Jojo Acosta shares stage performance tips for singers
It all began with a simple passion for teaching young choir kids in his town. Voice coach Jojo Acosta has had an extensive journey, with experience across various music genres from classical to rock. As a teacher, he has carefully designed customized vocal lessons for each of his students.
During an exclusive interview with Coach Jojo at the Prowess Supremacy Productions office in Quezon City on Oct. 13, the 58-year-old voice coach shared tips on singing correctly.
"Singing the right way para sa akin is even if you have the best voice, but you don't know the message bale wala yun. Walang content, walang context, walang emotions na lalabas, you have to check the reminiscing factor," Coach Jojo said.
(Singing the right way for me is, even if you have the best voice but need to know the message, that doesn't matter. No content, context, or emotions will appear; you must check the reminiscing factor.)
He also mentioned that demonstrating emotions and body language while performing can help the singer adapt their voice to the song.
"If you don't know the message and can't convey the emotions, how can you deliver the body language? Kaya sound is movement pero wag lang masyadong marami para hindi magmukhang boring or flat or yung usual na yun na lang ng yun, he added.
(How can you deliver the body language if you don't know the message and can't convey the emotions? Sound is movement, but don't do it too much so it doesn't look boring, flat, or just the usual.)
Coach Jojo, with 41 years of experience as a vocal coach, emphasizes three essential elements of singing: conveying a message, expressing emotions, and using body language.
"So ayun tatlong yun, message, emotions and body language and at the same time the capability to carrying a tune kasi kung magaling ka dun sa tatlo but you can't carry a tune aayaw ang tao sa'yo," he added.
(So there are those three: message, emotions, and body language, and at the same time, the capability to carry a tune because if you are good at those three but you can't carry a tune, people will not like you.)
Passion for teaching
Coach Jojo fell in love with teaching when he volunteered to help Kamuning High School students practice for their annual songfest at age 16.
"There was a time na I heard these kids singing 'Silent Night.' It's a normal song, simple lang kaya lang hindi maganda talaga. That time ako na nag rekomenda sa sarili ko, sabi ko tuturuan ko sila. Dun nag-umpisa yung eto talaga yung gusto ko and after that napanalo ko sila," he shared.
(There was a time when I heard these kids singing 'Silent Night.' It's a normal song; it's just so simple, but they are not singing it so well. That time, I recommended myself and said I would teach them. That was when I realized I wanted to teach, and after helping them, they won.)
After Coach Jojo completed his music courses and received guidance from mentors at both the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and the University of the Philippines (UP), he realized that his lifelong passion was to help his students shine and utilize their singing talents.
In 2006, he started coaching Jan Nieto for Philippine Idol. His success as a coach catapulted him to instant celebrity status. Since then, he has coached other artists including Rivermaya, 6cyclemind, Max Collins, Lovi Poe, and more. In 2015, he coached Gwyneth Dorado, who became a finalist in Asia's Got Talent Season 1.
Coach Jojo teaches and collaborates with artists at Singerstudios. Sony Music Japan recently collaborated with him.
“Isa sa mga hindi ko akalain na makikipag deal sa akin ay ang Sony Music Japan, hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala,” Coach Jojo said.
(One of the ones I never thought would sign a deal with me was Sony Music Japan, I still can't believe it Aside from his recent collaboration, he is also the voice coach of Cydel Gabutero, who won during The Voice Teens season 2 in 2020. Cydel is currently an artist under the label of Republic Records.