Justin Stoney: The Joy of Vocal Fold Mastery and Customized Teaching
Featured Teacher
Justin Stoney
Justin Stoney is the founder of New York Vocal Coaching and creator of one of the most-watched vocal education YouTube channels in the world, bringing over two decades of teaching experience to singers across all genres and levels.
Justin approaches every lesson as a puzzle to solve, customizing his methods to each individual student and adapting not just person-to-person but day-to-day based on what the singer needs in that moment.
He believes singing is one of the most distinctly human activities, transcending happy and sad moments alike, and that every voice is a one-of-a-kind instrument that has never been heard before and will never be heard again.
His teaching centers on vocal fold coordination as a often-neglected foundation, combined with creating an explorative rather than judgmental mindset, and ensuring every student leaves with a victory.
Justin works with singers across all styles and levels, prioritizing those who resonate with a joy-centered, customized approach that celebrates the uniqueness of each voice.
Terms Discussed in This Episode
13 terms explored • 5 contested across methodologies
Episode Glossary
13 terms discussed
The medial movement of the vocal folds toward midline, creating the closure pattern necessary for phonation.
View full entry →A vocal quality caused by incomplete closure of the vocal folds, allowing excess air to escape during phonation.
The contrast between approaching singing as exploration and play versus approaching it as evaluation and self-criticism.
Adapting teaching approach not just to each student but to each lesson based on the student's current state,…
View full entry →A transcendent state accessible regardless of happiness or sadness, distinct from happiness and inseparable from singing.
View full entry →The relative height of the larynx in the neck during singing, which affects both resonance quality and ease…
The primary laryngeal mechanism characterized by active thyroarytenoid muscle engagement, producing thicker vocal fold vibration with longer closed…
View full entry →The distinct laryngeal configurations produced by different patterns of intrinsic muscle activation, resulting in characteristic differences in vocal…
View full entry →The amplification and enrichment of vocal sound through the acoustic properties of the vocal tract cavities above the…
The air pressure built up below the vocal folds that initiates and sustains phonation.
A teaching philosophy where every lesson is designed to ensure the student experiences meaningful success and progress, not…
The neuromuscular control of vocal fold posture, tension, and vibratory behavior that determines phonation quality independent of respiratory…
View full entry →The practice of copying multiple vocal artists as a positive method for developing vocal versatility and eventually one's…
View full entry →Key Takeaways
- Vocal fold coordination is often the missing link for singers who have focused heavily on breath and resonance but neglected fold-level agency
- Shifting from a judgmental mindset to a creative, explorative mindset accelerates vocal learning and produces better results
- Every voice lesson should end with a victory, meaning the student has been challenged but not defeated
- Customization is essential: the ideal lesson is designed for this specific person on this specific day
- Joy transcends happiness and sadness, and singing is one of the most powerful ways to access it
Show Notes
Key Topics
- Why vocal fold coordination is often the missing piece in voice training
- The difference between judgmental and creative mindsets in singing
- How to deliver victory in every voice lesson
- The role of imitation in developing vocal versatility
- Joy as transcendent and inseparable from singing
- Customization as the foundation of effective teaching
- Bridging science and spirituality in voice pedagogy
About Justin Stoney
Justin Stoney is the founder of New York Vocal Coaching and has been teaching voice for over 21 years. His YouTube channel has become one of the most-watched vocal education resources in the world. Justin’s approach emphasizes customization, joy, and ensuring every student experiences victory in their lessons.
