Meet CHARLES SIMMONS
Charles Simmons, the creator of VOXXBODY®, is an entertainer, vocal coach, and certified personal fitness trainer based near Stuttgart, Germany. Charles currently stars as George Washington in the UK Tour of the hit Broadway musical HAMILTON and also played GW in the German production of the show.
He was an instructor at the University of Popular Music & Business (aka Popakademie) in Mannheim, Germany, and the Modern Music Center in Stuttgart, Germany. Charles was also a vocal coach on the German versions of ‘X-Factor’ and ‘My Name Is…’, and coaches a number of successful national and international pop and rock artists, including Alice Merton, Vanessa Mai, Joris, Alina, Linda Fäh, Luca Optifanti (Antiheld), Matthias Sayer (Farmer Boys) and many more. Learn more at Charles Simmons.com.
How it all began…
Singing is emotional. Emotion starts in the brain and is interpreted by the body through facial expressions, subtle gestures, and (at times) explosive movements. The ability to convincingly convey these emotions physically without placing too much strain on the voice can be challenging, especially if the vocalist is on tour, in a theater / musical production, or has a multi-night engagement in a club or similar venue. With proper training, the level of endurance needed to meet these goals successfully is achievable.
The key is combining the physical stress required for exercise with the mental and physical relaxation necessary for a free, powerful, connected vocal sound. Tension and relaxation. Yin and Yang. A good performer knows how to utilize both. Balance is the operative word.
The statement that started it all
A few years ago, a speech therapist said something to me that changed my life: “the absolute worst thing a singer can do is sports!” Her statement was a reference to the idea that the physical tension required for sports performance is a direct contradiction to the relaxed state the body should be in for proper vocal technique.
I was shocked. Being both a professional singer and a fitness freak for most of my adult life, I never really considered the role that physical activity played in my singing. I asked myself:
– Is the physical tension needed for getting in shape an obstacle to achieving or maintaining proper vocal technique?
– If so, why?
– Is there an effective way to train the body and the voice together?
It was my search for answers to these questions that led me to create the VOXXBODY Vocal Fitness System.
I’ve helped countless students, amateur, and professional vocalists improve their voices and bodies using this program.
Now I’m making this fun, one-of-a-kind vocal training program available to you, with the hope that it can help you improve your voice and get in shape quickly and safely, without expensive voice lessons or gym memberships.