via Coreen Sheehan, with permission
Coreen Sheehan knows how to sing. It’s how she’s toured all over the world fronting powerhouse rock ‘n’ roll bands and why Sheehan’s been employed by Grammy winners and helped countless singers prepare to compete in both U.S. and international versions of shows like NBC’s The Voice and American Idol.
In fact, the vocal technique curricula Sheehan developed is used by the Musician’s Institute Hollywood, in music schools across Japan like the Osaka School of Music and the Fukuoka School of Music, in the Taipei School of Music in Taiwan, and why Sheen has two instructional books with Hal Leonard Publications.
“That is a footprint of my work,” Sheehan told me on the most recent episode of the Load Out Music Podcast. “And because I’m so meticulous in making sure that a vocalist is absolutely prepared…mentally and physically.”
Sheehan has worked with a who’s who vocalists while receiving honors like the Vocal Instructor of the Year Award in 2008 and Curricular Appreciation Award 2014 from Musician’s Institute Hollywood. She was also nominated for the Grammy’s Music Educator Award in both 2013 and 2014, and recognized by the Recording Academy and Grammy Foundation for her excellence.
But teaching wasn’t always the plan.
“I didn’t want to become and instructor,” she said. “I was more focused on performing and writing my material.”
That’s because Sheehan was busy with her bands, one of which included Ray Luzier, now drummer for Korn. Back then, Sheehan just loved the grind of playing rock ‘n’ roll—like her time in the exceptionally-named Hottie Knockers alongside drummer Athena Lee, sister of Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee. And of course, there were the 18 years she spent fronting what is arguably the first all-female tribute band ever: Whole Lotta Rosies, playing homage to AC/DC.
“It was cool and there were so many good opportunities,” Sheehan noted. “I got to tour all over the world with these girls. It was just fun. We made money and we just had a blast.”
Still active today—although Sheehan bowed-out about a year ago—Whole Lotta Rosies has appeared in commercials, films, opened for the Foo Fighters, played for U.S. troops in Germany and South Korea and more.
Sheehan started singing as a child in Maryland. Her father would arrive home from work, and it was a special treat for him to whip out his guitar after work and the two would sing folk songs together. As a late-teen, she moved from Maryland to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a rock vocalist and attend the Musician’s Institute Hollywood, which boasted professors like Tim Bogert from classic rock staples Vanilla Fudge and members of the flute-ridden Jethro Tull.
Sheehan was burning the candle at both ends.
“I would sleep in the hallway of Musician’s Institute after my band rehearsals,” Sheehan recalled. “And wait in the hallway for morning to come around so I could sign up first for all of the performance classes.”
Bogert and others like Keith Wyatt from The Blasters ultimately took her out on tour and under their wings. This helped move her mindset from rock stardom to teacher. But still, it wasn’t easy.
“Those instructors that fought for me to begin teaching and I didn’t want to do it,” Sheehan said. “I didn’t want that responsibility. I mean, you can’t go to Guitar Center and get a new set of vocal cords.”
But with the aid of strong mentors—and a newfound appreciation for the gift she could bring out in others through the science of vocal mechanics—it finally took.
“The scientific principles associated with the correct vocal production,” she cited as her baseline in working with singers. “I get down to what’s going inside the larynx, how your vocal cords are stretching…how your thyroid mechanisms are stretching.”
Admittedly, she’s taken on some lemons as clients—or at least one, like that guy from Atomic Junkshot (you know, me). But a girl’s gotta pay the bills, right? More than anything, Sheehan takes on singers who are willing to work.
“Some of the artists are out touring 18 months of the year and they just can’t have a bad day,” she said adamantly. “I don’t care if you’re signed or not. I’ll only work with musicians, vocalists that are really serious about wanting to upgrade their voice…because that’s what you have to do. To be a professional you have to be consistent.”
So let’s get into the science of singing. Enjoy the latest Load Out Music Podcast with vocal coach extraordinaire Coreen Sheehan.