Ep.237 Beyond the Vocal Tract: How the Brain Shapes What We Hear with Ian Howell

This week, Alexa chats with the brilliant Ian Howell to explore how we really hear the singers we work with. From psychoacoustics and functional listening to timbre, bias and intention, Ian unpacks the hidden processes behind vocal perception—and how understanding them can transform the way we teach. A deep, fascinating conversation for any singing teacher wanting sharper ears and smarter tools.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

1:53 What is psychoacoustics?

5:28 How is sound perceived by us?

12:38 What impacts the way we perceive sound?

20:46 Separating function from bias

25:48 Belt scenario

35:36 How do singers hear themselves?

40:59 How to listen and observe with skill

1:05:27 The relationship between intent and perception

1:15:15 Using spectrograms

1:19:57 The way Ian teaches

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Hearing Singing - A Guide to Functional Listening and Voice Perception by Ian Howell

Johan Sundberg

The Acoustics of the Singing Voice by Johan Sundberg

Science of the Singing Voice by Johan Sundberg

Ingo Titze

‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ by Sarah Bareilles

Jeannie LoVetri

Feldenkrais

Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.63 Developing a Singer’s Self Awareness and Clarifying Intention with Robert Sussuma

Cornelius Reid

Voce Vista

Advice for Young Musicians by Ian Howell

Structure of Singing by Richard Miller

ABOUT THE GUEST

Dr. Ian Howell is the Founder and Chief Educator of the Embodied Music Lab, offering professional development and consulting for musicians and teachers. He is the author of Advice for Young Musicians (2023) and Hearing Singing: A Guide to Functional Listening and Voice Perception (2025). From 2013–2023, Ian served on the voice faculty at the New England Conservatory, directing the graduate voice pedagogy program and leading research in the NEC Voice and Sound Analysis Lab, where he and his students presented widely and contributed vital work during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

SEE FULL BIO HERE

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