Episode summary

In this episode, Steve Giles sits down with voice and music coach Korel Tunador to explore a musician-first approach to vocal coaching. Shaped by decades of professional touring with major artists including Rob Thomas, Katy Perry, and the Goo Goo Dolls, Korel shares how discovering voice science later in his career transformed his teaching, blending empirical knowledge with real-world musicianship.

They discuss Korel’s non-hierarchical philosophy, where singers are treated as teammates rather than students, and lessons are collaborative sessions instead of top-down instruction. The conversation also dives into musicianship, psychology, and why energy exchange in teaching can be just as fulfilling as performing on stage.

What we cover

* Why the voice should be trained with the same rigor as any other instrument

* The benefits of a non-hierarchical, teammate-based coaching relationship

* Why Korel often prioritizes laryngeal coordination over breath-first approaches

* The role of complete musicianship (piano, guitar, ear training) in vocal development

* The psychological side of voice work and how awareness accelerates progress

Watch the full video:

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

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

Links & resources

Korel Tunador: https://koreltunador.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: Korel Tunador

Host: Steve Giles

Editor: Vedrana Katanic

Producers: Luke Nederveen, Jono Hewlett-Davies