Credit: John J Norton
In September 2026, Luxembourg-based professional singer and vocal coach John J Norton published a new book, Your Voice Isn't Broken: What They Never Taught You About Your Singing, aimed at helping adults understand their voices and gain confidence in singing.
The book challenges the belief that some people are simply unable to sing. Drawing on his 28 years of professional performing experience and his work as a singing teacher in Luxembourg, John J Norton explores the gap between people's perceptions of their vocal abilities and how their voices actually work.
Having trained at the Royal Northern College of Music, he has performed professionally across Europe, including the United Kingdom (UK), and in South Africa. He has spent the past seven years teaching singing in Luxembourg, primarily working with adults and young adults.
Chronicle.lu spoke to the author about the book and his approach to vocal training. John J Norton explained that the book is intended for adults of all ages, from complete beginners to experienced choir members and performers.
"Many of my readers, like many of my students, are people who were told at some point that they could not sing and believed it," he said, adding that no previous musical knowledge is required.
The book is divided into five parts and 26 short chapters, covering breathing, vocal support, resonance, range, vocal health and confidence when singing in front of others.
"The central idea is that most voices are not broken. They have simply never been shown how to work," the author explained. He emphasised that the book focuses primarily on practical exercises, supported by explanations of how the voice functions.
Asked about one particularly valuable or unexpected lesson, John J Norton highlighted the importance of natural breathing. "You already know how to breathe like a singer. You do it every night when you sleep: the breath drops low, the body releases and nothing is forced," he said.
According to the vocal coach, breathing difficulties during singing often “come from trying too hard while awake, not from a lack of ability". He added that learning to reproduce the relaxed breathing pattern experienced during sleep had helped his voice more than anything else in his career.
With his new book, he aims to challenge common misconceptions about singing and inspire readers to discover their vocal potential with greater confidence.
EO
