You wouldn’t teach swimming without water—so why are we still training contemporary commercial music (CCM) singers without microphones or amplification?

In this episode, Timothy Wilds (writer) and Drew Williams-Orozco (host) unpack the disconnect between traditional voice pedagogy and the real-world demands of CCM styles like pop, rock, country, jazz, and modern musical theatre. From the essential role of microphones to the need for new technical and stylistic frameworks, this episode challenges voice teachers to reexamine how we prepare singers for today’s amplified, genre-diverse performance landscape.

We discuss:

• Why amplification isn’t optional in CCM
• How mic technique affects vocal production and artistry
• Equipment setups for teachers on a budget
• Why unplugged training creates a gap between rehearsal and performance
• What it actually takes to train a well-rounded CCM singer in 2025

Whether you’re a teacher stuck in classical defaults or a singer seeking training that reflects your actual goals, this episode breaks down the problems—and offers a path forward.

🔗 VoSci Academy launches this summer with voice science-based courses for real-world singing. Get notified: https://voicescience.org

🎧 Mentioned Episode: #4 – Ring & Twang: https://podcast.voicescience.org/episode/4