Analyzing Research on Register Transitions
Lately I've been on a bit of a kick, writing some straight up vocal science posts that are making me happy. I love me a good research...
top of page
Search
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Jul 10, 2022
- 5 min
Love Your Ears
There's a ton of discussion about vocal health in the singing world, and how to keep our voices healthy over a (hopefully) long career....
29 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Jun 5, 2022
- 5 min
Phonation Threshold Pressure: What it is and why you care
This is gonna be a straight up voice science post, just talking about phonation threshold pressure. Because science is fun, and voices...
203 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- May 8, 2022
- 4 min
There's always pressure in your singing.
And that's not necessarily a bad thing! I'm talking specifically about air pressure that is happening at all times along the vocal tract,...
256 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Feb 27, 2022
- 4 min
The Central Nervous System: A Basic Primer for Singers
All singing begins in the brain. And so it can be helpful to understand how the brain and the sundry parts of it are made and connected...
39 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Feb 20, 2022
- 3 min
Three types of nerves in the body and the voice
Our bodies are full of nerves all over the place, communicating, observing, and acting. We've got three types of nerves that keep us...
70 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Jan 23, 2022
- 2 min
PRESSURE! When Sinuses Attack.
I don't know anyone who hasn't had a sinus infection at least once in their life. If you are that person, I wanna know how you've managed...
21 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Jan 16, 2022
- 3 min
You say "Vocal Cords." I say "Vocal Folds." Let's call the whole thing off!
Okay, admittedly that was a terrible title trying to draw on a popular song, but stick with me. (And in case you need a little Ginger...
50 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Nov 21, 2021
- 1 min
Creating Awareness of Breathing Muscles
Getting to better efficiency in breathing for singing is a worthy goal, but sometimes we miss the very first step! Especially if you've...
17 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Nov 14, 2021
- 2 min
Your Brain Is Your Friend...Except When It's Not
I say it often that all singing begins in the brain. Singing can also be influenced by the brain, specifically by reflexes, in an ongoing...
7 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Nov 1, 2021
- 3 min
You Are Not a Jellyfish
Jellyfish have no spines, but you do! The presence of spines literally divides the animal kingdom into two distinct parts. Those with...
52 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Sep 19, 2021
- 1 min
The True Vocal Folds
This week let's get to know our thyroarytenoid muscle, also what we call the "true" vocal folds. I'll have another video released on my...
25 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Sep 5, 2021
- 4 min
Intercostals: Essential Partners in Breathing
For some reason or another, in singing pedagogy over the recent past, we've focused a lot of attention on the diaphragm in breathing. I...
83 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Aug 29, 2021
- 4 min
Pedagogy Happy Hour for September: Singing for those with chronic breathing problems
Singing in front of other people can be incredibly intimidating. Sometimes when I'm starting out with a new client, I have to consciously...
18 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Aug 22, 2021
- 3 min
Seeing is Singing
This week let's examine the occipital lobe of the brain, and the ways it helps us to teach singers. The occipital lobe, seen in the image...
112 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Aug 8, 2021
- 4 min
How Nerves Work
We all learned a long time ago that nerves carry impulses from the brain to parts of the body so that those parts do the things the brain...
53 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Aug 1, 2021
- 7 min
Breathing In, Breathing Out
When you get right down to it, breathing is pretty simple. Air goes in, air goes out, repeat forever. It's also incredibly complex. The...
42 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Jul 18, 2021
- 3 min
Hey-a Hyoid!
What's small, well-connected, and hard to say five times fast? It's the hyoid bone! Count this bone among the small but incredibly...
735 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Jun 28, 2021
- 3 min
Every Breath You Take: Part 2
In last week's blog I introduced the idea that our breathing pedagogy for singers has two equal parts: philosophy and mechanics. If...
19 views0 comments
Dr. Heather Nelson
- Jun 20, 2021
- 5 min
Every Breath You Take: Part 1
There's likely no other topic in voice pedagogy as difficult and as nuanced as breathing. Some voice teachers can have some very strong...
56 views0 comments
bottom of page