Episode summary

In this episode, Steve Giles sits down with vocal coach John Henny to unpack what really drives vocal improvement at a high level, why vocal tract acoustics matter so much, how “ease” in the voice is often the result of better resonance balance, and why semi-occluded vocal tract exercises (like straws and lip trills) are so effective. They also explore the human side of teaching: why fit between teacher and student matters, how imagery can unlock coordination when technical cues fail, and where AI is likely to support (not replace) great voice teachers in the years ahead.

What we cover

• Why the voice is shaped as much by the vocal tract as by the vocal folds and why “sing from the vocal tract” is a useful reframe
• Phonation Threshold Pressure (PTP): what it is, why lower effort matters, and how SOVT exercises help
• The “handover” between resonances/registers and how vowel tuning helps singers transition without pushing
• Why minimal effort for maximum result is the goal—and why “tension-free singing” would just be silence
• Using imagery to bypass overthinking and improve coordination (expansion vs contraction, “above the note,” helium head)
• Why teacher–student connection is a competitive advantage that AI won’t replicate
• How AI can reduce admin, accelerate learning, and even create powerful training tools without replacing the human in the room

Watch the full video:

YouTube : https://youtube.com/@wehelpsingerspod

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mjWrEYI7gMT5gnBL9FDIq?si=ve8_6UrJT5iy7zEgSqjeGg

Links & resources

John Henny: https://johnhenny.com/
We Help Singers: https://www.wehelpsingers.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wehelpsingers

Call to action

If this conversation helped you, follow the show on your podcast app and share this episode with a singer or coach who’d benefit. For clips and updates, follow us on Instagram.

Apply to be a guest

If you’re a vocal coach and would like to apply to be a guest on the podcast, fill out the application form here: https://wehelpsingers.com/i-teach/

Credits

Guest: John Henny
Host: Steve Giles
Editor: Vedrana Katanic
Producers: Luke Nederveen, Jono Hewlett-Davies