Please note that Johan Sundberg is not affiliated with VocalPedagogy.com. Enjoy the interview!
What would you consider to be the main focus of your career, or your “specialty”?
Acoustics and physiology of singing voice, music perception, theory of music performance
How did you discover your calling for your speciality? How did it start?
Contact with the Gunnar Fant department at KTH, Stockhom
What do you love the most about your work?
Finding new facts and communicating them to interested audiences
In your opinion, what qualities do you feel make an “excellent” Vocal Pedagogue?
Excellent results of teaching
Can you speak to the importance of having mentors? How have mentors influenced your life/career? Can you tell us about some of your mentors?
They share their experiences, so you don’t need to earn them yourself. A kind of shortcut. Radio engineer flutist bassoonist Frans Fransson was my first mentor, guiding me to acoustic measurement; phonetician Björn Lindblom guided me to scientific research technique, particularly the analysis-by-synthesis method; singing teacher Dagmar Gustafson have guided me in finding the essence of vocal music, violinist Lars Frydén guided me to the principles underlying expressiveness in musical performance. In addition, some of my many doctoral students have guided me to the joy of cooperation.
Building Blocks – Questions About Ten Key Areas of Voice
When it comes to breathing, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
Tracheal pull, Need to tailor subglottal pressure for each pitch and its position in the phrase, Need to master glottal adduction/resistance
When it comes to the larynx, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
Relevance of larynx position
When it comes to the vocal folds, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
Relevance of phonation type, the continuum between pressed and breathy, particularly finding flow phonation; Avoiding compulsory couplings between the three main phonatory parameters pitch, loudness, phonation type
When it comes to acoustics/resonance, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
Never let fundamental frequency pass first formant; vowel egalisation,
When it comes to registration, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
Learn how to avoid breaks and learn seamless transition between registers
When it comes to vocal health, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
Pay attention to how it feels in your body
When it comes to style, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
Listen and contemplate
When it comes to posture, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
Important during learning
When it comes to teaching methods for communicating complex ideas about singing, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
Take into account what type of instruction works
Final Thoughts (Words of Wisdom, Recommended Books and Resources)?
In the absence of theoretical knowledge, misconceptions and superstition rage
Please note that Johan Sundberg is not affiliated with VocalPedagogy.com and we do not disclose contact information. We hope you enjoy the interview!
