best it can is a practice all its
- [Vocal Remedies that Really Work](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/vocal-remedies-that-really-work/) - What should you take when your throat feels scratchy, phlegmy or just plain awful? Science has an answer for you! Listen in to learn what the research says about honey, lemon, ginger and a host of other remedies. I also share what works for me, including some of my favorite recipes. To Register for A Singer's
- [Q&A #1](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/qa-1/) - Today I'm answering your questions!If you have a question you’d like answered in a future episode, please email me at letters@mvmusik.com.[01:19] Question 1. What if lip trills really don't work for me? (in response to Episode 5)My lip trill tutorial video: https://www.mvmusik.com/ltv/Helpful YouTube videos on straw phonation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utMGP8h75nM&list=PLRIAPPEO39k7bAwealQC6eAiF0E98R2Lu&index=2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xYDvwvmBIM&list=PLRIAPPEO39k7bAwealQC6eAiF0E98R2Lu&index=5[08:12] Question 2. What if I don't get nervous
- [Befores and Afters and the Steps In Between](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/befores-and-afters-and-the-steps-in-between/) - Believe me when I tell you that no one is "born ready" for the stage. Really, no one. Sounding amazing, or even simply adopting a new vocal habit takes time and effort, and a ton of self-compassion. Today's episode is heavy on the compassion. To Register for A Singer's Advent https://mvmusik.mvsite.app/products/courses/view/1189528Michèle Voillequé is a singer and a
- [Confidence Comes From Doing](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/confidence-comes-from-doing/) - Generally, the more we do something, the better we get at it and the more confident we feel. A baby learning to walk is a really obvious example. But when it comes to speaking and singing in public, we often imagine that increased confidence will come from taking a huge risk, and then we wonder
- [Your Whole Self is the Instrument](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/your-whole-self-is-the-instrument/) - Nearly every vocal problem has a solution, and those solutions often grow out of treating your entire, integrated self as your instrument. Physical strength, neurological calm, and a grounded sense of being are all critical to the work of singing or speaking. It might sound overwhelming, but I bet you’re already working on those things
- [Noticing What Is](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/noticing-what-is/) - Noticing What Is keeps you in the present, which is really the only place you can change anything about how you’re singing or speaking. Noticing What Is also decreases the chances you’ll waste time and energy judging yourself and your circumstances, which allows you to respond more effectively to them. Today’s episode contains a couple
- [Opening Courageously](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/opening-courageously/) - I’ve talked about opening courageously before. It’s one of the vital steps you can take to support the physical act of singing or speaking. It requires building awareness and strength in your body, but it’s not just about posture and muscles. Opening courageously engages your mind and your heart. It means developing a connection to
- [Why Should I Look In The Mirror?](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/why-should-i-look-in-the-mirror/) - I keep a tiny hand mirror in my vocal studio and sometimes invite students to look at their mouths when they’re singing or speaking. It sounds a little awkward, right? So why would I suggest it? Most of us work way too hard when we’re using our voices. There are so many muscles that try
- [What to Do with Grief and Other Big Feelings, with Michelle Favreault](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/what-to-do-with-grief-and-other-big-feelings-with-michelle-favreault/) - The practice of art, no matter the medium or your experience level, is a powerful tool for helping us process emotion. Very few people know this better than my wonderful friend Michelle Favreault. Michelle is a multi-disciplinary artist and teacher who helps people find the spark of their creativity, and access it to stay grounded
- [When You're Stuck](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/when-you-get-stuck/) - Getting stuck on a project happens, including when you’re developing your voice. I’ll discuss some different kinds of “stuck” and share what’s helped me and my students get moving again. There aren’t any magic bullets, but a little trial and error, some curiosity and self-compassion will help you find what you need. To Register for A
- [Help! I Have an Audition in Two Weeks!](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/help-i-have-an-audition-in-two-weeks/) - Auditioning for something often comes with a lot of anxiety, and time pressure only adds stress! Fortunately, it is absolutely possible to polish a song and get yourself into an audition mindset, even on short notice, without dropping everything else in your life. Here is my tried and tested three-step plan that will help you
- [Get Ready With Me!](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/get-ready-with-me/) - In my last episode, I talked about how to prepare when you only have two weeks before an audition. But how do you keep yourself from feeling overwhelmed when the big, scary thing is happening in two minutes? Here are some techniques for helping you feel into your body, and keep yourself grounded and centered
- [Singing Through Grief with Matthew Brown](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/singing-through-grief-with-matthew-brown/) - I’m honored to introduce you to my good friend Matthew Brown. Matthew is a speech-language pathologist, a keyboardist, and one of the warmest, kindest souls I’ve ever known. In this episode, he shares how learning to sing the Psalms supported him through a really hard time. Maybe not surprisingly, the singing was so helpful that
- [Vocal Vulnerability](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/vocal-vulnerability/) - Your whole body is the instrument when you’re singing or speaking, and no part of that instrument is more crucial than your mind. Your feelings of comfort and confidence, your sense of self, and the connection you want to make with your audience all have a deep influence on how your voice sounds and feels.
- [Should I Copy Someone Else’s Voice?](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/should-i-copy-someone-elses-voice/) - Learning to speak as an infant is an instinctive process of mimicking the sounds and voices around us. It only makes sense that the intentional practice of honing your voice might involve trying to imitate someone whose voice you like.Your own voice is uniquely shaped by your body, your heart, and your mind, so in
- [Biden and Britt and How Your Face Affects Your Sound](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/biden-and-britt-and-how-your-face-affects-your-sound/) - When you’re working to hone your vocal technique, watching experienced singers or speakers use their voices can be very useful. President Biden’s State of the Union address, and Senator Katie Britt’s response, provided two very different, but very instructive examples. They demonstrate how facial expression, posture, setting, and other choices can radically change the way
- [When Death Is Near](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/when-death-is-near/) - When death is near, music can comfort us: it can ease our pain, it can help us grieve. Songs can transport us back in time to a summer picnic, a winter fireplace, the road trip to grandma’s, and to so much dancing! Recent events have me thinking about mortality, and how music helps us remember
- [Harmony Singing Q&A](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/harmony-singing-qa/) - This one is for all my singers out there. (Don’t worry, speakers, I’ll be back for you soon.) Many of my students are either singing in groups or are hoping to get into a group situation, so they’re nervous about blending in with other voices. I love singing in harmony. Being part of a group
- [The Only Way to Improve is to Embrace Failure](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/the-only-way-to-improve-is-to-embrace-failure/) - Few things make me happier than the annual return of major league baseball. This year, as the season gets into full swing, I’ve been thinking a lot about baseball and the role failure plays in getting better at a skill. Like singing or speaking in public, hitting a fastball is a mental exercise as much
- [Geeking Out about the Voice with Michèle and Matthew](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/geeking-out-about-the-voice-with-michele-and-matthew/) - When I first invited my dear friend, speech language pathologist Matthew Brown, onto the podcast, we talked about how singing has helped him maintain his equilibrium through emotional challenges. In the interest of fairness, I agreed to give Matthew a chance to ask questions of me! This time, we discussed the challenges I help my
- [How to Make Progress When You're Not Feeling Well](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/how-to-make-progress-when-you-dont-feel-well/) - When you’re sick, using your voice can be painful, and even dangerous. I want you to know that it's okay to be sick, to put your feet up, to watch trashy TV, to not think about your voice beyond resting it. But if you are sick, and you're scared that you're losing time, that you're
- [Committing to A Year](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/committing-to-a-year/) - It’s been a little more than a year since we hit publish on the first episode of Can’t Wait To Hear You. I want to celebrate that milestone with you by talking about commitment. The work I had to do - emotional, mental, and physical - to commit to podcasting is similar in a lot
- [My Top 5 Tips for Singers](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/my-top-5-tips-for-singers/) - A new student recently asked me if there was a CliffsNotes version of the concepts I teach, and I realized that would make a really good podcast episode! This time, I’m sharing my top five “bumper stickers,” advice I’ve shared with just about every student I’ve ever had. (These slogans are for my singers, but
- [My Top 5 Tips for Speakers](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/my-top-5-tips-for-speakers/) - As promised, this week I’m revisiting my top tips for using your voice, but we’re putting the focus on speakers. Projecting your voice with confidence can be an incredible experience for you and your audience (even an audience of one). But some of the ways your body tries to signal strength and security can actually
- [Finding Time to Practice](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/making-time-to-practice/) - You know who sometimes struggles to find time for practicing their songs, speeches, or presentations? All of my students AND me. It can feel really challenging to look at your calendar and imagine squeezing in enough time to improve the way you want to. But there are some easy ways to change your thinking about
- [The Voice and Aging](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/the-voice-and-aging/) - A number of things affect the voice as we age – our hormones, our physical fitness, our attitudes about aging – just to name a few. I’ve worked with many students experiencing age-related changes to their voices and I’ve experienced plenty myself. In this episode, I talk about some of the changes you can expect
- [Vocal Takeaways From The DNC](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/vocal-takeaways-from-the-dnc/) - The stage at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago was packed with people who’ve built careers on their ability to give stirring speeches. But they didn’t get there by accident. They practiced techniques to help them speak louder, longer, and with more emotional resonance. You can learn a lot by watching and listening to
- [When You’re Freaking Out](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/when-youre-freaking-out/) - We’ve talked before about how nervousness is a normal, even positive, part of performing with your voice. We’ve talked about practice strategies to help you manage and harness your nerves. But what about when you’re in the moment, feeling your heart racing so fast you can’t focus? This week, we’re talking about two simple things
- [I Don't Know How To Sing Anymore!](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/i-dont-know-how-to-sing-anymore/) - Strengthening your voice is a lifelong journey, but when you’re trying to learn something new - a technique, a piece of music - it can feel especially long and arduous. Changing old habits of using your voice can leave you feeling like you don’t know anything at all anymore! But take heart. Every one of
- [I’m Afraid of Long Notes!](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/im-afraid-of-long-notes/) - When you’re looking at a piece of vocal music, what’s the most intimidating thing you can imagine? For a lot of my students, a single note that gets held for 4, 8, or 12 beats is right at the top of the list. But why is that? What is it about a long note that
- [Capable of More](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/capable-of-more/) - Change is scary! Developing the voice you want to project requires time and effort, but it also requires faith – confidence that you have the capacity for growth, and certainty that the work you’re putting in is moving you in the direction you want to go. But holding tight to that belief in yourself can
- [Using Your Breath Generously, or Me and The Mack Truck](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/using-your-breath-generously-or-me-and-the-mack-truck/) - Your whole body is your instrument, and that doesn’t just mean when you’re performing. The memories you carry in your body are powerful tools you can tap into when you’re learning and practicing and growing your voice. When I’m singing long phrases, I lean on a vivid image from my childhood, of a massive truck
- [My Mom and Leading By Example](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/my-mom-and-leading-by-example/) - When life is a difficult place to be and the world feels fraught, it can feel like nothing is ever going to get better. We all manage that discouragement in our own way, but we have to work at it. Because giving up is the surest way to lose all the progress we’ve made. This
- [I Love Music, But I’m Not Musically Inclined](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/i-love-music-but-im-not-musically-inclined/) - The title of this episode, dear listener, is an actual sentence an adult man said to me recently. We were talking about what was preventing him from performing music, despite the passion he has for listening to it. Like a lot of people, he had internalized the belief that he was missing something, some innate
- [I Love Music, But I’m Not Musically Inclined](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/i-love-music-but-im-not-musically-inclined-2/) - The title of this episode, dear listener, is an actual sentence an adult man said to me recently. We were talking about what was preventing him from performing music, despite the passion he has for listening to it. Like a lot of people, he had internalized the belief that he was missing something, some innate
- [Why Private Lessons for Choral Singers Are A Good Idea](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/why-private-lessons-for-choral-singers-are-a-good-idea/) - You can learn a lot from singing in a good choir or chorus, and having one-on-one lessons will more effectively show you how to make the most of your instrument. This time I want to talk about why your voice is worth the investment of private lessons, and how taking the time to explore your unique
- [Three Skills You Need, Regardless of Vocal Style](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/three-skills-you-need-regardless-of-vocal-style/) - Different genres of music make different demands on the voice. But no matter what style, era, or canon you’re singing from, communicating the emotional energy of a song to your audience is all about using your body well and managing your emotions. Here is my take on how genres differ from one another, and three
- [Some Ways to Think About Breath Support](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/some-ways-to-think-about-breath-support/) - Few things are both as universal and personal as our breath. Everyone needs good breath support to sing or speak effectively, and we all describe what that feels like differently. In this episode, I share some physical practices and ways of thinking that will help you figure out what "breath support" means for you. To Register
- [How to Get Out Of Our Own Way](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/how-to-get-out-of-our-own-way/) - This week, I’m giving myself permission to rest, to be patient with myself, and to resist the feeling that I’m not doing enough. I want you to tell you why that self-generosity is so important, and share some ways you can manifest it for yourself. To Register for A Singer's Advent https://mvmusik.mvsite.app/products/courses/view/1189528Michèle Voillequé is a singer
- [Waking Up with a Sore Throat](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/waking-up-with-a-sore-throat/) - This morning I woke up with a sharp, stabby pain in the back of my throat, the kind that feels like you’re gargling with tiny knives every time you speak. I was tempted to skip recording, but it occurred to me that you’ve probably woken up with the same kind of pain, and thought there
- [Three Questions to Help You Prepare for Any Presentation](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/three-questions-to-help-you-prepare-for-any-presentation/) - How do you manage stage fright? Do you have calming rituals, or ways to pump yourself up? Do you try to ignore it and power through, or are you channeling the energy of that anxiety into your performance? Maybe more importantly, when are you managing your performance anxiety? Do you plan for it in advance?
- [Managing The Anxiety That Comes With Growth](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/managing-the-anxiety-that-comes-with-growth/) - Change is scary. Even when it’s change you’ve chosen, embraced, achieved through hard work and dedication. Changing something as personal and intimate as your voice can raise fears of rejection, abandonment, disappointment, and the worry that you won’t like the sound you’ve worked hard to develop.In my experience, the best way to manage that anxiety
- [How Reading Music Can Set Your Voice Back](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/how-reading-music-can-set-your-voice-back/) - Many of my students, especially the ones who are just starting to explore their voices, tend to think of singing and reading music as parts of the same skill. I don’t think that’s exactly right. They’re related, of course, and they’re both great things to learn. But knowing what the dots and lines on the
- [Look For The Helpers](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/look-for-the-helpers/) - There are a lot of reasons to feel angry and frightened by the state of the world. A lot of us are struggling with the frustration of not knowing what to do or where to start. Raising your voice - in anger, in resistance, or in defense of those you hold dear - is one
- [Music as a Place of Refuge](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/music-can-be-a-place-of-refuge/) - The way the world feels now, we could all benefit from more joy, more comfort, more solace and sanity. In fact, to take effective action in the world, we need to be as strong, calm and grounded as we can possibly be. Even ten minutes of listening to music can restore you to a better
- [Is Change Possible?](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/is-change-possible/) - The question of whether change is possible is fascinating. On one level, the answer is an obvious yes. Things change around us all the time. But when we’re asking about intentional change, change within ourselves and our abilities, suddenly the answer can seem a lot less certain. What I know from experience – my own
- [More on The Possibility of Change](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/more-thoughts-on-the-possibility-of-change/) - Last episode, I shared about how I’ve been dealing with something called Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion. It’s one of a whole class of functional disorders that can affect the body. We call them functional disorders because the actual body parts (the throat and vocal cords in my case) are perfectly fine. But for some reason,
- [Why Taking a Deep Breath Doesn't Always Work](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/why-taking-a-deep-breath-doesnt-always-work/) - When you’re nervous or stressed out and you can’t calm yourself down, taking a deep breath is maybe the most common advice you’ll get (maybe even from yourself!). And it can make a difference. But the experiences of my students make me think that it’s not always as effective as we think it is.Why is
- [Alternatives to Perfectionism](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/alternatives-to-perfectionism/) - Practice makes perfect. It’s the mantra invoked by parents and teachers to encourage us to keep at it when we’re grinding through the discouragement of learning how to do a new thing. It’s meant to remind us that improvement is a matter of hard work and perseverance, and of what we can achieve if we
- [Beliefs that Make Change Easier](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/beliefs-that-make-change-easier/) - How we sound is so connected to who we imagine ourselves to be that it’s natural and expected to find ourselves full of doubt, fear or resistance when we try to change our singing or speaking voice. Managing these emotional hurdles is essential if we’re going to make vocal progress. In fact, when we tackle the
- [Overcoming Embarrassment](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/overcoming-embarrassment/) - Many of my students report being embarrassed about singing in front of an audience, whether it’s around the house or on stage. Yet some people can get up at karaoke and murder a popular tune without feeling a flicker of shame.Why do so many of us feel self-conscious about the way we sound when we
- [Hiding Your Real Voice at Home](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/hiding-your-real-voice-at-home/) - Do you have more than one voice? Most of us do. Often, the voice we use when we’re performing for an audience or practicing with a teacher is different from the voice we unleash when we’re alone. Whether you’re singing in the shower, in the car, or while you’re doing dishes, that effortless freedom can
- [Why Flat and Nasal Often Happen Together](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/why-flat-and-nasal-often-happen-together/) - Two complaints I often hear are, “I sound flat” and “my voice sounds nasal!” These very common problems are totally fixable, and they often happen together. In this episode, you’ll learn:What people mean by “flat” and “nasal”Why “flat” and “nasal” often happen togetherWhat you can do to make a more vibrant, ringing tone instead. Was this episode
- [Thoughts that Help](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/thoughts-that-help/) - Like it or not, the voice is affected by our moods. Whether we’re feeling confident, excited, schlumpy, or sad, our emotional truth can easily come out in how we sound. A lot of the time, this isn’t a problem at all. But sometimes, feeling a feeling, or suppressing a feeling generates muscle tension that makes
- [Moving From Silent to Singing](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/moving-from-silent-to-singing/) - When I was in fifth grade, my classroom teacher told me I should "mouth the words" rather than sing with the class. For years after that, I was convinced I had a voice that nobody wanted to hear. And even though I loved to sing, I kept it mostly to myself.Do you feel that way
- [Gravelly and Stuck](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/gravelly-and-stuck/) - Are you frustrated by gruff, gravelly sounds in your voice? Do you wish there was a fairy godmother who could (gently) bonk you on the head and make them all go away?Me, too, dear listener. Me, too. And after years and years of looking, I’ve yet to find her. But there are exercises we can
- [What Conductors Want](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/what-conductors-want/) - Singing in a chorus can feel safer than soloing at karaoke or going to an open mic, but it comes with its own set of challenges. In this episode, I explainHow our fear of failure can sabotage us in a group setting.Why singing in a group is a vulnerable experience for both the singers and the
- [Singing For Health](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/singing-for-health/) - Just a few simple habits can give you the best chance of living a long, happy, healthy life.In this episode, I explainThe four lifestyle changes you can make that will improve your odds of longevity and good health.Why singing, particularly with friends and family, is a rewarding way to check most of those behavioral boxes.How
- [Practicing As a Reliable Behavior](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/practicing-as-a-reliable-behavior/) - Practicing is a perennial challenge, but if we broaden our concept of “practice,” it can make the whole process more rewarding.In this episode, I explainWhy a rigid definition of practice can stifle our creativity.What distinguishes a habit from a behavior, and how we can take advantage of the difference.How to develop creative practicing behavior that
- [How To Hear Yourself](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/how-to-hear-yourself/) - I've had an epiphany about why listening to ourselves is so different when we're singing than when we're talking!In this episode, I explainWhat we focus on when we’re listening to ourselves, and how it changes when we’re singing vs. talking.How that difference contributes to the common anxiety we feel about singing in front of other
- [Who Is Singing For?](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/who-is-singing-for/) - It might sound like wishful thinking, but I truly believe that everyone who wants to should experience the joy of feeling comfortable with and appreciated for their singing.In this episode, I explainWhy I believe that singing is for anyone and everyone.The themes and lessons that the Advent season holds for experienced and aspiring singers alike.The
- [How Music Carries Us Through](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/how-music-carries-us-through/) - When things aren’t going well, we can let music carry us through.In this episode, I talk aboutThe profound connections music builds between people from all walks of life.How the experience of a group of people singing together can transform your day, even when you’re just watching.An example of the joy and community created when we
- [Two New Year’s Resolutions](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/two-new-years-resolutions/) - Happy New Year! Here are two resolutions that will help you improve your relationship with your voice in 2026 and in all the years to come:Practice in the shoes you’re going to wear on the day you do the thing.Try not to judge your out-of-tune singing.Tune in to find out why, and in the case
- [Practicing Thoughts](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/practicing-thoughts/) - We all feel nervous when we’re doing Big Things, and singing in front of others is definitely a Big Thing. What would it help to be thinking when you’re doing something Big? In this episode, I explainThe mental and physical benefits that accompany the work of building your voice. Why feeling vulnerable is an important
- [Expanding Your Comfort Zone](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/expanding-your-comfort-zone/) - Your voice is a core part of your identity, so it’s natural to feel conflicted about changing it, even if the change is ultimately for the better. In this episode, I explainWhy we often have emotional discomfort around changing our voices, even when using our body differently feels physically better.How our instinctive need for safety
- [Why It's All About the Breath](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/why-its-all-about-the-breath/) - You’ve probably heard someone say that singing is “all about the breath.” It’s a simple saying that belies a surprisingly multifaceted practice. In this episode, I explainHow breathing precedes every sound we make with the voice (and why we often don’t notice).What’s going on anatomically as your brain, breath, and body collaborate to produce sound.Exercises
- [Leading When You're Not In Charge](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/leading-when-youre-not-in-charge/) - Singing in a choir can be a chaotic experience, and the conductor can’t be everywhere (or hear everything) all at once. How can you guide and inspire the people around you when you’re not the final authority?I find the Colbert Questionnert to be incredibly helpful when it comes to deciding how I want to move
- [The Power of Your Presence](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/the-power-of-your-presence/) - More this time on how to be a leader when you aren’t in charge, by tapping into what you really love about singing and using it to set an example.In this episode, I explainHow to identify - and model - what brings you the most joy when you’re singing in a group.Ways to think about
- [Expanding Our Capacity](https://www.mvmusik.com/captivate-podcast/expanding-our-capacity/) - Conflict is scary. In relationship, at work, or when you’re singing in a group, it can be tempting to sit in discomfort rather than speak up. How can you give yourself permission to advocate for positive change?In this episode, I explainThe very simple - but very big - place to start grounding your ability to

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