#VocalFam, Happy 2026! To kick off the new year Prof. Pigott, Alice, and Dr. P hosted Matt Edwards, Aaron Johnson, and Denis Michael Rudisch to discuss their article "Investigating Vocal Tract Configurations Across Different Belting Qualities in Female and Male Musical Theater Singers Using Real-Time Dynamic MRI," which was published in Journal of Voice last April. This episode is a great example of interdisciplinary voice science work that generated from the voice studio, into the lab, and has now returned wonderful insights back to voice teachers. A perfect episode to kickoff this semester!

The 9th annual VocalFri Christmas episode, our sequel to last year's Wicked Part 1 review, our Wicked: For Good review. This was also a special reunion episode. Dr. P and Prof. Pigott were joined again by Dr. P's kids, Charlie and Olivia, but also a surprise visit by original podcast co-host Michael, who joined us for the first time since VocalFri Christmas VI. We gave our overall impressions, covered the Act structure, the new original songs, John M. Chu's directorial vision, our performers, possible award nominations, and the 2 film structure. Everything you've been waiting for, with no worries about spoilers since this film was released over a month ago. 

#VocalFam, what an incredible conversation to start your December! This week Prof. Pigott and Dr. P were joined by the author Dave Maass and illustrator Patrick Lay of the Graphic Novel Death Strikes, along with CU grad students Alice Del Simone (as a guest), Andrew Konopak. This summer Alice and Andy had the chance to perform the Viktor Ullmann opera Der Kaiser von Atlantis with the Colorado Mahler Fest, and then they were invited by Dave to join the Death Strike panel at San Diego Comic Con!!!! Here about Dave and Patrick's process of creating the graphic novel with their team, which also included Ezra Rose, Richard Bruning, and Karen Berger. Learn about how they travelled to Terezin to create the visuals for the scenic settings and how the letterer created the atmosphere of the text from the original source material from the opera. This is arguably, the most VocalFri episode in history: a graphic novel about an opera! 

This week Alice and Dr. P were joined by Dr. Michaela Kelly to discuss her dissertation work and Journal of Singing article "The Composition of a Voice Lesson: How a Motor Learning Classification Framework Affects Teacher Effectiveness." This was a wonderful chat full of ideas of how to freshen up your teaching, continue towards student centeredness, and avoid burnout. Definitely check out the article and then read more in the full dissertation. 

This week Prof. Pigott and Dr. P were joined by Joanna Cazden, a noted Speech Language Pathologist and voice teacher to share about her new edition of Everyday Voice Care, (Amazon link). The book presents a holistic view for the reader on how to keep their voice healthy, what to look out for in terms of the need to see a doctor, and approaches all of its topics through a multi-faceted lens. This expanded edition was prepared for a post-pandemic world with considerations for today's modern voice user. Also check out one of Joanna's original songs here. 

Today Prof. Pigott and Dr. P were joined by Dr. Anne Slovin to discuss her dissertation work on disability informed practices in our teaching. It is vital that we all become more informed about best practices for how to be aware for our students in the classroom and voice studio. Creating an accommodating environment for all should be a goal that every teacher is striving to do. Please check out Anne's work on this important topic.

#VocalFam, this week Prof. Pigott, Alice, and Dr. P were joined by an esteemed group of colleagues including Devin Dolquist, Victoria Vargas, Shayna Isaacs, and André Chiang to discuss their Journal of Voice article "The Bound Breath: Transmasculine and Gender Nonconforming Singers' Perceived Effects of Chest Binding on Singing." This affirming episode shares the results of their survey on singers who wear chest binding and their observations of the impact of wearing binding material while singing. 

Professor Gautereaux joins the 5-timers club. Longtime #VocalFam Kayla Gautereaux joined us for an awesome chat about how she is using the framework of the scientific method in the applied voice studio both for current voice teachers and for training voice teachers. This episode demonstrates Prof. G's wonderful mastery of conceptualizing new models that enhance voice teaching beyond the mentor/apprentice model in a framework that allows the singer to be the investigator and voice teacher to be the co-investigator of a study into the student's voice. A fantastic conversation!

A Fall VocalFri in house. Dr. P catches us up on his upcoming Faculty Tuesday recital titled "Amok Time," and catches Sarah up on the ongoing tech upgrades and updates for the Berton Coffin Voice Lab at CU. A great chat to enjoy on Fall hike this weekend!

#VocalFam this is a must listen for those of you who are either interested in voice registration or who want to know more about Complete Vocal Technique (CVT). Today, Alice, Sarah, and Dr. P were joined by Dr. Mathias Aaen, a certified CVT voice teacher, but also the head of CVT's voice research efforts. Mathias has already put together quite the significant output of research articles, presentations, and other professional work. Along with Marek Frič they published a new study last June titled "Going Beyond the Register - Vocal Mode Categorization Across Four Octaves in Professional Male and Female Singing Using Voice Range Profile, EGG, Acoustic, and Vibroacoustic Measurements: Double-Case Study," in Journal of Voice. This paper is one we all should read. 

What a lovely chat with #VocalFam Dr. Brian Manternach discussing his new book Voices of Influence. The new book shares some of the wisdom he learned from one of his mentor's Robert J. Harrison, along with how Brian's teaching has evolved on its own journey. This wonderful new addition to our literature shares Brian's insight into the singer and voice teacher relationship in an honest, warm, and thoughtful manner that recognizes both legacy and generational growth. A great purchase for your pedagogy library!

#VocalFam, we have admired Jeremy Ryan Mossman's work from a far for many years now. Dr. P loves the way he discusses the integrated body. This is an episode for all practitioners to learn more about how to speak about the body as an wholistic system, learn about fascia, Jeremy's study of Feldenkreis, and how we incorporate these ideas with our students. If you want to work with Jeremy or learn more, check out https://www.bodybasedvoice.com/ 

#VocalFam we continue to try to promote diversity in our art song canon with a special guests Isabella Lamadriz and Jon Price from the Cuban Art Song Project. An awesome chat about Isabella's journey into this music, from her classical background. And while these are art songs, as you'll hear in the samples, this music goes way beyond traditional art song vibes. Definitely songs you will want to add to your repertoire and your studio teaching! The album is out now on all streaming platforms and the anthology is forthcoming.

David Sisco returns to share his new book Whole Hearted Voice Pedagogy. As voice teachers we all need to continue our paths towards student centered learning and empathy. David's book, podcast, and this episode should definitely be a part of your new school year journey! Come join the #VocalFam!

Welcome back #VocalFam!   Today we reviewed our summer's that were in lighting rounds.   On the docket and in order we covered: Upcoming season 9 guests. Voice Foundation, ICVT, the Renee Fleming escapade   Then we wrapped up with summer pop culture lighting rounds: Andor, Daredevil, Fallout, Mission Impossible 9, Doctor Who, and wrapped it up with reviews of the blockbuster duel of Superman and Fantasic 4! Let's have a great year VocalFam!

Season 8 concludes with a message of hope. During the first 20 minutes we encouraged the #VocalFam to give singers, voice teachers, and our entire community some grace and understanding after last week's Cynthia Erivo video situation. Then, Dr. P encouraged us, despite the times, to work to build student resilience by incorporating more hopefulness into our pedagogy. Prof. Pigott and Dr. P would like to thank you the VocalFam for 8 great years! See you in August.

#VocalFam, today we are joined by Dr. Emily Siar to discuss her dissertation research surveying and interviewing singers who have been through voice health issues. Removing the stigma around voice health has been a VocalFri mission for many years now. Please check out Emily's website, linked above, and the BoCo Vocal Pedagogy Professional Workshop, where Emily is on the faculty. 

We had our first in house episode in a few months with Prof. Pigott, Dr. P, and Alice. We finally got a report on Little Women from Sarah. We covered how Sarah and Nick's undergrad practicum are going this semester. Then we had a lively conversation about graduate practicum that led into the difference between knowledge curation and knowledge creation as it relates to graduate theses and dissertations. Come join the #VocalFam!

Today Dr. P and Alice were joined by Prof.s Theresa Brancaccio (Northwestern University) and Aaron Johnson (New York University - Langone) to share about their ongoing efforts developing a wearable, wireless vocal dosimeter. Their partnership with Dr. John Rogers has led to the development of a device that could provide active voice use data to a user with a wearable device through an app on their mobile device or watch. A very exciting development for researchers, clinicians, and professional voice users needing to track voice use and other biometrics. Check it out!

Today we were joined by longtime #VocalFam Ian Howell to preview his new book Hearing Singing: A Guide to Functional Listening and Voice Perception. Dr. P has already made a public endorsement of this book, but trust us that this book is both revolutionary and practical. Ian presents a functional framework that can open your ears to listen to all singing genres through a new lens. The book also contains Dr. Howell's first writing sharing some of his own pedagogic concepts of singing and voice teaching. A must have for your voice bookshelf.