Welcome
Lesson time: (2min 16sec)
A welcome from vocal coach Jono McNeil, who introduces this course on building licks, riffs and runs into your own pop singing style.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Licks, Riffs & Runs for Pop Singers
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Welcome to the Course!
Hi there!
This is a course that might seem a little bit different from what you're used to. We are looking at vocal style, and style can come in many forms. What I really want to do is provide some opportunities for you to:
- Do things that you wouldn't normally do
- Stumble upon ideas that work with your own vocal style
- Discover your individual sound
Challenge and Growth
There are going to be some things that challenge you, some that feel a little outside your comfort zone, and maybe some ideas that you haven't tried before. And that's a good thing!
I hope that this can take you from feeling quite at the beginning of your journey with vocal style to a place where you're quite advanced.
Take Your Time
- Pace Yourself: Take this at your own pace; don't rush it.
- Review Lessons: Some things might move quite quickly, but the course is designed to be taken at the pace you need. If you need to redo a lesson or go over something again, everything is available to you on the website.
Warm-Up Reminder
Now, there's no warm-up in this course. You might need to:
- Do your own warm-up
- Go to one of the other lessons on Music Guru's website
This is important to ensure you're ready for the more challenging material.
Learning Modules
Once you start these lessons, treat them like modules. Make sure you feel proficient at each one before moving to the next.
Final Module
The course ends with an exploration of some amazing artists who excel at riffs, licks, and runs. You might find this daunting, but I often see singers who are just starting their journey with fast singing agility surprise themselves.
Tip: Take things bit by bit and ease yourself into these new processes.
Conclusion
Try to expand your territory and see what could happen if you take a process-based approach to these exciting and impressive skills.
Enjoy the course, take your time, and I look forward to seeing how you do at the end!
About the instructor

Jono McNeil has provided vocal coaching for professional singers, contemporary artists and vocalists in a range of influential positions within the entertainment industry for over 20 years. He works as a vocal coach across a variety of TV shows including The Voice Kids, The Voice UK, Little Mix The Search, The Masked Singer, Wedding Day Winners and Change Your Tune, and coaches touring acts such as JLS, New Rules and July Jones to name a few. An artist and singer in his own right, Jono has also performed with Michael Buble, Paloma Faith, Josh Groban, Nelly, Jamie Cullum, Lemar, George Ezra and Jocelyn Brown, and has several original albums available on streaming platforms. He combines his experience on stage and in the recording studio with a deep understanding of vocal function to provide effective and inspirational coaching experiences. Previously he worked as the head of vocals at the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM), lecturing and designing content for the degree vocal curriculum in popular music, and now continues to work as an external examiner for other academic institutions such as the Leeds Conservatoire. Passionate about the possibilities of popular music and artistry, he pursues innovative research and strategies to see this realised; his academic qualifications include a degree in Jazz and a masters in Vocal Pedagogy. In Licks, Riffs & Runs for Pop Singers, Jono shows you exactly how to add the agile runs, riffs and licks that define modern pop singing, so you can decorate a melody with confidence and make it your own. read more




