Dot Todman is a Canadian-born vocalist, recording artist, celebrity vocal empowerment coach, and founder of Core Vocal Power residing in Los Angeles for over three decades. Throughout the 2000s, Dot has redefined vocal training by fusing technique with mental, emotional, and spiritual alignment.
Known for her transformative approach, Todman shared her journey toward her method, C.O.R.E., in an exclusive interview with the Sentinel, revealing how her personal struggles inspired her groundbreaking work.
After moving to Los Angeles from Canada to pursue a career in music and modeling, Dot was receiving opportunities that promised to establish her career and catapult her toward more milestones. However, she began to notice that her inconsistent health would synchronously falter when she had a major audition.
“Sometimes when I was asked to audition, I would have meltdowns. I would be shaking and crying. I was feeling so much stress and pressure from being a perfectionist,” Dot recalled.
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This severe reaction was compounded by a gnawing case of endometriosis, rendering her nearly paralyzed with pain each month. Despite pushing to move her career forward, it was evident she had too many mental, emotional, and physical ailments working against her.
“I realized I needed to dig deeper into why this was happening,” she explained.
“Even though I was doing pretty well in my career, I decided to take a break and work on my mental and emotional health.”
In 2007, while focusing more on her clients over her own career as an independent artist, Dot faced a pivotal moment after a medical accident left her physically and financially vulnerable, with her doctor telling her that she would need six-to-eight months to recover.
During the first few weeks of this against-her-will illness, Dot was forced to reassess her approach to work and life. This period illuminated how deeply she absorbed her others’ energy, which compounded unresolved personal challenges stemming from a difficult childhood, including experiences as a foster child, feelings of isolation as one of the few Black individuals in her community, and struggles with perfectionism and shame.
Through meditation and self-reflection, she learned that the frequencies produced by the human voice could weaken or strengthen the body, sparking a transformative realization about the mind-body-voice connection. It was a series of these types of epiphanies that led Dot to create Core Vocal Power, a groundbreaking approach that integrates the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of the voice.
This method, paired with her extensive background in music, theater arts, and psychology, became a new foundation. Equally profound was that her daily practice of her own method led to a near-full physical recovery in one month – not six – of stillness. This approach, developed over 20 years ago, was revolutionary then and is revolutionary now.
“I felt there was a need for more than [teaching vocal] technique,” Dot shared. “Singers can hit all the right notes but still feel completely disconnected from themselves. It just doesn’t engage the audience the same, and it doesn’t feel good long-term. I wanted to teach people how to use their voices in a way that heals, empowers, and transforms their entire being.”
Today, other vocal coaches around the world are beginning to use the term “vocal empowerment coach,” a phrase Dot pioneered.
Her Core Vocal Power system is rooted in what she calls the C.O.R.E. framework—Connect, Objective, Resonate, and Exercise. It empowers students to align their inner energy, thoughts, emotions, and frequencies with their vocal technique, enabling breakthroughs not only in performance but also in self-expression and confidence.
“Your voice is a reflection of your energy,” Dot explained. “When someone is afraid, it shows in their voice. When they release that fear, the voice transforms.”
The method has produced remarkable results. Clients ranging from beginners to professionals have shared stories of breaking through creative blocks, overcoming stage fright, and even healing emotional traumas. One notable success is “This Is Us” star Chrissy Metz, who turned her dreams into reality after vocal coaching with Dot.
“It’s not just about singing; it’s about empowering who you are as a person,” Dot said.
Dot’s influence extends far beyond one-on-one coaching. She has led workshops, spoken at events, and continued to release music, like her recent single, “Everybody Deserves Love,” which carries her message of emotional healing and empowerment to wider audiences.
“When people think about their voice, they don’t often realize how deeply it’s tied to their identity,” Dot said. “It’s not just a tool for communication—it’s your essence.”
Two decades after she began redefining what it means to coach singers, Dot continues to lead the field she helped pioneer. Her groundbreaking work is a reminder of the power of finding your voice, both literally and figuratively.
“When someone finally connects with their authentic sound, it’s not just about music,” she said. “It’s about freedom.”
To apply for lessons, visit www.corevocalpower.com/apply-for-lessons/
To have Dot lead a workshop at your business, visit www.corevocalpower.com/business/
Visit www.singwdot.com to listen to her music.
