Voice Studio Summer Playlist
Summertime is always a fun season in my voice studio because students are exploring new artists and musicals, and they often share music with me that I might never have discovered otherwise. I also have more time to research new repertoire and introduce fresh music to my students. I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite pieces we're working on in the studio, along with some of my favorite student-selected songs this summer. I have also created a playlist for your listening pleasure!
"It's Oh So Quiet" – A student's mother suggested this piece for her daughter to use in local talent shows because it was one of her favorites when Björk released the song in the 1990s. Originally performed by Betty Hutton in 1951, it is flashy, fun, and plays quite the joke on the listener. To quote another student, "That song is anything but quiet!"
"Curses" – This song was introduced to me by a student last summer, and we've been revisiting it this year. Performed by The Crane Wives, the song features a variety of folk instruments and is sure to get anyone tapping their toes.
"New Year's Eve" – Performed by Derivakat, this song was introduced to me by the same student who brought in "Curses." I really love the acoustic sound and the singer's beautiful head voice.
Some newer songs I discovered this summer include:
"Crossing the Line" from Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure, with music by none other than Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater. This is a fantastic choice for singers wanting to develop their belt voice, and it features a wonderful orchestration. Because it comes from a television series, it isn't as widely known as some of Menken's other work. Another great song from the series is "Waiting in the Wings."
I also had the chance to sit down and watch Suffs on PBS's Great Performances and was completely blown away. Suffs is a musical by Shaina Taub, who both wrote and stars in the production about the women's suffrage movement leading up to the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment. The all-female cast makes for an incredibly powerful theatrical experience. My favorite songs were "Great American Bitch" and "I Was Here."
I have also been enjoying "Spark of Creation" from Children of Eden. It is an excellent introductory belt song and a lot of fun to sing. Children of Eden is a musical by Stephen Schwartz based on the Book of Genesis in the Bible. Although it premiered in 1991 and did not achieve major commercial success, it contains some truly wonderful music.
In May, I had the privilege of judging the National Video Rounds for the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Auditions. Through that experience, I discovered the emerging artist Sienna Spiro. If you're a fan of Adele, you'll likely enjoy her music as well. My favorite songs are "The Visitor," "Die on This Hill," and "You Stole the Show." She uses some incredible vocal stylisms, and I'm sure many of my students will continue to enjoy singing her music.
You can enjoy all of these songs—and many more—by listening to my Summer 2026 Voice Studio Playlist.
This blog was written by Dr. Jessica Saunders, co-owner and voice faculty at Dynamic Music Studios in Coralville, Iowa.
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