Singing Teachers Talk: Recent Episodes
BAST Training
Hosted by BAST Training expect interviews, conversations, and panel discussions to inspire and inform singing teachers and singers who want to teach. ABOUT BAST TRAINING We are here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill.
Website: basttraining.com FB & IG @basttraining
In this episode, Alexa shares her experience of attending the very first Singer & the Self Singing Teacher CPD Holiday in Slovenia before sitting down with organiser Becky Gillespie to discuss how the event came to life. From voice science, business and wellbeing to spa days, cultural adventures and meaningful conversations, they explore why combining professional development with a holiday created such a unique and inspiring experience for singing teachers. If you've ever wondered what a singing teacher CPD holiday is really like—or whether it's worth it—this episode takes you behind the scenes.
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Presenters: Becky Gilhespie, Louisa Barry, Lindsay Dalton, Rachel Lynes, Michael Rasmussen, Mel Toy, Lydia Hart, Alien Partjilic, Veronica Hodgson, Barbara Tanze, Gemma Sugrue, Cat Ogden
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.55 Teaching Singing for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.69 Understanding Pregnancy for the Singer and the Self-Employed
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.46 How to Develop Lasting and Positive Habits
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.118 Mastering Mix Voice and Belt
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.28 Finding the Fundamental Truths of Singing
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.179 From 1 to 40 Choirs and Touring with Gareth Malone
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.166 Overcoming Self-Consciousness in Singing
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.45 Discovering Optimal Breathing with Barbara Tanze
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.58 Understanding the Speaking Voice
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.90 - Help! I’ve Got a Voice Problem
Ken Bozeman
Chadley Ballantyne
Ian Howell
Focus on Vocal Technique: Update! Breath Management - Shirley Emmons
Book your place at the 2027 Voice Conference Spa Holiday
ABOUT THE GUEST
Singer & The Self was founded by Rachel Lynes and Becky Gilhespie, leading vocal coaches based in the UK but working with artists and singers all over the globe.
Their retreats combine expert voice coaching with yoga, breath work and mindfulness to unlock each participant’s unique sound and self-expression. Rachel and Becky came together in 2021 to bring their vision of The Singer & the Self to life - their shared belief that to develop your singing voice you must work on the mind and body, and equally, that the voice is the most powerful route into the ‘self’. They know that each singer is wonderfully unique - not only in the human anatomy that makes up one’s personal sound but in the expression, which comes from the stories, the rich life experiences and perspective each person has on the world.
Together, they have hosted sell-out retreats in the UK countryside and are now bringing their holistic approach to singing and self-care internationally. Their retreats are open to all levels, whether you are interested in exploring finding your voice for the first time or whether you are a professional, looking to advance your singing and creativity.
Website
Instagram: @beckygilhespievocals & @singerandtheselfretreats
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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What happens when a singer desperately wants to sing, but fear, self-doubt and past criticism keep getting in the way? In this episode, Alexa is joined by vocal coach and Sing Anyway author - Linor Oren, to explore singing confidence, stage fright and mindset, questioning what happens when we stop chasing a ‘good’ sound and start exploring what the voice can actually do? Plus, before the conversation begins, Alexa shares her honest review of Sing Anyway and reflects on some of the book’s key ideas, ready for your bookshelves.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
0:00 ‘Sing Away’ by Linor Oren: Book Review
9:29 The catalyst for ‘Sing Anyway’
12:04 The writing & publishing process
20:41 Paralysing fear & singing
23:40 Performance exercises for mindset
32:52 Linor’s teaching methodology
38:25 The power of group lessons
41:55 Is the singer actually ready?
49:32 What teaching provided that lessons didn’t
55:00 Round up
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Grinberg Method
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.261 Managing Performance Nerves: Tools For Singers & Singing Teachers with Laura Dumbleton
ABOUT THE GUEST
Linor Oren is a singer, voice teacher and author who knows what it is to go from 'I can't sing' to singing in a hall full of strangers. As a shy kid who didn't take her first singing lesson until she was 21, she graduated from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance and went on to study and perform in Germany. In 2017 she moved to the Netherlands, where she runs her voice studio and leads The Merry Poppins Musical Choir. Her teaching method blends vocal technique with bodywork and mental practice to help shy singers find their voice.
The traditional method of vocal coaching often starts with the assumption that mastering vocal technique is the only way to enjoy singing. In this approach, the teacher jumps straight into technical work, which can feel overwhelming. Her approach flips this on its head. She believes that enjoyment is the key to unlocking your true potential. Instead of diving headfirst into technique, Linor begins by addressing mental blockages— fear, hesitation, and self-doubt — so that singing feels joyful right from the start. Once a student feels comfortable and confident, the systematic work on vocal technique can start.
Website
Instagram: @linororenvoiceteacher
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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In this fascinating conversation, performance psychologist Noa Kageyama explores what learning science really tells us about effective practice, mindful learning, and why repetition alone isn't enough. Discover practical, research-backed strategies that can transform the way you plan lessons, deliver them, and help singers structure practice more efficiently, giving you and them fresh ideas to reach those goals.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:30 What are elite institutions actually looking for?
2:49 Reflection: The shift in musicians needs/desires
6:28 Mindful Vs Mindless learning
14:26 Learning in the beginner Vs the advanced
19:20 Achieving positive change
28:18 When is the best time to give instruction, feedback and praise?
36:49 The thing about repetition…
45:37 Rest
49:55 What makes an excellent teacher exceptional?
52:35 Bulletproof Musician
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.242 Understanding Motor Learning: How It Can Help Us Give Better Singing Lessons
Line Hilton
Alexander Technique
Arnold Jacobs
Gabrielle Wolf
A Way to Amplify (or Weaken) the Effect of Self-Talk on Performance
John Wooden
The Perfect Wrong Note by William Westney
Micah Killion
Pablo Casals
ABOUT THE GUEST
Performance psychologist Noa Kageyama is on the faculty of The Juilliard School and Cleveland Institute of Music. A violinist with degrees from Oberlin and Juilliard before completing a Ph.D. in counseling psychology at Indiana University, Noa specializes in teaching performing artists how to utilize sport psychology principles to more consistently perform up to their full abilities under pressure.
He has conducted workshops for institutions including Curtis, Eastman, Peabody, New England Conservatory, and the U.S. Armed Forces School of Music, programs such as the Starling-Delay Symposium, the Perlman Music Program, and Meadowmount, and for organizations like the Music Teachers' National Association, Performing Arts Medicine Association, and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.
Noa's work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, NBC News, CNN, Forbes, Slate, and Lifehacker. He has taught over 10,000 musicians, educators, and learners through his online courses, and authors The Bulletproof Musician blog and podcast, which reaches over 45,000 subscribers every week.
Website
Youtube
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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Alexa is joined by singer, songwriter and vocal coach Grace Hancock to explore the relationship between music and craft. Together, they have honest conversations about the moments when making music hasn’t felt good and when it has stopped being joyful for them. They discuss burn out, self-worth, comparison and perfectionism, and how singers can reconnect with their craft in a healthier, more authentic way. As ever, we’re keeping it real on the Singing Teachers Talk podcast.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
0:55 Memories of travelling as a performer
4:06 Best and worst advice Grace has received as a singer
5:32 Grace’s mission
6:46 Working on cruise ships
12:55 When you fall out of love with performing
17:10 How can a difficult relationship with music influence teaching?
21:49 How to build a healthy relationship to music as a singer
33:23 What conversations should we be having more of as singing teachers?
35:14 Grace’s work
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep 100 The Truth About Singing and Dairy with Nutritionist Duncan Rock
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep 267. Acting Through Song: Practical Tools for Singing Teachers with Molly Marie Walsh
Amie McNee
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep 245. Technique Meets Artistry: Working with Contemporary Singers with Juliet Russell
Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep. 261 Managing Performance Nerves: Tools For Singers & Singing Teachers with Laura Dumbleton
ABOUT THE GUEST
Grace is a seasoned singer-pianist, vocal coach and composer. Over the past decade she has dedicated her life to music and creativity, performing around the world aboard luxury cruise ships and composing for theatre and short films. Her original compositions have been recognised by festivals such as the Paris Film Awards and Only the Best International Film Awards. She now hosts her podcast for singers: Curious Vocalists, where she talks to industry professionals exploring ways for singers to build a more fulfilling and sustainable career in the arts.
Website
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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What makes a performance truly believable? In this episode, Alexa is joined by fellow BAST teammate Molly Walsh to explore acting through song and the power of gesture mapping. Together they unpack practical acting techniques that help singers communicate emotion authentically, make purposeful physical choices, and create performances that are both vocally sustainable and dramatically compelling. From Meisner and SAVI techniques to storytelling and practical teaching strategies, this episode is packed with insights for singing teachers, vocal coaches, performers, and musical theatre students looking to bring any song to life.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:58 Different acting techniques
7:34 Considerations for method acting
11:24 Inside-out vs Outside-in (& the SAVI technique)
14:01 Where you can find ‘acting through song’ clues
20:19 Gesture mapping
38:45 The SAVI cards
47:42 Consonants
51:48 Facial expression & neurodiversity
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Practitioners Mentioned:Konstantin Stanislavski; Stella Adler; Uta Hagen; Sanford Meisner; Rudolf Laban; Lee Strasberg; Arthur Lessac; Viewpoints
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.221 How Knowing Musical Theatre History Makes You a Better Performer
Ernie Losso
The Savi Singing Actor by Charles Gilbert
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.109 Mastering ‘Acting Through Song Techniques to Elevate MT Performance
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.266 8 Tips to Make Belt Sound More Impressive
Teach Voice by Chris Johnson
Heidi Moss Erickson
Kaya Herstad-Carney
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.155 Part One: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.156 Part Two: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios
ABOUT THE GUEST
Molly Marie Walsh (BFA (Hons) Musical Theatre - Molly has had a professional performing career across the US and the UK. As a professional Musical Theatre Performer in the US: the National Tour of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, and productions of WHITE CHRISTMAS, 42nd STREET, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, OKLAHOMA! and INTO THE WOODS. and in the UK: Alan Menken's A CHRISTMAS CAROL, JEWISH LEGENDS, and THE MIKADO. She has been a Vocalist with a classical crossover group, ANCORA, and close-harmony Andrews Sisters trios THE MANHATTAN DOLLS (US), and currently in the UK, THE HONEYBIRDS. She has also been a creative consultant with writing team KANSLEY & LIDERT on their original musicals, CONFESSIONS and AUTUMN RHYTHM. She holds both a BFA in Musical Theatre from University of the Arts (US) and a BAST Level 5 Extended Diploma in Singing Teaching Skills. She is a singing tutor at Italia Conti, and a lecturer of history of dance and musical theatre at Urdang Academy, She has a passion for focusing on equality, inclusivity, curiosity, and decolonising the voice studio and our understanding of theatre history.
Website
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
basttraining.com | Stay Updated
Want a more impressive belt? Before you search for another vocal exercise, you might want to question what you think makes great belting in the first place. In this episode, Alexa Terry shares eight thought-provoking ideas - some that might surprise you.
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Amanda Flynn
Voice Study Centre
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.133 Mastering Belt in Musical Theatre
Emily Kristen Morris
Singing Teacher’s Talk - Ep.200 The Secret to Powerful Belting and Seamless Mixing
Sing Like Never Before by Justin Stoney of New York Vocal Coaching
Hadestown by Anaïs Mitchell
Kerrie Obert
Singing Teacher’s Talk - Ep.151 How to Sing with Twang
ABOUT THE GUEST
Alexa is a singing teacher and vocal coach who runs her own singing tuition practice in the South of England. She is also a 1-1 singing tutor at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools – Italia Conti, where she regularly panels auditions and assessments. Alexa is the host of BAST Training’s Singing Teachers Talk podcast, and is one of the mentors for their level 5 singing teaching qualification. [Text Wrapping Break][Text Wrapping Break]After graduating with a BA Musical Theatre degree, Alexa Terry donned her sailor’s cap and performed as a lead soloist on cruise ships travelling the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Baltic seas. She trod the boards in London’s West End as the protagonist in a new Musical Theatre project, studied as a librettist with Book, Music and Lyrics (BML), and has written for the likes of BritishTheatre.comas a reviewer. Alexa has also presented on topics of Musical Theatre repertoire, authentic Musical Theatre performance, and imposter syndrome for Vocology in Practice and The Sing Space; and at the BAST Intensive Weekend of Summer 2026, Alexa delivered talks in diagnosing and assessing voices and choosing repertoire to build technique.
Website
Instagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoaching
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
basttraining.com | Stay Updated
In this episode, Alexa is joined once again by physiotherapist Emer Tully to explore the jaw. They unpack why jaw tension isn't always about the jaw itself, how posture, breathing, hypermobility and stress all play a role, and what singers and teachers can do to improve jaw health and function. Whether you struggle with clenching, clicking, or simply want to better understand the biomechanics behind a free and efficient voice, this conversation is packed with practical insights you'll be able to apply straight away.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:11 How do we know when the jaw is functioning well?
3:32 Hypermobility P1
6:55 Assessing opening and closing of the jaw
14:21 Release vs strengthening
28:34 Biomechanics vs aesthetics
31:52 Hypermobility P2
33:41 Acupuncture and the jaw
36:01 Jaw red flags
36:54 Clicking jaw & TMJ
42:39 Three things to look after your jaw health
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.241 Is Your Pelvic Floor Affecting Your Voice? A Deep Dive with Physiotherapist Emer Tully
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.110 Articulation and Singing: Assessing Jaw Behaviour With Chris Johnson
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.201 Working with Hypermobile Singers with Sarah Algoet
Evolve
Bone Prop
ABOUT THE GUEST
Emer Tully is a physiotherapist specialising in hypermobility, TMJ dysfunction, breathing mechanics, and vocal health. She works closely with singers, performers, and individuals with complex chronic symptoms, exploring how the jaw, airway, voice, and whole-body movement patterns influence health and performance. Her clinical approach focuses on connecting the dots between biomechanics, breathing, the nervous system, and long-term symptom management. Based in Blackheath, South East London.
Website
Instagram: @core_points
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
basttraining.com | Stay Updated
In this episode, Alexa is joined by researcher, musician and founder of The F-List, Vick Bain, for an important conversation about gender equality in the UK music industry. Drawing on her PhD research and years of experience, Vick explores the barriers that women and gender-diverse musicians continue to face, from pay gaps and career progression to representation, discrimination and the realities of building a sustainable career in music. It's a thought-provoking discussion that challenges assumptions, shares the evidence behind the headlines, and asks what role we can play in creating a more inclusive future for the artists we teach. Just to let you know some listeners may find some of the topics discussed distressing - take a pause, and we will be right there waiting when you’re ready.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:28 About Vick’s PhD: Women's Careers in the UK Music Industry
2:02 What are some of the biggest gender inequality issues currently?
5:50 Age discrimination and pay gap statistics
15:55 The ‘what about Adele’ question
25:06 Where are women missing?
27:13 What happens when women ‘over-represent’ in a field?
29:44 Being a freelancer
32:57 The red flags
36:11 Political landscapes
40:15 The F-List
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
The UK Music Diversity Taskforce
Musicians Union
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.263 The Creative Juggle: Singer, Songwriter and Teacher
Musician Census of 2024
Government pay gap reports
Intellectual Property Office
Gov Misogyny in Music
PRS for music
Independent Society of Musicians
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.117 The ISM: What Singers and Singing Teachers Need to Know
Reform Our Contract With You
ABOUT THE GUEST
Vick Bain is an EDI and Research Consultant with nearly 30 years' experience in the music and creative industries. Formerly CEO of the Ivors Academy and Past President of the Independent Society of Musicians, she now leads a consultancy specialising in strategic research, impact evaluation, and diversity and inclusion. A Henley Business School MBA graduate, Vick is completing a PhD at Queen Mary University of London on women's careers in music. She is the Founder of The F-List for Music CIC, a not-for-profit supporting women and gender diverse musicians across the UK and serves as a board director of the ISM. Her clients include IMPALA, Counterculture, Beggars Group, UK Music, Beatport and Attitude is Everything. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Companion of LIPA - appointed by Sir Paul McCartney - she is included in both the Music Week Women in Music Roll of Honour and the BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Music Industry Powerlist.
Vick trained as a classical singer in the early 1990s, holding Grade 8 singing, an HND in Classical Music (Voice) and a BA in Performing Arts. She recorded and performed with experimental artist Rapoon, sang for many years with the London Bulgarian Choir – during whose time they were runners-up in the BBC Choir of the Year and performed alongside numerous pop and rock acts. She recently joined a Cornish choir, continuing a lifelong relationship with singing.
Website
The F List
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
basttraining.com | Stay Updated
This week, Alexa chats with artist, songwriter, choir leader, and vocal coach India Bourne about life beyond the stage. From touring the world with Ben Howard to building a thriving teaching career, India shares how completing the BAST Foundation Course deepened her understanding of the voice, transformed her songwriting, and enriched her work with singers. She also opens up about balancing creativity, teaching, and motherhood, revealing how life as a mum has shaped her artistry, sharpened her instincts, and helped her to continue creating a sustainable, fulfilling career in music.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:08 What venues are India’s favourite to play?
3:38 What has India learnt through touring and being a human in the music industry?
6:06 Does teaching ever feel in tension with being an artist?
12:37 India’s experience with BAST
14:50 How has being a classically trained cellist influenced artistry and teaching?
18:10 Songwriting and creative ideas
25:07 Singing and training emotion in music
30:02 Being the creative juggler
33:26 Protecting your own creativity
35:35 India’s new music
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Ben Howard
Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw
Why Doing Nothing Can Change Your Life by Joseph Jebelli
Heidi Moss Erickson
Singing in the Brain: Ep.2: The Spaces in Between - Part1 Rest
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.256 The Neuroscience of Singing: What the Singer’s Brain Needs
Middle Farm Studios
Outside venue
ABOUT THE GUEST
India Bourne is a classically trained musician, songwriter and vocal coach whose voice has travelled the world as a long-time member of Ben Howard's live band. Singing and playing cello, bass and percussion, she has spent years immersed in shared stages and shifting landscapes. Alongside this, she has released music as Tender Central, where electronica and folk intertwine in songs that echo the emotional depth of Massive Attack, Lamb and Joni Mitchell.
Now, India returns to releasing music under her own name. This new collection is shaped by long-standing musical relationships, featuring collaborators Mickey Smith, Nat Wason and Rich Thomas alongside her all-female choir, The Big Skirts. Recorded live to tape at Middle Farm Studios with producer Peter Miles, these are songs of initiation and becoming - of motherhood, grief, nature, and new life - held together by the rare chemistry of old friends playing in the same room.
At the heart of the record is the voice, or rather voices. India writes with her women vocalists in mind, weaving their lines together as a living fabric from which melodies emerge. The result is music that feels both grounded and expansive, rooted in collective breath, resonance and connection.
Website
The Big Skirts
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
basttraining.com | Stay Updated
What happens when arts education becomes truly accessible? In this inspiring episode, Alexa speaks with Georgina from RABBLE Theatre about breaking down barriers to participation, building confidence through performance, and creating meaningful pathways for young people and adults in the arts. From nurturing performers to supporting wellbeing, creativity, and community engagement, this conversation is packed with insights for singing teachers, drama educators, arts leaders, and anyone passionate about the transformative power of creative education.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
3:25 What is RABBLE Theatre?
5:00 The RABBLE mission
7:27 Education and Youth programmes at RABBLE
12:07 RABBLE is looking for freelance singing teachers!
13:31 The wellbeing benefits of the arts
15:36 Getting financial support from RABBLE
17:22 Nurturing Performers
19:53 Fundraising tips
23:21 Pushback and grants
25:25 Make a donation
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Seamus Allen (Improvisation)
Holiday Activities Fund
Chris Mitchell
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.222 The Rise of AI: What it Means for Singers and Singing Teachers
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.226 The Rise of AI: Practical Tools and Strategies for the Singing Teacher
Arts Council
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.162 Voices of the South West: Building Community with the Southwest Voice Hub
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.224 Your Brain on Art: The Science of Creativity and Healing
ABOUT THE GUEST
RABBLE Theatre is an education charity that tells local stories of national significance. They have a large education department, engaging over 2,000 young people and adults every year, 141 of whom access their work through the RABBLE access fund.
Website
@rabble_theatre on Instagram
@rabbletheatre on Tik Tok
Contact RABBLE to collaborate
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
basttraining.com | Stay Updated
Why do performers experience stage fright, even when they love being on stage? In this episode, voice coach and breathwork teacher Laura Dumbleton joins Alexa to unpack performance anxiety, fight-or-flight responses, and practical tools to manage nerves before, during and after singing or public speaking. Expect honest stories, functional techniques, confidence strategies, and advice for singers, performers and vocal coaches navigating stage fright.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:39 What is stage fright?
4:17 Why might a singer experience stage fright?
5:55 Why has performing not evolved to become less stress-provoking?
9:40 Symptoms of stage fright to look out for
12:59 Is it true that ‘some nerves can be helpful?’
15:25 The Boiling Pot Analogy
19:20 Stage fright myth busting
21:39 Strategies for stage fright
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.155 Part One: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.156 Part Two: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios
Dave Cottrell: @mindsetbydave
Stress Less: Breath More - Simple Breathing Exercises for Stress Relief
Sarah Joyce: @sarahjoycesings
Jessie J - Watch Me Work Through a Panic on Stage
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.80 Understanding Music Performance Anxiety
ABOUT THE GUEST
Laura Dumbleton is a Stage Fright Coach, Voice Coach and Breathwork Teacher with over fourteen years of experience working with singers and voice teachers. She specialises in why technically prepared singers still struggle under pressure, and what can be done about it. She is passionate about getting rid of “just practice more!” as a solution and instead replacing it with actual tools to address the underlying problem.
Laura works from her studio in Lincolnshire and online with clients worldwide, offering 1:1 coaching, group workshops, and courses covering musical theatre voice, stage fright, and performance confidence. Her Stage Fright workshops bring together the science of performance anxiety, vocal technique, and nervous system regulation, giving singers and teachers practical tools for building genuine confidence that holds up under pressure. Breathwork runs through everything she does, from coherence breathing to conscious connected breathwork, whether as a standalone session or woven into performance coaching.
She holds a Masters of Research from the University of Edinburgh specialising in performance anxiety in singers, alongside being an IVA Advanced Instructor and qualified Breathwork Facilitator and Teacher with Breathing Space.
Website
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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What happens when singing teachers step away from screens and come together in one room? In this episode, Line Hilton shares why BAST is bringing back live, in-person singing teacher training with a special intensive weekend in Manchester, exploring the power of community, CPD, vocal pedagogy, networking, and hands-on learning. Discover who the event is for, what topics will be covered, and why investing in your development as a singing teacher could transform both your confidence and your teaching. Plus, find out how to get your tickets, access an exclusive podcast discount, and join us on 20–21 June.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:36 What happens in a room full of singing teachers that can’t happen online?
3:00 What has BAST been cooking up?
7:11 How to get a ticket
8:37 The BAST Intensive schedule
11:17 What might I take away from a weekend intensive event?
14:32 What if I don’t know anyone?
17:15 What is Line the most excited about?
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Line Hilton
Focus On Events
Manchester College
GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THE BAST MANCHESTER INTENSIVE 2026 HERE
YOUR SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE: STTINTENSIVESPECIAL
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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How important is it that the singing teacher can actually demonstrate the sound they are asking of the singer? This week, Line and Alexa are unpacking the hidden realities behind vocal demonstration, and why giving a demo isn’t always that simple. From physiology and hormones to stamina preservation, this conversation might just make you rethink the expectations we place on ourselves as singing teachers, whilst also recognising the very real importance of keeping our own voices ready.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:33 How important is it for a singing teacher to demonstrate?
4:32 When should a singing teacher demonstrate?
6:33 Demonstration and physiology
10:49 Demonstration and the opposite sex
15:48 Demonstration and illness
20:55 Demonstration and injury
25:54 Demonstration and the working singer
31:00 Demonstrating and hormones
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Line Hilton
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.254 Lessons Learned in the First Year of Teaching Singing with Mark Lowman
Vocalzone
Vocalzone, Saviours or Destroyers? Article
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.257 Inside the Voice Clinic: Common Vocal Problems & What Happens Next with ENT Mr Nicholas Gibbins
Ejae
Renée Fleming
Singing and The Premenstrual Voice Article
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.102 Understanding Singing and Menopause with Joanna Bozeman
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.201 Working with Hypermobile Singers with Sarah Algoet
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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In this episode, Alexa dives into the often-misunderstood world of legit musical theatre singing, unpacking what the style really means, why so many performers feel lost when approaching it, and how teachers can guide singers through the journey with confidence. From Golden Age roots to contemporary legit crossovers, she explores key vocal characteristics, common challenges, and practical repertoire suggestions to help singers build versatility without overwhelm.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST
0:42 Defining ‘legit’
4:16 Common technical challenges
5:44 10+ ‘legit’ song ideas
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
musicnotes.com
So You Want To Sing Musical Theatre by Amanda Flynn
NATS
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.133 Mastering Belt in Musical Theatre
ABOUT THE GUEST
Alexa runs a singing tuition practice in the South of England, and is a singing tutor at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools – Italia Conti, where she also regularly panels auditions and assessments. Alexa is the host of the BAST Training Singing Teachers Talk podcast, mentors for the BAST Training Level 5 qualification, and has presented on topics of Musical Theatre repertoire, authentic Musical Theatre performance, and imposter syndrome for Vocology in Practise and The Sing Space.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Instagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoaching
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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What are the most common vocal issues singers actually face, and how can we prevent them without falling into the trap of overthinking every tiny symptom? In this engaging and refreshingly honest chat, ENT voice specialist Nick Gibbins breaks down the patterns he sees in clinic, alongside practical insights on building vocal stamina and injury prevention. The conversation tackles what can actually be detected via laryngostroboscopy, reflux, hypermobility, rehabilitation, and Nick also tackles some questions from you, the listeners. Expect expert knowledge, myth-busting, and plenty of down-to-earth, relatable discussion that every singer and teacher will benefit from hearing.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
5:21What singers does Nick see in clinic?
8:16 Patterns of challenge and injury in singers
13:06 Reflux
17:38 Preparing for vocal load increase
24:10 What can you actually tell about a singer via laryngostroboscopy?
26:46 Hypermobility
36:25 Surgery and recovery
41:08 Singing teachers and rehabilitation
47:52 Can you feel your vocal folds?
54:22 Vocal hygiene without the hype
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Declan Costello
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.87 87 How to Manage Allergies and Upper Respiratory Infections
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.201 Working with Hypermobile Singers
British Laryngological Association
CEORL-HNS Congress
ABOUT THE GUEST
Mr Nicholas Gibbins is a Consultant Laryngologist and Head & Neck Surgeon at the University Hospital Lewisham. Trained in London and the South-East of England, Nick has built a reputation as an excellent surgeon, teacher and lecturer. Patient outcomes are a key focus for Nick and, along with the whole of the renowned voice team at Lewisham, has built the largest Voice Database in Europe to analyse outcomes.
His key interests in the voice are the diagnosis and treatment of vocal fold scars and sulci, and the care and treatment of the professional voice. More recently he has been sought after to lecture on musculoskeletal problems that can either originate in the larynx causing muscle tension imbalance or that arising distally and effect the biomechanics of the voice. He has built a team that can address all these issues that includes speech therapists, osteopaths, vocal rehabilitation coaches, kinetic chain specialists, gastroenterologists, neurologists and more.
He writes and publishes regularly and is the current Editor of the Chapter on the Larynx for Gray’s Anatomy (43rd Ed). His term of office as President of the British Laryngological Association began in 2025.
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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A fascinating deep dive into what really happens inside the singer’s brain, this episode explores the surprising intersection of neuroscience, pedagogy, and creativity. Joined by renowned voice expert Heidi Moss Erickson, the conversation unpacks how singing is both incredibly complex and beautifully instinctive revealing why play, imagination, and even a bit of “crazy” can unlock better vocal performance. This episode challenges singers and teachers alike to embrace a more brain-friendly, joyful approach to vocal training.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
4:19 Is singing really that complex?
7:58 Nature Vs. Nuture
10:19 Brain data for singing
12:03 The order of things: The Holy Grail P1
23:10 Integral parts to the brain’s prediction for singing
29:42 Neurodiversity inclusivity
34:02 The role of intention
39:12 The order of things: The Holy Grail P2
46:26 The brain and learning expectations
54:29 Who needs to understand ‘singing in the brain?’
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
The work of Richard Miller
Erich Jarvis
Heidi’s Singing in the Brain Series
The work of Ingo Titze
Voce Vista
Singing With Your Whole Self by Samuel H Nelson & Elizabeth L Blades
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.63 Developing a Singer’s Self Awareness And Clarifying Intention
Edward Chang UCSF
Journal of Singing
ABOUT THE GUEST
Heidi Moss Erickson is an acclaimed soprano, educator, and scientist who has performed on major national and international stages and with leading regional opera companies. A strong advocate for contemporary music, she has premiered works by renowned composers and collaborated with artists such as Jake Heggie and Tarik O’Regan.
She has earned top honors in prestigious vocal competitions, including the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Her academic background in voice, biology, and neuroscience has also led to contributions to significant scientific publications.
After a rare nerve injury, Erickson developed an innovative, neuroscience-based approach to vocal pedagogy, now applied across multiple musical genres. She teaches and lectures internationally and shares her work through publications, courses, and her “Singing in the Brain” series.
Committed to accessibility, she founded a non-profit providing voice lessons to underserved communities and continues to connect science and singing through her research and writing.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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Get the honest lowdown before you buy in this fun, insightful review episode of Stop Faking It! Sound. Alexa breaks down whether this book really delivers for singing teachers and vocal coaches, without the usual dry, sleep-inducing science. Along the way, Alexa unpacks key concepts in a way that actually sticks, complete with stories and real-world examples. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by sound science or wondered which resources are truly worth your time and money, this episode will help you decide with confidence.
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
(NSTA) National Science Teaching Association
Evolve by Chris Johnson
Brian Diskin
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.248 Thyroid Tilt Under the Microscope: Perception vs Physiology
Ken Bozeman
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.146 How to Understand and Apply Vocal Acoustic Pedagogy
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.172 Understanding Acoustic Registers
Chadley Ballantyne
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.52 Getting to Grips with Vocal Acoustics
Ian Howell
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.237 Beyond the Vocal Tract: How the Brain Shapes What We Hear
ABOUT THE GUEST
Alexa runs a singing tuition practice in the South of England, and is a singing tutor at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools – Italia Conti, where she also regularly panels auditions and assessments. Alexa is the host of the BAST Training Singing Teachers Talk podcast, acts as mentor and unit tutor for the BAST Training Level 5 qualification, and has presented on topics of Musical Theatre repertoire, authentic Musical Theatre performance, and imposter syndrome for Vocology in Practice and The Sing Space.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Instagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoaching
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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Ever wondered what really happens in that all-important first year of teaching? The leap from passion to profession, from ‘maybe one day’ to ‘this is it’ - it’s rarely a straight line. In today’s episode, we’re diving into the journey of Mark Lowman - from a career in hospitality and travel to stepping into life as a vocal coach. What does it take to start from scratch, build a studio, and back yourself when imposter syndrome creeps in? This is an honest look at that first year: the turning points, the practical steps, and the mindset shifts that make it all possible. It’s about more than technique - it’s about courage, reinvention, and finding your voice not just as a singer, but as a teacher. Let’s get into it.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
0:50 A bit about Mark
9:05 Putting ‘transferable skills’ to use
11:26 Choirs: Managing different personalities, needs and abilities
16:50 Demonstration: The challenge as a male presenting singing teacher
21:20 The first steps to becoming a singing teacher
27:38 Managing imposter syndrome
35:04 What has changed Mark’s mind on?
39:03 Mark’s mission
47:32 What keeps Mark excited about teaching?
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Vocalize Choirs
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.102 - Understanding Singing and Menopause
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.247 - The 5-Day Challenge: Clarity, Confidence and Getting Started as a Singing Teacher
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.154 - Managing Imposter Syndrome, Low Confidence and Overwhelm as Singing Teachers
Chris Johnson Vocal Coach
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.195 How Unlocking Your True Values Can Transform Your Teaching and Life
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.227 Following Your Bliss: How to Align Your Life and Business
Teach Voice
ABOUT THE GUEST
Mark Lowman is a vocal coach and performer with over 15 years of international experience across the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. After a successful career in the travel industry leading events, sales, and marketing teams, he moved into coaching and personal development.
His passion for music began as a hobby, later performing with choirs and bands, and he started vocal coaching in 2018 with Vocalize Choir, which has since grown into a thriving, successful community. After training with leading vocal coaches and completing the BAST 20-Hour Course, he transitioned to full-time teaching.
In 2025, he founded Mark Lowman Vocals, now supporting over 50 students across Dorset in its first year.
Website
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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Line Hilton hosts the Singing Teachers Talk podcast and challenges the continued, vague use of “support” and appoggio in breath management teaching, arguing that research shows no single correct breathing strategy among elite singers and that singers often misidentify what their respiratory muscles are doing. She explains how singing uses much larger lung-volume ranges than speech, often requiring controlled braking against passive recoil rather than pushing more air, and notes that trained singers don’t have bigger lungs—just better coordination. Drawing on sources including Miller, McCoy, Titze, Sundberg, and EMG research, she reframes “support” as task-specific breath management shaped by genre, physiology, and performance demands, and offers practical studio strategies such as audiation, mental rehearsal, the Underwood method, SPLAT, physiological sigh, sustained S/counting, straw phonation, gestural calibration, score marking, CO2 tolerance work, and respiratory hygiene.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
00:19 Why the term support bothers me
01:47 What the research says
04:23 Why breath is complex
08:42 The problem with support
14:55 Reframing as Breath Management
15:32 Studio tools and exercises
23:43 Bigger picture and hygiene
24:42 Key takeaways and language shift
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
SEE WEBSITE FOR FULL LIST OF RESOURCES HERE
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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This week, Alexa is joined by Dr Luciano Simões to explore cross-training as a modern vocal pedagogy through a Latin American lens, unpacking how singers can develop flexibility, resilience, and stylistic authenticity across different genres. Drawing on the rich hybridity of Latin American music Luciano shares how cross-training equips singers to navigate diverse vocal demands with both technical freedom and cultural awareness. This conversation challenges the idea of fixed vocal identities, inviting teachers and singers alike to embrace versatility, curiosity, and the vibrant diversity of global vocal styles.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:10 Who is Dr Luciano Simões?
6:42 Understanding Latin American music
21:13 What functional technique is included in cross-training?
27:57 What does a cross-training singing lesson look like?
37:41 Technical conflicts in cross-training
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Jeanie LoVetri
Alexander Technique
Feldenkrais
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.245 Technique Meets Artistry: Working with Contemporary Singers
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr. Luciano Simões is a baritone, voice pedagogue, conductor, and researcher with over 30 years of teaching experience. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from Michigan State University, alongside advanced degrees in choral conducting and musicology, and has undertaken postdoctoral research on Fado and musical theatre belting. He previously taught at institutions including the Latin American Integration University, where he developed a pioneering cross-training voice programme based on Latin American styles.
Now based in Germany, he runs an independent voice studio and lectures internationally on cross-training and hybrid vocal technique. His work has been presented at major global conferences and published in leading voice journals. As a performer, he has sung across genres from opera to Brazilian jazz and maintains an active profile in both solo and choral music.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Instagram: @lucianosimoes_dma
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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In this episode, Alexa explores how to choose repertoire that sits comfortably within developing ‘tween’ voices while still feeling relevant and exciting for young singers today. From musical theatre gems to contemporary chart hits, the episode offers a thoughtfully curated selection of songs alongside practical considerations around vocal range, lyrical appropriateness, and the ever-evolving cultural world of 9–12 year olds—helping teachers feel a little more in touch (and maybe even a little bit cooler) in the process.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST
1:10 Defining ‘tween’
2:24 Considerations for the tween girl
5:35 10+ songs for tween girls
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.223 10 Songs for Child Singers
Vocal Health Education
Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults by Jenevora Williams
Sing Up Foundation
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.181 The Role of Singing in Mental Wellness
musicnotes.com
Sarah Joyce
War Child UK
ABOUT THE GUEST
Alexa runs a singing tuition practice in the South of England, and is a singing tutor at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools – Italia Conti, where she also regularly panels auditions and assessments. Alexa is the host of the BAST Training Singing Teachers Talk podcast, mentors for the BAST Training Level 5 qualification, and has presented on topics of Musical Theatre repertoire, authentic Musical Theatre performance, and imposter syndrome for Vocology in Practise and The Sing Space.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Instagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoaching
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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In this episode, Alexa is joined by performer and vocal coach Grace Galloway, fresh from her run in Ride the Cyclone in London. Together they dive into one of the biggest questions for musical theatre performers: how to build a rep folder that actually works in the audition room. Grace shares practical advice on choosing songs you can rely on “come rain or shine,” shaping material to fit different auditions, and finding repertoire that highlights your unique selling points as a performer. From audition stages to song cuts and the myth of the “perfect” choice, this episode is packed with honest insights to help performers create a versatile, confident rep book that can adapt to whatever audition comes next.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:07 Grace’s best and worst audition experiences
5:40 The stages of a musical theatre audition
9:20 How important is song choice?
16:05 Should you transpose songs for auditions?
19:25 What is the most common style asked for in an audition at the moment?
24:20 Mindset in the Musical Theatre industry
30:54 The current audition ‘buzz’ song
31:36 What should be in your audition rep folder?
37:31 Making song cuts
42:37 A musical theatre rep book case study
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Danceworks
Debbie O’Brien
Aida
Pineapple
Grace sings ‘The Ballad of Jane Doe’
Harry Blumenau
Dundee Rep Theatre
ABOUT THE GUEST
Grace is originally from Liverpool and trained at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She will be appearing as the title role of Rita in Educating Rita at Dundee Rep Theatre this Spring. Grace is also a qualified vocal coach and holds an Estill Figure Proficiency certificate with Estill Voice International. She is a lecturer in voice, repertoire coach and audition preparation mentor at Mountview and Italia Conti. She currently coaches professionals, those in training or those wanting to pursue vocational training.
Theatre credits include: Jane Doe in Ride the Cyclone (Southwark Playhouse), Astrid Kirchherr/On stage MD in Shake It Up Baby! (Epstein Theatre, Liverpool), Diva 1 in Priscilla The Party! (West End), Marchesa Zuliani & 1st Cover Azzurra in the world premiere of Stiletto (Charing Cross Theatre), Donna Marie/Miss Jones/Alternate Mrs Lyons in Blood Brothers (UK tour), The Amazing Adventures of Pinocchio (UK tour), Di and Viv and Rose (The Hope Street Theatre), Velma Kelly (emergency cover) in Chicago (Pitlochry Festival Theatre). TV credits include: G'wed (ITV), Greggs-Bag Some Joy (Commercial)
Website
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
basttraining.com | Stay Updated
Do you have a stellar service or a product you truly believe in… but you’re just not attracting the right people? In this episode Meta Ads strategist Danny Young breaks down how advertising really works in 2026 — and why understanding strategy and buyer psychology matters more than simply “running ads.” From navigating today’s trust recession to building a powerful Connect & Convert Ecosystem, he shares how to turn cold audiences into warm, ready-to-buy clients. You’ll hear how a simple shift in messaging helped one coach scale from six to seven figures, why most business owners waste budget on the wrong objectives, and how to make your marketing feel relevant rather than intrusive. If you’re ready to stop hoping and start advertising with intention, this episode is for you.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
3:32 Sian’s success story
7:15 How has online advertising changed over the last 20-years?
13:25 Facebook in 2026
15:44 Facebook Vs Instagram marketing
16:45 Advertising products Vs services
19:42 Buyer Psychology of 2026
21:44 Standing out
25:57 Danny’s Connect And Covert Ecosystem
39:31 What questions should we be asking ourselves?
43:34 Working with Danny Young
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Buyer Psychology
ChatGPT
Claude
The Azaylia Foundation
Danny’s Academy
ABOUT THE GUEST
Danny Young is a Meta ads strategist and agency owner who helps infopreneurs and expert-led businesses generate leads, enquiries and sales for their business using simple, low-cost advertising coupled with clear strategy.
With more than a decade of experience, Danny is known for cutting through the complexity of online marketing and helping business owners understand how ads really work - not as a quick fix, but as a way to amplify strong messaging and reach the right people at the right time.
He specialises in making paid traffic feel practical and approachable, helping clients build sustainable growth without overcomplicating the process.
Instagram: @dannyyoungonline
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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What’s really happening inside the larynx when we ‘tilt?’ In this episode, Alexa is joined by voice researcher Dr Mathias Aaen to unpack the science behind thyroid tilt - exploring what his latest studies reveal about pitch, vocal fold lengthening, and healthy singing. The pair cut through common misconceptions, translate research into studio-ready language, and ask the big question: are our teaching prompts actually doing what we think they are? If you love practical pedagogy grounded in solid science, this one’s for you.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:58What is tilt? Anatomy & physiology
6:35 CVT framework
16:13 Study results
22:45 Physiology vs the perceptual
25:36 Teaching prompts
43:10 Vocal fold length and pitch change
48:14 Enemies of tilt
52:37 Common misconceptions about tilt
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Investigating Laryngeal “Tilt” on Same-pitch Phonation—Preliminary Findings of Vocal Mode, Metal and Density Parameters as Alternatives to Cricothyroid-Thyroarytenoid “Mix” by Mathias Aaen et al
Correlating Degree of Thyroid Tilt Independent of fo Control as a Mechanism for Phonatory Density with EGG and Acoustic Measures across Loudness Conditions by Aaen. M et al
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.131 Mastering Research Papers: How to Read with Ease and Extract Knowledge
Complete Vocal Institute
Dr Ian Howell
Dr Mark Tempesta
Kerrie Obert
Dr Ingo Titze
Estill
CVT App
Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica
Manuel Garcia
Praat
ABOUT THE GUEST
Mathias Aaen, PhD, is a voice researcher, educator, and certified rehabilitation specialist. He serves as Honorary Researcher at Nottingham University Hospitals and VP of Research & Collaboration at CVI, and was previously a Fulbright Fellow at UC Berkeley. His work focuses on voice physiology, acoustics, auditory-perceptual analysis, and voice habilitation and rehabilitation, with groundbreaking research into the physiology and health of contemporary commercial music styles, including rock and heavy metal. He recently completed a PostDoc investigating the CVT framework as a clinical treatment for dysphonia in MTD and ABI patients. An award-winning researcher and Authorised CVT Teacher, Mathias is also an active performer who has worked with leading opera houses and voice professionals worldwide.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
basttraining.com | Stay Updated
What if you’re not stuck because you don’t know enough, but because you think you should know everything before you begin? If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by where to start, unsure how to market yourself, or quietly battling imposter syndrome, this episode is for you. We’re exploring why so many singers hesitate to step into teaching — and how a simple 5-Day Challenge might be the reset that brings clarity, confidence, and momentum. Could five focused days change everything?
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
0:52The things that overwhelm us in singing teaching and business
7:42 Pushing the ‘reset’ button
11:47 What is a 5-day challenge?
16:27 Can I do it again if I’ve already done one?
17:11 Why a 5-day challenge helps singing teachers
20:14 What shift might you notice from doing a 5-day challenge?
21:44 The 5-day challenge special offer
22:30 The next BAST Training 5-day challenge
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Line Hilton
The Stage
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.192 How to Set Boundaries as a Singing Teacher
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep. 239 10 Common Barriers to Being a Singing Teacher and How to Overcome Them
Insight Timer
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Phil Harrison
The Business of Stories by Susan Payton
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.126 ‘The Business of Stories’ - Game-Changing Marketing Strategy
Kaya Herstad-Carney
REGISTER FOR THE BAST TRAINING 5-DAY CHALLENGE, HERE
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At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
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How does a singing teacher land a vocal coaching job on a TV drama? In this episode, Alexa is joined by vocal coach, performer and returning guest - Candi Underwood, who shares her experience coaching Matt Smith for the Sky Atlantic adaptation of The Death of Bunny Munro, based on the novel by Nick Cave. They explore how the opportunity came about, what was required on set, and which skills singing teachers already have that translate directly into TV coaching work. Perfect listening for singing teachers curious about taking their work beyond the studio and onto screen.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
5:03 What is The Death of Bunny Munro?
6:42 What was the production company looking for in a vocal coach?
10:59 Preparing for the job
16:01 Taking a history
19:12 Surprising essential skills
20:30 Working on technique
23:39 Keeping it professional with high profile figures
28:53 Top 3 skills singing teachers needs for a TV coaching role
32:12 How to get your food in the door
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep31. Where to Start with Digital Marketing
Nick Cave
Matt Smith
The Death of Bunny Munro
Frank Sinatra
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.198 Mastering Singing for Stage, Screen & the Music Industry
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.242 Understanding Motor Learning: How It Can Help Us Give Better Singing Lessons - Eps. 155 & 156 Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.222 The Rise of AI: What It Means for Singers & Teachers
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.226 The Rise of AI: Practical Tools and Strategies For the Singing Teacher
ABOUT THE GUEST
Candi Underwood is a professional performer, session singer, vocal coach and founder/leader of City of Stars, a group of intermediate musical theatre choirs across Sussex. With over 16 years of experience in the industry, she's been featured as both a singer and songwriter on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 6Music, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Radio X, Planet Rock and more, performed at nationwide festivals and featured in TV ads; all while building a successful coaching business dedicated to nurturing healthy, resilient voices and inspiring bold, fearless performances for singers and screamers alike. Most recently she collaborated with Nick Cave and Matt Smith on Sky TV's 'The Death of Bunny Munro', coaching the former through a singing scene, and featured in the Marks & Spencer Christmas Advert with her choir alongside Dawn French.
Website
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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Alexa is joined by vocal performance coach Juliet Russell for a rich conversation about identity, artistry, and contemporary vocal training. Juliet shares how she helps singers identify and trust what makes them unique, evolve their voices alongside life and experience, and connect more deeply with audiences — drawing on her work across major TV formats as well as her one-to-one coaching with artists. We explore how to make vocal exercises more musical and stylistically relevant, how voice science can be translated into practical studio tools, and what Juliet sees as key pillars of contemporary vocal training for singing teachers today. The episode also dives into Juliet’s new app Do Your Sing, a contemporary training toolkit designed to support singers with creative, performance-led vocal development.
About the presenter HERE
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:19 How to help an artist identify what makes them unique
17:54 What do artists tend to overlook about their craft?
20:43 What is ‘talent’ and what can be learned?
24:08 The difference between a singing teacher, vocal coach and performance coach
30:08 Translating voice science in the studio
34:18 Contemporary teaching tools
1:04:10 Parting advice to contemporary singers and singing teachers
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Joshua Alamu
Jai Ramage
Jono McNeil
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.198 Mastering Singing for Stage, Screen & the Music Industry
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.123 Insights Into TV Vocal Coaching
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.124 Mastering Vocal Style: Licks, Riffs and Runs with
Emer Tully
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.241 Is Your Pelvic Floor Affecting Your Voice? A Deep Dive with Physiotherapist
Jenevora Williams
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.242 Understanding Motor Learning: How It Can Help Us Give Better Singing Lessons
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.169 How to Use Gesture for Better Singing
ABOUT THE GUEST
Juliet Russell stands as one of the UK’s leading vocal performance coaches, with an exceptional track record with award-winning artists and groundbreaking shows. As a vocal coach and arranger on Netflix's breakout hit show Building the Band, Juliet helped shape the voices that captivated millions globally. She also coaches on BAFTA winning shows The Voice UK and Michael McIntyre’s Big Show.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Do Your Sing App | Website
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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In this episode, Alexa explores tempo and timekeeping in the voice studio — and why struggling with tempo might not be “just a rhythm problem.” If you find yourself working with a singer who rushes, drags, freezes, or falls apart this episode offers reassurance, perspective, and plenty of practical takeaways — all wrapped up in a very relatable Sunday afternoon analogy.
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Karaoke Version
ABOUT THE GUEST
Alexa runs a singing tuition practice in the South of England, and is a singing tutor at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools – Italia Conti, where she also regularly panels auditions and assessments. Alexa is the host of the BAST Training Singing Teachers Talk podcast, acts as mentor and unit tutor for the BAST Training Level 5 qualification, and has presented on topics of Musical Theatre repertoire, authentic Musical Theatre performance, and imposter syndrome for Vocology in Practice and The Sing Space.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Instagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoaching
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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What if your singing studio could open doors to the industry, too? In this episode, Alexa is joined by talent agent and educator Josephine Lancuba, founder of Studio Talent Collective, to lift the curtain on in-house talent agencies. From creating real audition opportunities for your singers to boosting retention, revenue, and industry credibility, Josephine breaks down how singing teachers can step confidently into talent management. If you’ve ever wondered how to better support your students beyond the studio, this conversation might just have the answer.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:50 Who is Josephine Lancuba?
9:05 What was the catalyst for having an in-house agency?
10:55 In-house talent agency advantages for teacher and client
17:01 How does the industry view in-house talent agencies?
19:59 Getting the contacts
23:41 Balancing singing teaching and being a talent manager
26:25 Helping clients manage rejection
36:55 Integrating an in-house agency
55:35 Would would Josephine change from her journey?
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Spotlight
Casting Networks
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.230 How to Survive Drama School Auditions: 10 Expert Tips
Studio Talent Collective, The Podcast
Canva
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.192 How to Set Better Boundaries as a Singing Teacher
ABOUT THE GUEST
Josephine Lancuba is an award-winning performing arts business coach and talent management professional. With over 20 years in the arts industry, she has led and managed studios, entertainment, and production-based businesses, including her own dance and musical theatre studio along with its in-house talent agency service.
A former performer, Josephine spent over a decade appearing on stage and screen before shifting her focus to business and talent development. Today, she helps performing arts studio owners build profitable, joy-filled businesses and guides aspiring talent managers through her world-first course, Talent Manager Bootcamp, as well as her plug-in talent agency, Studio Talent Collective, which enables Studio Owners to create and run their own in-house talent agencies.
Passionate about the social, emotional, and the physical benefits of the performing arts, Josephine advocates for inclusive, positive opportunities for talent and the industry alike.
Website
Instagram: @studiotalentcollective
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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To kick off the 2026 season, Alexa and Jenevora Williams dive into the fascinating world of motor learning and what it really means for singing and teaching singing. From walking toddlers and chocolate metaphors to the neuroscience behind skill acquisition, the conversation unpacks why learning to sing is far more complex—and far more human—than we often assume. Together they explore implicit versus explicit learning, internal versus external focus, imagination, metaphor, and the role of trust, play, and mistake-making in vocal development. A thoughtful, wide-ranging discussion that invites singing teachers to simplify their language, deepen their listening, and give both themselves and their students permission to learn messily and creatively.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:59 What is motor control and motor learning?
10:41 What are the stages of learning?
15:48 What is the brain and larynx interface?
18:59 Internal Vs External focus in motor learning
33:35 Choosing metaphorical and imagery based instruction
50:53 Impairment to motor skills
55:09 The future of voice pedagogy integrating neuroscience and imagination
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.75 Vocal Rehabilitation for Singers
Motor Control, Motor Learning and Brain-Computer Interfaces
Heidi Moss Erickson
Hearing Singing: A Guide to Functional Listening and Voice Perception by Ian Howell
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.237 Beyond the Vocal Tract: How the Brain Shapes What We Hear with Ian Howell
Tilting Article
Paul Eckman
PEVoC
Vocal Health Education
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr Jenevora Williams is an expert in the fields of vocal health and singing teaching. After a successful career in Opera, she turned her attention to investigating healthy and efficient vocal function. The combination of academic study and practical experience has resulted in a unique perception for understanding the human voice. She was the first singing teacher to be awarded a PhD in voice science in the UK, and won the 2010 BVA Van Lawrence Prize for her outstanding contribution to voice research. Her book, Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults, has been enormously popular with singing teachers throughout the world.
Jenevora is well-known for her imaginative and rigorous international training courses for singing teachers and voice professionals. She is director of Vocal Health Education and Evolving Voice, training the first generation of Voice Rehabilitation Specialists worldwide. As a teacher of singing, she works with professional singers of all ages in both voice rehabilitation and career mentoring. W: jenevorawilliams.com
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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We’re wrapping up 2025 with a conversation that will change the way you think about the voice forever. Physiotherapist Emer Tully from Neuro Tour joins us to unravel the vital — and often underestimated — role of the pelvic floor in singing. From breathing mechanics to alignment, from recognising tightness vs. weakness, to understanding why singers, dancers, teachers and performers of all kinds should care about this powerhouse of stability, this episode is packed with practical insights and surprising - the perfect finale to a year of rich conversations.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
0:38 Thank YOU!
5:20 Why is the pelvic floor so intriguing?
7:59 The 5 diaphragms
12:01 The function of the pelvic floor
13:53 Pregnancy & performance
16:48 Signs of a tight or weak pelvic floor & the impact on singing
21:16 Helping a singer with a tight or weak pelvic floor
30:07 Advice about the gym and methods of ‘support’ in singing
39:32 Pelvic floor & stress
45:25 Recommended resources
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep. 201 Working with Hypermobile Singers with Sarah Algoet
Jennie Morton
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.69 Understanding Pregnancy for the Singer and the Self-Employed with Sarah Joyce & Cat Ogden
Feldenkrais
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.183 How to Fix Your Inhale and Transform Your Singing with Lucinda Allen
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.191How to Set Up the Best Exhale for Singing with Lucinda Allen
Duncan Rock
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.120 Understanding Singing and Fitness with Duncan Rock
Anatomy of Voice by Blandine-Calais-Germain & François Germain
Dr Sara Reardon
Michelle Edminson @mvmt.101
Jane App
ABOUT THE GUEST
Emer is NEURO TOUR’s London Associate Director of Education. She qualified from Manchester University with a BSc Physiotherapy degree, and is HCPC accredited as well as a member of the CSP. She is a Vocal Specialist and a Certified Women’s Health Practitioner. She has an advanced medical acupuncture certification; APPI Matwork & Reformer Pilates training & specialises in vocal/ TMJ physiotherapy.
Website
Instagram: @physio.emer
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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Thinking about taking your teaching to the next level, diving deeper into your specialist interests, or even writing a degree of your own? In this episode of Singing Teachers Talk, Alexa is joined by educator, performer, and MA creator Kaya Herstad-Carney, who pulls back the curtain on what a master’s degree in the performing arts really offers. From choosing the right pathway and understanding learning outcomes to balancing study with real life, Kaya shares how her own master’s shaped her career, the unexpected opportunities it opened, and what she’s learned from writing not one but two MA programmes. Whether you’re a singing teacher, performer, or creative professional considering postgraduate study, this conversation is packed with insight, encouragement, and the honest realities behind levelling up your education.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:27 Why did Kaya do a masters degree?
5:37 What is the advantage of studying for an MA?
10:10 How to choose an MA course
19:19 Juggling a part time MA
21:46 What If I’m not very academic?
26:11 Writing an MA degree
34:22 Marking degree assessments
39:07 Common errors in MA submissions
41:13 Making your MA decision
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
WaterBear The College of Music
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.154 Managing Imposter Syndrome, Low Confidence and Overwhelm as Singing Teachers with Alexa Terry
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.222 The Rise of AI: What It Means for Singers & Teachers with Rachael Drury
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.226 The Rise of AI: Practical Tools and Strategies for the Singing Teacher with Rachael Drury
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.56 Taking the Academic Route with Debbie Winter
Voice Study Centre
Arts Council
ABOUT THE GUEST
Kaya is a higher education leader, vocal pedagogue, and award-winning artist. From September 2025 she becomes Head of Education (Online) at WaterBear College of Music. With an MA from LIPA/Hope and Fellowship of the HEA, she specialises in student-centred learning and CCM vocal habilitation, and has taught at ACM, LIPA, University of Liverpool, and BAST Training. She sits on the Vocology in Practice Advisory Board, researches voice, wellbeing, and sustainable careers, and performs internationally as a singer-songwriter, including with John Grant and Ringo Starr.
SEE FULL BIO Here
Website
Instagram: @kayamusic
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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Thinking about becoming a singing teacher but not sure what’s holding you back? In this episode, Alexa and Line break down the most common barriers aspiring singing teachers face. Learn how to get started with what you already know, build confidence step by step, choose the right training, and grow your teaching practice with clarity and purpose. If you’re ready to take the next step in your singing teaching journey, this conversation will help you move forward with confidence.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
0:31 How did Line become a singing teacher?
4:22 I don’t know enough & imposter syndrome
11:26 There’s too much choice
18:26 I don’t have the piano skills
23:37 I don’t have confidence in my own voice
28:25 I’m just not qualified
31:26 What about money?
36:51 My schedule is already busy
40:59 I don’t know how to start a business
46:10 What if I hurt a student’s voice?
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Line Hilton
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.237 Beyond the Vocal Tract: How the Brain Shapes What We Hear with Ian Howell
Hearing Singing - A Guide to Functional Listening and Voice Perception
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.111 Essential Piano Skills for Singers and Voice Teachers with Brenda Earle Stokes
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.158 How Music Theory and Keyboard Skills Can Transform Your Singing Teaching with Amy Walton
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.88 Pros and Cons of Singing Teacher Qualifications with Line Hilton
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.229 Ways to Make More Money as a Singing Teacher with Zoe Stibi
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.227 Following Your Bliss: How to Align your Life and Business with Gemma Sugrue
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.220 Time Management: Making Time When There Isn't Any with Line Hilton & Alexa Terry
Chris Johnson
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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Alexa Terry unwraps ten fresh, fun, and fabulously festive Christmas songs to help singing teachers bring new sparkle into their studios, offering a mix of musical theatre treasures, modern pop tunes, heartfelt ballads, and powerful rock renditions that give both students and teachers a welcome break from the usual overplayed holiday hits. With vocal range guidance, technical teaching opportunities, and stylistic notes for each song this episode provides a studio-ready repertoire list designed to keep spirits high and festive performances inspired throughout the busy holiday season.
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
ABRSM
musicnotes.com
‘A Most Remarkable Fella: Frank Loesser, and the Guys and Dolls in His Life' by Susan Loesser
ABOUT THE GUEST
Alexa runs a singing tuition practice in the South of England, and is a singing tutor at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools – Italia Conti, where she also regularly panels auditions and assessments. Alexa is the host of the BAST Training Singing Teachers Talk podcast, mentors for the BAST Training Level 5 qualification, and has presented on topics of Musical Theatre repertoire, authentic Musical Theatre performance, and imposter syndrome for Vocology in Practise and The Sing Space.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Instagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoaching
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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This week, Alexa chats with the brilliant Ian Howell to explore how we really hear the singers we work with. From psychoacoustics and functional listening to timbre, bias and intention, Ian unpacks the hidden processes behind vocal perception—and how understanding them can transform the way we teach. A deep, fascinating conversation for any singing teacher wanting sharper ears and smarter tools.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:53 What is psychoacoustics?
5:28 How is sound perceived by us?
12:38 What impacts the way we perceive sound?
20:46 Separating function from bias
25:48 Belt scenario
35:36 How do singers hear themselves?
40:59 How to listen and observe with skill
1:05:27 The relationship between intent and perception
1:15:15 Using spectrograms
1:19:57 The way Ian teaches
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Hearing Singing - A Guide to Functional Listening and Voice Perception by Ian Howell
Johan Sundberg
The Acoustics of the Singing Voice by Johan Sundberg
Science of the Singing Voice by Johan Sundberg
Ingo Titze
‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ by Sarah Bareilles
Jeannie LoVetri
Feldenkrais
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.63 Developing a Singer’s Self Awareness and Clarifying Intention with Robert Sussuma
Cornelius Reid
Voce Vista
Advice for Young Musicians by Ian Howell
Structure of Singing by Richard Miller
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr. Ian Howell is the Founder and Chief Educator of the Embodied Music Lab, offering professional development and consulting for musicians and teachers. He is the author of Advice for Young Musicians (2023) and Hearing Singing: A Guide to Functional Listening and Voice Perception (2025). From 2013–2023, Ian served on the voice faculty at the New England Conservatory, directing the graduate voice pedagogy program and leading research in the NEC Voice and Sound Analysis Lab, where he and his students presented widely and contributed vital work during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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In this episode, Becky Morton, Principal of Further Education at ACM and Alexa explore what the FE academic route can offer young singers stepping into today’s music industry. Becky shares curriculum structure with project-based training, and how this helps students to build both industry awareness and artist identity. The pair dig into why early professional habits matter, how the diploma pathway compares to traditional A-levels, and what young performers gain from learning to work with producers, bands and music businesses in a real-world environment. Becky also talks about current vocal trends, the technical demands of pop-rock singing, and how ACM is adapting its teaching to industry changes, including the rise of AI.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
03:50 The role of Principle of FE at the Academy of Contemporary Music
5:00 Benefits and challenges of an academic route into music
10:13 A look at technique for pop-rock
12:50 Defining the pop-rock aesthetic
15:14 Artists to study in this genre
18:16 How important is music theory and sight singing?
22:54 2025 vocal and musical trends
30:56 What Becky wishes every singer understood
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
ACM
UAL
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.231 Evolving Vocal Trends: Training Functional Registration in Contemporary Commercial Music
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.222 The Rise of AI: What it Means for Singers & Teachers with Singing Teachers Talk - Ep,226 The Rise of AI: Practical Tools and Strategies for the Singing Teachers
ISM
Suno
Udio
Follow Becky’s Bands: The Likeness; Two’s Up; The Hooch Toots
ABOUT THE GUEST
Rebecca Morton, Principal of FE at ACM, is a professional musician, vocal coach, and musical director with 20+ years of experience. She has collaborated with artists such as Adrian Smith, Imogen Heap, and Alexander O’Neal, and toured as the solo backing vocalist for Hitomi Yaida across major UK and Japanese arenas. Her work includes recordings with Crispian Mills, Mattafix, cast albums, and dance releases with EMI and Hed Kandi. A vocal coach since 2002, she has supported artists like James Toseland and Marlon Roudette. Holding a Masters in Music Psychology, she champions passion, reliability, and excellence at ACM.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Instagram: @acm_ldn
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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In this episode, Alexa shares 10 brilliant songs that sit in the A4–D5 low-belt zone for female singers — a range full of character, energy, and storytelling potential.
From Standard Broadway favourites, 90s pop-rock anthems and modern hits this episode is packed with fresh repertoire ideas, stylistic insight, and creative inspiration for singers and teachers alike.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST
0:38 Why might these songs be helpful?
2:07 10 ‘low belt’ songs for female singers
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.205 10 Songs to Inspire Your Singing Lessons
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.210 10 Songs to Celebrate Pride in Your Studio
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.212 10 Songs to Find Your Pop Style
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.219 10 Songs for Male Contemporary Musical Theatre Singers
Amanda Flynn
ABOUT THE GUEST
Alexa runs a singing tuition practice in the South of England, and is a singing tutor at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools – Italia Conti, where she also regularly panels auditions and assessments. Alexa is the host of the BAST Training Singing Teachers Talk podcast, mentors for the BAST Training Level 5 qualification, and has presented on topics of Musical Theatre repertoire, authentic Musical Theatre performance, and imposter syndrome for Vocology in Practise and The Sing Space.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Instagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoaching
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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What if the secret to better singing practice isn’t doing more, but understanding why we avoid it in the first place? Voice educator Tessa Smith Whicker joins Alexa to explore how her master’s research reshaped her view of practice — from battling guilt and distraction to embracing curiosity and compassion.
Discover how to get singers excited about their own practice, how teachers can reframe “you need to practice” into empowering questions, and why small, playful tasks can make all the difference.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
3:16 What do you believe practice actually is?
8:10 Common barriers to practice
10:02 Options to manage the barriers
18:31 Playing devil’s advocate
22:18 Holes in the research
25:18 How to effectively set practice
39:18 The role of the singing teacher and rapport
46:23 Measuring progress
53:00 Tessa’s practice hub and podcast
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.164 Music and the Brain: The Science of Learning and Practice with Dr Molly Gebrian Part One
Jacob Collier
Singing for the Self Conscious by Becky Gilhespie
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.166 Overcoming Self-consciousness in Singing with Becky Gilhespie
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.131 Mastering Research Papers: How to Read with Ease and Extract Knowledge with Kate Cubley
Cheryl Porter
Kim Chandler
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.70 Coaching Contemporary Commercial Music with Kim Chandler
The Singer’s Guide podcast by Tessa Smith
ABOUT THE GUEST
Tessa Smith Whicker holds a BA in Jazz Studies, an MA in Vocal Pedagogy, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her research explores the likes of performance assessment, stylistic awareness, and the decolonisation of Popular Music singing education. She teaches across Higher Education institutions in the North of England and leads choirs and community singing groups. Passionate about developing self-sufficient, self-compassionate singers, Tessa shares tools for effective and enjoyable practice through her social media, podcast The Singer’s Guide, and membership platform The Singer’s Practice Hub.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Websites: tessasmith.com & thesingersguide.com
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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In this insightful episode, Alexa chats with Sami Wong, a speech and language pathologist who helps clients navigate communication challenges such as aphasia. Sami shares her personal journey into speech therapy, inspired by her late father’s recovery from a stroke, and explains what aphasia really is, and the role music and singing can play in therapy. We also dive into Sami’s creative side hustle—her successful Etsy shop where she sells educational anatomy prints for SLPs and voice professionals.
Whether you’re a singing teacher, therapist, or simply curious about language, the brain, and communication, this episode will leave you inspired and informed.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:36 What is aphasia?
5:18 What is neuroplasticity?
7:46 Can you recover from aphasia?
9:53 Compensatory communication activities for aphasia
11:10 Music & aphasia
13:46 What should singing teachers know about the work of an SLP?
15:06 Setting up a side hustle
21:07 Advice on creating an Etsy shop
23:46 Sami’s gift to you
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Melodic Intonation Therapy
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.211 Learning Vocal Anatomy through Mindful Colouring with Eimear McCarthy Luddy
GET SAMI’S PRINT WITH THIS BAST DISCOUNT CODE: BAST10
ABOUT THE GUEST
Sami Wong is a speech-language pathologist based in the Pacific Northwest, specialising in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and helping clients build confidence, independence, and connection. She recently completed a Ph.D. in Education and Leadership, focusing on return-to-work research for individuals with communication challenges.
Inspired by her father’s experience with aphasia after a stroke, Sami is dedicated to advancing awareness and rehabilitation for communication disorders. Alongside her full-time role, she runs Speech+Language, a small business offering free resources, study aids, and digital prints for SLPs and care partners.
With a background spanning media, fashion, finance, and education, Sami blends creativity with clinical expertise to empower others and advocate for people with aphasia.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Instagram: @samiwong_
Etsy
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
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Ever wondered how world-class singers keep their voices strong night after night on global tours? In this episode, we go behind the curtain with Mindy Pack — elite vocal coach to stars like Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X, Sabrina Carpenter, and Justin Timberlake — to explore the science, strategy, and stamina behind life on the road. Discover how artists build vocal endurance, plus the secrets behind Mindy’s legendary 'Vocal 911 Kit' From vocal warm-ups and bodywork to tour prep and mental resilience, this conversation is packed with tips for singers, teachers, and music lovers alike.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:22 Creating a blueprint for a touring artists
11:35 Teacher-Artist rapport
14:38 Giving demonstration
15:58 Choosing keys and set lists
19:00 Treadmill training
21:57 Working with vocal injury
26:21 Mindy’s ‘Vocal 911’ kit
29:30 The Vocalzone debate
31:20 When is the best time for massage, stretch and warm-up?
33:49 What is it like being a vocal coach on tour?
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.40 Integrated Skills: Teaching Singing to Dancers
Bemer System
BAST Article - Vocalzone, Saviours or Destroyers?
ABOUT THE GUEST
Mindy Pack is a globally respected vocologist, vocal coach, and voice specialist known for her innovative, science-based approach to vocal performance and health. Blending decades of stage experience with deep expertise in voice science and physiology, she helps singers, actors, and speakers achieve peak performance while protecting their vocal longevity.
As co-founder and director of the SVARA Project with Dr. Reena Gupta, Mindy collaborates with leading ENTs, laryngologists, and speech-language pathologists to provide advanced vocal rehabilitation and manual therapy. She works with clients worldwide from her studios in Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, offering one-on-one coaching, biofeedback sessions, and bodywork focused on vocal endurance and optimization.
Her clients include some of the biggest names in entertainment—Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X, Noah Kahan, Brandi Carlile, and The Lumineers—as well as Broadway performers, voice-over artists, and emerging talent. Many credit her signature Vocal Tract Reconditioning method as essential to their success on tours, award shows, and global stages.
Mindy is also the creator of The Voice Straw, a groundbreaking vocal training tool used by performers worldwide. Beyond coaching, she is a passionate educator, frequent conference presenter, and humanitarian dedicated to empowering future leaders.
Driven by a lifelong love of voice and performance, Mindy’s mission is simple: to help every artist unlock their full vocal potential.
Website
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
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Who decides what’s in when it comes to singing styles — how do voice teachers keep up? In this fun and insightful episode, Alexa chats with April Young about how changing trends in pop, musical theatre, and CCM are reshaping vocal training. From falsetto and belt to the science of registers and resonance, we explore how singers can stay healthy, expressive, and ahead of the curve. Perfect for voice teachers, performers, and anyone curious about the ever-evolving art of singing.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:25 What are the current trends in 2025?
6:20 How does one laryngeal register impact the other?
10:46 Visible, audible and sensory clues of TA dominance
12:43 Does imitation have limitation?
15:05 Visible, audible and sensory clues of CT dominance
16:33 The best time to train vocal registers
20:45 Acoustic register shifts and choosing the best vowel
25:58 Training registers alongside trends
45:16 Changing trends in CCM and impacts on the studio
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Journal of Singing
‘Mixed Up and Upside Down - Underdeveloped Registers in Men and Women Due to Vocal Trends in Popular Music: Turning Two Pedagogic Challenges into Opportunities in Today's Voice Studio’ by April Young
William Venard
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.152 ‘Tomato, Tomahto’: Understanding Singing Terminology
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.133 Mastering Belt in Musical Theatre
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.200 The Secret to Powerful Belting and Seamless Mixing
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.146 How to Understand and Apply Vocal Acoustic Pedagogy
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.172 Understanding Acoustic Registers
Shenandoah University
The Systematic Approach to Voice Dr Kari Ragan
The Structure of Singing Richard Miller
Hoberman Sphere
Mary Saunders Barton
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.151 How to Sing with Twang
ABOUT THE GUEST
April Young runs a voice studio in Spokane, WA, where she specializes in classical, music theater and CCM techniques and repertoire. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music (Voice Performance), an MVP (Master of Voice Pedagogy), and has served on the faculty of three area schools. In addition to her teaching, April is a soloist and choral conductor.
Her performance experience spans recital, oratorio, and music theater and her session work includes vocals for a title in the Myst computer game series. A published writer, she has contributed to the Journal of Singing through the National Association of Teachers of Singing, authoring an article on vocal trends in popular music and the evolving opportunities these present for voice teachers.
A lifelong learner, April is currently interested in the role voice teachers play in recovery from injuries that impact the singing voice, and she believes that the best teachers never stop being students themselves.
Website
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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Drama school auditions can feel like a mix of excitement, nerves and big dreams. In this episode, Alexa shares her top strategies for surviving and thriving in drama school auditions. From preparation to presence, discover how to bring your best self into the room and make the most of every opportunity. Whether you’re auditioning for the first time or guiding others through the process, this episode will leave you feeling ready to go.
About the presenter, click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.214 The Secret to a Portfolio Career: Singing, Teaching and Creating with Rosie Williamson
musicnotes.com
Sheet Music Direct
Scribd
Ep.219 10 Songs for Male Contemporary Musical Theatre Singers with Conor O Hara
ABOUT THE GUEST
Alexa runs a singing tuition practice in the South of England, and is a singing tutor at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools – Italia Conti, where she also regularly panels auditions and assessments. Alexa is the host of the BAST Training Singing Teachers Talk podcast, mentors for the BAST Training Level 5 qualification, and has presented on topics of Musical Theatre repertoire, authentic Musical Theatre performance, and imposter syndrome for Vocology in Practise and The Sing Space.
SEE FULL BIO HERE (Add link to the podcast website page)
Website
Instagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoaching
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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In this episode of the Singing Teachers Talk Podcast, vocal coach and business mentor Zoe Stibi shares how she turned a career crisis into thriving studios, a booming YouTube channel, and multiple income streams. From raising your rates with confidence to building an online presence that attracts students worldwide, Zoe breaks down practical strategies to help you earn more while working less.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:14 What would you if you won the lottery?
3:44 Turning a crisis into a transformation
16:00 Setting your prices
25:15 Youtube Vs Instagram
39:47 Standing out in the crow
41:33 Monetising Youtube
50:35 Making the first step
55:33 Zoe’s Vocal Coach Accelerator Programme
About the presenter, click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.227 Following Your Bliss: ow to Align Your Life and Business with Gemma Sugrue
Singers Having Coffee Podcast Ep.6 Mistakes, Myths & the importance of vowels with Gemma Sugrue
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.79 How to Price Your Business in a Cost of Living Crisis with Mark Peacock
Thomann Shure Microphone
MyMusicStaff
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.93 How to Organise Your Singing Studio Business with My Music Staff
Zoom
Singers Having Coffee Podcast
ABOUT THE GUEST
Zoe Stibi is a business coach and vocal pedagogue with 18+ years’ experience teaching singers across four countries. After rebuilding her music studio five times—and reinventing her entire business during 2020—she discovered that success requires not just talent, but structure. Today, she’s turned a 7-day grind into a sustainable 4-day workweek with creative time, balance, and six-figure revenue, and now helps other music teachers do the same.
As a Certified Estill Master Trainer with a Master’s in Musical Theatre from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Zoe makes vocal technique accessible and empowering. She has guided students into top programs including BRITS School and RADA, and teaches across classical, musical theatre, pop, and CCM. Having overcome her own vocal injuries, she brings both technical expertise and empathy to her work—showing singers and teachers what’s possible when artistry meets the right systems.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Youtube
Instagram: @zoestibivocalcoach
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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As singing teachers, we might often wonder: are my students actually having fun? Fun doesn’t have to mean over-the-top excitement—it’s about creating moments of joy, curiosity, and connection. In this episode, Alexa shares 10 practical ways to make singing lessons more enjoyable for students of all ages. From playful games and tongue twisters to using props, humour, and mindful moments, these ideas keep lessons fresh and engaging.
Discover how to balance progress with play, while building a safe space where singers feel supported and confident. You’ll come away with strategies that make lessons more memorable, effective, and truly enjoyable.
About the presenter, click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Scales and Arpeggios from The Aristocats
Example: My Mind by Yebba
Jenevora Williams
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.155 Part One: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.156 Part Two: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios
Guns and Ships from Hamilton
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep. 159 How Toys and Props can Create Dynamic Singing Lessons
ABOUT THE GUEST
Alexa runs a singing tuition practice in the South of England, and is a singing tutor at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools – Italia Conti, where she also regularly panels auditions and assessments. Alexa is the host of the BAST Training Singing Teachers Talk podcast, mentors for the BAST Training Level 5 qualification, and has presented on topics of Musical Theatre repertoire, authentic Musical Theatre performance, and imposter syndrome for Vocology in Practise and The Sing Space.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Instagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoaching
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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What does it really take to reinvent yourself as a coach or creative? In this episode, we welcome back Gemma Sugrue; singer, entrepreneur, and business mentor to explore how she’s turned her own career pivots into powerful lessons for others. From wedding singer to studio owner, online educator to branding coach, Gemma has never been afraid to follow her curiosity and shed what no longer feels aligned.
She shares how we can tune into our energy, recognise when it’s time for change, and build the trust muscle needed to step into something new. If you’ve ever felt pulled towards a different path, struggled with balancing security and creativity, or wondered how to make your business feel more you, this conversation will leave you inspired, encouraged, and ready to take the next step.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:44 How did Gemma get to where she is now?
7:27 How do you recognise when your are in alignment with bliss?
13:29 How can I make the first step to change?
16:30 The transferable skills of life coaching
19:14 What is a common theme between vocal coaches?
20:44 Reinventing yourself
23:07 How to have difficult conversations to find alignment
25:49 How can we pull on all of our interests as vocal coaches?
28:40 What’s it actually like working with Gemma?
36:28 A success story
About the presenter, click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Voice Works
Pro Vocal Artist
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.8 The Natural Entrepreneur with Gemma Sugrue
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.46 How to Develop Lasting and Positive Habits with Gemma Sugrue
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.118 Mastering Mix Voice and Belt with Gemma Sugrue
Chris Johnson
Teach Voice
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.213 Medicine to Music: A Journey Back to A Creative Calling with Estelle Idoko
Tommy Ludgate
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.49 Unlocking Your Creative Potential with Tommy Ludgate
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.195 How Unlocking Your True Values Can Transform Your Teaching and Life with Louise Callin
Reality Transurfing by Vadim Zealand
ABOUT THE GUEST
Encouraged by her mum to “follow her bliss,” Gemma began touring the world at 17 as the singer in an Irish dance show. After earning her degree and master’s in classical music, she co-founded a successful singing school in Ireland, guiding students who went on to become acclaimed artists and stars. Her career has spanned performing on dream stages worldwide, releasing a debut jazz album, lecturing, and coaching artists internationally. She later launched an online business supporting musicians to share their work. Now back in Ireland, Gemma is an accredited leadership coach, working with coaches who share her passion for growth, creativity, and joy.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Youtube
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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In this episode of The Singing Teachers Talk Podcast, Alexa chats with Rachael Drury about practical ways voice teachers can use AI to save time, spark creativity, and streamline admin — without losing the vital human connection that makes teaching so powerful. From lesson planning and practice tools to lyric writing and accountability, find out how AI can become a helpful ally in your teaching toolkit.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:24 What can AI NOT do?
14:02 How can we use AI positively as singing teachers?
27:42 Helpful AI tools
33:30 Are there any loopholes?
41:23 How can teachers continue to advocate for the arts in the face of AI?
About the presenter, click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.222 The Rise of AI: What It Means for Singers and Teachers
ChatGPT
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.155 & 156 Part One & Two: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios
Suno
Udio
Midjourney
Stability AI
Canva
Tonara
Erol Studios
Sing Scope
Yousician
TuneCore
Sound Cloud
Deezer
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast Ep.224 Your Brain on Art: The Science of Creativity and Healing
Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen & Ivy Ross
Independent Society of Musicians
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr Rachael Drury is a violinist, educator and researcher specialising in the evolving relationship between music, technology and the law. Rachael’s successful career as a musician has seen her perform with ensembles like the Hallé and BBC Philharmonic, and in 2019 she returned to academia to explore how new technologies are reshaping the music industry. Her PhD at the University of Liverpool focused on the legal and economic impact of generative AI on copyright, authorship and musicians' livelihoods. Rachael now teaches across music industry studies and performance, while also serving as Senior Researcher and AI Officer at the Independent Society of Musicians. Her work informs copyright policy and creative rights, and she regularly speaks at national and international events. She is passionate about supporting musicians, students and teachers as they navigate the fast-changing digital music landscape.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
E: rachael.drury@ism.org
Instagram: @rachael_drury
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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In this episode, Alexa sits down with voice teacher and performer Conor Angell to explore his influential article How Do You Teach Voice? Six Vital Non-Musical Teaching Principles. They discuss how these principles shape effective teaching, what’s changed since 2019, and the importance of kindness, agency, and adaptability in the studio. Conor also reveals what he’d now add as a seventh principle, offering fresh insights for voice teachers, singers, and educators alike.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
0:34 What makes a good teacher according to Conor?
2:40 What are the signs that your teaching principles aren’t working?
6:41 How can we get out of our own heads in the teaching room?
9:59 How to keep learning fun
15:02 Understanding intrusive teaching approaches
21:08 Balancing challenge and support
27:56 Teaching approaches for specific vocal targets
33:10 Which of Conor’s six principles have proven to be the most successful?
36:37 How can HE programmes make room for teaching philosophy?
40:56 What would be Conor’s 7th principle?
About the presenter, click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Dr Bracey
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast Ep.224 Your Brain on Art: The Science of Creativity and Healing
Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross
Daniel Levitin
This is Your Brain on Music by Daniel Levitin
Journal of Singing
How Do You Teach Voice? Six Vital Nonmusical Teaching Principles by Conor Angell
Toward a Theory of Applied Music Instruction by Richard Kennel
Lev Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development
Somatic Voicework
Indianapolis Opera
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast Ep.219 10 Songs for Male Contemporary Musical Theatre Singers
ABOUT THE GUEST
Born in Ireland, baritone Conor Angell joined the music faculty at Taylor University in 2013 after teaching at Houghton and Wabash Colleges. A versatile performer, he has appeared in opera, musical theatre, orchestral concerts, recitals, and recording studios. His stage credits include roles in Le nozze di Figaro, La bohème, Rigoletto, The Sound of Music, and The Music Man, with companies such as Opera North, Kentucky Opera, and Indianapolis Opera. He is a prizewinner in competitions including the Chicago Oratorio Competition and the American Prize in Vocal Performance. As a director, Angell has led productions ranging from Mozart operas to Broadway classics, earning recognition from the National Opera Association, also a writer and collaborator in professional recording projects.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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In this episode we welcome Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross - co-authors of New York Times bestseller Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, where they explore how the arts are not just entertainment, but vital to human health, learning, and wellbeing.
Our guests reveal how art physically changes the brain and body. We discuss neuroaesthetics—the science of how art impacts us—alongside practical ways teachers and creatives can use these insights in their own work. Whether you’re curious about creativity, seeking tools for wellbeing, or simply want scientific proof that the arts truly matter, this conversation will inspire and affirm the transformative role of art in our lives.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
0:00 ‘Your Brain on Art’ Book Review
4 :08 What art has impacted Susan?
7:17 What art has impacted Ivy?
10:07 What is ‘art?’
13:15 The difference between being the beholder v the creator?
17:09 How art and medicine work together
25:23 What sound and music offer
33:53 How can teachers encourage an aesthetic mindset?
39:14 When art becomes your career
Buy ‘Your Brain on Art’ (USA) Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Buy ‘Your Brain on Art’ (UK) Amazon, Waterstones
About the presenter, click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
A Little Life by Hanya Yanigahara
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.207 Singing at the End of Life: The Magic of Music in Hospices
Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks
Former Ballerina with Alzheimer’s Performs ‘Swan Lake’ Dance
National Institute for Play
Dr George Musgrave
Voice Study Centre
ABOUT THE GUESTS
Susan Magsamen, founder of the International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University, explores how the arts influence brain, body and behaviour, translating research into programs for health, wellbeing and education. Her Impact Thinking model applies scientific rigour to arts research while ensuring real-world use. She also co-leads the NeuroArts Blueprint with the Aspen Institute.
Ivy Ross, Chief Design Officer at Google, has led award-winning hardware design since 2017, earning more than 240 global design awards. Previously she held leadership roles at Calvin Klein, Swatch, Mattel, Coach and Gap. Named one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business, her artistic work includes jewellery in 12 international museums and recognition such as the Women in Design Award.
See full bios HERE
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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Looking for fresh and engaging repertoire for young voices? In this episode, Alexa shares 10 fantastic song choices for pre-pubertal singers (ages 7–11), blending pop, musical theatre, Disney magic, and lyrical gems. Along the way, she unpacks how to adapt tricky material, and keep young singers inspired without shutting down their curiosity. Whether you’re a singing teacher or choir leader, you’ll leave with practical tips, creative workarounds, and plenty of musical inspiration for the next generation of performers.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST
0:31 What might we want to consider when working with a child singer?
4:19 Top tips for when a song is pushing a singer’s limits
5:23 10 songs for child singers
About the presenter, click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults by Jenevora Williams
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.155 Part One: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.156 Part Two: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios
Singing Teachers talk - Ep.175 Understanding the Transmasculine Voice
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.205 10 Songs to Inspire Your Singing Lessons
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.210 10 Songs to Celebrate Pride in Your Studio
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.212 10 Songs to Find Your Pop Style
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.219 10 Songs for Male Contemporary Musical Theatre Singers
Messy by Kidz Bop
Amelia Carr
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep. How Knowing Musical Theatre History Makes You a Better Performer
ABRSM
musicnotes.com
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.77 How to Teach Singing to Children with Dana Lentini
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.139 Understanding Play-Based Learning for Children
ABOUT THE GUEST
Alexa runs a singing tuition practice in the South of England, and is a singing tutor at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools – Italia Conti, where she also regularly panels auditions and assessments. Alexa is the host of the BAST Training Singing Teachers Talk podcast, mentors for the BAST Training Level 5 qualification, and has presented on topics of Musical Theatre repertoire, authentic Musical Theatre performance, and imposter syndrome for Vocology in Practise and The Sing Space.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Instagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoaching
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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AI is shaking up the music industry — but what does that mean for singers, teachers, and creatives? In this episode, Alexa chats with Dr. Rachael Drury to unpack how generative AI is impacting songwriting, session work, copyright law, and even live performance. We explore what’s at risk, what’s protected, and what we can still hold onto as humans in a digital age. Whether you’re AI-curious or already feeling the shift, this is your essential guide to understanding AI’s role in music today, and how to stay empowered through it.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
0:33 What actually is AI?
5:22 Examples of computer generated music
9:43 What areas of the music industry are seeing the most and least AI impact?
17:23 What about holograms?
27:42 How can we tell if AI is impacting our creative jobs?
32:25 AI & copyright
53:24 When will AI take over the creative industry?
55:15 Moving forwards positively
About the presenter, click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Illiac Suite by Lejaren Hiller
Suno and Mikey Shulman
Udio (featured songs are original tracks created using Udio; used with attribution for demonstration purposes)
Openai Jukebox
Beethoven X
ABBA Voyage
BASE Hologram
The Blossoms
Independent Society of Musicians
Section 9.3 of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act
Seb Cuttill
ISM The Rise of AI: Friend or Foe?
Intellectual Property Office
UK Music
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr Rachael Drury is a violinist, educator and researcher specialising in the evolving relationship between music, technology and the law. Rachael’s successful career as a musician has seen her perform with ensembles like the Hallé and BBC Philharmonic, and in 2019 she returned to academia to explore how new technologies are reshaping the music industry. Her PhD at the University of Liverpool focused on the legal and economic impact of generative AI on copyright, authorship and musicians' livelihoods. Rachael now teaches across music industry studies and performance, while also serving as Senior Researcher and AI Officer at the Independent Society of Musicians. Her work informs copyright policy and creative rights, and she regularly speaks at national and international events. She is passionate about supporting musicians, students and teachers as they navigate the fast-changing digital music landscape.
FULL BIO HERE
E: rachael.drury@ism.org IG: @rachael_drury
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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What sets a technically strong performer apart from a truly unforgettable one? In this episode, Molly Marie Walsh — performer, educator, and MT history advocate — unpacks how a deep understanding of musical theatre’s roots enriches performance, informs vocal style, and builds lasting careers. From the social commentary of Hadestown to the escapism of 1930s musicals, Molly and Alexa explore how history shapes artistry, interpretation, and authenticity on stage. A must-listen for performers, teachers, and anyone passionate about meaningful storytelling through song and stage.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
3:10 What’s Molly’s favourite era of Musical Theatre history?
8:05 Case study
12:20 Is historical and contextual understanding always necessary?
17:45 Context & vocal targets
24:38 Context & aesthetic design
26:38 Context and the creative’s career
29:02 How can contextual understanding help in an audition?
33:46 How historical understanding upholds the craft of Musical Theatre
43:27 What about the ensemble?
47:20 Different resources
About the presenter, click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Urdang
Broadway Musicals Show By Show by Stanley Green
Graham Norton interview
Fifty Key Stage Musicals by Robert W. Schneider and Shannon Agnew
Fifty Key Stage Musicals: The Podcast
Artists mentioned: Jesse Mueller; Sierra Boggess; Marisha Wallace; Billy Porter
Agnes de Mille
Jeanine Tesori
Shaina Taub
Jamie Lloyd
Our Musicals, Ourselves by John Bush Jones
The Cambridge Companion to the Musical by William A Everett & Paul Laird
150 Years of Popular Musical Theatre by Andrew Lamb
A Critical Companion to The American Stage Musical by Elizabeth L. Wollman
Strike Up the Band by Scott Miller
Horrible Histories
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast Ep.10 Songs for Male Contemporary Musical Theatre Singers
ABOUT THE GUEST
Molly Marie Walsh, originally from California, is a seasoned Musical Theatre performer with credits in the US and UK, including Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Into the Woods, and A Christmas Carol. Now based in the UK, Molly teaches voice, drama, and musical theatre across Buckinghamshire and at London’s Urdang Academy. Molly has worked with musical theatre writers Kansley & Lidert, and she has recently completed the BAST Level 5 Extended Diploma in Singing Teaching Skills.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Instagram: @singhappywmolly
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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Feeling like there’s never enough time? You’re not alone. In this episode, Alexa and Line tackle one of the biggest challenges for singing teachers (and humans): time management. With humour and practical wisdom, they share simple, effective strategies, from time-blocking and micro-goals to prioritisation hacks and the Pomodoro technique. Whether you’re juggling students, study, or life in general, this episode will help you reclaim your time and reduce overwhelm. Bonus: details on BAST’s new co-working hubs for added support and accountability.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:33 How much time do I need for the BAST Level 5 qualification?
4:59 What is the BAST Level 5 qualification, again?
9:04 Time blocking
17:58 Mega vs Micro goals
19:08 Reverse engineering
21:27 Buffer time
23:49 Priorities
31:13 Task batching
33:43 Time tracking
34:50 ‘Tomato’ technique
38:17 Co-working (and the BAST co-working hubs!)
About the presenter, click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Kimberley George
RSL Awards
Canva
iCal/Google Calendar
Chronotype Quiz
Trello
monday.com
Scrum
Kanban
Waterfall Project Management
Asana
Agile Project Management
Eisenhower Matrix
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Indistractable by Nir Eyal
Rachael Drury
Good Habits, Bad Habits by Wendy Wood
Discord
Aime McNee
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
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This week, Alexa is joined by performer and vocal coach Conor O’Hara (fresh from the UK tour of Wicked) to explore 10 standout songs for male singers in the contemporary musical theatre space. From smart audition choices to vocal technique tips, Conor offers practical, performer-led insight that both singers and teachers will find invaluable. Whether you're building your rep book or guiding a student through their next audition, this episode is packed with gold.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:04 What is Conor’s dream Musical Theatre role?
2:37 What was Conor’s journey into Musical theatre?
5:44 What is a Musical Theatre audition like?
12:25 What’s Conor’s ‘go-to’ song?
13:20 What song should you really take to an audition?
20:35 Conor’s 10 song list
About the presenter, click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Emily Kristen Morris
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.200 The Secret to Powerful Belting and Seamless Mixing
The Hangar Theatre Company
GSA
Mountview
RSC
Debbie O’Brien
Artists mentioned: Jamie Muscato; Jeremy Jordon; Ben Platt; Aaron Tveit; Jack Wolfe; Brian Darcy James; Ben Joyce; Gavin Creel
Danielle Tarento
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.212 10 Songs to Find Your Pop Style
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.205 10 Songs to Inspire Your Singing Lessons
Royal Scotland Conservatoire
Spotify Radio
Jeanine Tesori
ABOUT THE GUEST
Conor trained at Mountview Dramatic Training, gaining a BA (Hons) in Performance (Musical Theatre). He led the UK premier tour of 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks' as Charlie Rawlins, was a swing in the Royal Shakespeare Company's 'A Christmas Carol' and has recently finished touring around the UK with the Musical 'Wicked'.
Alongside a career as a performer, he is currently a singing teacher at Italia Conti. Based in North London, he offers private tuition in person and online for professionals looking to book their next job, students in or out of work aiming to better their technique, drama school auditionees, non-professionals and more.
Conor believes strongly in finding the right repertoire to suit the goals of the performer, whether that's to forward the development of technique, to book the job or even just to keep the enjoyment of singing alive.
E: cohara1998@gmail.com
Instagram: @conorcoaches
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
basttraining.com | Stay Updated
From cruise ship stages to kitchen-table career pivots, Alexa Terry reflects on eight transformative lessons learned over eight years as a singing teacher in this honest, funny, and heartfelt episode of the Singing Teachers Talk podcast. Whether you’re just starting out or deep into your teaching journey, this is the perfect mix of personal storytelling, practical insights, and the occasional existential wobble we all pretend not to have.
Come for the laughs, stay for the reassurance — and leave with a little more clarity, confidence, and comfort in your own path.
About the presenter, click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.213 Medicine to Music: A Journey Back to a Creative Calling
Aime McNee
We Need Your Art by Aime McNee
Substack
Aime’s Substack: I Didn’t Want a Job
Nathan Lubbock Smith
Aida Cruises
BritishTheatre.com
New York Vocal Coaching
John Henny
The Naked Vocalist
Training Contemporary Commercial Singers by Elizabeth Ann Benson
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.215 10 Invaluable Resources for Singing Teachers
ABOUT THE GUEST
Alexa runs a singing tuition practice in the South of England, and is a singing tutor at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools – Italia Conti, where she also regularly panels entry auditions and assessments. Alexa is the host of the BAST Training Singing Teachers Talk podcast, mentors for the BAST Training Level 5 qualification, and has presented on topics of Musical Theatre repertoire, authentic Musical Theatre performance, and imposter syndrome for The Sing Space and Vocology in Practice.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Instagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoaching
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
basttraining.com | Stay Updated
Ever wondered what makes a great singing studio setup? In this solo episode, Alexa Terry explores the key elements of a well-equipped singing studio, offering practical insights for teachers working in both private and institutional settings. From essential tools to thoughtful touches that support vocal, emotional, and educational needs, this episode is packed with practical tips for building a space that enhances learning, creativity, and professionalism.
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Sarah Joyce
Cat Ogden
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.69 Understanding Pregnancy for the Singer and the Self-Employed
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.155 & 156 Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios
Yamaha Clavinova
Bose Soundlink Max
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.174 Demystifying Tax for the Self-Employed Singing Teacher
Zoom
MyMusicStaff
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.93 How to Organise Your Singing Studio Business with MyMusicStaff
Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
Olly Christopher
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.186 How to Balance a Teaching and Performance Career
The Pianist of Willesden Lane
Walt Fritz
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.193 How to Master Tongue Tension for Better Singing
Kaya Herstad Carney
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.159 How Toys and Props Can Create Dynamic Singing Lessons
Line Hilton
Feldenkrais
Becca Luter
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.204 Mastering Self Tapes for Auditions with Becca Luter
Jessica Friend
ABOUT THE GUEST
Alexa runs a singing tuition practice in the South of England, and is a singing tutor at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools – Italia Conti, where she also regularly panels entry auditions and assessments. Alexa is the host of the BAST Training Singing Teachers Talk podcast, mentors for the BAST Training Level 5 qualification, and has presented on topics of Musical Theatre repertoire, authentic Musical Theatre performance, and imposter syndrome for The Sing Space and Vocology in Practice.
SEE FULL BIO HERE: https://www.basttraining.com/blog/ep-217-setting-up-for-success-singing-teachers-studio-essentials-with-alexa-terry/
Website
Instagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoaching
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
basttraining.com | Stay Updated
How do actors convincingly switch accents, and what happens when singing enters the mix? Voice teacher, researcher and spoken voice expert Louisa Morgan returns to explore the rich world of accents and dialects—from phonetics and oral posture to emotional authenticity and ethical considerations. Louisa dives into the challenges singers face when shifting from speech to song in character, how to manage biases, and why understanding your own “home” sounds is key.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST
2:35 What actually are accents and dialects?
7:37 What makes an accent easier vs difficult to learn?
15:05 How can we understand accent mapping?
22:51 Speaking Vs Singing in an accent
30:58 What are the challenges of teaching a singer who has a different accent to you?
36:09 What ethical considerations are required?
41:16 Getting to grips with IPA
46:32 Louisa’s favourite resources
48:29 Live accent and dialect coaching
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast Ep.109 Mastering ‘Acting Through Song’ Techniques to Elevate Musical Theatre Performance
Voice Study Centre
Guildford School of Acting
IPA
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.151 How to Sing with Twang
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.194 From Jersey to Bali: Relocating a Singing Teaching Business
How to Do Accents by Edda Sharpe and Jan Hayden Rowles
Knight Thompson
Phonetics by J D O’Connor
The Experiencing Accents Book Knight Thompson
Phonetics by Peter Roach
Accents and Dialects for Stage and Screen by Paul Meier
International Dialects of English Archive
Killing Eve
Estill
VASTA Conference
ABOUT THE GUEST
Louisa Morgan is a lecturer, voice teacher, and researcher specialising in spoken and sung emotion. She teaches with the Voice Study Centre (as Spoken Voice Lead) and she is also completing a PhD in emotion in Acting Through Song with Guildford School of Acting. Louisa has taught at institutions including Italia Conti and the Cygnet Training Theatre, alongside 15 years of private coaching. She holds an MA in Vocal Pedagogy, a diploma in Acting with Directing, and a BA in English and Literary Studies. Louisa is a Vocal Process accredited teacher and former editor of AOTOS. She has presented at PEVoC and will speak at the 2025 VASTA conference.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Instagram:
Contact Louisa Directly
Book a place on one of Louisa’s courses HERE
🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HERE
At BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UK
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
basttraining.com | Stay Updated
In this episode, Alexa shares 10 game-changing resources that have transformed her own practice as a singing teacher. From essential books and pitch apps to surprising finds, this episode is packed with fresh inspiration for teachers at every stage of their journey.Which resource could become your new secret weapon? Tune in to find out.
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Anatomy of Voice by Blandine Calais-Germain & Francois Germain
Training Contemporary Commercial Singers by Elizabeth Ann Benson
The Voice Teacher's Cookbook, Creative Recipes for Teachers of Singing by Brian Winnie
SpeechPlusLanguage
Etsy
Canva
Ultimate Guitar
musicaltheatreresources.com
Stage Door Unlocked
Dr Dan’s Voice Essentials
Vocal Pitch Monitor
ABOUT THE GUEST
Alexa runs a singing tuition practice in the South of England, and is a singing tutor at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools – Italia Conti, where she also regularly panels entry auditions and assessments. Alexa is the host of the BAST Training Singing Teachers Talk podcast, mentors for the BAST Training Level 5 qualification, and has presented on topics of Musical Theatre repertoire, authentic Musical Theatre performance, and imposter syndrome for Vocology in Practise and The Sing Space.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Instagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoaching
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
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What happens when you mix Julie Andrews, musical theatre, and a dash of cheeky cabaret? This week, Alexa chats to performer and singing teacher Rosie Williamson about her show What Would Julie Do?—a musical comedy cabaret. Rosie shares how she built a heartwarming, hilarious, harmony-filled show that uplifts audiences and champions mental health causes. Plus: perfectionism, parody law, and why your passion project might just be your best work yet.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST
4:16 What are the first steps to devising your own show?
10:54 How audiences describe ‘What Would Julie Do?’
12:58 Performing as a singing teacher
18:23 What’s it like working with a friend?
20:46 Rights and approvals
23:16 How to hire singers
26:06 Balancing performing and teaching
29:11 Getting the project off the ground
33:29 Funding
43:42 Should devising be a standard part of theatre training curriculums?
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Sarah Louise Young
Yvonne Kenny
Leontine Hass
Matt Samer
Mind
Carers UK
Dan Turek
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.154 Managing Imposter Syndrome, Low Confidence and Overwhelm as Singing Teachers
Mandy UK
Spotlight
The Pheasantry
Arts Council
Develop Your Creative Practice (DYCP)
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.213 Medicine to Music. A Journey Back to A Creative Calling
Crazy Coqs
ABOUT THE GUEST
Rosie Williamson is a London-based singing teacher, performer, and writer with a background in classical voice and musical theatre. Inspired by frequent comparisons to Julie Andrews—her school tutor once described her as “just like Mary Poppins”—Rosie created What Would Julie Do?, musical comedy cabaret blending self-help themes with show tunes and parody. Her work has been performed at leading London cabaret venues, Brighton Fringe, and Mountview’s Catalyst Festival. Rosie trained at the University of Sheffield, University of York, and Associated Studios, and now teaches at institutions including ArtsEd and LAMDA.
FULL BIO HERE
Teaching | What Would Julie Do | Show Tickets HERE
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
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In this episode of Singing Teachers Talk, Estelle Idoko shares her journey from medical school to music school. We explore how she helps others reconnect with their creativity, and what holds so many back from living artistically. Whether you're a singer, teacher, or someone wondering: “Is it too late to live creatively?”, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, stirred, and ready to explore your own creative path.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:00 Medical school vs music school
7:08 The perception of artistic occupations
17:56 Should my creativity be a hobby or a career?
19:30 Women and singing
24:20 Men and singing
27:31 What is Estelle’s coaching framework?
34:06 Leading a creative life
39:44 The ‘Sing Confidently, live Creatively’ podcast
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
The Elements by Tom Lehrer
Sing Confidently, Live Creatively Ep.208 Start Singing Today Because We Need Your Art with Amie McNee
Aimee McNee
We Need Your Art by Aimee McNee
Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults by Jenevora Williams
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast Ep.179 From 1 to 40 Choirs and Touring with Gareth Malone - a Chat with Rachel Lynes
ABOUT THE GUEST
Estelle Idoko is a Singer, Actor, and Voice Teacher based in Durham, North Carolina, currently completing her Master’s in Music and Music Education at Columbia University. She is the founder of Creatively Performing Arts, offering online voice lessons and resources for adult beginners. Estelle hosts the globally ranked podcast Sing Confidently, Live Creatively and performs regularly in cabarets, open mics, worship teams, and theatre. Her acting credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Comedy of Errors, and the upcoming Sound of Music. She holds a B.S. in Psychology from VCU and a professional voice certificate from Berklee. Estelle is passionate about helping artists reconnect with their creativity and build lasting vocal confidence.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Instagram: @creativelybyestelle
Facebook: Singing Tips and Technique for Women.
Listen to Estelle’s podcast ‘Sing Confidently, Live Creatively’ here
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
Want to help your singers master pop stylings like belt, riffing, breathy tone, and yodel flips? Alexa has invited singing coach Hannah Smikle back to the podcast for this practical episode, to share 10 killer pop songs that unlock vocal agility, texture, and expressive flair. What vocal tools can help singers to progress into certain melodies, and how do you apply pop texture in a piano-only space? A must-listen for singing teachers looking to spark creativity in the studio!
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:56 Should singing teachers pick the songs?
3:15 How to collate a repertoire list
4:15 What is ‘popular’ in pop?
6:13 What must a singer keep in mind?
9:42 Hannah’s 10 song choices
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.205 10 Songs to Inspire Your Singing Lessons
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.210 10 Songs to Celebrate Pride in Your Studio
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.51 How to Boost a Singer’s Confidence
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.112 Helping Musical Theatre Singers Build a Reliable Pop Toolbox
Spotify Radio
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.112 Helping Musical Theatre Singers Build a Reliable Pop Toolbox
Microphone SM58
Chris Johnson Teach Voice
Arthur Lessac
ABOUT THE GUEST
Hannah Smikle is a professional voice coach and vocalist with over 15 years’ experience in the music industry. She has worked extensively as a live performer, backing vocalist, session singer, and recording artist. Known for her holistic, multi-disciplinary approach, Hannah combines technical expertise with industry insight to support singers both on stage and in the studio. She regularly engineers and coaches recording sessions, helping artists deliver authentic, high-quality vocals. Passionate about whole-person wellbeing, she integrates vocal health and counselling skills into her coaching. Hannah is a Vocal Habilitation Professional, Vocal Health First Aider, and committed to ongoing professional development.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Instagram: @vocalperformancecoaching
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
In this episode, we chat with Dublin-based singing teacher and voice science enthusiast Eimear McCarthy Luddy. Eimear shares the story behind her #AnatoMonday Vocal Anatomy Colouring Book—a fun, creative resource designed to make vocal anatomy accessible and engaging. We explore her journey from struggling with traditional anatomy materials to creating her own, how she uses anatomy in teaching, and why she believes learning about the voice should be joyful and memorable. Eimear also shares insights into her creative process, her successful Kickstarter campaign, and what might be next for Vocology Ireland.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:25 The challenges of learning vocal anatomy
4:45 How does vocal anatomy play a role in singing teaching?
7:18 What is anatomy, really?
9:17 How to get to grips with vocal anatomy
18:26 What is Eimear’s favourite piece of vocal anatomy?
22:21 Mindfulness & learning
28:56 Using kickstarter
33:25 Publishing and shipping
35:28 A sneak peak at Eimear’s colouring book
40:55 The future of the vocal anatomy colouring book
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.152 Understanding Singing Terminology
Chris Johnson
Kerrie Obert
Rosa Devine
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.155 Part One: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios with Dr Shannon Coats
Singing Teachers Talk. Ep.156 Part Two: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios with Dr Shannon Coats
Kickstarter
MediBang Paint
ABOUT THE GUEST
Eimear is a Dublin-based singing teacher with a passion for vocal health, anatomy, and singing voice rehabilitation. She holds a Masters in Music Performance from the Royal Irish Academy of Music, where she researched vocal health attitudes in Ireland. Eimear founded Vocology Ireland to make voice science more accessible. She delivers vocal health workshops for singers and teachers and published the #AnatoMonday Vocal Anatomy Colouring Book in 2024. Eimear teaches a wide range of students and is an assessor for Vocal Health Education’s accredited courses.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Instagram: @vocologyireland
Get a copy of ‘#AnatoMonday: A Vocal Anatomy Colouring Book’ HERE
Photo Credit: Lucy Nuzum
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
In this episode ahead of Pride Month, Alexa Terry shares 10 vibrant, emotional, and empowering songs to celebrate LGBTQ+ voices in your singing studio. From folk rock belting to acoustic remixes and Broadway ballads, discover repertoire that not only expands vocal technique, but also tells meaningful stories. Which of these tracks will you be adding to your Pride playlist?
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Love in Hate Nation by Joe Iconis
musicnotes.com
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.205 10 Songs to Inspire your Singing Lessons with Alexa Terry
Walk off the Earth
ABOUT THE GUEST
Alexa is a singing teacher and vocal coach who runs her own singing tuition practice in the South of England. She is also a 1-1 singing tutor at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools - Italia Conti, where she regularly panels auditions. Alexa is the host of BAST Training’s Singing Teachers Talk podcast, and is one of the mentors for their level 5 singing teaching qualification.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website: www.aterryvocalcoaching.com
Instagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoaching
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
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How can we define ‘gospel,’ and what are the nuances of the style that give it its name? This week, Alexa joins Nashville-based vocal coach and music producer, Amos Evans, to chat about chords, riffs, vibrato and other textures which can contribute to an aesthetic gospel sound. Hit play for teaching tips, advice to choir leaders - and to be serenaded!
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
0:52 Who is Amos Evans?
2:47 What is the music scene like in Nashville?
4:52 From DC To Nashville: How did Amos establish himself up in a new state?
9:37 Defining and identifying the gospel style
20:28 How to learn to riff
22:05 What tends to be the most challenging aspect of learning gospel styles?
23:02 How can congregations and church singers maintain vocal health?
25:53 How does technical training for gospel styles compare to others?
29:43 What has Amos learned from working with gospel choirs and leaders?
31:36 Getting started with your own gospel choir & working with Jennifer Hudson
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Artists: Jelly Roll; Brandon Lake; Yolanda Adams; Hezekiah Walker; Jonathan McReynolds; Doe; Mahalia Jackson; Maverick City; The Choir Room; Jennifer Hudson
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.126 The Business of Stories: Game-Changing Marketing Strategy
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.142 How to Sing and Teach Gospel
Cheryl Porter
ABOUT THE GUEST
Amos Evans (Nashville-based vocal coach and producer) is known for his riveting vocal arrangements, gospel-fused approach, and contemporary touch. Amos' career includes the work of industry giants like Josh Groban, Jelly Roll, Jennifer Hudson and film productions heard from Amazon Prime to Max. As a vocal coach and producer, Amos brings 15+ years of studio recording and live background singing to train current and aspiring artists alike. His academic studies include Carnegie Mellon University (official school of the Tony Awards), Vocal Instruction at the BAST Program (Manchester, United Kingdom) and Audio Engineering at Cue Recording (Falls Church, Virginia). Currently partnering with record labels on Nashville's Music Row, Amos enjoys bringing artists' most captivating stories to life through song.
Website
Instagram: @amosevansmusic
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
Are ‘warm ups’ and ‘cool downs’ really necessary for singers?In this episode, Alexa and Line dive into the why, when, and how of warming up and cooling down the voice. With a mix of science, personal insight, and practical tips (yes, including vibrators!) Tune in to rethink your routine and pick up tools that actually work for your voice.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
0:43 Should singers warm up?
2:01 What does the science say?
6:26 How do we know when the warm is working or not?
8:27 Who are warm-ups for?
11:21 How long should a warm up take?
13:56 How to warm up for shorter lessons
15:28 What are some of the best warm up exercises?
32:36 How to lead group warm ups
36:45 How should singers cool down?
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Article Reference List
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.153 Mastering the Spoken Voice for Recording
PMVS Article
Dr Ingo Titze
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.170 Understanding the Science of SOVTs: In Conversation with Ingo Titze & Karin Titze Cox
Joshua Alamu
Katie Holmes Smith
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.177 Using Physiotherapy to Treat Voice Problems with Genevieve Tawiah
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.155 Part One: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.156 Part Two: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios
Mindy Pack
Chris Johnson
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.197 Backing Adele and Beyond: The Art and Craft of Backing Vocals
Instagram: @basttraining
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
What if one of the most powerful moments of someone’s life happened in their final days? And what if that moment was because of music? Founder of Music in Hospices, Joe Cavalli-Price, shares astonishing stories of how live music can transform palliative care, and how singers can bring joy to the dying. This emotional and uplifting episode might just change the way you think about music, care, and connection. (Tissues recommended.)
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:30 Who is Joseph Cavalli-Price?
3:11 What inspired Music in Hospices?
5:18 Music Therapy Vs Music Performance
6:36 What is palliative care?
9:18 How have Joe’s musical studies and experiences influenced Music in Hospices?
14:22 Stories from the hospice
19:32 What do the science and statistics say?
23:38 How can I become a singer for Music in Hospices?
27:00 What collaborative research is in the pipeline?
29:14 Backing from the BBC & Lang Lang
36:28 Donations
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Only Boys Aloud (Choir)
The Sixteen (Choir)
Social Prescription & The National Centre for Social Prescribing
Lang Lang International Music Foundation
ABOUT THE GUEST
Joe Cavalli-Price is a Welsh-Italian musician, vocal coach, and founder of Music in Hospices, a creative arts organisation for palliative care. His work has earned international recognition, with features on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Breakfast. Joe collaborates with Lang Lang Foundation, Hospice UK, and King’s College London to innovate care through music.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Instagram/Facebook: @musicinhospices & @joecavalliprice
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
In this thought-provoking episode, Stephen King returns to explore the deep links between psychology and voice. How can we integrate body psychotherapy into our lessons without a psychology degree? And how can we respond when we don’t have all the answers? This episode invites you to rethink what it means to really listen.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:40 From vocal coach to psychotherapist
16:30 How can singing teachers play a positive role?
41:01 What exercises from Body Psychotherapy can teachers apply in the lesson?
50:50 What was Stephen’s first experience of massage?
53:25 Are we frightened of ‘touch’ as teachers?
57:05 What is a ‘relational’ approach?
1:02:06 What can we expect from ‘The Handbook of Vocal Massage?’
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.32 The Bio-Psycho-Social Model
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.90 Help! I’ve Got a Voice Problem
Jeremy Ryan Mossman
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.128 Considering the Whole Self in Singing and Teaching Singing
Industry Minds
Dr Jenevora Williams
Vocal Health Education
Claire Delaney
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.147 TV Vocal Coach: Behind the scenes on ITV’s Mamma Mia
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.199 The Truth About Muscle Tension Dysphonia
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van Der Kolk
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep160 Tuning into Trauma: Strategies for Singing Teachers
Character Analysis by Wilhelm Reich
Chadley Ballantyne
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.52 Getting to Grips with Vocal Acoustics
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.171 A Guide to Vocal Self-Massage
Lydia Flock
ABOUT THE GUEST
Stephen is a leading voice care specialist with qualifications in Voice Pedagogy, Integrative Therapy, Manual Therapy, and Medical Acupuncture. He is the co-author of several bestselling books on vocal health and the director of the award-winning Voice Care Centre. Stephen pioneered a holistic, para-medical model of voice care and has trained thousands of practitioners across the UK and beyond. As co-founder of Vocal Health Education, he continues to educate globally while working online with complex voice cases from his home in North Devon.
SEE FULL BIO HERE
Website
Instagram: @voicecarecentre
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
In this solo episode, Alexa unveils a brand-new podcast feature all about repertoire. But why is choosing the right song so much more than just picking a tune your student likes?Join Alexa as she shares 10 songs for a range of student needs.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:27Should singing teachers assign repertoire?
2:14 What might we want to consider when suggesting repertoire to singers?
6:37 Alexa’s 10 song selections
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Kaya Herstad Carney
Dr Jenevora Williams
Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults by Jenevora Williams
Joanne Bozeman
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.102 Understanding Singing and Menopause with Joanne Bozeman
The Great Gatsby
Jason Robert Brown
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.145 Style Vs Technique with Kaya Herstad-Carney
Musicnotes
Natalie Weiss
ABOUT THE GUEST
After graduating with a BA Musical Theatre degree, Alexa Terry donned her sailor’s cap and performed as a lead soloist on cruise ships travelling the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Baltic seas. She trod the boards in London’s West End as the protagonist in a new Musical Theatre project, studied as a librettist with Book, Music and Lyrics (BML), and has written for the likes of BritishTheatre.com as a reviewer.
Alexa runs a singing tuition practice in the South of England, and is a singing tutor at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools - Italia Conti, where she also regularly panels entry auditions. Alexa is the host of the BAST Training Singing Teachers Talk podcast, mentors for the BAST Training Level 5 qualification, and has presented on topics of Musical Theatre repertoire, authentic Musical Theatre performance, and imposter syndrome for Vocology in Practise and The Sing Space.
Website: www.aterryvocalcoaching.com
Instagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoaching
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
This week, Alexa is chatting with singing teacher and performer of stage and screen - Becca Luter, about mastering the art of stress-free self-taping for auditions. Discover valuable tips and techniques to enhance the audition process for you and your students, from setting up the perfect environment to building a rapport through the screen. Tune in and learn how to turn audition anxiety into creative success!
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
0:56 How can a performer adapt to recording self tapes?
4:53 How can performers pace a self-tape recording?
7:33 How can performers tell when they’ve recorded a good self-tape?
8:57 How can a performer build a rapport with a panel through a screen?
12:52 What equipment does a singer need
23:05 How much editing is required?
26:19 Advice for ‘technophobes’
27:36 Where should singers direct their performance?
29:55 How to get used to watching yourself back
32:46 Balancing a teaching and performance career
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
iMovie
YouCut
Garageband
Adobe Express
Emily Kristen Morris
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.200 The Secret to Powerful Belting and Seamless Mixing with Emily Kristen Morris
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.154 Managing Imposter Syndrome, Low Confidence and Overwhelm as Singing Teachers with Alexa Terry
Ben Mann
Italia Conti
ABOUT THE GUEST
Rebecca is a graduate of Bird College with experience on both stage and screen. She has graced the stage at renowned venues such as New York's iconic '54 Below’ and London’s 'The Crazy Coqs,’ and has played Jan in Grease onboard Harmony of the Seas. In addition to her performance career, Rebecca shares her expertise by teaching singing, both privately and at Italia Conti Drama School, inspiring the next generation of vocalists.
Instagram: @rebeccaluter
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
Vocal Range – What the Fach?! Ever wondered what really defines a singer’s voice type? In this episode, BAST founder Line Hilton demystifies the world of vocal fach—but is it really all about range? From booming basses to soaring sopranos, discover the roles of tone and timbre, hear some of the exercises we can offer in the studio to help a singer expand their vocal range, and get to know where might raise ‘vocal health’ red flags.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
0:30 What is a ‘fach?’
4:30 How do we know what fach we are?
10:58 Do we always need to assign a fach?
14:27 What are the typical ranges of each fach?
21:06 What does ‘alto’ really mean?
23:10 Measuring a singer’s range
27:35 What is intrinsically happening when we sing across the range?
30:35 Range for a child Vs an adult
34:57 How can we extend range?
43:36 Range Red Flags
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Kaya Herstad Carney
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.103 How to ‘Measure’ a Singer with Kaya Herstad Carney
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.201 Working with Hypermobile Singers with Sarah Algoet
Jenevora Williams
(Third Edition) Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults by Jenevora Williams
Singing Teachers Talk - Understanding Singing and Menopause with Joanne Bozeman
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep. 73 The Best Vocal Exercises for Laryngeal Stability with Line Hilton
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep. 83 The Best Vocal Exercises for Sick Voices with Line Hilton
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.113 The Best Vocal Exercises for Chest Voice with Line Hilton
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.114 The Best Vocal Exercises for Head Voice with Line Hilton
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.115 The Best Vocal Exercises for the Transition with Line Hilton
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.140 The Best Vocal Exercises for Pitch Accuracy Training with Line Hilton
BAST Blog - Singing and The Premenstrual Voice
Lori Sonnenberg
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.199 The Truth About Muscle Tension Dysphonia: Insights from Dr
Chris Johnson & Teach Voice
Spotlight
Website: www.inehilton.com
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
Could a hidden tongue tie be holding your singers back? In this episode, certified orofacial myology specialist Jessica Luffey reveals how tongue ties impact vocal freedom - and it’s more common than you might think. Discover how to spot a tongue tie with a simple self-assessment, the surprising symptoms that could be affecting your singers, and why the right treatment could transform their voice. Are you missing this crucial piece of the vocal puzzle? Tune in to find out!
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:04 What is a tongue tie?
2:15 What causes a tongue tie?
4:52 Tongue Tie Self-Assessment
18:44 Singing symptoms
25:00 Can vocal technique help ?
35:31 Is there a link between tongue tie and vocal injury?
38:03 Surgery for tongue tie
40:41 An insight to myofunctional training for tongue ties
49:19 What’s the biggest misconception about tongue ties?
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Jennie Morton
STT Ep.40 Integrated Skills: Teaching Singing to Dancers
STT Eps.149 & 150 Finding the Best Posture and Alignment for Singing
STT Ep.193 How to Master Tongue Tension for Better Singing
Dr Montrose
Dr Lori Sonnenberg
STT Ep.199 The Truth About Muscle Tension Dysphonia
Sarah Algoet
STT Ep.201 Working with Hypermobile Singers
ABOUT THE GUEST
Ms. Luffey grew up immersed in the dental and medical fields. While pursuing a career as a professional opera singer, she found the world of myology and has since used her unique set of skills and insights to bridge new ideas between the two worlds. Ms. Luffey’s extensive practical education includes being trained by the world’s top myo, dental/ortho, and tongue tie experts, authors, and educationalists including Dr. Soroush Zaghi, Dr. Richard Baxter,Dr. Micheal Gelb & associates, Sanda Valcu-Pinkerton, and Sandra Coulson among others. Her expertise and work has even been featured directly in Dr. Baxter’s blog(full article: https://tonguetieal.com/can-tongue-tie-impact-singing-and-vocal-quality
Ms. Luffey has performed many of the opera world’s most well-known and loved leading women. She has won or placed in the finals of numerous national competitionsincluding: Jensen Vocal Competition, Gerda Lissner Competition, Premiere Opera Competition, Delta Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, Harold Haugh Comic Opera Competition, Orpheus Vocal Competition and NATS National Student Auditions.
With over twelve years of specialisation in multiple disciplines such as advanced breathing and muscular isolation techniques, Ms. Luffey especially enjoys working closely with professional musicians to facilitate and maintain healthy oral and pharyngal-cavity shape and advanced tongue training.
myoforsingers.com
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
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Did you know that hypermobility can impact vocal technique, breath control, and even performance anxiety? In this episode, voice coach and viral blogger Sarah Algoet discusses the surprising ways hypermobility affects singers—both as a gift and a challenge. Tune in to discover insights, practical approaches, and how teachers can better support hypermobile singers!
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:10 What is hypermobility?
10:21 Using the Beighton Score
16:00 Who is more likely to have it?
17:00 Possible benefits and challenges
35:52 A polyvagal drill exercise
42:25 How can voice training help?
53:06 What teachers need to consider
59:28 Resources & Sarah’s library
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Ehlers-Danlos Support UK
Imogen Roux
EDS Webinar: Voice, Breath and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Polyvagal Theory by Stephen Porges
Celest Pereira
Connected Singing
Sarah's Blog: Hypermobile Singers
Beighton Score
SST Eps.155 & 156 Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios
The Fibro Guy
Focus On Event: Hypermobility and the Voice
Tracy Jeffery
Journal of Singing
I Have Had to Stop Singing Because I Can’t Take the Pain
Bjorn Poels & Z-Health
STT Ep.144 Exploring the Benefits of Sound Healing
Jessica Luffey
Emily Kirkcaldy
SST Ep.138 Exploring the Benefits of The Alexander Technique
STT Ep.63 Developing a Singer’s Self Awareness and Clarifying Intention
ABOUT THE GUEST
Sarah Algoet is a voice teacher with over 20 years of experience, blending fun, engaging learning with science-backed techniques for lasting results. Her personalised approach draws from various methods to suit each singer, whether beginners discovering their voice or professionals refining their artistry.
She takes a holistic view, recognising the mind-body connection in singing. Like an elite athlete’s coach, she helps singers build strength, flexibility, and endurance for peak performance. For Sarah, vocal coaching is about more than technique—it’s about storytelling, self-expression, and confidence, ensuring every singer’s voice is heard.
singsing.be/onlinecourses
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
Episode 200! We're celebrating this milestone with none other than Emily Kristen Morris, a powerhouse performer from the stages of Wicked, Frozen, and Something Rotten! Get ready for a deep dive into the mysteries of mix and belt, what they are, how they work, and how singers can master them. Expect vocal geekery, expert insights, and a few laughs along the way! Don't miss this special episode of the Singing Teachers Talk Podcast.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
4:56 What’s is actually like playing Elphaba in Wicked?
6:22 What do Belt, Mix and Mix Belt even mean?
13:16 What does a singer need for a reliable mix and belt?
20:45 What does mix sound like?
25:04 How to find YOUR belt
26:34 How to help ‘chest-draggers’
29:48 How can a belter release too much air pressure?
31:44 How to help ‘head-voice dominant’ singers
33:29 How to build a register blend
36:13 EKM Vocal Studio
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Amanda Flynn
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.133 Mastering Belt in Musical Theatre with Amanda Flynn
Voice Study Centre
Besfort Williams
ABOUT THE GUEST
Emily Kristen Morris is an NYC-based actor, singer, dancer, certified vocal instructor, and popular online content creator. Emily has performed across the nation and internationally, and most recently starred as Elsa in the Paramount Theatre's production of Frozen in Chicagoland. Her past theatre credits include: the Elphaba standby on the Broadway National Tour of Wicked, Bea in the National Tour of Something Rotten, White Plains Performing Arts Center (Daisy in Side Show), The Rev (Sophie in Mamma Mia), Cape Playhouse, the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra (Nellie in South Pacific in concert), Gateway Playhouse, Weston Playhouse, and New York Musical Theatre Festival. Emily has also performed as a solo vocalist with symphony orchestras, including the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra in China, and the Norwalk Symphony. On social media Emily is popular for her voice-teaching videos and her singing covers. When she's not performing, Emily runs her highly sought-after voice studio, EKM Vocal Studio, where she and her eight associate teachers teach lessons, masterclasses and workshops to passionate singers both virtually and in-person in NYC. Emily is certified through the Institute For Vocal Advancement (IVA), and received her BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Cincinnati; College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).
Website: emilykristenmorris.com
Social Media: @emilykristenmorris & @ekmvocalstudio
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD) is one of the most common voice diagnoses—but what does it actually mean? What are the symptoms? And how can we continue to support singers with suspected or diagnosed MTD? In this episode, Dr Lori Sonnenberg unpacks the truth about MTD, rights the misconceptions, and offers some solutions for voice professionals.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:42 What is Muscle Tension Dysphonia?
7:41 What’s the difference between dysphonia and dystonia?
8:38 How is MTD diagnosed?
30:23 Who is prone?
34:07 What are the audible signs?
40:31 Muscular or mucosal?
44:10 How impactful is self-massage for MTD?
46:19 What is involved in treatment?
49:05 Working with a singer with MTD
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
BAST Blog - Singing & the Premenstrual Voice
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.108 Navigating the Adolescent Female Voice Change with Wendy Rolls
Kerrie Obert
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.59 Top Tongue Tips for Boosting High Frequency Energy
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.151 How to Sing with Twang
Vocal Health Education
Vocal Fold Swelling Checks
Chris Johnson
Teach Voice
Lori’s Blog - How to Identify Muscular vs. Mucosal Fatigue and What to do About it
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.193 How to Master Tongue Tension for Better Singing
Robert Price
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.171 A Guide to Vocal Self-Massage for Singers
Stephen King
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.90 Help! I’ve Got a Voice Problem
ABOUT THE GUEST
Lori L. Sonnenberg is a Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, Clinical Voice Specialist, and Singing Voice Specialist. She combines her passion for treating injured voices with her background as a singer and teacher, helping singers of all styles overcome vocal challenges and reach their full potential. She has achieved remarkable results working with students, patients, and respected voice professionals.
In her clinic, she specializes in voice and breathing disorders, muscle tension dysphonia, voice injury recovery, professional voice care, and post-operative voice rehabilitation. After a rewarding career in a busy voice center, she is now the Owner and CEO of Lori L. Sonnenberg, Ltd. As a voice educator and speaker, she lectures at state, regional, and national levels, supporting vocalists, teachers, and choral educators in managing vocal health. She has developed a highly effective method for detecting and preventing vocal injuries with long-term success.
W https://www.sonnenbergvoice.com
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
What makes a singer stand out in a West End audition? How do vocal coaches prepare artists for The Voice? And why are singers struggling to make it in today’s music industry?
This week, we dive into the world of high-performance vocal coaching with Jai Ramage—an expert who’s trained everyone from theatre stars to recording artists. She reveals what happens behind closed doors in auditions, the vocal challenges singers face in different industries, and the surprising truths about making it as an artist today.
What are you waiting for? Press the play button!
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
0:57 What is the most rewarding musical medium to work in?
4:44 How has time spent in theatre influenced vocal coaching as a whole?
6:27 What is a current challenge for musical theatre performers?
15:51 What are casting directors really looking for?
18:22 Landing a TV gig
28:04 What is a current challenge for TV competitors?
32:02 How to create a good self-tape for The Voice
38:38 Being an artistic manager
44:53 What is a current challenge for music industry artists?
54:33 The common thread between teaching for stage, screen & the music industry
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Estill Voice
Jono McNeil
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.123 Insights Into TV Vocal Coaching with The Masked Singer’s Jono McNeil
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.124 Mastering Vocal Style: Licks, Riffs and Runs with Jono McNeil
Katie Holmes-Smith
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.197 Backing Adele and Beyond: The Art and Craft of Backing Vocals with Katie Holmes-Smith
Susan Payton
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.126 ‘The Business of Stories’: Game-Changing Marketing Strategy with Susan Payton
Blair Gilmour
The School of Music Business
Trudy Kerr
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.196 How to Be a Singing Teacher in Higher Education with Trudy Kerr
Patreon
Substack
ABOUT THE GUEST
Jai Ramage has over 20 years experience working as a Vocal Coach in TV, Theatre & the Music Industry. Her TV credits include prime-time shows for BBC and ITV, such as The Voice UK, Little Mix The Search, Starstruck, and Romeo & Duet. She has coached several successful pop artists and bands, guiding them from the early stages of their creative journeys through to world tours and multiple albums. She holds a longstanding Vocal Coach role with Prestige Management, working closely with their bands and singers. Artists Jai currently coaches include The Vamps, New Hope Club, Soap, Henry Moodie, Keyside, Tom Speight, and Tommy Ashby. Jai's career began as a performer in theatre, which now
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
What’s it really like to be a backing vocalist for some of the biggest stars on the planet? In this episode, we are joined by Katie Holmes-Smith, whose impressive career has seen her perform with the likes of Adele, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, and more. How do you become a backing singer? What skills do you need? And what’s the reality of balancing global tours with family life? Join us as Katie shares stories, career advice, and insights from behind the mic.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
4:54 How did Katie become a backing vocalist?
11:27 Should singers take any and every job?
13:59 What’s the difference between session singing and being a backing vocalist?
15:45 What essential skills are needed to be a backing vocalist?
23:50How much creative freedom do you have as a backing vocalist?
27:02What is touring really like?
34:13 How does Katie juggle showbiz and family life?
41:50What’s the selection process like for backing vocalist jobs?
47:23Katie’s favourite job
59:18What’s the Vocal Code?
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Lousie Callin
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.195 How Unlocking Your True Values Can Transform Your Teaching and Life with Louise Callin
X-Factor Performance - One More Sleep by Leona Lewis
Adetoun Ayoola
ABOUT THE GUEST
Katie Holmes-Smith works as a professional session vocalist.
She has been touring globally with Adele since 2016 and has just completed 110 shows with Adele on her Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace and her Stadium show in Munich, Germany.
Katie has also toured and performed worldwide in recent years with Kylie Minogue, Ed Sheeran, Christina Aguilera, Robbie Williams, Olly Murs and many more.
When she isn’t away on tour, you’ll find her performing in some of the U.K and world wide top corporate venues and hotels.
As the Vocal Director of the Vocal Code, Katie uses her expertise and experience to prepare future vocalists for the industry as artists and backing vocalists.
Website: katieholmes-smith.com
The Vocal Code: www.vocalcode.co.uk
Instagram: @katieholmessmith
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
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How do you land a job in a higher education music institution? And what do they actually look for in a singing teacher? This week, Alexa sits down withTrudy Kerr, Head of Vocals at London College of Contemporary Music (LCCM), to uncover the reality of teaching at this level. From the application process to lesson structures, student challenges, and even salary expectations, Trudy offers an insight to what it takes to make it in higher education.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:57 What qualifications or experiences do I need?
6:42 What is the interview process like?
8:27 Do I need to teach any particular methodology?
9:42 What might I earn?
13:45 What common vocal challenges do the singers experience?
21:40 A typical scheme of work at LCCM?
27:20 How can teachers fulfil both assessment and singer needs?
31:59 What to consider when writing singing curriculum
34:32 Private Vs institution teaching
38:26 Do I have to be a proficient pianist?
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Artists: Raye; Laufey; Daydreamers
Linda Hutchison
Jeanie LoVetri
Dr Trineice Robinson-Martin
LCCM
Colchester Institute
London Jazz Festival
London Contemporary Voices
Line Hilton
ABOUT THE GUEST
Australian-born Trudy moved to the UK in the 90s to pursue music. Her big break came when Ronnie Scott heard her and booked her for a week at his club. She has since performed at major UK venues and festivals, including Glastonbury and Buckingham Palace.
With 13 albums as a leader, her latest project, Take 5 - The Music of Paul Desmond, celebrates the alto saxophonist’s work. She's collaborated with world-class musicians such as Mulgrew Miller, Jan Lundgren, Georgie Fame, Bob Dorough, Jukka Perko, Michael Garrick, Acker Bilk, and Jamie Cullum.
Trudy holds a PG Cert in Jazz Studies from Guildhall School of Music and Drama and recently completed an MA in Teaching Musician at Trinity Laban. A senior fellow of the Higher Education Academy, she is Head of Vocals at London College of Contemporary Music, previously teaching at Trinity Laban, Guildhall, and Chichester University.
She has presented at the International Jazz Voice Conference in Finland, adjudicated the 2018 UNISA International Jazz Voice Competition in South Africa, co-hosted BBC Southern Counties' Jazz Hour, and co-owns the Jazzizit record label.
E: tkerr@ lccm.org.uk.
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
Are your values driving your work as a singing teacher, or holding you back? This week, we chat with Louise Callin, a dance teacher, mindset coach, and NLP practitioner, to explore tools for handling imposter syndrome, confidence dips, and daily stresses.
Curious how a deep dive into your true values can transform your teaching, boost your authenticity, and create a balanced, purposeful life? Then, hit the play button!
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:21 How dancing led to mindset coaching
9:43 What is mindset coaching, belief coding & NLP?
14:26 An exercise to try
23:25 Do you need a qualification and insurance to do mindset work?
26:13 How can mindset coaching complement teaching in the Performing Arts?
29:36 How to find your values
41:00 Getting started as a mindset coach
44:44 The Women's Success Squad
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Elmhurst Ballet School
Thursford Christmas Spectacular
Line Hilton
Belief Coding by Jess Cunningham
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.193 How to Master Tongue Tension for Better Singing with Walt Fritz
Walt Fritz
The Coaching Masters
Ikigai
The 6-minute Success Journal
Journalling (without lyrics) playlist
Paul Brunson
Amy Matthews Coaching: @amymatthewscoaching
ABOUT THE GUEST
Louise Callin's journey in dance and performing arts began at age three. By sixteen, she was immersed in full-time dance college, laying the foundation for a globe-trotting professional career that led her to open a dance studio in New Zealand. Returning to the UK, Louise realigned her life to blend her passion for helping others with a balanced lifestyle.
Transitioning into Mindset coaching, she became certified and qualified in Belief Coding and Master NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming). Louise now offers bespoke coaching programmes, focusing on mindset transformation to help individuals progress and grow.
Co-founder of the Women’s Success Squad, Louise collaborates with Amy Matthews to empower women through coaching, mentoring, and collaboration. Drawing from her background as a performer and teacher, Louise also supports performers and educators in overcoming barriers to success.
Website: louisecallincoach.com
Social Media: @louisecallincoach @louisecallin_dancerscoach @womenssuccesssquad
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
If you could live and work anywhere in the world, where would it be? For Gia Morgan, the answer was Bali. Join us as Gia shares her journey from the bustling life of a singing teacher in Jersey to creating a business and studio in Indonesia. How is she navigating the challenges of relocation, building a thriving international student base, and embracing the beauty of a new culture? And what surprising lessons is she learning along the way!
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:09 Life in Jersey: Why I left a studio of 90 students
8:25 Working life in Bali
10:12 The biggest challenge of relocating
12:32 The legal bit
17:45 Music education and singing in Bali
22:31 Establishing and pricing singing lessons in a different country
29:40 A bit of advice
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.36 Healing Through Singing Energies, Crystals and Creating Atmosphere with Gia Morgan
ABOUT THE GUEST
Gia is a British/Maltese Professional Singing Teacher, Singing for Health Practitioner, Vocal Manual Therapist, Specialist in Vocal Acupuncture, Vocal Health First-Aider, and coaches singing as a therapy. This includes Earth Choir, Kirtan/Chant gatherings, Adult Soul gatherings, courses and singing retreats. After finishing her Degree at the Academy of Contemporary Music at the ripe young age of 19 years old, Gia became a believer in the innate value of vocal well-being practices. Now 10 years on, Gia prides her teaching as a holistic focused approach.
Whilst travelling the East a decade ago, teaching singing in orphanages and schools – she also spent time leading through voice, Kirtan (Singing Meditations) with incredible masters of healing in Indonesia. This brings Gia pure joy to see a singer evolve in voice whole-body as well as all the “Geeky stuff” that is learnt in her lessons.
Gia was born in Jersey, Channel Islands in the UK, where she recently had a very successful voice studio for 5 years before moving to Indonesia. Gia now lives in Bali where she has opened a studio in Umalas. She also teaches and holds workshops and retreats in the UK, Malta and teaches internationally online.
Website: www.vocalswithgia.com
Instagram: @baliholisticvoicestudio
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
How much do you really know about your tongue? Could a simple touch or stretch transform your vocal performance? In this episode, we reconnect with manual therapist Walt Fritz to explore the fascinating world of tongue awareness, self-stretching techniques, and how understanding sensation and shared decision making in the studio can reshape singing.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?2:45 Are humans just wonky?
4:02 What is the power of shared decision making?
7:24 How do singers describe pain, fatigue and tension?
11:30 How do we know when awareness has improved?
23:14 How do we know when the tongue is functioning well?
26:15 What does the size and shape of a tongue imply?
35:32 What materials do we need for stretching the tongue?
42:35 A guiding in tongue exercise and stretch
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.74 Understanding Manual Therapy with Walt Fritz
NATs Chat Oct '24 - Discovering Your Voice: Stretching Tips to Expand Your Range (and Mind)
Iopi Medical
Tongueometer
Kerrie Obert
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.59 Top Tongue Tips for Boosting High Frequency Energy
Jennie Morton
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.40 Integrated Skills: Teaching Singing to Dancers
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.97 Elevate Your Performance Through Anatomical Efficiency
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.149 Part One & Ep.150 Two: Finding the Best Posture and Alignment for Singing
Newcastle Voice Conference
Tommaso Geri
DISCOUNT CODE: BAST2025
ABOUT THE GUEST
Walt Fritz, PT, has worked as an educator in the manual therapy field since the mid-1990s and expanded into voice, swallowing, oral motor, and airway issues in 2013. He is considered a content expert and teaches his Foundations in Manual Therapy: Voice and Swallowing Disorders internationally. Though manual therapy is typically described as a passive modality that remediates local tissue-based problems, Walt has evolved manual therapy explanations to be seen as another form of communication. His workshops challenge learners to look beyond what they were taught and know the potential of multifactorial impacts and drivers throughout the therapeutic process. Walt's approach leans strongly on shared decision-making instead of one-sided clinician perspectives, with the principles embodied in his approach applicable across the spectrum of therapeutic models.
In addition to teaching, Walt maintains a private practice in Upstate New York.
Walt is the author of the book, "Manual Therapy in Voice and Swallowing: A Person-Centered Approach," and is a contributing author to the forthcoming book, "The Oxford Handbook of Voice Pedagogy" and "The Vocal Athlete." Walt recently published the paper "The mechanism of action for laryngeal manual therapies: the need for an update."
Website: walt
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
How can singing teachers set boundaries that help them thrive - both in and out of the studio? In this 2024 finale, Line Hilton shares her tips to maintaining work-life balance, protecting vocal health, and creating clear policies that work for you and your students. Are your 2025 boundaries ready to transform your teaching life?
About the presenter click HERE
Instagram: @basttraining
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST
1:00 What can teacher training really do for your confidence and career?
12:00 How do we maintain work-life balance without sacrificing success?
22:00 How can we run a business and negotiate illness?
26:00 What’s the secret to managing student behaviour and expectation?
30:00 How can we follow opportunity and protect income?
35:00 How can we handle emotional moments without overstepping as a teacher?
41:00 When do student relationships cross a boundary?
47:00 How can we recognise when boundaries are being challenged?
50:00 What is BAST planning for 2025?
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Line Hilton
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.149 Part One: Finding the Best Posture and Alignment for Singing with Jennie Morton
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.150 Part Two: Finding the Best Posture and Alignment for Singing with Jennie Morton
Singing Teachers Talk -Ep.164 Music and the Brain: The Science of Learning & Practice with Dr Molly Gebrian Part One
Singing Teachers Talk -Ep.165 Music and the Brain: The Science of Learning & Practice with Dr Molly Gebrian Part Two
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.170 Understanding the Science of SOVTs: In Conversation with Ingo Titze & Karin Titze Cox
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.183 How to Fix Your Inhale and Transform Your Singing with Lucinda Allen
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.191 How to Set Up the Best Exhale for Singing Success with Lucinda Allen
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.151 How to Sing with Twang with Kerrie Obert
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.146 How to Understand and Apply Vocal Acoustic Pedagogy with Ken Bozeman
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.146 How to Understand and Apply Vocal Acoustic Pedagogy with Ken Bozeman - Ep.172 Understanding Acoustic Registers with Ken Bozeman
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.185 How to Sing Better by Sleeping Better with Dr Jill McGarry
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.180 Student Spotlight: How I Got to Know My Voice Through Singing Lessons with Jackie Pryce (Maud’s Dog)
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.184 Student Spotlight: How Singing Lessons Helped Rebuild My Voice with Lucia Neville
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.188 Student Spotlight: Singing Lessons Gave Me the Confidence to Call Myself an Artist with Kristina Mann
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.160 Tuning into Trauma: Strategies for Singing Teachers with Psychologist Dr. Lydia Stone
Mental Health First Aid England
Mental Health First Aid Australia
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
This week, singing teacher and MDH Breathing Coordination coach Lucinda Allen is back, and we are diving deeper into the art of the exhale. From understanding airflow and pressure to optimising support through absorption, join us as we unravel the secrets to powerful, effortless singing.
QUOTE
‘Pressure can only go one way in the body, and that’s out. If we don’t allow the body to absorb it, it will find its way to the vocal cords, creating strain. True support is about flexibility and movement, not tension or force.’
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:04-2:22 Common ‘exhale’ challenges
2:30-4:32 Matching air with vocal task
4:32-13:07 What we’re actually trying to achieve with the exhale
13:08-23:09 Air, pressure, and absorption
23:50-29:13 Breath Support
29:13-35:09 Exhaling for belt
35:48-38:09 Anchoring
38:09-41:53 Exercise
41:53-44:10 MDH Breathing Co-ordination and lung conditions
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.183 How to Fix Your Inhale and Transform Your Singing with Lucinda Allen
MDH Breathing Co-ordination
Cynthia Erivo
Estill
Path of the Voice by Robin De Haas
ABOUT THE GUEST
Lucinda has more than 15 years experience as a highly regarded voice, singing, and MDH breathing coordination coach. Her private coaching practice, Voice Unlocked, serves clients including performers from West End shows such as Lion King, Dirty Dancing, Choir of Man, and Aladdin, as well as touring artists like Grammy award winner Lalah Hathaway and UK-based artists Kelli-Leigh, Newton Faulkner, JP Cooper, and Skin (Skunk Anansie).
Lucinda manages Vocals on the Contemporary Music Programmes at The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, one of London's leading music schools, where she teaches and designs the curriculum, and she has recently designed the new MA Vocal Studies course for aspiring coaches and contemporary singers.
Lucinda's coaching practice is primarily based on the MDH Breathing Coordination (MDHBC) method, which focuses on functional breathing. Lucinda combines her own teaching methods with MDHBC to help individuals explore undiscovered aspects of their voice. In more challenging cases of vocal rehabilitation, she also provides support for individuals in rediscovering their voices.
Guest Website: voiceunlocked.com
Instagram: @voiceunlocked
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
What’s it really like to tour the world, play iconic venues, and navigate the highs and lows of life on the road? Korel Tunador, a multi-instrumentalist and singing teacher, has performed with the likes of Katy Perry and The Goo Goo Dolls, and he is here to share the challenges of tour life, and to give insider tips for aspiring musicians.
QUOTE
‘You’re trapped in a bus for months, and being able to put up your shields personality-wise, and keep your center of gravity, is probably the most challenging thing.’
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
1:41-5:39 Pursuing a music career
5:40-9:27 Performing with Katy Perry & The Goo Goo Dolls
9:28-15:11 Challenges of being on tour
15:12-20:57 Maintaining vocal health on tour
21:00-25:18 Performing on morning TV
25:21-30:22 Preparing singers for touring life
30:45-35:54 The dark side of fame
36:29-49:02 Exit strategy
49:36-53:26 The multi-instrumentalist and the voice
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Red Rocks
Neil Med Nasal Rinse
Sleep Better Doctor
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.185 How to Sing Better by Sleeping Better
Waterbear
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.189 The Dark Side of Fame: Tackling Mental Health Challenges in the Music Industry
Dave Stroud
Vocology in Practice
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.149 & 150 Finding the Best Posture and Alignment Parts 1 & 2
ABOUT THE GUEST
For the past two decades, Korel Tunador has toured the globe as a singer and multi-instrumentalist, performing with acclaimed artists like Rob Thomas, Katy Perry, The Goo Goo Dolls, and Jada Pinkett Smith. He has appeared on major television shows, including The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, Ellen, Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Top of the Pops, Saturday Night Takeaway, and the MTV Awards.
A Berklee College of Music graduate with honors in Jazz Performance, Korel’s versatile background spans Suzuki Classical Piano, improv jazz big bands, songwriting, and music production. As a voice coach, he serves on the Board of Directors for Vocology in Practice, and teaches with a unique "cross-training" approach, blending vocal technique with songwriting, music theory, ear training, guitar, and piano skills. Korel’s professional recording studio allows students to seamlessly transition from lessons to creating professional recordings. koreltunador.com
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
What role does the music industry play in shaping artists’ mental health, and how can we better support musicians who inspire us as listeners? In this episode, we explore some of the challenges musicians face with Rachel Jepson, a singer, BACP accredited psychotherapist and advocate for mental health in the arts. From rejection to fame’s pressures, Rachel shares her journey and some practical solutions for protecting our artists' mental health.
QUOTE‘Mental health knows no figure. It's going to get you whether you've got a pound or a bazillion pounds in the bank.’
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?9:32-19:10 Challenges artists are facing in the music industry today
19:13-27:14 Dealing with rejection
27:14-33;17 Managing commercial pressure
33:23-43:51 Fame and staying grounded
50:33-55:29 Parasocial relationships
55:29-1:00:00 Fear of failure and success
1:00:00-1:06:23 Counselling for Musicians
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKSArtists mentioned: Robbie Williams; That Take; East17; Five; One Direction; Liam Payne; Justin Bieber; Caroline Flack; Chapell Roan
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Help Musicians
Music Support
Boybands Forever Documentary
Musicians Union
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.154 Managing Imposter Syndrome, Low Confidence and Overwhelm as Singing Teachers
The Centre for Mental Health in the Music Industry
ABOUT THE GUESTRachel Jepson has over 25 years of experience in the music industry as a singer and 8 years of experience as a BACP-accredited psychotherapist. Struggling with her own mental health, partly from being involved in the music industry, Rachel has created the first and only training courses on Mental Health in the Music Industry. Her CPD Accredited certificate ‘Mental Health Awareness In the Music Industry’ has been delivered to over 500 participants in the music industry since it was Accredited. Rachel runs The Centre For Mental Health in the Music Industry in Manchester, providing a place for discussion and change in music education.
Her latest course ‘How to Be A Woman In Music’ focuses on issues that many women have struggled with in the Music Industry such as parenting, sexual harassment, and power imbalance, no other music industry course provides these insights and opportunities for discussion and change.
Rachel’s current PhD thesis focuses on creating a code of practice for Mental Health in the Music Industry, to provide a set of guidelines so members of the music industry community can be protected and supported.
Website: counsellingformusicians.co.uk
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
What does it really mean to call yourself an artist? In this inspiring Student Spotlight, singer-songwriter Kristina Mann shares how her journey with Hannah Smikle at Vocal Performance Coaching helped her take her art seriously, overcome self-doubt, and embrace her own voice. Tune in to uncover her story of creativity, resilience, and the power of mentorship.
QUOTE
"I never have learned so much about myself than in a singing lesson. What I've discovered about my fears, my habits, and what holds me back has transformed not just my voice, but who I am as an artist."
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
4:53-6:58 Kristina’s first singing memory
6:58-14:58 Taking art seriously
15:00-18:30 What Kristina was looking for in a singing teacher
18:30-32:32 An insight into Kristina’s singing lessons
33:34-35:24 Being positively challenged
35:24-38:18 The benefit of having singing lessons
38:18-39:18 Top 3 qualities to find in a singing teacher
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
- Open Hands by Kristina Mann
- Artists Mentioned: Emile Sande; Imogen Heap; India Arie
- @Inspiredtowrite
- Amie McNee
- Hannah Smikle
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.180 Student Spotlight: How I Got to Know My Voice Through Singing Lessons with Jackie Pryce (Maud's Dog)
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.51 How to Boost a Singer’s Confidence
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.112 Helping Musical Theatre Singers Build a Reliable Pop Toolbox
- Speech Level Singing
ABOUT THE GUESTAfter the launch of her first album Gold in 2019, Kristina has been working behind the scenes exploring her sound and crafting her story. Now armed with a vocal looper and the confidence to be uniquely herself, she is surrounded by her own harmonious melodies and beats drawing the listener in, allowing them to experience her experiences through each performance.
Residing in Stockport, this determined and passionate singer / songwriter / spoken word artist is committed to bringing her authentic self to every performance. She has been likened to artists such as Emeli Sande, Imogen Heap and Massive Attack; fusing genres such as soul, pop and R&B to create a unique and distinct sound that is undeniably Kristina Mann.
The body of work produced for her first album Gold gives glimpses to the building blocks which can now be evidenced in her latest material. There is a greater depth and maturity seen recently as she has navigated some deeper valleys of life but on her return, has been able to bring the treasure of these darker times into to light. She hopes to give words to those who have none as they navigate the many questions that arise in being human whilst living with great expectation in life.
Music: Spotify IG: @kristinamannofficial
BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more
basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group
Should you specialise as a singing teacher, or could staying generalist be the secret to a fulfilled career? This week, Alexa sits down with vocal coach Molly McLinden to explore the pros and cons of specialisation. Molly shares her experiences teaching everyone from teenage musical theatre hopefuls to karaoke-loving rockers, so tune in as they dive into the curious world of voice teaching with and without labels.
QUOTE
‘Jack of all trades master of none, though oftentimes better than master of one.’
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
0:00-1:48 A typical day in the life of a singing teacher
1:49-04:48 Deciding to specialise or not
4:52-12:34 What is a specialist?
12:34-17:38 Advantages of specialising
18:11-24:37 Disadvantages of specialising
24:37-32:27 Staying up to date
32:27-34:21 Molly’s studio
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
- How to Balance a Teaching and Performance Career with Olly Christopher
- Melissa Cross
- Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.77 How to Teach Singing to Children with Dana Lentini
- Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.139 Understanding Play-Based Learning for Children and Young Adult Singers with Nikki Loney
- School of Rock
- Joshua Alamu @madaboutthevoice
- Sing Up Foundation
- Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.181 The Role of Singing in Mental Wellness with Baz Chapman and Cell Barbara from the Sing Up Foundation
- NATS
- Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.157 What Singing Teachers Need to Know about NATS with Dr Kari Rogan
- Musical Theatre Educators Alliance
- Olly Christopher @ollychristopher_vocals
- Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.186 How to Balance a Teaching and Performance Career with with Olly Christopher
ABOUT THE GUEST
Molly McLinden is a Chicago based vocal coach and singer who has been teaching singers of all ages and styles for over twenty years. Previous and current students include an American Idol finalist, as well as professional musical theater actors and even punk rockers!
A big fan of all styles and methods , She has trained with CoreSinging founder Dr. Meribeth Dayme, and recently became a certified Neuro-Vocal Method™ coach. Molly is also a proud member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Currently, she maintains a busy private studio where she teaches students in person as well as online. In addition to teaching singing, she also offers beginner level acting instruction, improv, speaking voice assistance, beginner level piano and music theory and ear training.
Website: vocalmolly.com
Instagram: @vocalmolly
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VocalMolly
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
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"I am so glad I took the course! It has given me the confidence to move forward in my teaching knowing that I am practising safely, with a wealth of knowledge and support that I simply didn't have before! Hayley Ross, UK...more testimonials
Are you a teacher who misses singing? Or a performer who would love to know how to supplement your career with teaching? In this episode, Olly Christopher from The Book of Mormon and Hello Dolly reveals his journey from Musical Theatre professional performance to the teaching room, sharing how he found harmony between his dual passions. Discover how you can balance both a busy teaching schedule and a professional performing career.
QUOTE
‘Anything you do as a performer is going to be valuable to you as a teacher. I really think they go hand in hand.’
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:16-6:43 Getting in to Musical Theatre
6:45-7:06 The most challenging vocal role
8:07-17:23 Challenges & successes in Musical Theatre training
20:13-25:46 Advice to the aspiring Musical Theatre performer
25:46-27:45 Advantages & disadvantages a teaching & performance career
28:20-37:12 Maintaining a teaching and performance career
38:27-41:42 Advice for those wanting to do both
41:42-43:23 Vocal Balance
44:57-45:24 Get in touch with Olly
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
- The Churchill Theatre
- Guildford School of Acting
- Mountview
- Arts Ed
- Stephen Oremus
- Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.109 Mastering ‘Acting Through Song’ Techniques to Elevate Musical Theatre Performance
- Vocal Balance
- BAST Blog - How to Nurture a Singers Authentic Voice
- Dr Trineice Robinson-Martin
ABOUT THE GUEST
Olly Christopher is both a performer and singing teacher and has worked across the UK and internationally.
Olly trained at Arts Educational Schools, gaining a BA(Hons) degree in Musical Theatre. As a performer his credits include; A Christmas Carol (The Lowry, Manchester) Hello Dolly! (London Palladium), 42nd Street (Leicester Curve, Sadlers Wells, UK Tour & Toronto), Featured Soloist in The Greatest Showtunes (Raymond Gubbay Entertainment); South Pacific (Sadlers Wells & UK Tour); The Original London Cast of Pretty Woman: The Musical (Savoy Theatre, West End); The Book Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre, West End); All Star Musicals (ITV); and Sweet Charity (Manchester Royal Exchange).
Alongside Olly’s performing career, he is an accredited Vocal Balance singing teacher and has taught in many drama schools including Italia Conti, Bird College, LAMDA and PPA. Olly also runs his own private practice for Musical Theatre professionals, young adults who wish to train in Musical Theatre and non-professionals.
Instagram: @ollychristopher_vocals
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
Website: basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | Join the Free FB Group
"I am so glad I took the course! It has given me the confidence to move forward in my teaching knowing that I am practising safely, with a wealth of knowledge and support that I simply didn't have before! Hayley Ross, UK...more testimonials
What are some of the things that us singing teachers bang on about daily? One of them is likely vocal health, but how often does this involve the conversation of sleep? In this episode, Dr. Jill McGarry from Sleep Better Doctor dives deep into the science of sleep, sharing tips for performing artists, teachers alike, and anyone balancing erratic schedules. Learn what it takes to get true restorative rest, and how we can safeguard our vocal health by simply improving our sleep routine.
QUOTE
‘If you don't get enough sleep, not only will your body not be recovered for the next day of singing, but all that information that you need to be able to organise your business, your career, your profession, will start to fall off as well.’
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
0:00-5:17 Bizarre dreams
5:17-14:26 What’s actually happening during sleep?
15:19-19:37 Getting quality sleep
19:47-28:27 Sleep for the touring artist
29:13-38:49 Sleep gadgets
39:37-43:36 What not to eat or drink before bed
43:38-47:21 What to wear in bed
47:23-50:33 Snoring
51:58-55:30 Sleep Better Doctor
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
- Dr Michael Mosley
- Fast Asleep by Dr Michael Mosley
- The Epworth Sleepiness Scale
- Lux Lamps
- Stanford Sleep Medicine Centre
- Dr Cheri Mah
- Diary of a CEO Podcast - The Woman Who Helps NBA Stars to Sleep: Stop Having Showers Just Before Bed! Dr Cheri Mah
- Patrick McKeown
- Nasal Strips
- Dr Matt Walker
ABOUT THE GUEST
At Sleep Better Doctor, our mission is to enhance well-being and productivity by resolving sleep challenges for both individuals and organisations. We integrate evidence-based therapies with tailored training to effectively address sleep and fatigue issues. Our practice is deeply rooted in psychology, sleep disorders, and sleep deprivation, backed by extensive experience with direct clients and businesses.
We partner with a range of entities, from large NHS trusts to small companies, to provide expert psychological support and consultation. Our approach encompasses sleep education, CBT-I, mindfulness, compassion-focused therapy, acceptance & commitment therapy, trauma-informed therapy, and systemic therapy, delivering a holistic service designed to meet each client’s or company’s unique needs. Discover how quality sleep can transform your life at Sleep Better Doctor.
Contact Dr Jill McGarry directly: 07768 068 070
Guest Website: sleepbetterdoctor.co.uk
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
Website: basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | Join the Free FB Group
"I am so glad I took the course! It has given me the confidence to move forward in my teaching knowing that I am practising safely, with a wealth of knowledge and support that I simply didn't have before! Hayley Ross, UK...more testimonials
What happens when a singing teacher meets a singer struggling with their vocal health? In this episode, and for the second in BAST’s Student Spotlight feature, Alexa meets Lucia Neville - a singing teacher herself, and a performer known for her rock vocals. Lucia shares her story, from knowing nothing about her voice except her passion to sing and experiencing vocal trouble, to singing lessons and the teachers who helped transform her instrument.
QUOTE
‘I wanted to always sing big. I just wanted to be loud, to be proud, to get it out... once I was able to recreate the same sounds at a more consistent volume, a whole new world opened up for me.’
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
00:00 The dream
02:09 My first singing lesson
07:40 When vocal trouble started
13:29 Comments from a stranger
16:22 Rebuilding my voice
23:40 Knowledge is power
29:00 Should a singer understand vocal science and theory?
29:54 What I look for in a singing teacher
32:57 How my singing lessons influence me as a teacher
Music Credit: ‘Breathless’ by Lucia Neville & A Girl’s A Gun
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
- I Am: Celine Dion documentary
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.164 & 165 Music and the Brain: The Science of Learning & Practice
- Dr Molly Gebrian
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.137 Creating Optimal Learning Environments for Children and Young Adults
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.151 How to Sing with Twang
- Kerrie Obert
- Yoga with Adriene
- Feldenkrais Method
- Head Up, Above the Clouds by A Girl’s a Gun
ABOUT THE GUEST
Lucia is a seasoned vocalist with over 20 years of experience in both touring and recording. Her career has spanned various genres, and she has earned a reputation as a passionate and skilled performer. After sustaining a vocal injury while on tour, Lucia sought guidance from Sydney's leading vocal instructors, dedicating herself to mastering proper vocal technique and vocal health. This experience shaped her deep understanding of the voice and reinforced her commitment to maintaining a healthy and sustainable singing career.
Lucia has shared stages with some of the biggest names in the Australian blues, performing at major festivals, sold-out shows, and alongside internationally renowned blues artists. Her extensive experience and expertise have made her a sought-after mentor in the vocal community.
Lucia is a dedicated Committee Member of ANATS. She actively contributes to advancing vocal pedagogy standards and supports the vocal community in maintaining the highest levels of vocal education and performance excellence.
Website: luciaperry.com
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
Website: basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | Join the Free FB Group
"I am so glad I took the course! It has given me the confidence to move forward in my teaching knowing that I am practising safely, with a wealth of knowledge and support that I simply didn't have before! Hayley Ross, UK...more testimonials
Breathing is something most of us do each day without much consideration, so why does breathing for singing tie us up in such knots? In this episode, Alexa is joined by Lucinda Allen, MDH Breathing Coordination coach and founder of Voice Unlocked, to find answers to some of the most common breathing challenges singers face. Lucinda breaks down the fundamentals of breathing for singing, including the power of touch, and how we can find an optimal inhale to inspire our voices.
QUOTE
‘We’re all surviving and alive and breathing, but we’re not always breathing as optimally as we could for the task we are taking part in.’
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
0:00 Why does breathing for singing tie us in knots?
03:36 Common breathing challenges in singers
05:06 When is breath the problem, and when is it the solution?
12:37 Why MDH Breathing Co-ordination?
21:23 The power of touch
25:09 What we’re actually trying to achieve at inhale
30:34 A breathing exercise
50:59 Working with physiology and conditions
53:26 Mouth or nose?
55:21 Performer case studies
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
- MDH Breathing Co-Ordination
- Robin De Haas
- Robert Sussuma
- Feldenkrais
- Patrick McKeown
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.40 Integrated Skills: Teaching Singing to Dancers with Jennie Morton
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.175 Understanding the Transmasculine Voice with Stephen Davidson
ABOUT THE GUEST
Lucinda has more than 15 years experience as a highly regarded voice, singing, and MDH breathing coordination coach. Her private coaching practice, Voice Unlocked, serves clients including performers from West End shows such as Lion King, Dirty Dancing, Choir of Man, and Aladdin, as well as touring artists like Grammy award winner Lalah Hathaway and UK-based artists Kelli-Leigh, Newton Faulkner, JP Cooper, and Skin (Skunk Anansie)
Lucinda manages Vocals on the Contemporary Music Programmes at The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, one of London's leading music schools, where she teaches and designs the curriculum, and she has recently designed the new MA Vocal Studies course for aspiring coaches and contemporary singers.
Lucinda's coaching practice is primarily based on the MDH Breathing Coordination (MDHBC) method, which focuses on functional breathing. Lucinda combines her own teaching methods with MDHBC to help individuals explore undiscovered aspects of their voice. In more challenging cases of vocal rehabilitation, she also provides support for individuals in rediscovering their voices.
Guest Websites: voiceunlocked.com
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
Website: basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | Join the Free FB Group
"I am so glad I took the course! It has given me the confidence to move forward in my teaching knowing that I am practising safely, with a wealth of knowledge and support that I simply didn't have before! Hayley Ross, UK...more testimonials
Can your ears make or break your singing career? And how do we even protect such a valuable asset? In this episode, Alexa is joined by Jono Heale, a musician turned hearing health advocate. Learn how the ears work, how they can become damaged, and discover the game-changing technology of ear plugs and in-ear monitors that might just save your profession.
QUOTE
'If your ears don't work, neither do you’
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST? (AUDIO VERSION)
00:00:00 From musician to hearing health advocate
00:09:09 Managing tinnitus
00:12:00 How the ear works
00:20:27 Understanding noise exposure
00:26:24 What are ear plugs and in-ear monitors?
00:31:28 Who should wear in-ear monitors?
00:33:51 How in-ear monitors impact the stage set up
00:44:50 Musician's Hearing Health Scheme
00:46:46 Getting your custom hearing protection and in-ear monitors
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
- Musicians Union
- Help Musicians UK
- The Musicians Hearing Health Scheme
- Harley Street Hearing
- Tinnitus UK
- Tinnisoothe
- Singing Teachers Talk Youtube
- The Control of Noise at Work Regulations
- World Health Organisation
- The Independent Society of Musicians
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.117 The ISM: What Singers and Singing Teachers Need to Know
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.67 Protecting the Singer’s Ears for Performance Longevity
ACS DISCOUNT CODE (UK ONLY)
For custom hearing protection & in-ear monitors: BAST15
ABOUT GUEST
Jono has over 35 years in the music entertainment industry, including 15 years as a professional musician with tours and sessions, including work at the BBC. He developed a national music student network that launched talents like Ed Sheeran. After retraining as a Health and Safety Advisor, he specialises in noise and hearing health, driven by his own experience with music-induced tinnitus and hearing loss.
Jono is passionate about hearing conservation and sits on the Board of Directors at ACS, a leading custom hearing protection company. He launched the "Play Safe Now - Hear Tomorrow" campaign in 2014, receiving support from music industry figures. Jono lectures at top UK conservatoires, serves on the Musicians’ Health Advisory Board for Help Musicians UK, and is involved with various health initiatives in the music sector.
Website: acscustom.com/uk
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
Website: basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | Join the Free FB Group
"I am so glad I took the course! It has given me the confidence to move forward in my teaching knowing that I am practising safely, with a wealth of knowledge and support that I simply didn't have before! Hayley Ross, UK...more testimonials
In this episode, we dive into a compelling conversation with Baz Chapman and Celi Barberia from the Sing Up Foundation, where we explore how singing can profoundly impact children's mental health and well-being. With alarming statistics showing that 50% of mental health issues are established by age 14, what happens when we normalise singing in schools, and how can it provide a support? Tune in to discover how the Sing Up Foundation is creating lasting change through music and what benefits their work is uncovering.
QUOTE
‘The benefits of singing are incredible. It's not just about making music; it's about giving young people a voice, helping them gain confidence, and fostering well-being. Singing can be a lifeline for children facing mental health challenges, and the impact goes far beyond the music itself.’ - Celi Barberia
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
00:00:00 How Sing Up evolved
00:04:00 The science behind singing and wellness
00:08:30 Sneaking singing into school days
00:14:45 Why some teachers fear singing and how to overcome it
00:16:30 How music can heal emotional scars
00:22:00 Questioning ‘excellence’
00:26:30 The difference between singing for performance and singing for well-being
00:34:30 Connecting with boys and young men
00:45:00 The power of normalising singing in everyday life to build confidence
00:47:00 Inspiring Voices podcast preview
Click for presenter bios
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKSInspiring Voices Podcast
Inspiring Voices - Let’s talk singing research with Professor Graham Welch
The work of Professor Graham Welch
The Choir with No Name
Ex Cathedra
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast Ep.160 Tuning into Trauma: Strategies for Singing Teachers with Lydia Stone
Kit Brown @kitbrownnn
Emily Foulkes
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.71 Singing for Trauma with Emily Foulkes
SK Shlomo
Rachel Lynes
The Sing Space Choir
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.179 From 1 to 40 Choirs and Touring with Gareth Malone - A Chat with Rachel Lynes
The Singing School Handbook: How to Make Your School Sing (Faber Music) by Michelle James
The University of Limerick
Singing Teachers Talk Eps.155 & 156 - Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios with Dr Shannon Coats P1 & P2
ABOUT THE GUESTS
Baz Chapman is an arts & education consultant, facilitator and programme manager specialising in singing programmes. Prior to going freelance in 2015, his roles included Chorus & Projects Manager for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Programme Director for Sing Up
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
Website: basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | Join the Free FB Group
"I am so glad I took the course! It has given me the confidence to move forward in my teaching knowing that I am practising safely, with a wealth of knowledge and support that I simply didn't have before! The training is comprehensive, immediately applicable, massively informative and so engaging! LOVED it!" Hayley Ross, UK...more testimonials
What happens when a singer steps into the spotlight to share their lessons learned? In this new ‘Student Spotlight’ feature, singing teachers will understandwhy singers might seek us out in the first place, what their expectations of lessons are, and what helps and hinders them. In this episode, we welcome Jackie Pryce, one half of the musical duo Maud’s Dog, understanding her journey from Gosport to The Troubadour, how singing lessons have transformed her technique, what was important for her to find in a teacher and how those open questions really feel.
QUOTE
‘In 2021 obviously we'd all been through the pandemic, and I think a lot of us were looking at our lives and thinking…what really matters to me? What do I need to be doing more of?… It made me want to review my life and I thought: what do I really want to do, and what do I really love? And I thought I need to be singing again…’
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
00:00 Where it all started
5:33 Who are Maud’s Dog?
10:19 Why I wanted singing lessons
11:37 What I was looking for in a singing teacher
16:18 Expectations of the teacher
17:09 Technical challenges and how I overcame them
20:20 An impactful moment in my singing lessons
24:13 The perfect singing lesson
26:15 Those open questions
30:35 What’s next for Maud’s Dog?
Music Credit:
Not Tonight written and performed by Maud’s Dog
Vocals by Jackie Pryce
Guitar by Mark Fisher
Production by Jordan Humphreys
Click for presenter bios
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
- Maud’s Dog Youtube
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.102 Understanding Singing and Menopause with Joanne Bozeman
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.171 A Guide to Vocal Self-Massage for Singers with Robert Price
- Basingstoke Community Radio
- The Troubadour
ABOUT THE GUEST
Maud’s Dog are a captivating acoustic songwriting and performing duo that weave soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics into a musical tapestry. Drawing inspiration from legendary artists like James Taylor and the ethereal Kate Bush, they infuse their compositions with a touch of jazz, a hint of blues, and the energy of rock.
Guest Websites: maudsdog.com
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
Website: basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | Join the Free FB Group
"I am so glad I took the course! It has given me the confidence to move forward in my teaching knowing that I am practising safely, with a wealth of knowledge and support that I simply didn't have before! The training is comprehensive, immediately applicable, massively informative and so engaging! LOVED it!" Hayley Ross, UK...more testimonials
In this episode, we welcome back Rachel Lynes, founder of The Sing Space, to share her journey of growing one choir to 40 adult musical theatre choirs across the UK. Rachel discusses the challenges of building a successful choir community, finding the perfect venue, recruiting members, and creating meaningful connections through music. We dive into exciting projects like her collaboration with Gareth Malone and she gives tips for aspiring choir leaders. Whether you're looking to start your own choir or grow an existing one this episode is full of inspiring insights.
QUOTE
‘I didn’t realise what this was that we were setting up… I thought we were doing musical theatre choirs, and now I’m like, no, no, no—this is so much more.’
00:04:00 From 1 choir to 40 choirs nationwide network
00:06:00 Financial realities of running choirs
00:10:00 The importance of venue choice
00:12:00 Recruiting choir members
00:15:00 Authentic marketing tips
00:22:00 Selecting & arranging Musical Theatre songs
00:25:00 How to teach harmony effectively
00:30:00 Incorporating vocal technique into choir sessions
00:32:00 Advice for aspiring choir leaders
00:39:00 How to start your own choir
00:43:00 Gareth Malone Tour
Click for presenter bios
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.28 Finding the Fundamental Truths of Singing
- Gareth Malone
- Barbara Tanze
- Heidi Moss: heidimosserickson.com
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.55 Teaching Singing for Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.122 Discovering the Well-Being Benefits of Community Choirs
- Naveen Arles: naveenarles.com
ABOUT THE GUEST
Fondly named, 'the voice whisperer' by the singers she works with, Rachel's rigorously technical yet accessible approach combines the science with the heart. Rachel works with singers who include recording artists, West End performers and Vocal Coaches. She has been studying the voice for over 20 years.
As a performer, she spent 10 years playing leading roles in the West End and internationally.
She is published in the Journal of Voice. Recommendations for voice healthcare based on expert-by-experience and practitioner consensus. She has lectured at The Theatre Royal Haymarket, many of the top training institutions and at the Vocal Health Education BioPsychosocial conference in London, co-authoring a speech with clinician Joanna Cazden.
Rachel is director of Sing Space Choirs, offering Musical Theatre singing to almost a two thousand singers per week. As a vocal coach, Rachel incorporates singing technique into each session, including tips on mindset, breathing, posture, range, muscle release and lots more.
Guest Websites: rachellynes.co.ukwww.singspacechoir.com
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
Website: basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | Join the Free FB Group
"I am so glad I took the course! It has given me the confidence to move forward in my teaching knowing that I am practising safely, with a wealth of knowledge and support that I simply didn't have before! The training is comprehensive, immediately applicable, massively informative and so engaging! LOVED it!" Hayley Ross, UK...more testimonials
In this episode, Alexa Terry is joined by fellow singing teacher Gareth Henderson. With a wealth of experience in sound engineering and music production, Gareth shares insights on the balance between technology and artistry. From understanding the functional equipment to crafting a pleasing soundscape for live and recorded audio, Gareth’s expertise offers valuable takeaways for singers and teachers alike.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
00:02:00 The secret behind those knobs
00:03:00 Mixing audio is really just like cooking
00:07:00 Can your laptop compete with Abbey Road?
00:08:00 How to train your ear like a pro
00:12:00 Does nasality boost your singing?
00:21:00 When is a mix truly finished?
00:25:00 What’s the difference between sound engineering and music production?
00:30:00 Reverb and other vocal effects
00:36:00 Should artists try to recreate studio effects on stage?
00:41:00 How much should a sound engineer know about vocal technique?
00:52:00 The secret hack for writing songs without an instrument
Click for presenter bios
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
- Dr Nicholas Perna
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.167 Understanding Nasality and Perception in the Singing Voice with Dr Nicholas Perna
- Trevor Horn
- Svara Project
- Logic
- Garageband
- Typebeats
- Audio University
- BBC Maestro
- @seids_ (Logic tips and shortcuts)
- premix.com (Music Production and audio engineering tutorials)
- studio.com - Songwriting and Music Production combined
- macprovideo.com (Subscription tutorials)
- ‘Watch the Sound’ with Mark Ronson (Apple TV)
- Ed Sheeran : Songwriter
ABOUT THE GUEST
Gareth was a UK based vocalist in original music bands from the ages 15-21years, and in covers bands from 22-32years. He took voice lessons to solve problems with YELLING in gigs and lack of high range. He decided to start a recording studio and was persuaded by his voice teacher to teach singing as a side line until the studio was busy - lessons became extremely busy very quickly and so the studio took a back seat.
An opportunity to record a previously famous artist meant Gareth needed to employ some of his students as voice teachers to cover his workload (and 2 of them became The Naked Vocalists.) He got them to train in proper pedagogy (SLS) and realised he needed to as well!
Gareth opened a bigger studio with more teaching rooms and recording studios / rehearsal rooms, dance studio and cafe, and got asked to teach Music Tech at a College. In 2015, he sold his business to move to Australia and start over small and once again, hands on!
Guest Website: vocaltech.com
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
Website: basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | Join the Free FB Group
"I am so glad I took the course! It has given me the confidence to move forward in my teaching knowing that I am practising safely, with a wealth of knowledge and support that I simply didn't have before! The training is comprehensive, immediately applicable, massively informative and so engaging! LOVED it!" Hayley Ross, UK...more testimonials
In this episode, Alexa welcomes Genevieve Tawiah - a specialist in vocal physiotherapy. Genevieve shares her insights on how different elements of physiotherapy can aid vocalists and performing artists. They discuss the importance of personalised care, from addressing neck, shoulder, and respiratory issues to managing restrictive costumes that impact vocal performance. Genevieve also explores the importance of self-awareness, and how she assists her patients in building a connection with their bodies.
**QUOTE
'**The beauty of being a physio and working in healthcare is we want to give people tools for their toolbox…We want to empower people and give them the skills, the knowledge, to go away self manage that where they can.'
Click for presenter bios
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.120 Understanding Singing and Fitness with Duncan Rock
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.40 Integrated Skills: Teaching Singing to Dancers with Jennie Morton
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.97 Elevate Your Performance Through Anatomical Efficiency with Jennie Morton
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.149 Part One: Finding the Best Posture and Alignment for Singing with Jennie Morton
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.150 Part Two: Finding the Best Posture and Alignment for Singing with Jennie Morton
- Jennie Morton
- Chris Johnson Vocal Coach
- Chris Johnson’s Teach Voice
- Lucie Rayner
- Prehab
- Performing Arts Medicine Association
- Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
- BAPAM
ABOUT THE GUESTGenevieve is a Performance Physiotherapist with a specialism in vocal physiotherapy. She is passionate about improving her patients’ awareness and understanding of their bodies. Originally from Derby, she moved to Manchester to study physiotherapy before moving to London to pursue her interest of working in the performing arts industry. Since graduating she has attained experience working in the NHS as well as private sector; worked on West End shows such as Wicked, Harry Potters Cursed Child, The Drifters Girl musical and more; supported various TV shows; and provided vocal and general physiotherapy support for singers both at schools, in show, on their tours and in clinic. She is currently writing her first article on vocal physiotherapy collaborating with colleague Lucie Rayner. Genevieve enjoys treating people from different backgrounds and is keen on taking a whole body/whole person approach and collaborating with her patients.
Guest Website: tawiahphysio.co.uk
Guest Email: g.tawiah@hotmail.com
Social Media: @tawiaphysio
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
Website: basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | Join the Free FB Group
"I am so glad I took the course! It has given me the confidence to move forward in my teaching knowing that I am practising safely, with a wealth of knowledge and support that I simply didn't have before! The training is comprehensive, immediately applicable, massively informative and so engaging! LOVED it!" Hayley Ross, UK...more testimonials
In this episode, Alexa Terry welcomes back BAST Training founder, Line Hilton, to delve into the niche field of Performing Arts Medicine, understanding what it umbrellas and how it’s evolving. Line particularly addresses the physical and mental health challenges performers face, discussing the holistic approach she takes in her work to help performers overcome physical and mental blocks to enhance their performances.
QUOTE'We can't just look at the performer or the singer in isolation of their voice, or what they have to do for their job, but everything else matters and counts.'
Click **for presenter bios
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS**
- Andy Murray: Will to Win and Resurfacing
- I Am: Celine Dion
- BAPAM
- Voice Care Centre
- PAMA
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.127 PAMAthon 2023 A Free Performing Arts Medicine Extravaganza
- University College London
- Morty Lefkoe
- The Chimp Paradox by Professor Steve Peters
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.33 The Chimp Paradox by Steve Peters Book Review
- Mental Health First Aid England
- Sarah Joyce
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.69 Understanding Pregnancy for the Singer and the Self-Employed with Sarah Joyce and Cat Ogden
- Insight timer app
- Calm app
- The Samaritans
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.32 The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King
ABOUT THE GUEST
Line Hilton is a multifaceted voice, performance, and resilience coach with a unique background in nursing, jazz performance, and performing arts medicine. With a holistic she focuses on vocal health, mental resilience, and eliminating limiting beliefs to achieve healthy, high performance.
With a portfolio career that began in nursing and transitioned into professional singing and education, Line discovered her true passion in helping her clients overcome obstacles to their vocal and creative success. Her work is grounded in the belief that optimal performance requires not only technical skill but also a growth mindset and robust mental and physical health. Line’s mission is to raise the standards of vocal, mental, and physical well-being in performers.
Line is the founder of BAST Training, a leading program for aspiring singing teachers, and has lectured at prestigious institutions like UCL and the Royal Northern College of Music.
Whether working with high-profile artists or emerging talent, Line’s dedication to fostering creativity, health, and professional growth is at the core of everything she does.
Guest Website: linehilton.com
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
Website: basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | Join the Free FB Group
"I am so glad I took the course! It has given me the confidence to move forward in my teaching knowing that I am practising safely, with a wealth of knowledge and support that I simply didn't have before! The training is comprehensive, immediately applicable, massively informative and so engaging! LOVED it!" Hayley Ross, UK...more testimonials
Stephen Davidson offers insights into the unique challenges and techniques involved in working with transmasculine singers. From the effects of hormone replacement therapy to practical vocal exercises, Stephen shares invaluable advice for singing teachers and vocal coaches looking to provide inclusive and supportive training in the voice studio.
QUOTE
‘Anything you can do to help create space, and relaxation, and settle in a nice warm chest voice is always the first port of call.’
Click for presenter bios
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.155 Part One: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios with Dr Shannon Coates
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.156 Part Two: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios with Dr Shannon Coates
- The Alexander Technique
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.138 Exploring the Benefits of The Alexander Technique for Singers with Patrick Ardagh-Walter
- Singing Teachers Talk Ep.169 How to Use Gesture for Better Singing with Heather Baker
- Arthur Lessac
- Chris Johnson & Teach Voice
- Mentioned Artists/Characters/Songs: Hosier; Orpheus from Hadestown; Summertime by George Gershwin
- One Weird Trick, A User's Guide to Transgender Voice by Liz Jackson Hearns
- Queering Vocal Pedagogy by William Sauerland
- NewMusicShelf Anthology of New Music Trans & Nonbinary Voices curated by Aidan K. Feltkamp
ABOUT THE GUEST
Stephen is a voice coach for trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people, conductor of London Trans Choir, and is a trans man himself. He has studied voice widely, including with Alexandros Constansis and Kate Hammett Vaughn, and as part of his actor training. He has taught voice for trans folks with the Speech and Language Therapy department at the Tavistock and Portman Gender Clinic, and is now teaching privately. Stephen also leads regular masterclasses for voice teachers and voice users, and is the author of Transmasculine Voice - A Guide to Vocal Euphoria.
Guest Website: londontranschoir.com
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
Website: basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | Join the Free FB Group
"I am so glad I took the course! It has given me the confidence to move forward in my teaching knowing that I am practising safely, with a wealth of knowledge and support that I simply didn't have before! The training is comprehensive, immediately applicable, massively informative and so engaging! LOVED it!" Hayley Ross, UK...more testimonials
Alexa welcomes UK tax accountant, Andy Muckett, to the podcast, to demystify the complexities of tax for self-employed vocal coaches and singing teachers in the UK. They discuss why taxes can feel overwhelming for creative professionals, the differences in tax responsibilities between employed and self-employed individuals, and practical tips for managing tax-related challenges. The conversation offers insights on estimating tax liabilities, understanding taxable income, and navigating the transition to self-employment.
QUOTE
‘If you were to take 20% of all your top line income before any expenses…and put it away in a savings account, then in theory that would give you more than enough money than you need to pay your tax when it comes around.’
Link to presenter bios: Click Here
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
HMRC: gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs
Companies House: gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house
(Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.159 How Toys and Props Can Create Dynamic Singing Lessons with Kaya Herstad-Carney
Vibrant Voice Technique: vibrantvoicetechnique.com
Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): ico.org.uk/for-organisations/data-protection-fee
DEXT Solo: info.dext.com/welcome-to-dext-solo
MyMusicStaff: mymusicstaff.com
(Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.93 How to Organise Your Singing Studio Business with My Music Staff
The Musicians Union: musiciansunion.org.uk
Independent Society of Musicians: ism.org
(Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.117 The ISM: What Singers and Singing Teachers Need to Know with Ruth McPherson
ABOUT THE GUEST
Andy has been involved in the tax world since he left school as a 16 year old. He originally worked for the Inland Revenue (now HMRC) for 5 years before moving into the accounting profession where he specialised in personal taxation and gained accreditation as a Chartered Tax Advisor. He set up AKM in 1992, mainly supporting individuals with their tax compliance needs and always with an eye towards finding opportunities to reduce client tax bills within the confines of the law. Andy loves performing on stage (mostly local panto) when the opportunity arises and when time allows.
Website akmaccountingsolutions.co.uk
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.
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"I am so glad I took the course! It has given me the confidence to move forward in my teaching knowing that I am practising safely, with a wealth of knowledge and support that I simply didn't have before! The training is comprehensive, immediately applicable, massively informative and so engaging! LOVED it!" Hayley Ross, UK...more testimonials
Join us as we sit down with Dr Reena Gupta, a renowned laryngologist, to explore the world of vocal health. In this episode, we dive into common vocal injuries identified in clinic, the misconceptions of injury, and how injury forms, as well as the vocal impacts of the common cold, allergies and acid reflux. This episode is packed with practical insights and tips as Dr. Gupta shares her expertise on identifying and managing these conditions, offering invaluable advice for singers, teachers, and anyone who relies on their voice.
"You must attend to anything that's affecting your voice"
EPISODE RESOURCES:
Guest Website(s): www.centerforvocalhealth.com
Social Media Instagram: @voicedoctorgupta and @centerforvocalhealth
Book a Ticket to The SVARA Project Voice Summit: svaraproject.com
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.161 From Speech to Song: Training the Spoken Voice Vs the Singing Voice with SLP Elle Holiday
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.75 Vocal Rehabilitation for Singers with Dr Jenevora Williams
- Dr Jenevora Williams: https://jenevorawilliams.com/ & @jenevorawilliams
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.87 How to Manage Allergies and Upper Respiratory Infections with Laryngologist Declan Costello
- The OHNI Voice Book: Straight Talk with Dr Reena Gupta
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.60 The Best Nutritional Do’s and Don’ts for Singers with Stephanie Moore
- Stephen King: https://voicecarecentre.co.uk/stephen-king/
- Lydia Flock: https://www.oxfordvocalmassage.co.uk/about-us
- Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA: https://artsmed.org/
- Mindy Pack: https://www.mindypack.com/
- Chris Johnson: https://chrisjohnsonvocalcoach.com/
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Dr. Reena Gupta is a laryngologist (voice doctor and surgeon) in Beverly Hills, CA. She was led to this specialty of a love for the voice, which was fostered through singing lessons starting at the age of 11. When she entered medical school, her passion for the voice led her to seek a residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at NYU. She then did an additional year-long fellowship in Laryngology/Care of the Professional Voice. Dr. Gupta opened her own practice, Center for Vocal Health, as the only Laryngologist-led private voice centre in Southern California. Dr. Gupta is published in numerous journals and textbooks and has been invited to speak at universities and conferences locally and internationally. She volunteers locally and globally and runs educational conferences to empower professional voice users to seek the best vocal care.
ABOUT THE PODCAST:
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started, or just having some knowledge gaps to fill, through our courses and educational events.
Link to presenter bios: Click Here
Website: basttraining.com Get updates direct to your inbox: Click here
BAST Book A Call: basttraining.com/bookacall/
Vocal pedagogy expert Ken Bozeman returns to the podcast, joining Alexa to explore laryngeal vs. acoustic registration, how vowel modification impacts vocal range, and the role of sensory feedback in refining vocal technique.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Laryngeal registration involves physical changes in the larynx and muscle use to shape vocal folds for different pitches. Acoustic registration focuses on the interaction between pitch, harmonics, and vowel resonance to produce different timbres. Understanding both helps singers and teachers refine vocal techniques.
- To understand vowel resonance and acoustic registration, try these exercises: modify vowel shapes to note resonance changes, whisper different vowels to explore natural resonances, sing with nasal consonants to feel nasal resonance, focus on harmonics and resonance shifts, and use vocal fry and whispers to identify resonances.
- To apply acoustic registration concepts, adjust vowel shapes for timbres like whoop (smooth), close (sizzly), and open (buzzier). Practise smooth transitions and use nasal consonants to explore resonances. Focus on sensory feedback, experiment with expression, and train your ear for harmonics. Record and analyse your singing for improvement.
- Ken recommends that singers and teachers focus on developing a strong understanding of acoustic principles and how they can be applied to improve vocal technique. He suggests using tools like the chiaroscuro whisper to explore and understand vocal resonances.
BEST MOMENTS
"Laryngeal registration deals with how the vocal folds are shaped for pitch, while acoustic registration is determined by the relationship between the pitch being sung and the potential harmonics of that pitch."
"In non-classical styles, the goal is to keep the entire range as speech-like as possible, which may involve compromises due to the different paint set of each pitch."
"Open timbre in acoustic terms is more oral. You feel it in the mouth."
"Attitude, is it an emotion or is it an attitude?”
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- http://www.kenbozeman.com/
- Get Ken’s book ‘Practical Vocal Acoustics’ here: https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538174647/Practical-Vocal-Acoustics-Pedagogic-Applications-for-Teachers-and-Singers
- Get Ken’s book ‘Kinesthetic Voice Pedagogy 2’ here: https://www.voxped.com/KVP2.html
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Relevant Links & Mentions:
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.146 How to Understand and Apply Vocal Acoustic Pedagogy with Ken Bozeman
- The work of Ingo Titze
- The work of Ian Howell
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.167 Understanding Nasality and Perception in the Singing Voice with Dr Nicholas Perna
- Wolfgang Saus: https://www.oberton.org/en/
- (Book) Voice is FREE After SOVT by Karin Titze Cox & Ingo Titze
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.170 Understanding the Science of SOVTs: In Conversation with Ingo Titze & Karin Titze Cox
- Approximate First Formant Locations from Ken Bozeman: http://www.kenbozeman.com/formant-location.php
- Kaya Herstad-Carney: kayamusic.com
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.103 How to ‘Measure’ a Singer with Kaya Herstad-Carney
- Voce Vista: https://www.vocevista.com/
- The work of Donald Miller
ABOUT THE GUEST
Kenneth Bozeman, BM, MM, is Professor Emeritus of Music, having taught at Lawrence University for 42 years. He holds degrees from Baylor University and the University of Arizona, and studied in Munich. He authored "Practical Vocal Acoustics" and "Kinesthetic Voice Pedagogy." Bozeman’s students have performed with major opera companies worldwide. He is a noted expert in vocal acoustics and continues to present at international conferences.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Robert Price is a voice teacher, director, and level five advanced clinical massage therapist specialising in the voice and jaw. He trained in voice studies at the Central School of Speech and Drama before teaching and directing in many drama schools and currently serves voice users at his Vocal Massage London and at the Voice Care Centre. Robert teaches vocal massage to other teachers, osteopaths, physiotherapists, and SLTs, and he's here to help us understand how we can perform massage on ourselves and guide our clients in self-massage in the studio.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Robert finds massage beneficial for stress and anxiety. He discusses how vocal massage helps shift from a sympathetic to a parasympathetic state, calming the nervous system and fostering connection.
- Individuals should listen to their bodies and engage in self-massage with care, avoiding extremes and focusing on gentle, thoughtful touch. Robert also recommends seeking professional training for those interested in pursuing vocal massage as a practice.
- Robert's vocal massage techniques for stress management include gently mobilising the larynx, performing anterior neck stretches, massaging the submental region, encouraging thoughtful self-touch, using a holistic approach with whole-body techniques like Qigong, and ensuring consent-based touch. These methods promote relaxation, improve mobility, and reduce tension in the vocal area.
- Example Daily Routine. Morning: Start your day with a few minutes of gentle neck stretches and submental massages. Afternoon Break: Take a short break to practise deep breathing and light self-massage on your neck and shoulders. Evening: End your day with a more extended self-massage session, focusing on the entire neck and throat area, and incorporating whole-body stretches.
BEST MOMENTS
"The fundamental value of massage is to move people from a sympathetic state to a parasympathetic state."
"The benefits of vocal massage are subjective. It usually helps people, but quite what's happening within that is about the person."
"Consent and safety are at the heart of manual therapy. The person should have agency over the touch and feel comfortable throughout the session."
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- Vocal Massage London : https://www.vocalmassagelondon.com
- Voice Care Centre : https://voicecarecentre.co.uk
- Vocal Massage Training : https://voicecarecentre.co.uk/vocal-massage-training/
Social Media:
- Instagram: @robertprice1969
- Email Robert directly: robert@vocalmassagelondon.com or robertprice1869@gmail.com
BAST Level 5 Singing Teacher Training Qualification
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Relevant Links & Mentions:
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk Ep.32 The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk Ep.90 Help! I’ve Got a Voice Problem with Lydia Hart and Stephen King
- Voice Care Centre: https://voicecarecentre.co.uk/
- Stephen King at the Voice Care Centre: https://voicecarecentre.co.uk/stephen-king/
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk Ep.74 Understanding Manual Therapy with Walt Fritz
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk Ep.65 The Top Benefits of Vocal Massage with Lydia Flock
- Feldenkrais Method: https://feldenkrais.com/about-the-feldenkrais-method/
- Qigong Practice
ABOUT THE GUEST
Robert is a voice teacher, director, and Level 5 Advanced Clinical Massage Therapist specialising in the voice and jaw. He trained in voice studies at the Central School of Speech and Drama and has taught at RADA, LAMDA, ArtsEd, Central, East 15, Rose Bruford, and The Lir. He works at the Voice Care Centre in Soho and runs Vocal Massage London. Robert also teaches vocal massage to professionals globally.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Join voice scientist, Dr Ingo Titze and Speech and Language Pathologist, Karin Titze-Cox as they discuss their book 'Voices Free after SOVT', exploring the science and application of Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract exercises. They delve into the benefits, implementation, and clinical applications of SOVTs, including using straws and tools to improve vocal health and performance. The interview is preceded by a brief review of the book from singing teacher and podcast host, Alexa Terry.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The book 'Voices Free after SOVT' provides a comprehensive understanding of the science and application of SOVT exercises.
- SOVT exercises can be beneficial for singers, clinicians, teachers, and anyone interested in understanding the mechanics of the voice.
- Repetition, analogy, and clear explanations are used in the book to make complex concepts accessible to a wide audience.
- Different types of SOVT exercises have varying intraoral pressures and can be used to achieve specific vocal objectives.
- SOVT exercises can be used for evaluation, conditioning, and rehabilitation in clinical settings. SOVT exercises, such as using straws, can be beneficial for vocal health and performance.
- Finding the right resistance and pressure is important for effective SOVT exercises.
- Different materials and configurations can be used for SOVT exercises, depending on individual preferences and needs.
- SOVT exercises can help improve vocal resonance, muscle tension, and overall vocal technique.
BEST MOMENTS
"When you pick up a book by Ingo Tietze and Karen Tietze-Cox, you know you're entering academic territory."
"The deeper you go into the water, the less the tube or the straw makes a difference."
"The material doesn't really matter much. That's our first conclusion."
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Book A Call
- https://ncvs.org/
Get your copy of ‘Voice is FREE after SOVT’ here: https://ncvs.org/book-purchase-voice-is-free-after-sovt/
Further watching:
- Why Straw – NCVS
- The Science Behind the Straw Exercise: Video 1 NCVS.org
- The Science Behind the Straw Exercise: Video 2 NCVS.org
- The Science Behind the Straw Exercise: Video 3 NCVS.org
- High Resistance Straw in Water (Karin Titze Cox and Ingo Titze) short update
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.131 Mastering Research Papers: How to Read with Ease and Extract Knowledge with Kate Cubley
- Chris Johnson’s Teach Voice: https://www.teachvoice.com/
- John Henny: https://johnhenny.com/
- The Intelligent Vocalist: Episode 356: SOVTs with Karin Titze Cox & Ingo Titze
- The work of Marco Guzman
- The work of Anne-Maria Laukkanen
- Lessac-Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy
- Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.164 Music and the Brain: The Science of Learning & Practice with Dr Molly Gebrian Part One
- Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.165 Music and the Brain: The Science of Learning & Practice with Dr Molly Gebrian Part Two
- Journal of Speech and Hearing Research: https://pubs.asha.org/journal/jslhr
- The work of Kitty Verdolini Abbott
- (Singer) Renee Flemming
- Vocal Tubes: https://www.vocaltubes.com/
- Belt Box: https://www.beltyafaceoff.com/
- Mindy Pack: https://www.mindypack.com/shop
- Resono Straw by Oren Boder: https://www.rayvox.co.uk/collections/all
ABOUT THE GUEST
Ingo R. Titze, known as the father of vocology, coined the term with George Gates in 1989 and developed the original vocology curricula in 1990. He has held various appointments and written over 500 publications and six books on voice production.
Karin Titze Cox, SLP-CCC, specialises in vocology and voice habilitation. She received her BA from BYU and MA from University of Iowa. She's worked in research, private practice, and clinic director roles in Salt Lake City. She's served on the Pan American Vocology Association board and National Center for Voice and Speech executive board.
Heather Baker, Founding Director of the Institute for Vocal Advancement, explains how gestures enhance vocal training by providing an additional modality for the brain to learn new vocal skills. She explores the connection between gestures and the brain, sharing examples of personalised and meaningful gestures.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- 1) Cognitive and Neuroscience Aspects: Heather has found that gesture can serve as an additional input for the brain, which helps in understanding and solidifying vocal training. This mixed modality input (combining visual, kinesthetic, and auditory cues) enhances learning and performance.
- 2) Impact on Vocal Folds and Articulation: Gesture can directly influence what happens at the larynx and vocal folds, as well as affect articulation. By using specific gestures, singers can be guided to achieve better vocal production and coordination. For example, certain gestures can help with airflow, pitch accuracy, and the overall sound quality.
- 3) Personalization and Metaphor: By creating their own gestures to mimic the sound or sensation they are aiming for, students can make a stronger connection between the gesture and the vocal task.
- 4) External Focus of Attention: External focus of attention (such as focusing on a gesture) can enhance the internal mechanism of vocal production. By focusing on the gesture, singers can indirectly improve their vocal coordination and performance.
- 5) Observing and Performing Gestures: While observing a gesture can be minimally effective, actively performing the gesture is more impactful. For instance, observing a conductor's gesture can influence how singers breathe and perform.
- 6) Gesture Selection: Selecting the right gesture for a specific vocal task is crucial. Different gestures can help with different aspects of singing, such as airflow, pitch accuracy, or creating a certain sound quality. It's important to find the gesture that best mimics the desired vocal outcome.
BEST MOMENTS
"Observing gesture can impact the way singers breathe and produce sound"
"Performing the gesture oneself is more effective than just observing"
"Gesture is something I have always used in my teaching"
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.thesingingteacher.biz
- www.vocaladvancement.com
Social Media:
- www.facebook.com/heatherbakersingingstudios
- www.instagram.com/heatherbakersingingstudios
- www.YouTube.com/the.singingteacher
- www.TikTok.com/the.singingteacher
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Kerrie Obert: www.ObertVoiceStudios.com
- Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.59 Top Tongue Tips for Boosting High Frequency Energy with Kerrie Obert
- Julia Nafisi: https://julianafisi.com/
- Jenna Brown: https://www.jennabrownmezzo.co.uk/
- Lisa Popeil: https://www.popeil.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.155 & 156: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios with Dr Shannon Coates
- The work of Konstantin Stanislavski
- The work of Arthur Lessac
- Chris Johnson Vocal Coach: https://chrisjohnsonvocalcoach.com/
- Chris Johnson Teach Voice: https://www.teachvoice.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.109 Mastering ‘Acting Through Song’ Techniques to Elevate Musical Theatre Performance with Louisa Morgan
- Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.40 Integrated Skills: Teaching Singing to Dancers with Jennie Morton
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Heather Baker, a Contemporary Voice Teacher in Northern England, is the Founding Director of the Institute for Vocal Advancement (IVA) and an IVA Ambassador. With an MA in Vocal Pedagogy, her research spans cognitive and neuroscience of singing, pitch problems, and vocal pedagogy. She presents globally, runs adult choirs, and co-hosts the Vocal Advancement Podcast, sharing her expertise and passion for voice teaching.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Alexa is joined by Line Hilton to discuss the concept of quick fixes in singing. They explore when it might be appropriate to use a quick fix, such as in auditions or performances, and when it might not be advisable, such as when dealing with a sore throat. They also discuss the importance of understanding the underlying principles and working towards long-term solutions.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Line’s quick fixes are - 1) Vowel adjustments: Modifying the shape of the mouth to produce different vowel sounds can help singers navigate challenging passages or notes.
- 2) Physical adjustments: Altering the position of the body, such as aligning the spine or adjusting the posture, can sometimes resolve vocal issues.
- 3) Mindset fixes: Changing the mental approach to singing, such as imagining a different sensation or focusing on a particular aspect of the technique, can also be a quick fix.
- 4) Changing the melody line or key: To accommodate a singer's range or avoid a difficult passage, the melody or key of a song can be temporarily altered.
- 5) Adjusting the setlist order: Rearranging the order of songs can help manage a singer's vocal stamina and avoid challenging moments early in a performance.
- 6) Technical strategies: Using techniques like sliding into a note or falling off at the end can make a difficult note more manageable.
- 7) Exploiting the challenge: In some cases, the difficulty can be turned into a stylistic choice, such as playing into a registrational flip or yodel.
- Avoid quick fixes when a singer presents a sore throat or cold before a performance. Painkillers and numbing agents can mask pain and worsen vocal injury. Avoid ibuprofen or aspirin, which increase the risk of vocal fold damage.
BEST MOMENTS
"If you had the power to just snap your fingers and have a particular life chore completed immediately, what would that be?"
"A quick fix can be a really useful tool. They can make us get something a little bit more with immediacy and feel like things are even more accessible to us in the singing world."
"Quick fixes can be a valid strategy if it's going to help you deliver what you need to deliver and get through safely."
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- com
Social Media:
- @basttraining
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Line Hilton: https://linehilton.com/
- Dr Molly Gebrian: mollygebrian.com
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.164 Music and the Brain: The Science of Learning & Practice with Dr Molly Gebrian Part One
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.165 Music and the Brain: The Science of Learning & Practice with Dr Molly Gebrian Part Two
- Dr Dan's Voice Essentials: https://www.youtube.com/@DrDanRobinson
- Justin Stoney & New York Vocal Coaching: https://www.youtube.com/@NewYorkVocalCoaching
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.48 Getting Started as a Teacher, Creating Content & Vocal Versatility with Justin Stoney
- Emily Kristen Morris: https://www.emilykristenmorris.com/
- Emily Kristen Morris Instagram: @emilykristenmorris
- Robert Sussuma: https://thesingingself.com/
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.63 Developing a Singer’s Self Awareness And Clarifying Intention with Robert Sussuma
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.166 Overcoming Self-Consciousness in Singing with Becky Gilhespie
- (Article) ‘Steamer or Nebuliser?’ By The Naked Vocalist: https://www.thenakedvocalist.com/upgrade-your-vocal-steamer/
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Alex is joined by Dr. Nicholas Perna to talk about nasality. They discuss and unravel the mysteries of the nose's role in vocal production, from debunking myths about nasal resonance to exploring the benefits of nasal airflow, Dr. Perna's insights will challenge your assumptions and expand your understanding of vocal technique. Whether you're a singing teacher or a curious vocalist, this episode offers a fresh perspective on an often misunderstood aspect of voice production.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Nasality in singing is often misperceived; what we think sounds nasal is usually twang or high spectral energy, not actual nasal airflow.
- The soft palate's movement in singing is more of a backward motion rather than an upward lift, contrary to common teaching cues.
- A mild amount of velopharyngeal opening can positively impact resonance stability, especially in the passaggio range for tenors.
- The term "nasal resonance" may be misleading, as the nose neither amplifies nor enriches sound in singing.
- Contemporary singing styles often rely on audio processing and EQ adjustments, which significantly affect the final sound beyond the singer's raw vocal output.
- Good scientific research seeks to disprove itself, challenging researchers to remain curious and open to new findings.
- Singers and teachers should focus on the journey of learning rather than believing they've reached a definitive destination in understanding vocal technique.
- Exploring velopharyngeal opening in musical theatre singers, particularly in mix and belt techniques, is an area ripe for future research.
BEST MOMENTS
"What nasality is does not often coincide to its perceptual characteristics. And equally, studies have demonstrated that there isn't really this general consensus amongst singing teachers about perceived nasality."
"Good science seeks to disprove itself. Staying curious means that you have an awareness that you are probably wrong."
"The likelihood that that sound includes nasal airflow and that the soft palate is relaxed is very low because what the nasal passage does it has very thick mucous membranes. It's moist. There's other structures up there, typically hair, et cetera. And those things, dull sound, particularly high spectral energy."
"I propose that we eliminate the term nasal resonance, nasal resonance altogether, because the nose neither, if we think of resonance as a definition of amplification and enrichment, it is neither amplifying sound, nor is it enriching sound."
"The easiest observation you can obviously make, just to know whether there's anything happening or not, is to simply sustain a tone, pinch your nose shut, and see if any, you notice any difference.”
EPISODE RESOURCES
- Voice Study Centre
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.151 How to Sing with Twang with Kerrie Obert
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep. Dr Matt Edwards
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep. Aaron Johnson
- Journal of Singing: https://www.nats.org/cgi/page.cgi/about_journal_singing.html
- (JoS) Nasality Deconstructed by Nicholas Perna: https://www.nats.org/_Library/JOS_On_Point/JOS-076-04-2020-429.pdf
- Heidi Moss:
- Spectrum Effects of VPO in Singing by Gill, Lee, La, Sundberg: https://www.jvoice.org/article/S0892-1997(18)30446-6/abstract
- Effects of Nasalance on the Acoustics of the Tenor Passaggio and Head Voice by Nicholas Perna
- Celine Dion: An NBC News Special with Hoda Kotb (Full Interview): com/watch?v=ncwhU70I3T4
- The work of Christian Herbst: https://www.christian-herbst.org/
- University of Colorado Boulder: https://www.colorado.edu/
The work of Berton Coffin: https://www.nats.org/_Library/Named_Funds/Berton_Coffin_Endowment_-_web_ready.pdf
ABOUT THE GUEST
Guest Website:
nicholasperna.com
Contact Nicholas directly: nicholas.perna@colorado.edu
Follow Nichola’s Podcast ‘Vocal Fri’ Here: https://www.vocalfri.com/
Social Media:
Instagram: @vocalfriperna
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@vocalfriperna
Tenor Nicholas Perna’s voice has been hailed by the Houston Chronicle as “an impressive sound,” and the South Florida Sun Sentinel praised his “emotionally driven performance.” Perna was a recent finalist for the American Prize for men in opera, and has appeared multiple times in recent seasons with Opera Mississippi. Perna was twice selected as a Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Artist singer. Additional stage credits vary from opera roles such as Don José in Carmen and Rodolfo in La Bohème to Musical Theatre roles such as Ravenal in Show Boat, and Archie in the The Secret Garden. Symphonic appearances include Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde and Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9.
Dr. Perna is Associate Professor and Director of Vocal Pedagogy at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has publications in Journal of Singing, Journal of Voice, and VOICEPrints. A Presser Music Foundation awardee he has presented research on four continents at events such as the Voice Foundation’s Symposium, ICVT, NATS National Conference, and Physiology and Acoustics of Singing (PAS). Perna is currently Vice President for Outreach for the National Association of Teachers of Singing and is the creator and co-host of the VocalFri Podcast, http://www.vocalfri.com. Perna holds graduate degrees from the University of Miami & the University of Houston. In 2024 Perna began his tenure as Executive Director of Opera Mississippi. Previous faculty positions include Mississippi College, West Virginia University, and he has been a voice research associate at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Becky Gilhespie returns to the Singing Teachers Talk podcast to help us overcome our self-consciousness in singing. Becky is an experienced vocal coach working with touring artists, actors, and singers of all levels, having run studios in London and Sydney, and teaching at the Academy of Contemporary Music. Becky is the author of Singing for the Self-Conscious, which we’ll be diving into headfirst in this episode.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Becky Gilhespie recommends several strategies for overcoming self-consciousness in singing: have fun and enjoy the process, sing more throughout the day, journal to address negative self-talk, meditate and focus on breathing, make strange noises and faces to normalise them, video yourself to become comfortable with your appearance, sing for a trusted friend, sing outside to reduce pressure, develop solid vocal technique, express emotions through singing, and use permission slips from her book to take risks.
- Becky's book, Singing for the Self-Conscious, is a 30-day program designed to help singers overcome self-consciousness, boost confidence, and improve performance. It covers three sections: sense of self, evolving craft, and focusing outward, offering practical advice, exercises, and reflective tasks. Written in an accessible style, the book emphasises technique, personal style, and positive self-awareness, using Gillespie's experiences to relate to readers and guide them towards growth and increased self-confidence.
- Singing for the Self-Conscious features a 30-day program divided into three sections: Sense of Self, which focuses on personal growth, self-awareness, and confidence; Evolving Craft, which emphasises technique, style, and continuous improvement; and Focusing Outward, which encourages external connections, engaging with the audience, and authentic performance. Each section aims to reduce self-consciousness and boost singing confidence.
BEST MOMENTS
"It's a book aimed at the singer who finds themselves reeling with self-consciousness, avoiding singing, holding back in their performances, and generally just lacking some self-confidence"
"I've come on leaps and bounds and it feels so good. And it feels so good to help other singers with it too"
"Self-consciousness is a heightened sense of self-awareness that can verge towards the negative"
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Booking Link: https://beckygilhespievocalcoach.as.me
Social Media:
- Instagram: @beckygilhespievocals
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- (Book) Singing for the Self-Conscious by Becky Gilhespie
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.27 The Singing Masterchef with Becky Gilhespie
- Vocology in Practice
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.154 Managing Imposter Syndrome, Low Confidence and Overwhelm as Singing Teachers with Alexa Terry
- The work of Dr Valerie Young
- Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM): https://www.acm.ac.uk/
- Line Hilton: https://linehilton.com/
- The Sing Space: https://thesingspace.com/
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Becky is an experienced vocal coach working with touring artists, actors, and singers of all levels. Her experience includes running busy studios in London and Sydney, and teaching at the UK’s Academy of Contemporary Music. She always felt that despite receiving some of the best vocal training available, the biggest hurdle was her crippling sense of self-consciousness.
Becky’s book, 'Singing for the Self-Conscious', is an easy to follow practical step programme that combines study of mindset with practices in contemporary vocal training. The book helps singers overcome their mental hurdles to confident singing and performing.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
The wonderful Dr Molly Gebrian is sticking around for part two of her chat with Alexa on the science of learning and practising, this week telling us all about practice habits, the memory, mental practice and much more. She highlights the importance of mental practice, shares resources, and talks about her upcoming book and career transition to focus on research translation for musicians. Tune in for valuable insights on optimising practice habits.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Students can improve practice by focusing on quality over quantity. Molly advises against ineffective methods like the "treasure hunt" and "start over and try again" approaches, which reinforce mistakes. Instead, students should use mental practice, understand brain processes, and take breaks. Teachers should model effective techniques and help students set small, achievable goals.
- Incorporating mental practice with physical practice yields better results than either alone. Mental practice involves vividly imagining a task, enhancing understanding and skill execution. It helps develop detailed mental representations, improving brain efficiency and physical performance. Effective mental practice should focus on aspects like rhythm, pitch, and sensations, engaging the same brain areas as physical practice.
- Teachers can enhance learning for musicians by accommodating individual differences in learning styles and practice habits. Molly advises modelling effective techniques and explaining brain processes to avoid ineffective methods. Teachers should help students set specific, achievable goals, break tasks into manageable parts, and incorporate mental practice.
- Flexibility and personalised feedback are crucial to support students' unique needs and foster effective practice habits.
BEST MOMENTS
"Telling students to practise more is not helpful because it doesn't tell you what to do."
"Your brain doesn't know right from wrong. It doesn't know if you did it well or you didn't do well. It just knows which pathways are being used."
"Taking breaks will actually make me more efficient at something"
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.mollygebrian.com
Social Media:
- Dr. Molly Gebrian - YouTube
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep. 164 Music and the Brain: The Science of Learning & Practice with Dr Molly Gebrian Part One
- (Book) Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults by Dr Jenevora Williams
- (Book) Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician’s Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing by Dr Molly Gebrian
- Noa Kageyama’s Bulletproof Musician: https://bulletproofmusician.com/
- Sarah Niblack’s Spark Practice: https://www.sparkpractice.com/
- (Book) Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr. Molly Gebrian is a professional violist and scholar with a background in cognitive neuroscience. Her area of expertise is applying the research on learning and memory to practicing and performing music. She also investigates the intersections between music and language. As a performer, she prioritizes the works of living composers and those who have traditionally been excluded from the culture of classical music. She holds degrees in both music and neuroscience from Oberlin College and Conservatory, New England Conservatory of Music, and Rice University. Previously, she was the viola professor at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the University of Arizona. After a decade of teaching viola at the collegiate level, she will join the faculty at New England Conservatory of Music in Fall 2024 to teach courses on the science of practicing.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Dr. Molly Gebrian joins Alexa on the Singing Teachers Talk podcast for the first of a two parter to discuss the neuroscience of learning and its application to teaching and practising. The conversation covers brain organisation, neural pathways, myelin, learning processes, the impact of age on learning, and the importance of understanding brain science for both teachers and students.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The brain's learning process is influenced by developmental factors like puberty and ageing. Children's brains are highly adaptable, efficiently absorbing information due to neurochemical changes that support rapid learning. As they age, myelination reinforces neural pathways, enhancing communication. In contrast, ageing adults need focused attention to learn, influenced by interests, commitment, and sustained focus. Developmental changes and age-related neurochemical differences impact the brain's learning ability.
- The dismantling of unused brain pathways is complex, with the exact timeframe unknown and varying by individual factors. The brain recognizes and eliminates non-myelinated, unused pathways, but the duration depends on disuse extent, overall brain function, and other physiological and environmental factors. Brain efficiency and adaptability significantly influence this process.
- Natural flair or ability has a physiological basis influenced by genetics and brain wiring, but it’s not solely determined by physiology. Factors like womb development, brain variability, personal interests, commitment, and sustained focus also play roles. Thus, while physiology contributes, natural ability is shaped by a combination of genetics, brain development, and individual interests.
- Tips for singing teachers include understanding the neuroscience of learning to assist students better, emphasising focused attention and age impacts. Encouraging positive self-talk, tailor practice methods with games for kids, and stress the importance of breaks for brain reconstruction. Managing frustration with realistic expectations and fostering interest and commitment to enhance motivation and persistence.
BEST MOMENTS
"It just shows that we’re all different, that you can do anything you want."
"The brain is always working as one”
"There are physical changes that have to happen in the brain when we're learning."
"As adults, we need to have focused attention in order to be able to learn."
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.mollygebrian.com
Social Media:
- Dr. Molly Gebrian - YouTube
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- The work of Hermann Ebbinghaus
- BBC CrowdScience: Why is Learning Stuff Harder as You Get Older? https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct1pqb
- Neuroscience for Teachers by Richard Churches, Eleanor Dommett & Ian Devonshire
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr. Molly Gebrian is a professional violist and scholar with a background in cognitive neuroscience. Her area of expertise is applying the research on learning and memory to practicing and performing music. She also investigates the intersections between music and language. As a performer, she prioritizes the works of living composers and those who have traditionally been excluded from the culture of classical music. She holds degrees in both music and neuroscience from Oberlin College and Conservatory, New England Conservatory of Music, and Rice University. Previously, she was the viola professor at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the University of Arizona. After a decade of teaching viola at the collegiate level, she will join the faculty at New England Conservatory of Music in Fall 2024 to teach courses on the science of practicing.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Folk singer and teacher, Anna Tabbush joins Alexa to share insights into the world of folk music, its historical context, lyrical content, vocal techniques, and teaching methods. The pair discuss the origins of folk music, its storytelling function, and the distinction between folk and pop music. Anna also explores vocal qualities, rhythmic elements, and the influence of folk music on other genres. She provides valuable advice for singers and teachers, emphasising the importance of authentic storytelling and vocal health.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Anna describes folk music as a universal phenomenon present in every culture, serving to communicate stories, feelings, and celebrations, and to encourage dancing. It often includes work songs, like sea shanties. In England and the British Isles, folk music has a rich storytelling history. Anna notes that folk songs frequently address timeless, relatable themes, such as a mother's frustration in "Bonnie at Mourn."
- Folk songs differ from pop songs based on structure, rhythm, melody, instrumentation, vocal quality, lyrical content, and rhythmic flexibility. Folk songs typically have simpler forms and focus on storytelling with vocals that can be sung a cappella. They use treble-heavy instruments like fiddles and accordions. Pop songs have more complex structures, catchier melodies, broader instrumentation, and grounded rhythms. Folk music emphasises natural speech patterns and deep narratives.
- Anna advises singers to approach folk music authentically by focusing on key aspects: Relaxation and Authenticity, where singers relax the body and find their unique voice by letting go of tension; Connection to the Story, immersing in the song’s narrative to convey it effectively; Vocal Health and Technique, understanding vocal health for safe, comfortable singing; Community and Practice, joining choirs or open mics to build confidence and explore styles; Exploration and Imitation, learning from other singers for inspiration; Dynamic Range and Expression, choosing songs that suit one's voice and using dynamics to maintain interest; and Movement and Expression, using gestures and movement to stay relaxed and tell the story.
BEST MOMENTS
"Folk music is rooted in storytelling and serves as a means of communication, celebration, and social change."
"Authentic folk singing involves relaxed vocal techniques, storytelling through song delivery, and a focus on the song rather than the singer."
"Teaching folk music requires an understanding of vocal health, relaxation, and the importance of finding one's authentic voice."
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- annatabbush.com
- singfest.org.uk
- guildfordvox.org.uk
- horsellsings.org.uk
Social Media:
- @anna_tabbush
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Artists/songs/shows mentioned: Ben & Dom; Jackie Oates; Carolyn Robson; Sandy Denny; Phoebe Bridgers; Joni Mitchell; Bob Dylan; Taylor Swift; Sea shanties; What Should We Do With a Drunken Sailor; Bonny at Morn; Harbour; Hadestown; Once the Musical
- Singing for Musicals by Millie Taylor
- Chris Johnson Vocal Coach: Chris Johnson Vocal Coach
- Teach Voice: Teach Voice
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Anna Tabbush is a composer, choir conductor, singer, and multi-instrumentalist based in West Sussex, renowned for her socially conscious songwriting. Her 2020 song "Harbour" supports refugees and has been sung worldwide. Active on the folk scene for over twenty years, Anna performs as a singer-songwriter and with the a cappella quartet Oaken. She teaches singing techniques that relax the body and highlight individual voices, empowering everyone to sing to their full potential.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Rose Kimberly and Claire Williamson join Alexa to discuss the South West Voice Hub, a network they created to connect voice practitioners and singers in the South West of the UK. The hub aims to provide a local network for all things voice-related, including referrals, training, and support. They discuss the challenges of finding voice professionals in the South West and the importance of building a community in the region. The hub offers different membership tiers for practitioners, singers, and students, with benefits including access to forums, discounts on CPD events, and a profile on the website. They also mention their upcoming launch event, which will feature workshops and networking opportunities.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The South West Voice Hub is an initiative by Rose and Claire to establish a network for voice professionals in the South West region of the UK. It aims to connect various practitioners such as vocal coaches, speech and language therapists, and performers.
- The hub provides support and resources for professional development, including bi-monthly online forums and in-person seminars for continuing professional development (CPD).
- The network addresses voice-related issues and promotes local talent, aiming to make specialised voice services more accessible and affordable within the South West region.
- The hub offers different membership tiers for practitioners, singers, and students, with benefits such as access to forums, discounts on CPD events, and a profile on the members' section of the website.
- The hub's launch event in Exeter will feature a laryngeal massage workshop and a vocal triage session for singers. The network plans to be responsive to the needs of its members, offering events and training that reflect the interests and demands of the local voice community
BEST MOMENTS
"We want to make voice services more accessible and affordable, reducing the need to travel to larger cities."
"It's important to work holistically with people, and having a network of professionals is crucial."
"We're aiming to support and educate the local voice community, making it stronger and more connected."
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- https://www.southwestvoicehub.com/
Social Media:
- Instagram: @southwestvoicehub
- Contact Claire & Rose directly: southwestvoicehub@gmail.com
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Stephen King: https://voicecarecentre.co.uk/stephen-king/
- (Singing Teachers Talk Podcast) Ep.90 Help! I’ve Got a Voice Problem with Lydia Hart and Stephen King
- Exeter Phoenix Centre: https://exeterphoenix.org.uk/
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Rose Kimberley is a Vocal Coach/Singing Teacher based in South Devon, where she runs The Vocal Studio Devon. Trained in 2012 with BAST, she has enhanced her skills through various CPD courses, including VHE's Vocal Health First Aid. A professional singer and solo artist, Rose combines industry knowledge with a passion for helping others develop and care for their voices. She also teaches music, artist development, and songwriting for the Barbican Theatre in Plymouth.
Claire Williamson trained as a singer at LIPA and worked professionally as a singer and actress before becoming a Speech and Language Therapist at UCL. She has extensive NHS experience with children’s speech, language, and communication needs, and now works in private practice with both adults and children with voice disorders. Claire specialises in client-centred, evidence-based treatment of voice difficulties, with a special interest in helping professional voice users.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Vocal Labs director Elle Holiday joins Alexa this week all the way from Adelaide in South Australia. Elle is a voice-specialising speech pathologist and singing teacher whose methodology is customised and based on evidence, focusing on retraining vocal techniques, enhancing performance stamina, and fostering confidence. Elle offers services in voice care, voice training, rehabilitation, and massage therapy. Elle is here to discuss training the speaking voice versus training the singing voice.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- As a singing teacher, Elle listens for signs of strain, roughness, breathiness, strength/loudness, breathing patterns, and onset/offset when assessing a student's speaking voice at the start of a lesson. These observations provide crucial insights into their overall vocal status.
- If a student experiences vocal trouble, Elle recommends gentle rehabilitative exercises, avoiding high-intensity belting, and singing repertoire in a lower range. If issues persist for more than two weeks, she advises seeing a medical professional for further assessment.
- Singing teachers should not diagnose students but can recommend seeing an ENT and speech pathologist if they hear vocal anomalies. Teachers can help students sing safely until a formal medical assessment is conducted, ensuring students' vocal health.
- In vocal rehabilitation, intensive therapy typically spans about 12 weeks from diagnosis to discharge. Elle works intensively with students for the first four weeks, then helps generalise the techniques into daily life. Success largely depends on the patient's commitment.
- Key differences in vocal therapy for speaking versus singing include the emotional component in singing and the need to unlearn singing habits for the speaking voice. Safety and identity considerations are also more prominent in speaking voice work, highlighting its unique challenges.
BEST MOMENTS
"Singers with vocal injuries, who have rehabilitated from vocal injuries, are the people we should be seeking out the most for information on the voice."
"If you were a football player and you do your ACL on the field, no one says you have horrendous football playing technique."
"Safety is a huge thing in the trans community."
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
https://vocalab.com.au/
Social Media:
Instagram: @vocalabau
Elle’s Advanced Vocal Technique Workshop: https://avt.vocalab.com.au/
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- (Singing Teachers Talk Podcast) Ep 75 - Vocal Rehabilitation for Singers with Dr Jenevora Williams
- Vocal Health Education: https://www.vocalhealth.co.uk/
- Voice Care Centre: https://voicecarecentre.co.uk/
- The work of Sarah Brown: https://www.sarahkbrownvoice.com/ & @vocalhealthskb
- The work of Andrea Fleming (Performance Anxiety)
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Elle Holiday, based in Adelaide, South Australia, is a voice-specialising speech pathologist and singing teacher. As the director of VocaLab, she provides voice care and training, including vocal rehabilitation, specialised training for transgender clients and professional vocalists, and massage therapy for muscle tension dysphonia. Elle’s evidence-based methodology focuses on retraining vocal techniques, enhancing performance stamina, and fostering confidence. Through her Instagram @VocaLabAU, she offers free, accessible voice education.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
In this week's episode Chartered Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Lydia Stone, joins Alexa Terry to discuss the topic of trauma. Lydia specialises in working with fostered and adopted children and families, she also runs a choir and is currently on the BAST Training Level 5 qualification course. Lydia explains the potential impacts of trauma on the singer, and helps us understand how we can conduct more trauma-informed singing lessons.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- When conducting trauma-informed singing lessons, it's essential to approach each session with empathy and sensitivity towards the experiences of the singers. While it's important to acknowledge the potential presence of trauma, it's equally crucial not to assume or pry beyond professional boundaries.
- Using recording and analysis tools during lessons can provide valuable feedback without overwhelming the singer or detracting from the session's focus. Concentrating on physical cues, such as mouth movements, can enhance communication and instruction.
- Familiar exercises like scales aid vocal technique. Gradually introduce minor scales for challenge. Connecting major and minor patterns enhances musical understanding. Encourage musical literacy and instrumental skills for independence.
- Positive reinforcement fosters confidence and growth while avoiding criticism preserves the singer's emotional well-being. Patience is key, allowing singers to progress at their own pace and respecting their boundaries.
- It's crucial to have resources available if singers require further support outside of the lesson. This could include referrals to counselling or other mental health services. By offering a holistic approach to singing education, teachers can empower their students not only as musicians but also as individuals capable of overcoming challenges and reaching their full potential.
BEST MOMENTS
"Trauma responses impact muscle tension and vocal control"
"Accept and empathise but maintain professional boundaries"
"Self-care helps teachers support singers' mental health"
EPISODE RESOURCES
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast Ep.147 TV Vocal Coach: Behind the Scenes on ITV’s Mamma Mia with Claire Delaney ]Dr Shannon Coates: Dr Shannon Coates
- Singing Teachers Talk: Eps. 155 & 156 - Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios with Dr Shannon Coates
- PACE: Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy
- Vocal Health Education: Vocal Health Education
- The work of Petra Raspel Borzynski
- NSPCC: nspcc.org.uk
- UK Trauma Council: UK Trauma Council
- Beacon House: Resources
- Attach Team (Oxfordshire): The ATTACH team | Oxfordshire County Council
Contact Dr Lydia Stone directly: drlydiastone@gmail.com
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr Lydia Stone is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist, who started her career with a choral scholarship at Cambridge University before completing her doctorate at Surrey University. Having an interest in trauma from an early stage, her professional work has taken her from London and the south of England as far afield as Tanzania and Bangladesh. She now specialises in work with fostered and adopted children and families in Oxford. This includes using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and Video Interaction Guidance.
Throughout this time, she has continued her interest in singing, eventually finding her musical and spiritual home in Gospel music; and she was a long-time member of Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir (www.soulsanctuarygospel.com). Leaving that role to focus on family life, she now directs Tyndale Community Gospel Choir (www.tyndalegospel.fun) as well as choral groups at a local primary school. In the midst of this, she somehow squeezes in studying for the BAST Level 5 Singing Teacher Qualification.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Kaya Herstad-Carney returns to the podcast but this time she’s brought her Mary Poppins bag full of weird things. Join Alexa and Kaya as they discuss the props you can use as a singing teacher, the benefits they have on students learning, and how best to utilise them in your singing lessons.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Using props in singing training provides a kinesthetic experience, prompting students to consider technique and form habits that feel innate. Physical engagement aids memory recall, reinforcing learning through tactile stimuli. This approach enhances understanding and skill development in vocal performance, it’s also more fun.
- Balls aid singing teaching by enhancing breath control and support through exercises like tossing or squeezing. They engage students physically and mentally, adding a playful distraction that fosters focus and skill development.
- Straw warm-ups, blowing air through a straw into water or the air, enhance singing by focusing airflow and promoting proper breath support. They gently prepare the voice, reducing strain, improving resonance, and enhancing vocal control for better performance.
- Ask the singing student how using props like a TheraBand feels: does it improve, worsen, or maintain their vocal control and support? Assessing their experience helps tailor exercises for optimal vocal development.
BEST MOMENTS
"Because of its expandable nature, I like to use this with singers who feel constriction in the throat”
“I love my singing straw”
“The important thing is that you know the research and why”
“I had so many people ask me the same questions over and over”
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- kayamusic.com
Social Media:
- Handle: @kayamusic
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Vocology in Practice: https://www.vocologyinpractice.org/
- (Youtube) Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@SingingTeachersTalk
- Dr Shannon Coates: https://drshannoncoates.com/
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Eps. 155 & 156 - Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios with Dr Shannon Coates (Parts One & Two)
- Mindy Pack: https://www.mindypack.com/
- Dana Lentini: https://www.born2singkids.com/
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.77 - How to Teach Singing to Children with Dana Lentini
- Singing and Teaching Singing - A Holistic Approach to Classical Voice by Janice L. Chapman
- Estill Voice Training System: https://estillvoice.com/
- Voce Vista: https://www.vocevista.com/
- Matrix VocalizeU Spectogram: https://matrix.vocalizeu.com/spectrodev/
- Heidi Moss: https://www.heidimosserickson.com/
- Actions - The Actor’s Thesaurus by Marina Caldarone & Maggie Lloyd-Williams
- Amelia Carr: https://www.ameliacarrvoice.com/
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.50 - Managing ‘Pushy Parents’ and Teaching ‘Legit’ with Amelia Carr
- The Morrison Bone Prop: https://www.themorrisonboneprop.com/
- The work of Ken Bozeman: http://www.kenbozeman.com/
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.146 How to Understand and Apply Vocal Acoustic Pedagogy with Ken Bozeman
- The work of Ian Howell
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.145 Style Vs Technique with Kaya Herstad-Carney
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Kaya, a Norwegian artist based in the UK since '99, excels in original music, vocal coaching, and artist development. Her career includes performances on The Royal Variety Show and the BBC Songwriting Showcase. Passionate about mentoring, directing festivals, and teaching, she serves as a board member for Vocology in Practice, training singing teachers globally. Specialising in singing, songwriting, and artist development at Waterbear and esteemed institutions.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Amy Walton, with expertise in musical literacy and keyboard skills, joins Alexa to explore essential music theory and piano skills for singing teachers. Trained in jazz performance, she reshaped curriculum at the Academy of Contemporary Music and teaches at Toronto's Singers Edge.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Musical literacy and keyboard skills are crucial for singing teachers. They enable accompaniment, enhance communication, and empower independent leadership. Understanding theory and tonality enriches teaching, making instructors more versatile and employable.
- Strategies for engaging music lessons include adding movement to exercises like scale learning, keeping a lighthearted atmosphere by involving students in activities like song form sketching, and tailoring lessons to their goals, whether karaoke or music school. Amy advocates for making theory accessible through arranging exercises and introducing concepts subtly. Amy also recommends using recording for feedback and preparing accompaniments in advance to focus on students during lessons.
- Vocal warm-ups using scales and arpeggios are essential for singers. They expand range, improve technique, and enhance articulation. From practising major scales for technique to exploring melodic minors for range, these exercises offer diverse challenges and benefits.
- To identify augmented and diminished chords on piano, understand their structure. Augmented chords raise the fifth scale degree, while diminished chords lower it. Play augmented chords by raising the fifth note of a major triad, and diminished chords by lowering the fifth note of a minor triad. Listen closely to distinguish their sound from major or minor chords. With practice, you'll master playing these chords.
BEST MOMENTS
"I try to incorporate movement into it. It's a bit of dance."
“Don't look at it as what can I do, but what can theory do for you in your practice."
“Sometimes I do that in a way to hide the vegetables."
EPISODE RESOURCES
Social Media:
- Instagram: @amywaltonmusic
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Jacob Collier: https://www.jacobcollier.com/
- Kaya Herstad-Carney: https://kayamusic.com/
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk - Ep. 70 Coaching Contemporary Commercial Music with Kim Chandler
- Open Music Theory - Viva Press Books: https://viva.pressbooks.pub/openmusictheory/
- Popular Music Theory from University of West London: https://lcmmusicshop.uwl.ac.uk/shop/dept/Popular-Music-Theory/100105
- Adult Piano Adventure Books
- Modern Pop Keyboard Books (Hal Leonard)
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk - Ep. Essential Piano Skills for Singers and Voice Teachers with Brenda Earle Stokes
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Amy, originally from Cape Town, South Africa, boasts over 15 years' experience as a soloist and voice teacher. Trained in Jazz Performance at the University of Cape Town, she later led vocals at the Academy of Contemporary Music in London, reshaping their curriculum. Now based in Toronto, Amy teaches at Singer’s Edge and offers consultancy services while presenting at Vocology In Practice conferences. Her expertise spans vocal physiology, musical literacy, keyboard skills, and contemporary improvisation. Notable career highlights include performances with the KwaZulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra in South Africa and on the Eiffel Tower.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Dr. Kari Ragan, is a voice teacher and rehab specialist, Master Teacher for National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Intern Program, co-founder of Northwest Voice Conference. She joins Alexa to discuss NATS’ mission, benefits of membership, and the upcoming conference. Also, insights on NATS International Congress of Voice Teachers 2025
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) supports singing teachers with resources, networking, and professional development, promoting excellence in vocal instruction through conferences, workshops, publications, and certification programs.
- NATS Chat offers live online discussions for voice teachers and singers on diverse topics like vocal technique, repertoire, teaching, and business strategies. Hosted by NATS member Kari Ragan, it features prominent guests from the industry.
- The International Congress of Voice Teachers (ICVT), is a global event facilitated by NATS and other associations, offers masterclasses and sessions for voice teachers worldwide. The next event is ICVT Toronto 2025, hosted by NATS, The Royal Conservatory, and University of Toronto Faculty of Music, from July 31 to August 3.
BEST MOMENTS
“It’s where I came out of the mindset of wanting to be a singer to wanting to be a teacher”
“We believe in moving the profession forward”
“It can be so overwhelming with what we’re expected to know nowadays”
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- KariRagan.com
Social Media:
- Facebook: @Voice Studio of Dr. Kari Ragan
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS): https://www.nats.org/
- NATS International Congress of Voice Teachers Conference 2025: https://www.nats.org/icvt2025.html
- NATS Chat Archives: https://www.nats.org/nats-chat-transcript-archive.html
- NATS Chat Youtube Platform: https://www.youtube.com/officialnats
- The work of Scott McCoy
- Kerrie Obert: https://obertvoicestudios.com/ & https://portal.getvocal-now.com/pages/home
- The work of Dr Marco Guzman
- The Efficacy of Vocal Cool-down Exercises by Dr Kari Ragan: https://kariragan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/The-Efficacy-of-Vocal-Cool-Down-Exercises-JOS-2018.pdf
- The work of Lynn Helding: https://lynnhelding.com/
- The work of Lynn Maxfield
- The work of Marci Rosenberg: https://www.marci-rosenberg.com/
- The work of Leda Scearce
- The work of Peggy Baroody
- The work of Karen Brunssen
- So You Want to Sing Musical Theatre by Amanda Flynn
- A Systematic Approach to Voice: The Art of Studio Application by Dr Kari Ragan
- Singing Voice Rehabilitation: A Guide for the Voice Teacher and Speech-Language Pathologist by Karen Wicklund
- NorthWest Voice: NWVoice.org
- The work of Martin Nevdahl
- The work of Albert L Merati
- The work of Dr Ingo Titze
- Dr H Steven Sims
- John Henny: https://johnhenny.com/
- The Fall Voice Conference: https://www.fallvoice.org/
- The Voice Foundation: https://voicefoundation.org/
- Pan American Vocology Association (PAVA): https://pavavocology.org/
- The work of Ian Howell
- Vocology in Practice: https://www.vocologyinpractice.org/
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: 154 Managing Imposter Syndrome, Low Confidence and Overwhelm as Singing Teachers with Alexa Terry: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source & https://www.youtube.com/@SingingTeachersTalk/videos
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Kari Ragan, DMA, MM, BM, is an accomplished singing voice rehabilitation specialist and educator. With numerous awards and affiliations, including the University of Washington Laryngology program, she's known for her book "A Systematic Approach to Voice '' and co-founding the Northwest Voice Conference.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Dr Shannon Coates is with us for part two of this discussion on building neurodiversity inclusive voice studios and we're picking up just where we left off last week. Shannon is a singer, voice teacher, and educator who began developing training and educational resources specifically for independent voice teachers. She works with smaller groups of teachers in an eight-month training called the VoicePed UnDegree that runs each year. This week, Shannon helps us to understand the terminology of neurodiversity, and we start to explore how we can be inclusive for the likes of dyslexia and ADHD.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- In the classroom, autistic individuals may struggle with sensory overload, heightened sensitivities, difficulty filtering stimuli, hyperfocus, and executive functioning challenges. They may show their overwhelm with a perceived lack of attention or disengagement.
- Some autistic individuals benefit from physical guidance and tactile feedback to understand and replicate movements accurately. Singing teachers may gently guide their students' hands, arms, or facial muscles to demonstrate proper technique and expression. This hands-on approach provides sensory input that can enhance the learning experience and help autistic singers internalise correct movements.
- Autistic individuals often thrive in environments with clear structure and predictable routines. Singing teachers can establish a consistent lesson structure with clearly defined goals, activities, and transitions. Providing a visual schedule or checklist can help autistic singers anticipate what to expect during each session, reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of security.
- Singing teachers can support autistic individuals' stimming by normalizing it, recognizing individual patterns, providing a sensory-friendly environment, incorporating movement and breaks, using stimming as a teaching tool, and offering positive reinforcement.
BEST MOMENTS
“I cannot focus on what you’re asking me to do, my senses are in complete overwhelm”
“The things we do in the studio to affirm neurodiversity do not just affirm neurodivergent singers, they affirm all singers”
“There is a lifetime of trying to figure out the rules because our social rules are based on reading other people”
“Clarity is kindness”
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.drshannoncoates.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @voiceped
- Facebook: @VoiceAndTheArtofTeaching
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk Podcast Ep.155 Part One: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios with Dr Shannon Coates
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.104 Teaching Singers with ADHD with Colin McGee
- Lewis Capaldi
- Nikki Loney & Full Voice Music: www.fullvoicemusic.com
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk Podcast Ep.139 Understanding Play-Based Learning for Children and Young Adult Singers with Nikki Loney
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Shannon is a singer, voice teacher, and educator with nearly two decades of experience running a successful independent voice studio. She develops training and resources for voice teachers worldwide, focusing on inclusivity and neurodiversity. Shannon holds three vocal performance degrees from the University of Toronto and offers subject-specific training, including Neurodiversity-Affirming VoicePed and Contemporary Voice. She promotes best practices in teaching and advocates for inclusive voice spaces through social media.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Dr Shannon Coates will be keeping us company over the next two weeks to help us understand how we can build neurodiversity-inclusive voice studios. Shannon is a singer, voice teacher, and educator who began developing training and educational resources specifically for independent voice teachers. She works with smaller groups of teachers in an eight-month training called the VoicePed UnDegree that runs each year. This week, Shannon helps us to understand the terminology of neurodiversity, and we start to explore how we can be inclusive for the likes of dyslexia and ADHD.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Neurodivergent refers to individuals whose neurological development and functioning differ from what is typically considered typical or neurotypical. This includes conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and others. Neurodivergent individuals may have unique ways of thinking, processing information, and interacting with the world. The term emphasises the natural diversity of human brains and challenges the notion of a single "normal" or "correct" neurological makeup.
- ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Individuals with ADHD may struggle with maintaining focus, organising tasks, and controlling impulses. ADHD can impact various aspects of daily life, including academic performance, work, and relationships.
- Dyslexia is a specific learning disorder characterised by difficulty in reading, spelling, and writing despite ‘normal’ intelligence and adequate educational opportunities. Individuals with dyslexia may have challenges with phonological processing, which affects their ability to recognize and decode words and symbols accurately.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Not being associated with academia doesn't mean that you can’t be a specialist voice teacher’
‘In the process of working with my own children I also began to see some of those similar things in the studio’
‘Practising the new thing is always in my brain, I want to get into it and the novelty of it, ADHD singers will love it’
‘No matter who we’re working with, the most effective reframing is asking what they focused in on and found interesting’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.drshannoncoates.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @voiceped
- Facebook: @VoiceAndTheArtofTeaching
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- (Column) Neurodiversity in the Voice Studio, Clinic, and Performance Space: Using a Neurodiversity Affirming Lens to Build More Inclusive Spaces for Singers: Part 1, Current Understanding of Neurodiversity by Dr Shannon Coates; Journal of Singing (2022)
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.152 ‘Tomayto, Tomahto’: Understanding Singing Terminology with Line Hilton
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.104 Teaching Singers with ADHD with Colin McGee
- Tera Sumpter: https://terasumpter.com/
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Shannon is a singer, voice teacher, and educator with nearly two decades of experience running a successful independent voice studio. She develops training and resources for voice teachers worldwide, focusing on inclusivity and neurodiversity. Shannon holds three vocal performance degrees from the University of Toronto and offers subject-specific training, including Neurodiversity-Affirming VoicePed and Contemporary Voice. She promotes best practices in teaching and advocates for inclusive voice spaces through social media.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
In this solo episode, Alexa dives into the common struggles of imposter syndrome, low confidence, and feeling overwhelmed that many singing teachers face. As an experienced voice instructor and singer herself, Alexa shares personal stories and insights on managing these challenges in your teaching career and life. Learn how to overcome negative self-talk, build your confidence both in and out of the studio, and avoid burnout through self-care and planning.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Imposter syndrome, low confidence, and overwhelm are common among singing teachers. Imposter thoughts prevail due to isolation, comparison, and teaching observations. These feelings stem from self-doubt, fear of judgement, and perfectionism.
- Strategies like reframing thoughts and celebrating achievements can counter imposter syndrome. Perspective-taking and building a support network are beneficial. Despite accomplishments, imposter syndrome affects individuals across fields, emphasising the importance of sharing experiences for community support.
- You can build a support network by joining online communities and forums, attending conferences, and seeking mentorship. Forming mastermind groups, scheduling catch-ups, and following inspirational accounts on social media offer additional support. Investing in a coach and being open with students about imposter feelings can also aid in managing challenges.
BEST MOMENTS
"100% of them reported having felt imposter syndrome, low confidence and overwhelm."
"The most common intrusive thoughts reported include 'Just quit. You don't know enough' and 'You don't have the skills.'"
"Sometimes, I am completely overwhelmed by the amount of information and responsibility I'm faced with as a singing teacher."
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.aterryvocalcoaching.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoaching
- Facebook: @ATerryVocalCoaching
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Vocology in Practice
- The Imposter Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention by Dr Pauline R Clance & Dr Suzanne A Imes (1978)
- Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw (1903)
- (Blog) Singing and the Premenstrual Voice
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.102 Understanding Singing and Menopause with Joanne Bozeman
- Psychologist Lev Vygotsky (The Zone of Proximal Development & ‘Scaffolding’)
- The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women by Valerie Young
- (Youtube) TED Talk by Valerie Young (2017)
- Tommy Ludgate: https://tommyludgate.com/
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.49 Unlocking Your Creative Potential with Tommy Ludgate
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.151 How to Sing with Twang with Kerrie Obert
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk - Ep. 133 Mastering Belt in Musical Theatre with Amanda Flynn
- Steven Bartlett & The Diary of a CEO
- John Henny: https://johnhenny.com/
- Voice Study Centre: voicestudycentre.com
- Adam Grant: https://adamgrant.net/
- The 6-minute Success Journal
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.147 TV Coach: Behind the Scenes on ITV’s Mamma Mia with Claire Delaney
- alexa@basttraining.com
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
After graduating with a BA Musical Theatre degree, Alexa Terry donned her sailor’s cap and performed as a lead soloist on cruise ships travelling the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Baltic seas. She trod the boards in London’s West End as the protagonist in a new Musical Theatre project, studied as a librettist with Book, Music and Lyrics (BML), and has written for the likes of BritishTheatre.com as a reviewer.
Alexa runs her own 1-1 singing tuition practice in the South of England and is a singing tutor at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools - Italia Conti, where she also regularly panels entry auditions. Alexa is the host of the BAST Training Singing Teachers Talk Podcast, mentors for the BAST Training Level 5 Qualification, and has presented on the topics of Musical Theatre repertoire and authentic Musical Theatre performance.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Joining Alexa this week is Nic Redman, who has been working with the spoken voice for almost 20 years and who is the author of the best-selling book ‘On the Mic’. Nic has featured across the BBC, Times Radio, The Guardian, Irish Times, and The Metro. She offers one-to-one coaching for voice-over artists, narrators, podcasters, and speakers to master their speaking voice, working with the likes of Peloton and comedian Sarah Millican.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
In Nic's experience, musical theatre often places a significant emphasis on appearance alongside vocal ability. This can create pressure for performers to conform to certain physical standards. However, in the realm of voiceover work, the focus solely revolves around vocal performance.
Nic Redman's five techniques for improving vocal performance and recording quality, as discussed, are as follows:
- Focusing on using your natural voice and avoiding an artificial "announcer" style.
- Being mindful of posture and alignment to allow the voice to resonate fully.
- Engaging in vocal warm-ups and exercises to enhance flexibility and range.
- Paying attention to microphone technique, including maintaining consistent distance and angle.
- Listening critically to recordings to identify areas for improvement.
Nic's recommended vocal warm-ups for voice over work are:
- Lip trills and tongue trills: These exercises help relax the vocal mechanism and can be effective in warming up the voice.
- Pitch glides: Practising pitch glides up and down the vocal range helps in warming up the voice and increasing flexibility.
- Tongue twisters for articulation: Working on tongue twisters helps improve articulation and clarity in speech.
- Breath control exercises: Techniques such as hissing and sighing can improve breath support, which is crucial for sustained vocal performance.
- Humming exercises: Humming exercises help in exploring vocal resonance and can contribute to a fuller, more resonant sound.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I had this like, ping of this feels nice. This feels where I'm supposed to be on the microphone’
‘The huge contrast to the musical theatre world was that nobody was going, your voice is great, but you don't look quite right’
‘I was really intrigued by the idea of spoken voice and the potential that it really has as a performer’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- onthemicbook.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @nicredvoice
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Central School of Speech and Drama: https://www.cssd.ac.uk/
- The Voice Coach Podcast by Nic Redman
- The Voice Deck by Nic Redman
- Dane Chalfin: https://danechalfin.com/
- Gravy for the Brain: https://www.gravyforthebrain.com/
- The Voice Over Network: https://www.thevoiceovernetwork.org/
- Voice Over KickStart: https://voiceoverkickstart.com/
- The Voice Over Social: https://thevosocial.com/
- Vocal Booth to Go: https://www.vocalboothtogo.co.uk/
- Microphone: Rode NT1-A
- Headphones: Beyerdynamic DT 770
Get Nic’s Free Warm-up HERE: https://nicolaredman.com/freebies/
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Nic Redman, with nearly 20 years of experience in recording and coaching, specializes in helping individuals feel vocally confident on the microphone. Featured on BBC, Times Radio, The Guardian, Irish Times, and the Metro, Nic offers personalized coaching for voice artists, podcasters, and speakers, counting Sarah Millican and Channel 4 among her clients. She conducts retreats, online courses, and masterclasses, providing on-mic direction for brands like Peloton and Mercedes Petronus. Nic is a sought-after speaker, panelist, and co-creator of the award-winning Voiceover Social Podcast. Her bestselling book, "On The Mic," offers invaluable insights into voice training and recording.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Alexa Terry talks about vocal related terminology with BAST founder Line Hilton in Ep.152. Line explains some of the anatomical terminology a singing teacher may encounter in a medical or voice science setting this includes anatomical terms, register names, support and resonance. She and Alexa play a register names pop quiz to see how many of the 107 names they know. Line emphasises the importance of understanding and using terminologies in a flexible and adaptable manner, considering the context and audience.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Discussing anatomical terms like superior, inferior, lateral, medial, anterior, posterior is key for voice teachers. Line linked these to body parts, aiding medical report understanding. Muscle names, tied to origin and insertion, enhance comprehension.
- Alexa and Line explored varied names for vocal registers like chest, head, mix, belt. They noted diverse pedagogical and field terms, emphasising context-dependent meanings. Line stressed grasping intent behind terms over feeling overwhelmed.
- Line rarely uses "support" directly, viewing it as a result of vocal balance, not a specific technique. She favours strategies like transverse abdominis engagement for a supportive sensation, coupled with overall vocal coordination.
- Line challenges the "open throat" concept, noting pharynx narrowing as pitch ascends. She opts for tongue and larynx strategies, rejecting the focus on throat constrictors. Imagery like "open up the sound" proves useful based on student response.
- Line distinguishes a singing teacher's technique focus from a vocal coach's guiding role. She underlines SEO and student-friendly terms' importance. "Voice teacher" holds spoken connotations, advocating comfort in choosing terms.
BEST MOMENTS
'If there really are 107 different names for registers, do we need to know them all? ’
‘What we feel isn't necessarily a correlation to what's going on mechanically.'
‘What does support mean? Pretty much as many people as I've asked, is the amount of answers that I've received.’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- basttraining.com
Social Media:
- @basttraining
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- (BAST Blog) The Laryngeal Nerves: https://www.basttraining.com/the-laryngeal-nerves/
- Kerrie Obert: https://obertvoicestudios.com/
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.151 How to Sing with Twang with Kerrie Obert
- (Book) Anatomy of Voice by Blandine Calais-Germain & Francois Germain
- (Book) Singing & Science: Body, Brain and Voice by Jean Callaghan
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.62 How to Choose the Best Vocal Exercises with Line Hilton
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.73 The Best Vocal Exercises for Laryngeal Stability with Line Hilton
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.83 The Best Vocal Exercises for Sick Voices with Line Hilton
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.113 The Best Vocal Exercises for Chest Voice with Line Hilton
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.114 The Best Vocal Exercises for Head Voice with Line Hilton
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.115 The Best Vocal Exercises for The Transition with Line Hilton
- Chris Johnson: https://chrisjohnsonvocalcoach.com/
- Teach Voice: https://www.teachvoice.com/
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.44 Exploring Vocal Registers with Chris Johnson
- Traditional Belt Example: Johnny One Note from Babes in Arms
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.133 Mastering Belt in Musical Theatre with Amanda Flynn
- Physio Ed: https://www.physioedmedical.co.uk/
- Vocology in Practice: https://www.vocologyinpractice.org/
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Presenters Bios
Vocal coach Kerrie Obert joins Alexa to discuss the technique of twang in singing—what it is, how to find it, and how to apply it in a healthy way across your range. We bust myths about twang and larynx position, examine impactful but overlooked research, and learn exercises to develop this bright, forward resonance while avoiding excess tension. For all singers looking to understand the mechanics behind great country, rock, and belt singing, this is an episode you won't want to miss.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Teaching Back for Enhanced Learning: Teaching back in singing lessons reinforces skills, promotes compliance, and fosters lasting habits, enhancing knowledge retention and practical application.
- Clarity in Teaching Directives: Clear teaching directives are pivotal in vocal education, especially when exploring intricate concepts like "twang." Transparent communication deepens understanding and enriches the learning experience.
- Nuanced Roles of Velum and VLM: Understanding the nuanced functions of the velum and Vertical Laryngeal Movement (VLM) shapes vocal sounds. This insight guides students in refining techniques and comprehending the impact of pharyngeal narrowing on larynx positioning.
- Effective Singing Techniques: Effective singing involves maintaining vocal fold thickness during belting and strategic breath control. Integration of these elements achieves a harmonious balance, enhancing overall vocal quality and impact.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I would say it's very high, like 70 or 80 percent of the people who twang don't have aryepiglottic narrowing.’
'It actually gives you credibility, to be able to acknowledge that that you think differently about something’
‘I want to look at what point those pharyngeal constrictors narrow in the range. And to see how that relates to our perception of passaggio’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- getvocal-now.com
- com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @kerrieobert
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.59 Top Tongue Tips for Boosting High Frequency Energy with Kerrie Obert
- The work of William Vennard
- Jo Estill: https://estillvoice.com/
- Amanda Flynn: https://www.amandaflynnvoice.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.133 Mastering Belt in Musical Theatre with Amanda Flynn
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Kerrie Obert is a speech language pathologist and singing voice specialist from Columbus Ohio. Ms. Obert holds degrees in both musical theatre performance and speech language pathology. She spent nearly 20 years working at The Ohio State University JamesCare Voice & Swallowing Disorders Clinic where she performed thousands of endoscopies as part of a diagnostic team and provided therapy to patients with a wide variety of laryngeal disorders. Ms. Obert was instrumental in setting up the Singing Health Specialization at OSU and served as the Director of Medical Arts for that program. Although she stepped away from her clinical duties at OSU, she remains on the faculty for research purposes. Ms. Obert has written four books on voice and has conducted clinical research using acoustics, MRI and EGG. She has presented on several continents and is passionate about bridging science and art. Ms. Obert is the executive principal of Getvocal-now.com, an online continuing education platform for singers, speech language pathologists and voice teachers. Her current research interests are in pharyngeal and tongue positions as they relate to boosting high frequency energy.
Kerrie Obert is also a guest lecture on the BAST Training Level 5 Singing Teacher Qualification.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Presenters Bios
It’s part two of our chat with West End Musical Theatre performer, lead singer of a London Big Band, and Clinical Osteopath, Jennie Morton. Today Alexa and Jennie will be picking up right where they left off talking about the importance of teachers finding their neutral for their own postural health in the teaching room.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Prioritising neutral posture is pivotal for vocal health. This proactive approach, avoiding extremes and unnecessary tension, prevents issues like deviated larynx. Examples of poor posture consequences highlight its significance, emphasising the need for a balanced and mindful alignment.
- Poor posture yields tangible consequences like deviated larynx and muscle imbalances. Practical examples, such as uneven piano placement or specific mic-handling, lead to muscle strain and vocal challenges.
- Delving into posture's intricate link with vocal well-being, Jennie illuminates the stomatognathic system and vocal muscles' role in balance. Practical tips, including mindful sitting and ribcage alignment, emphasise how posture directly influences and contributes to overall vocal health.
- Mindful alignment is a potent tool for communication, you should embrace vulnerability. It fosters authenticity, emphasising a deeper understanding of one's body for improved vocal health and heightened communication proficiency.
BEST MOMENTS
‘The body never lies, you know, you can tell it perfectly’
‘Symptoms in the body are like a course correct, the body's going, you've deviated from your path, get back, get back’
‘Posture is body language. In every moment, you are speaking to people, even if you haven't opened your mouth’
‘Taking care of you is an act of generosity to everyone else’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.jenniemorton.com
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.149 Part One: Finding the Best Posture and Alignment for Singing with Jennie Morton
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.97 Elevate Your Musical Performance Through Anatomical Efficiency with Jennie Morton
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.40 Teaching Singing to Dancers with Jennie Morton
- Chris Johnson: https://chrisjohnsonvocalcoach.com/
- Chris Johnson’s Teach Voice: https://www.teachvoice.com/
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
After a long performing career as a Ballet dancer, West End Musical Theatre performer, and lead singer of a London Big Band, Jennie is now a Clinical Osteopath specialising in the field of Performing Arts Medicine. She provides treatment for musculoskeletal, neurobiological, and psycho-physiological issues from her base in Los Angeles. She also works as a Performance Coach for singers and actors, focusing on anatomical efficiency, embodiment of artistry, movement education, and rehabilitation from vocal injury. Jennie co-created the MSc in Performing Arts Medicine at University College, London, and lectures internationally to artists, arts educators, and healthcare professionals on the subject of performance-related injuries. She is the author of three books: The Authentic Performer: Wearing A Mask And The Effect On Health; The Embodied Dancer: A Guide To Optimal Performance; and Dancing Longer, Dancing Stronger. Her website www.jenniemorton.com contains many of her published articles and educational resources, as well as links to her online courses on a range of health topics.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Presenters Bios
West End Musical Theatre performer, lead singer of a London Big Band, and Clinical Osteopath, Jennie Morton joins Alexa on Singing Teachers Talk for part one of a two part episode. This week the pair will be discussing how you can help your singers find their best posture and alignment. Listen in for some great exercises you can use with your students to improve their posture.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Concerns have arisen over the long-term health effects of technology-induced postures, especially among the younger generation. Habitual postures can lead to structural changes, causing discomfort as muscles become fibrous and impede blood supply.
- Maintaining a neutral spine is crucial for optimal posture and shock absorption, influencing the functioning of vital components like the diaphragm, emphasising the importance of understanding and addressing structural dynamics for overall well-being.
- Jennie emphasises the importance of dynamic stability over rigidity, likening it to a tall skyscraper built to move in the wind. She suggests lying on the floor to explore spinal alignment and identifying the felt sense of neutral curves.
- Singers achieve optimal posture through exercises that recognize and balance unique spinal curves. Performers in extreme roles benefit from targeted stretches. Triangulating body position, emotion, and vocal outcome enhances predictability. Unconventional exercises, like singing upside down, disrupt fear-associated contexts, facilitating effective navigation through challenging vocal passages.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Structure governs function’
‘Our bodies are kind of like Plasticine, whatever you do habitually becomes habituated’
‘Elasticity is the key to being an artist. You know where home base is’
‘Maintaining a neutral spine is crucial for optimal posture, with the definition of 'neutral' varying for each individual’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.jenniemorton.com
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.97 Elevate Your Musical Performance Through Anatomical Efficiency with Jennie Morton
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.40 Teaching Singing to Dancers with Jennie Morton
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 32 The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.138 Exploring the Benefits of The Alexander Technique for Singers with Patrick Ardagh-Walter
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
After a long performing career as a Ballet dancer, West End Musical Theatre performer, and lead singer of a London Big Band, Jennie is now a Clinical Osteopath specialising in the field of Performing Arts Medicine. She provides treatment for musculoskeletal, neurobiological, and psycho-physiological issues from her base in Los Angeles. She also works as a Performance Coach for singers and actors, focusing on anatomical efficiency, embodiment of artistry, movement education, and rehabilitation from vocal injury. Jennie co-created the MSc in Performing Arts Medicine at University College, London, and lectures internationally to artists, arts educators, and healthcare professionals on the subject of performance-related injuries. She is the author of three books: The Authentic Performer: Wearing A Mask And The Effect On Health; The Embodied Dancer: A Guide To Optimal Performance; and Dancing Longer, Dancing Stronger. Her website www.jenniemorton.com contains many of her published articles and educational resources, as well as links to her online courses on a range of health topics.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Updates from BAST Training
Presenters Bios
It's Mitch Jarvis from Singing Demos joining Alexa this week. Mitch has been recording vocal reels since 2011 with the mission to help performers stand out from the crowd and get that all-important invite into the audition room. Mitch is here to help us understand the benefits of a vocal reel and how the singer can get the best out of their recording. Make sure you listen all the way until the end for a special offer.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Singing Demos first opened its recording studio in Camden in 2011 and since then, have helped thousands of performers stand out with their vocal reels and network of leading casting directors and agents.
- A vocal reel can be incredibly helpful to singers because it gives you something you can put in front of casting directors straight away. It’s also helpful because in a post Covid world, your online portfolio became almost the first step in the audition process as it was harder to meet face to face. This has somewhat continued and directors now will expect to hear something from you before you’ve auditioned.
- The benefit to having your reel on video as well as audio is because of how key video content is online. Your social media following can have an impact on your job prospects. The video isn’t just key to showcasing yourself but for driving engagement on things like Instagram and TikTok.
- Singers should be sharing their vocal reels with agents, it is so much more important than sitting down and writing a bespoke email and CV. They want to be able to see what you can do and how you behave straight away.
- When deciding what to sing on your vocal reel you should stick to songs you know like the back of your hand that you enjoy. If you pick something difficult then you run the risk of not hitting the notes, especially under the first time pressure of being in a recording studio.
BEST MOMENTS
‘If you’re less confident, a reel can help you get past the first stage where you need to showcase yourself’
‘You want it to sound live, as if you’re singing in the room to them, no autotune’
‘Can they visualise you in that role? Because if they can’t see it they won’t cast you’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- https://www.singingdemos.co.uk/
Social Media:
- Instagram: @singingdemos.co.uk
Singing Demos Discount: Get £25 off a filmed vocal reel package with the code BAST25
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Spotlight: https://www.spotlight.com/
- Hannah Lowther: @hannahlowther
- The Accompanist: https://www.theaccompanist.co.uk/
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
After attending Italia Conti, Mitch launched Singing Demos in 2011 while also working professionally in the industry. Since then he's recorded thousands of vocal reels and stopped performing himself in 2015 to focus solely on Singing Demos.
Mitch has a strong network of leading casting directors and agents. He knows just what’s needed to get yourself seen and heard by the crème de la crème of the industry. His mission is the same as yours – to get you to stand out from the crowd with an outstanding vocal reel. Everything is done in the comfort of the Singing Demos professional recording studio in Camden, London.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
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It's Claire Delaney who joins Alexa this week to give us a tour behind the scenes of working on the ITV show ‘Mamma Mia! I have a dream’, the search for Sophie and Sky. Claire is a vocal coach with a private business and also teaches at UK Drama School Italia Conti. She initially trained in Opera, performing at the likes of the Royal Albert Hall, and now works with singers of all skill levels from beginners to West End professionals. To celebrate the winners of ‘Mamma Mia! I have a dream’ and their West End debut, Claire is here to give us the gossip on how she landed this TV job, what her role entailed on the program, and how we can help our theatre performers navigate auditions.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- "Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream'' premiered on ITV in October 2023. The program followed the quest for two fresh and undiscovered talents in musical theatre, aiming to cast them in the roles of Sophie Sheridan and Sky Ramand for the West End rendition of the musical "Mamma Mia!".
- If you or one of your students are thinking about applying for a TV show like this in the future, Claire believes you need to be strong in the following areas: story telling, working collaboratively, creating chemistry, having the endurance to perform 9 shows a week, and not taking yourself too seriously.
- In previous "Mamma Mia!" shows, it was understood that straight tone was desired over vibrato. However this more traditional approach didn’t appear to be the case in the TV show. Claire loves vibrato because it adds colour and a feeling of release in the voice. As a teacher you need to make sure your student can do both so they can use whichever they think is right for them.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I feel like having worked on TV now it adds to my credibility’
‘It’s not Shakespeare, it’s pure entertainment and just joyous’
‘The key to any audition is to do your background development on the character’
‘My best advice is just be cheeky and ask, the worst anyone can say is no and not everybody will say no’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- https://www.delaneycoaching.com/
Social Media:
- Instagram: @Claire.delaney.coach
- Tik Tok: Claire_TheVocalCoach
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Fiona McDougal: https://fionamcdougal.com/
- London School of Musical Theatre: https://www.lsmt.co.uk/
- Italia Conti Arts: https://www.italiaconti.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 91 How to Help Prepare Singers for Drama School Auditions with Michael Vickers
- Songs mentioned: Luck Be a Lady from Guys and Dolls; Trustfall by Pink; Somebody To Love from We Will Rock You; Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer; Shivers by Ed Sheeran; Night Fever from Saturday Night Fever
- Vocology in Practice: https://www.vocologyinpractice.org/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Claire Delaney is a professional voice coach and currently teaches at Italia Conti. She has been in the performing industry for 15 years and has recently worked with voice coach Fiona McDougal on the new Mamma Mia ‘I Have a Dream’ show for ITV.
Trained in Performing Arts and Opera, Claire has performed at venues including The Royal Albert Hall, The Wales Millennium Centre, The Other Palace, Kensington Roof Gardens, and The Bristol Hippodrome. She has also worked with Disney composer, Alan Menken, for the musical Galavant on ABC Comedy, and as an actress on various productions for Netflix, Sony Pictures, BBC One, BBC3, ITV, and ITV2.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
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Are you a vocal coach who has been avoiding vocal acoustics, you know that topic with words such as formant, harmonic, spectrogram and frequency? Maybe you just aren't sure how it applies to teaching singers, or maybe you've tried but it just seems too much to get to grips with. This week Alexa Terry is joined by Ken Bozeman , who is here to help you understand and apply vocal acoustic pedagogy.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Vocal Acoustic Pedagogy is the study and application of the scientific principles governing the acoustic properties of the singing voice. It informs vocal instruction, focusing on resonance, pitch control, diction, and breath management to enhance vocal technique and performance.
- Acoustic analysis enables teachers to teach effective vowel modification. By adjusting vowel shapes based on acoustic principles, singers can achieve better balance between clarity and resonance, especially in different parts of their vocal range.
- Mastering the principles of vocal resonance allows teachers to guide students in optimising their resonance for different styles and genres. Knowledge of formants and resonances helps in shaping the vocal tract to achieve desired tonal qualities.
- Understanding articulatory phonetics and its connection to acoustic properties helps teachers guide students in achieving clear diction and precise articulation. This is crucial for effective communication, especially in vocal genres with specific language requirements.
- If you’re trying to understand formants then remember that sounds encompass a spectrum of frequencies. Timbre represents peaks and valleys in frequency strength. The first formant is akin to the lowest peak, defining a sound's distinctive quality.
BEST MOMENTS
‘If you have no flexibility to explore options your body will move towards efficiency’
‘We’re the only primates that are vocal learners’
‘Frequencies have a vowel like tone colour’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- http://www.kenbozeman.com/
- Get Ken’s book ‘Practical Vocal Acoustics’ here: https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538174647/Practical-Vocal-Acoustics-Pedagogic-Applications-for-Teachers-and-Singers
- Get Ken’s book ‘Kinesthetic Voice Pedagogy 2’ here: https://www.voxped.com/KVP2.html
- Use Ken’s Discount Code: RLFANDF30
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- The work of Ingo Titze: https://ncvs.org/ingo-titze/
- Journal of Singing: https://www.nats.org/cgi/page.cgi/about_journal_singing.html
- The work of Heidi Moss Erickson: https://www.heidimosserickson.com/
- The work of Wolfgang Saus
- The work of Ian Howell: https://www.ianhowellcountertenor.com/
- The work of Dr Brad Story: https://vocalpedagogy.com/vocal-pedagogue/brad-story/
- Voce Vista: https://www.vocevista.com/
- Chadley Ballantyne: https://chadleyballantyne.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 52 Getting to Grips with Vocal Acoustics with Chadley Ballantyne
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 102 Understanding Singing and Menopause with Joanne Bozeman
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Kenneth Bozeman, BM, MM, Professor Emeritus of Music at Lawrence University for 42 years, chaired the voice department, receiving two teaching excellence awards. Holding degrees from Baylor University and the University of Arizona, he studied at the Munich Conservatory. In 1994, he earned the Van Lawrence Fellowship and was inducted into the American Academy of Teachers of Singing in 2019. As the Journal of Singing's editorial board chair, Bozeman authored acclaimed books on acoustic voice pedagogy. His students performed globally with esteemed opera companies. A renowned voice acoustics expert, he presented at NATS conferences, served as a master teacher, and spoke at British Voice Association and International Congress of Voice Teachers events.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
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Alexa delves into Style Vs Technique with Kaya Herstad-Carney. A Norwegian powerhouse based in the UK since '99, Kaya is a singer, songwriter and vocal coach, blending creativity and technique. Join us to unravel the secrets behind her success in artist development and vocal education.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Balance is Key: Effective singing instruction involves finding the delicate equilibrium between style and technique. While technique provides the foundational skills for vocal health and control, encouraging individual style fosters uniqueness and emotional connection in singing.
- Technique Foundations: Prioritise the establishment of strong vocal fundamentals. Teach proper breathing, vocal exercises, and posture to ensure students have a solid technical base. This enables them to explore various styles with a foundation of control and strength.
- Expressive Stylistic Elements: Guide students in understanding the stylistic nuances of different genres. Encourage the exploration of varied vocal tones, articulations, and phrasing while ensuring that these stylistic choices are built upon a foundation of solid vocal technique.
- Adaptability: Emphasise the importance of adapting technique to suit different styles. What works well in classical singing might not translate seamlessly into contemporary or jazz styles. Encourage students to be versatile and open to adjusting their technique based on the demands of the chosen style.
- Individualised Approach: Recognize and celebrate each student's unique voice and style. Tailor teaching methods to accommodate different learning styles and help students discover their own expressive strengths. A personalised approach fosters a positive and supportive environment for growth in both style and technique.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Good vocal techniques are the ability to create the notes that you hear in your heart and your head’
‘Style is the artistic lengths of which we deliver the song depending on the genre’
‘Finding a good balance between style and technique is about not compromising either’
‘Technique is second to the emotional release of the style’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- kayamusic.com
Social Media:
- @kayamusic
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Artists mentioned: Cher; George Ezra; Billie Eilish; Kelly Clarkson; Christina Aguilera; Shakira
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.142 How to Sing and Teach Gospel with Mark De-Lisser
- British GQ Magazine interview with George Ezra
- The work of Ken Bozeman & Ian Howell
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.143 Navigating the Music Industry with VocalizeU’s Big Billy Clark & Elliott O’Connor
- Waterbear - The College of Music
- Kerrie Obert
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 59 Top Tongue Tips For Boosting High Frequency Energy with Kerrie Obert
- BBC Masterclass with Christina Aguilera
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Kaya, a versatile artist from Norway, has called the UK home since '99. Her extensive career spans original music, vocal coaching, and artist development. As an established performer, she's graced The Royal Variety Show and the BBC Songwriting Showcase. Kaya's passion extends to mentoring, directing festivals, and teaching popular music subjects. A harmony enthusiast, vocal arranger, and festival director, she serves as a board member for Vocology in Practice, training singing teachers globally. With roles at Waterbear and esteemed institutions, Kaya specialises in singing, songwriting, motivation, and artist development.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
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Updates from BAST Training
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This week it's Rush Dorsett who's keeping Alexa company. Rush is a voice coach, performing artist, and founder of the Embodied Voice Academy. She has earned accolades in voice science, psychology, and sound healing. Rush is passionate about weaving together spiritual tools with vocal awakening practices to access a singer's highest potential. She is here to discuss the benefits of sound healing for singers and busy teachers like us.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- YogaVoice® is a unique 21st century synthesis of the eight-limbs of Classical Yoga technology and Systematic Vocal Technique (SVT). The application of these principles to the lives and work of both professional and amateur singers can facilitate self-awareness and artistic empowerment.
- Rush has found that when teaching she often finds some kind of energetic imbalance in the students' sound. When this happens she tries not to focus on the classic techniques as that would just be paving over the cracks. This is when she turns to her alignment techniques to get to the root cause of the imbalance.
- The mission of Embodied Voice is to serve conscious creatives who are seeking to connect with their true voice, go deeper in their vocal practice, find ease in singing, embody powerful presence, and have the tools they need to create their own sustainable vocal practice.
- The seven major chakras Rush teaches are: 1) Root - stability, grounding; 2) Sacral - creativity, emotions; 3) Solar Plexus - personal power; 4) Heart - love, compassion; 5) Throat - communication; 6) Third Eye - intuition; 7) Crown - spiritual connection. Each corresponds to different aspects of well-being.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Being a part of a community really built my confidence’
‘I was seeing the results of this energetic and physical body alignment helping and supporting the anatomical alignment for healthy vocal technique’
‘When we are connected to our root chakra, our physical body aligns’
‘Authenticity often requires deconditioning ourselves’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- https://rushdorsett.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @rushdorsett
Rush’s FREEBIE - Discover your Vocal-Chakra Alignment
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- The Yoga Voice Method from Mark Moliterno: https://theyogavoice.com/
- (Book) The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
- (Book) There’s No Place Like Ohm by Donna Carey and Marjorie de Muynck
- (Podcast) Quantum Minds TV by Dr Theresa Bullard-Whyke: https://theresabullard.com/qmtv-episodes/
- Contact Rush directly: rush@rushdorsett.com
BAST Book A Call
ABOUT THE GUEST
Rush Dorsett is a Voice Coach and Performing Artist who supports creatives in awakening their authentic voice, embodying their power, and freeing their self-expression in singing, speaking, and performing. She is Founder of EmbodiedVoice ® ️, an online school for guiding students into deeper embodiment, energetic alignment, and vocal mastery so that they can express themselves confidently and experience the joy of freedom in their voices.
She received her Masters degree in Voice Science and Performance from New England Conservatory, her B.A. in Psychology and Music from Washington University in St. Louis, sound healing certifications from the Divine Resonance Centre, and she is also a certified YogaVoice®️ facilitator.
Rush is passionate about weaving together spiritual tools with vocal awakening practices to access one's highest potential. She is a Certified Teacher, Healer and Ritual Master with the Modern Mystery School, and often shares classes, workshops and energy healings with her community. Her mission is to use these tools to bring more light, love, peace and joy in the world.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
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To help us kickstart the year Alexa is joined by VocalizeU’s very own Big Billy Clark and Elliott O’Connor who were here to help us and the singers we work with navigate the music industry. VocalizeU is a 10-day immersive artist program offering a 360° music education with performance, identity, production, songwriting, theatre, and management.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- We think when we hear a new artist that what we’re listening to is their first song, but in reality artists put in years of work before the breakthrough moment. That breakthrough moment is hard to predict because of changing trends and almost all artists will never have that random piece of luck that propels a career.
- For record labels, popularity is good for business and is usually preferential over talent. You can be incredibly talented, but if a label doesn't know how to market you then they’re not going to make as much money as someone who is more popular but potentially less talented.
- Billy and Elliott believe that the key skills an artist must have to firstly work with them and to secondly be successful are: hard working, focused on their goals, has their own ideas and suggestions, can take on suggestions and ideas from others, and originality.
- Don’t hold onto your music, you could just be delaying the process. Get it out there so people can get to know you and your story. You also never know when something is going to hit, some things gain popularity years after being released.
BEST MOMENTS
‘There’s a lack of artist development at major labels which is why artists are forced to do it themselves’
‘No matter where you are as an artist, stay true to who you are. People can see authenticity’
‘It’s important to have a story that’s relatable to people’
‘Sometimes the box you check is not what they’re looking for right now’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- https://vocalizeu-worldwide.myshopify.com/
Social Media:
- Youtube: VocalizeU 2024: Define & Design Your Artist Journey
- Instagram: @vocalizeu
- @bigbillyclark
- @elliottoconnor
VocalizeU Discount Code: HOLIDAY500 + BAST350
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Artists mentioned: Billie Eilish; Nicki Minaj; Ariana Grande; Drake; The Weeknd
- ChatGPT
- Ayanna Sealy Performance Coach
- Dave Stroud: @dsvocalstudio
BAST Book A Call: basttraining.com/bookacall/
ABOUT THE GUEST
VocalizeU: VocalizeU is a 10-day, all-inclusive immersive artist development intensive program that provides an intensive 360° music education experience with performance training, artist identity, production, songwriting, musical theatre, music management, and much more!
Taught and mentored by music professionals, executives and Grammy winning artists, our artists receive individual attention to develop their artistry in a safe and structured environment.
Led by Music Executives Big Billy Clark & Elliott O'Connor, whose experience spans both sides of label business and artist management. Elliott's independent record label and artists have reached over 1 billion+ streams on Spotify alone and sells out national tours. Billy steers the careers of many Billboard chart-topping and award winning artists. Their collective knowledge of music applies to their approach to the VU experience and their passion to provide a practical artist development program for a sustainable and healthy music career.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
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For our final episode of 2023, Alexa is joined by sought-after choral director and vocal coach, Mark De-Lisser. He has worked with the likes of Ariana Grande, Jessie J, and Beverly Knight. He has also been involved in TV shows such as "Our Dementia Choir" with Vicky McClure and "The Masked Singer." Mark made the arrangement of "Stand By Me," which was performed by the Kingdom Choir at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. This performance has been streamed over 4 million times. Mark is here to discuss how to sing and teach the gospel vocal style.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Gospel music is a Christian genre rooted in the black experience. Known for emotive vocals, call-and-response, and Christian themes, it often features choirs and instruments. Gospel expresses spirituality, joy, or sorrow, with improvisation common. Evolving into sub-genres like traditional and contemporary gospel, it has influenced various music styles, playing a significant role in religious worship and shaping American musical development.
- When it comes to the question of the cultural appropriation of gospel music, Mark believes that you have to give acknowledgment to where that music came from. You have to think about the composer and the spiritual background of where the music came from and reference it when you come to teach it.
- The most important thing you need to remember when singing gospel music is that you need to believe in the words that are coming out of your mouth. Even if you’re not a religious person, you should think of a thing or idea that lifts you up and gives you strength.
- When singing gospel, allow yourself to be more vulnerable and get wrapped up in the emotion of the piece. Having a licence to be more vulnerable will make it more likely you affect the audience and make them leave with your story.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Gospel is songs of good news’
‘It blew my mind because I’d only heard traditional gospel music’
‘They were creating these songs out of a need for freedom’
‘If you connect you will affect’
‘We were born singers and society does its best to beat it out of us’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- https://markdelisser.com/
Social Media:
- Instagram: @markdelisser & @mdlsingers
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Artists Mentioned: Thomas Dorsey; Kirk Franklin; Maverick City; Mahalia Jackson; Andre Crouch; Walter Hawkins; Richard Smallwood; Donald Lawrence; Johnathan McReynolds; Daryl Coley; Take Six; The Winans; Mischa Paris; Tai Trabet; Anita Wilson; Mary Mary; Tom Odell; CeCe Winans; The Darkness
- (Book) So you Want to Sing Gospel: A Guide for Performers by Dr Trineice Robinson-Martin
- Dr Trineice Robinson-Martin
- Dane Chalfin
- Felton and Norton Community Gospel Choir
BAST Book A Call: basttraining.com/bookacall/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Mark De-Lisser is one of the most sought after choral directors and vocal coaches in the UK. He has worked with some of today's top vocal talent, including Ariana Grande, Jessie J and Beverley Knight, and on some of the UK's most watched TV shows, including BBC's BAFTA nominated Our Dementia Choir with Vicky McClure, Songs of Praise and ITV's award winning The Masked Singer.
Driven to inspire and motivate everybody to succeed, Mark helps to increase confidence and self-awareness, whilst improving technique and delivery. Anybody who is fortunate to work with Mark is left feeling uplifted and invigorated.
Mark is perhaps best known for his arrangement of Stand by Me, performed by the Kingdom Choir at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018, which has now been streamed more than 4 million times on Spotify and has over 10 million views on YouTube.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
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Voice scientist Aaron Johnson joins Alexa to discuss laboratories, rats, the ageing larynx, and wearable devices to detect vocal fatigue. Aaron has had a career as a professional classical singer and teacher and is now a researcher and speech-language pathologist specialising in vocal habilitation and rehabilitation. He is currently an associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, is the co-director of NYU Langone Voice Center, and leads the Johnson Research Lab.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Singers don’t need to know any science, however there is plenty of evidence that shows the more a singer understands about how the instrument of their body works, the better chance they have of being able to improve the quality of their voice and be able to change it to suit their needs.
- In his role as a speech pathologist, Aaron found that individuals with multiple jobs, especially part-time performers in the service industry, often faced voice issues such as phonotrauma due to excessive talking without resting the voice.
- Aaron’s study examines ageing's impact on voice production, associating it with reduced communicative ability. Using rat ultrasonic vocalisations (USVs), researchers tested if age-related changes in USVs and laryngeal neuromuscular junctions could be reversed through vocal exercise. After an 8-week training period, both young and old rats exhibited improved USV acoustics and neuromuscular junction morphology.
- The findings of this study suggest that vocal exercise may mitigate age-related changes in voice characteristics and associated neuromuscular adaptations.
BEST MOMENTS‘Ask yourself what you are curious about, ultimately that’s what research is about’
‘We need to be mindful of just how much we use our voice’
‘In science, all models are wrong but some are useful’
‘The voice is like the rest of the body so in your 30s you’ll start muscle atrophy’
EPISODE RESOURCESGuest Website:
- Aaron M Johnson
- Aaron M. Johnson, PhD | NYU Langone Health
- Johnson Lab | NYU Langone Health
- Voice Center | NYU Langone Health
Social Media:
- Instagram: @voicescientist
- Contact Aaron: aaron@voicescientist.com or aaron.johnson@nyulangone.org
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATs)
- The work of Karen Brunssen
- Vocal Training Mitigates Age-Related Changes Within the Vocal Mechanism in Old Rats by Aaron M. Johnson, Michelle R. Ciucci & Nadine P. Connor
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.102 Understanding Singing and Menopause with Joanne Bozeman
- Vocal Function Exercises by Joseph Stemple
- Lee Silverman Voice Training
- PhoRTE Exercises by Dr Aaron Ziegler and Dr Edie Hapner
- The Man That’s Ageing Backwards from The Diary of a CEO
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.61 Measuring Vocal Load in Contemporary Musical Theatre with Ana Flavia Zuim
- First Wearable Device for Vocal Fatigue Senses When Your Voice Needs a Break
- The work of John A Rogers
- Lynn Helding
BAST Book A Call: basttraining.com/bookacall/
ABOUT THE GUESTAaron M. Johnson, MM, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a researcher and speech–language pathologist specialising in voice habilitation and rehabilitation. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at New York University Grossman School of Medicine and Co-Director of the NYU Langone Voice Center. His research laboratory, funded by the National Institutes of Health, uses novel translational research methods to examine laryngeal neuromuscular mechanisms underlying ageing, vocal exercise, and phonotraumatic injury response.
ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
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BAST founder Line Hilton joins Alexa to discuss the best vocal exercises for pitch accuracy training. You’ll find lots of helpful information on perceived tone deafness, singing and the premenstrual voice, navigating matching pitch, whether being ‘pitchy’ is a thing, props you can use in your lessons, and of course, some amazing vocal exercises you can use with your singing students.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- There are several reasons that people may struggle with pitch, these include factors like inadequate ear training, poor vocal technique causing pitch instability, performance anxiety affecting concentration, health issues impacting hearing, inconsistent practice, and variations in tonal memory.
- Amusia is a neurodevelopmental or acquired disorder that impairs the ability to recognise or interpret musical elements. Commonly known as "tone-deafness," individuals with amusia may struggle with pitch, rhythm, and melodic memory. It can be present from birth or acquired through factors like brain damage.
- Most people can hear when something is a quarter to three-quarters out of tune. Those who have practised with musical instruments and are used to tuning them will often find it easier to notice.
- There is an assumption in the singing community that if your pitch isn’t accurate, then you are a bad singer. We’re human, sometimes we’re not going to be completely inaccurate.
- Props can be useful in pitch exercises, for example pitching through a straw. There are also apps that you can use to test a student on whether a pitch is higher or lower. Line also records herself doing single pitches in the speaking range which singers can then practise against at home.
BEST MOMENTS‘I really object to the fact that when someone says they can’t sing in tune they’re labelled as tone deaf’
‘Less than 4 or 5 percent of the population suffer from amusia’
‘Saying someone is pitchy doesn’t mean anything’
‘There are many great performers out there who sometimes sing out of tune’
EPISODE RESOURCESGuest Website:
- basttraining.com
Social Media:
- @basttraining
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- (BAST Blog) Singing and the Pre Menstrual Voice: https://www.basttraining.com/singing-and-the-premenstrual-voice/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Understanding Singing and Menopause with Joanne Bozeman
- Tone Deaf Test: http://tonedeaftest.com/
- Ian Davidson: https://ianjdavidson.com/
- Sing&See: https://www.singandsee.com/
- insTuner
- Vocal Pitch Monitor
- Solfege Hand Signs
- Claire Cannon: https://www.clairecannonvoice.co.uk/
- Kaya Herstad-Carney: https://kayamusic.com/
- Mandy Harvey: https://mandyharveymusic.com/
- ‘When You Only Sing in FSharp’ by Tim Minchin
- Natalie Weiss: @NatalieWeissOfficial (Youtube)
ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
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Founder and CEO of Full Voice, Nikki Loney, is keeping us company this week with a teaching career spanning over three decades. Nikki works with music education specialists, children's composers, and musicians to create music education resources for young vocal students. She hosts her own podcast called "Full Voice" and is a member of NATS and the Speakeasy Cooperative. Nikki joins me to discuss the success of play-based learning and how we can make singing lessons fun.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Play-based learning is an educational approach where children engage in activities designed for enjoyment and exploration. Through games and interactive experiences, they acquire essential skills, fostering cognitive, social, and emotional development in a natural and enjoyable way.
- The most important principle you need to remember when working with young students is to meet them at the level they are at. Knowledge and skills are built over time so don’t over complicate things early on. What information do they need and how best will they understand it?
- The concept of fun when it comes to teaching is challenging. You want to show your student and their family that you know what you’re doing and you’re giving valuable information that they are paying for. Making lessons and activities fun and silly seems naturally counter intuitive to this goal.
- Kids love repetition. Once you have a repertoire of singing activities, you should let the student choose their favourite fun warm up because the more they enjoy it, the more they will engage and get out of the lesson as a whole. This also falls under the umbrella of student-led learning.
- Student-led partnerships involve active student participation in goal-setting, repertoire selection, and feedback. Teachers guide, fostering personalised, engaging lessons that enhance motivation and student ownership of their vocal journey.
BEST MOMENTS‘Even though I had all those great teachers, being able to break that down for a student was more difficult than I thought’
‘When you work with children, it’s never about you’
‘Make easy, easier. We tend to overcomplicate things’
‘If you’re tired or scared, your brain goes into a protective mode and they’re not learning’
‘A lot of those exercises came from the kids. I steal their ideas!’
EPISODE RESOURCES
- www.fullvoicemusic.com
Social Media:
- @thefullvoice
- (Youtube) Full Voice Songs: @FULLVOICESongs
BAST Book A Call:
- basttraining.com/bookacall
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Ultimate Music Theory: https://ultimatemusictheory.com/
- Mim Adams: https://mimadams.com/
- Dr Jenevora Williams: https://jenevorawilliams.com/
- (Podcast) The Full Voice - Ep.169 Happy Hormones for Learning with Dr Jenevora Williams
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.137 Creating Optimal Learning Environments for Children and Young Adults with Roberta Wolff
- Ann Baltz and the Opera Works Programme: https://www.operaworks.org/
- Facebook Forum: Voice Teachers for Young Singers
ABOUT THE GUESTInspired by the youngest students in her private voice studio, Nikki Loney challenges teachers to redefine what a singing lesson looks like for a child. Founder and CEO of FULL VOICE Music, she works with music education specialists, children's composers, and musicians to create music education resources for young vocal students. She is an active member of NATS and the Speakeasy Cooperative. She is the host of the FULL VOICE Podcast, A podcast for voice teaching professionals.
ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
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Updates from BAST Training
Presenters Bios
Joining Alexa this week to chat about the Alexander Technique is Patrick Ardagh-Walter, a professional singer who has worked with the likes of the Royal Opera. He's a trained Alexander Technique teacher himself and is an assistant at a training school for teachers of the Alexander Technique in Paris. Patrick is here to tell us where the technique originated from, how it can benefit singers, and he also shares with us an exercise that we can try out for ourselves and use in the studio with the singers we work with.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The Alexander Technique is a method for improving posture and movement, addressing habits of tension that can interfere with optimal functioning. Developed by F. Matthias Alexander, it emphasises self-awareness and mindful reeducation of the body's alignment and coordination. Practitioners learn to release unnecessary muscular tension, promoting better posture, ease of movement and overall well-being.
- This benefits singers by promoting optimal posture, breath control, and vocal coordination. It helps singers release tension, allowing for a free and natural flow of breath, enhancing vocal resonance.
- By improving overall body awareness, singers can maintain better alignment and support, preventing strain and vocal fatigue.
- The technique fosters a mindful approach to movement, enabling singers to refine their technique and optimise vocal performance, contributing to long-term vocal health and expressive singing.
BEST MOMENTS‘The technique isn't an activity where you do it and get on with life, it’s a re-education’
‘It’s difficult to let go of something that feels familiar and do something unfamiliar instead’
‘You can’t ask someone’s brain to do something if they’ve never experienced before’
‘Almost everybody I see tends to stand in a way which interferes with the breathing mechanism’
EPISODE RESOURCES
- How You Stand, How You Move, How You Live by Missy Vineyard
- Feldenkrais Method: https://feldenkrais.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.63 Developing a Singer’s Self Awareness and Clarifying Intention with Robert Sussuma
- Ep.65 The Top Benefits of Vocal Massage with Lydia Flock
- Ep.74 Understanding Manual Therapy with Walt Fritz
- Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT): https://alexandertechnique.co.uk/teacher-training-courses
- American Society for the Alexander Technique: https://www.amsatonline.org/aws/AMSAT/pt/sp/home_page
- Australian Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (AUSTAT): https://www.austat.org.au/
- The Use of the Self by F. Matthias Alexander
- The work of Walter Carrington
- The work of Marjory Barlow
- Podcast Suggestion Form: https://forms.gle/naUum9N3unzNMPLN8
ABOUT THE GUESTDuring a 35-year singing career Patrick toured and recorded widely, working at the Royal Opera, with the BBC Singers and Westminster Abbey choir, in several French opera companies and ensembles, in film and broadcasts and, for some years, as the bass voice of the Swingle Singers.
Now living in France, he continues to perform alongside his teaching, and is assistant at a Training School for teachers of the Alexander Technique in Paris. Patrick uses his understanding of voice and breathing integrated with the Alexander Technique in private lessons and workshops, in France and the UK, and also to support people approaching the end of life.
ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
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Presenters Bios
Joining Alexa today is Professor of Performing Arts Pedagogy at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Roberta Wolff. As well as teaching on the Guildhall PGCert programme, she provides professional development on teaching skills to teachers across the performing arts disciplines. Roberta is also a workshop leader, coach, and piano teacher. In this episode, we will discuss how to create optimal learning environments to serve children and young adult singers.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Students arrive at lessons with all sorts of other things going on in their heads. You need to allow time for that student to properly adjust from that state into one where they are focused on the lesson and ready to learn. We can’t influence what the learner has been doing prior to the lesson, but we can influence the space they’re coming into, nurturing a place where it’s play to relax and ask questions.
- The changes and transformations we as teachers make in the room with students don’t have to be a profound moment or a massive breakthrough. It can be the small things that make the biggest difference over time.
- Students need a space where they can be heard by their teachers. Everybody needs something different to help them learn, and if we don’t encourage a student to vocalise what they need, they won't get the most out of their education.
- Who sets what success looks like for each individual student? If you know what success looks like for your student, then you can set personalised targets and adapt to their individual goals. Roberta doesn't set the students' agenda; she listens to where they want to go.
BEST MOMENTS‘I love it when students challenge me because it shows that they’re really thinking’
‘If the ideas are coming from the student themselves, they’re going to be more likely to remember and more motivated to follow through’
‘I feel we have to manage the impact of our own moods and frustrations so that they don’t damage the environment we’re creating’
‘The quality we bring to our listening can improve the quality of the other person’s thinking’
EPISODE RESOURCEShttps://www.robertawolff.co.uk
https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/study-with-guildhall/pgcert-performance-teaching
Social Media:
- Instagram: @guildhallschool
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- (Book) Time to Think by Nancy Kline
- (Podcast) The Full Voice - Ep.169 Happy Hormones for Learning with Dr Jenevora Williams
- Dr Jenevora Williams: https://jenevorawilliams.com/
- (Book) Introducing Neuroeducational Research by Paul Howard-Jones
- (Book) Grit by Angela Duckworth
Do you have a burning question on the voice or being a singing teacher? Maybe you have a topic you want us to explore or a guest you’d like to hear from? Let us know by completing the Podcast Suggestion Form: https://forms.gle/naUum9N3unzNMPLN8
ABOUT THE GUESTRoberta is a professor of performing arts pedagogy at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She teaches on an innovative PGCert programme providing professional development in teaching skills to teachers across the performing arts disciplines. This role has led to staff development work both within Guildhall, and across other institutions such as Italia Conti. She is an experienced workshop facilitator, coach, and piano teacher. A cross-section of these competencies has resulted in a particular interest in learning environments and how to curate these for the maximum benefit of students. This includes a space that is safe, with plenty of time for the student's voice, questions, and mistakes (!); an environment that is enriching and nourishing for both the teacher and student.
ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
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Nate James is an independent soul artist with a successful career to date, having sold over a million albums, received MOBO nominations and urban music awards, and he has headlined festivals across Europe. He has also toured with the likes of Amy Winehouse and John Legend. Nate joins Alexa today to fly the flag for the music industry's LGBTQIA+ community, sharing his own personal story, including how his school teacher supported him in his early years. He discusses the response to particularly gay male-presenting singers within music, which is the topic of his thesis.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Nate has encountered numerous instances of individuals concealing their sexuality as a means of advancing their careers within the music industry. This was particularly widespread during the 1980s, a period marked by substantial stigma and apprehension related to HIV and AIDS. Nate also observed the adoption of coded language and individuals altering their personas when interacting with specific individuals to mask their true identities.
- It wasn’t long ago that if you were gay and in a boy band you couldn’t come out as it would hurt the record label financially. Now acts are actively signed because they are gay or trans because it’s seen by some in the industry as a marketing tool.
- Freddie Mercury once told a friend that he didn’t come out as gay because he didn’t want to tarnish the brand that Queen had built. It was an admirable thing to do in one way to protect his bandmates' livelihoods, but tragic on a personal level for him.
- As a student, Nate discovered solace and security with his teachers after experiencing bullying from fellow classmates due to his sexuality and race. He would confide in them, sharing how disheartened he felt that expressing his passion for dance and singing provoked homophobic reactions.
BEST MOMENTS‘I was effectively living two lives, that’s the case for most gay male pop stars’
‘You can't tell someone to be themselves but have parameters and boundaries over that’
‘From the consumers point of view things have got better, but if you look beneath it there’s still a lot to be done’
EPISODE RESOURCESSocial Media:
- Instagram: @thenatejames
- Facebook: Nate James Official
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Artist Mentioned: George Michael; Wham; Little Nas X; Frank Ocean; Duncan James; Stephen Gately; Will Young; Freddie Mercury; Da Brat; Elton John; Harry Styles; Sam Smith; Kim Petras;
- Charlie Kristensen (#CheerUpCharlie): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNPMcAgo2byrS6XgbuH3udA
- Daniel Lismore: https://www.daniellismore.com/
- London College of Contemporary Music (LCCM): https://www.lccm.org.uk
Do you have a burning question on the voice or being a singing teacher? Maybe you have a topic you want us to explore or a guest you’d like to hear from? Let us know by completing the Podcast Suggestion Form: https://forms.gle/naUum9N3unzNMPLN8
ABOUT THE GUESTNate James, is a singer-songwriter who, since his 2005 debut, has sold over 1,000,000 albums. His debut album, "Set the Tone," earned Nate three MOBO nominations and the Urban Music Award for Best Soul Artist. Nate's live performances have been equally impressive, selling out venues like London's Jazz Café and winning the prestigious Festivalbar in Italy in 2006.
In 2007, Nate self-funded his second album, "Kingdom Falls," inspired by a charity mission to Rwanda. It received critical acclaim, winning him Urban Music Awards for Best Album and Best Neo-Soul Artist. Currently, working on his third album "In My Skin" with Mark Hill, it explores themes of love and life's trials.
ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
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We first welcomed Kate Valentine to the Singing Teachers Talk podcast back on episode 85. But now, Kate is back with us in episode 135, to tell us all about Valentine Voice Care Lewes, a centre for vocal wellness development, prevention, and rehabilitation, which she has built in East Sussex
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The mission of Valentine Voice Care is to offer unparalleled care and support to anyone who has a voice through a biopsychosocial approach to cater to the needs of a really wide range of different groups. A biopsychosocial approach addresses complex interactions between biological, psychological, and social factors to better understand health, illness, and voice care delivery.
- Valentine Voice Care came about from Kate’s own experience with vocal injury which had such a profound effect on her. She discovered that those who are mute for a period of time find it hard to express their opinion or personality which can feel isolating.
- Kate has seen an increase in psychological troubles with singers and musicians since the pandemic. Having had a long time not working, they had to step back into an insecure industry which had less work.
- The 5 pillars of care that Valentine Voice Care are aiming for are prevention through education, early identification, rehabilitation through targeted therapies for each stage of recovery, specialist vocal coaching, and encouraging long term vocal health through maintenance.
BEST MOMENTS‘It felt like hell, I was so lonely and felt so stripped of my identity because of my vocal injury’
‘This shrinking pool of opportunities means everyone is anxious’
‘Feel the fear and do it anyway’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- valentinevoicecare.com
Social Media:
- Handle: @valentinevoicecare
Contact Kate to Book Your Treatment or Service:
- kate@valentinevoicecare.com
- info@valentinevoicecare.com
Discount Code: Use the code BAST50 for a 50% discount off VOCAL TRIAGE with Kate Valentine (expires 25th December 2023)
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Practitioners mentioned: Hannah Sanderson; Daisy Duval; Julie Cooper; Pemma Ashdown; Chloe Spencer; Amy Hunter; Ann Coxhead; Gillian Ramm; Louisa Barry; Philippa Poulton; Leigh Bisset; Rebecca Meitlis; Charlotte Mobbs; Lee Bisset; Rebecca Carolyn Andrews; Sian Winstanley
- Feldenkrais Method: https://feldenkrais.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 85 Vocal Health Red Flags Explained with Kate Valentine
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.32 The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep 68 Training Transgender Voices with Dr Felix Graham
- Vocal Health Education: https://www.vocalhealth.co.uk/
- British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM): https://www.bapam.org.uk/
- Voice Care Centre: https://voicecarecentre.co.uk/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.39 Osteopathy for Singers (and Joint Farts) with Chloe Spencer
- Marshall Light Studio: https://marshalllightstudio.com/
Do you have a burning question on the voice or being a singing teacher? Maybe you have a topic you want us to explore or a guest you’d like to hear from? Let us know by completing the Podcast Suggestion Form: https://forms.gle/naUum9N3unzNMPLN8
ABOUT THE GUESTKate Valentine specialises in Vocal Health and Injury Prevention for singers, Vocal Massage and Laryngeal Manual Therapy. A passionate ambassador for vocal health, it is her mission to help remove the mystery and stigma surrounding vocal wellbeing and injury, and to provide a safe space for clients to support them with their careers. Kate is now the proud owner of Valentine Voice Care in Lewes.
ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
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Back in 2019, teenager Eddie Cortez went viral for a letter that he wrote to his teacher, explaining why he didn't do his homework. In that letter, he said, "I don't want to do school work over the weekend because it's a stress-free time to go out with friends, watch TV, play games. I don't do it also because it makes me very mad and unhappy. I do what makes me happy because I want to be happy. Homework is not a real thing in the real world, so we should not have to do it in school because it's not useful." BAST Founder Line Hilton joins Alexa to discuss the excuses we encounter with our students about why they can't practise their craft.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The purpose of practice is to ingrain the motor skills used for a task through repetitions. These repetitions open up neural pathways and as we repeat these pathways get strengthened and the action becomes more automatic and you become more adept at the task.
- A quote from 'Quality of Practice: A Musician's Guide' by Susan Williams says “Research on motor learning has discovered that the kinds of complex motor movements needed for making music are best learned unconsciously or implicitly. The mind can help this process by focusing on the intention: How do I want this to sound? What do I want to express? The centres of the brain concerned with motor control, which are not consciously controlled, will search for the solution.”
- Deliberate practice is purposeful, challenging, and feedback-driven learning. It's goal-oriented, repetitive, focused, and mentally demanding, with structured, time-limited sessions, aimed at improving specific skills. Quantity alone doesn't suffice; it's the quality and structured approach that lead to expertise.
- Motivation to practice often arises from the sense of autonomy, where individuals feel in control of their choices, driven by their personal interests, passions, and the freedom to pursue their goals without external pressure. Autonomy in practice fosters intrinsic motivation and a deeper commitment to improvement.
BEST MOMENTS‘Practise is just a way of reinforcing the thing we want to do’
‘Don’t stop at “it didn’t work”, ask yourself what do I need to do to make it work’
‘Having a specific strategy is needed for practice, just running the song through with no plan is not practice’
‘People aren’t motivated by what we think. People want autonomy’
EPISODE RESOURCESGuest Website:
- basttraining.com
Social Media:
- @basttraining
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Quality Practice: A Musician’s Guide by Susan Williams: https://www.hfm-detmold.de/fileadmin/lia_hfm_2014/pool/Netzwerk_MuHo_Williams_UEben_manual_EN.pdf
- Anders Ericsson and Deliberate Practice
- Drive by Daniel H. Pink
- Singer’s Voice Dampener: https://www.beltyafaceoff.com/
- Mindy Pack and The Voice Straw: https://www.mindypack.com/
Do you have a burning question on the voice or being a singing teacher? Maybe you have a topic you want us to explore or a guest you’d like to hear from? Let us know by completing the Podcast Suggestion Form: https://forms.gle/naUum9N3unzNMPLN8
ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Click here for updates from BAST Training
Presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
To continue our discussion on the juicy topic of "belt," Alexa is joined by voice teacher and trainer of musical theatre and CCM, Amanda Flynn. Amanda has performed in shows like "Wicked" and "Mamma Mia" and has held the position of Production Vocal Coach for "The Lightning Thief" and "Be More Chill" on Broadway. She is the author of "So You Want to Sing Musical Theatre," the updated and expanded edition, and is here to chat about mastering belt in musical theatre.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- When discussing belting, it's essential to remember that it doesn't originate from Western classical singing. It's a form of sound production found worldwide, particularly in indigenous music traditions. Belting gained popularity in popular music through black female blues artists who incorporated this technique to intensify the emotional impact of their voices.
- When we apply Western classical principles to belting, many aspects don't align, leading to confusion among singers who realise that what they've been trained on doesn't quite fit this distinct vocal style.
- Mastering belt with laryngeal and acoustic registration involves controlling vocal folds, optimising resonance, and blending chest and head voice for a powerful and emotionally charged performance.
- Remember, if it sounds like a belt and works for a song then it’s good. If you’re getting the sound you want, don’t overthink it.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Belt is the most common and popular musical expression we have’
‘Belting is complex, it’s not simple and straightforward’
‘They said you were belting out a sound because it’s this big pop of a sound, almost like a punch’
‘One of the top questions I’m asked is what is belting, but we never ask a classical singer what classical is’
EPISODE RESOURCES
- amandaflynnvoice.com
- Instagram & Tik Tok: @amandaflynnie
Sign up for one of Amanda’s classes, here: https://amanda-s-school-a64e.thinkific.com/
Get your copy of Amanda’s book on Amazon
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Artists mentioned: Ma Rainey; Ida Cox; Bessie Smith; Ethel Merman;
- Musical Theatre shows mentioned: Wicked; Oklahoma! Annie Get Your Gun; Jagged Little Pill; Six; Lizzie; Little Women; Anastasia
- Rob Rokicki: https://www.robrokicki.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.101 How to Belt with John Henny
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.118 Mastering Mix Voice and Belt with Gemma Sugrue
- Voice Study Centre: https://voicestudycentre.com/
- Acoustic Comparison of Lower and Higher Belt Ranges in Professional Broadway Actresses by Amanda Flynn, Jared Trudeau & Aaron M. Johnson: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30409455/
- Voce Vista: https://www.vocevista.com/
- So You Want to Sing Musical Theatre (updated and extended edition) by Amanda Flynn
- Mary Saunders Barton: https://belcantocanbelto.com/
- Cross-Training in the Voice Studio: A Balancing Act by Mary Saunders Barton and Norman Spivey
- New York Singing Teacher Organisation: https://nyst.org/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Amanda is a voice teacher specialising in musical theatre and CCM singing. She coached Broadway performers and served as a vocal consultant at Two River Theatre. She aids injured singers and holds an MM in Vocal Performance and multiple vocal certificates. An active researcher, Amanda authored "So You Want to Sing Musical Theatre." She's a Clinical Assistant Professor and Program Head at Pace University.
FUTURE PODCAST SUGGESTIONS
Do you have a burning question on the voice or being a singing teacher? Maybe you have a topic you want us to explore or a guest you’d like to hear from? Let us know by completing the Podcast Suggestion Form: https://forms.gle/naUum9N3unzNMPLN8
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
basttraining.com
Click here for updates from BAST Training
Presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
Joining Alexa this week to discuss all things vibrato is Professor of Voice and Voice Pedagogy and Chair of Voice at the University of Texas at San Antonio, John Nix. John is a voice researcher himself, and his mentors include Barbara Doscher and Ingo Titze. John has produced 50 published articles and eight book chapters, co-chairs the Voice Science Advisory Committee, and serves on both the Journal of Singing and the Rowman and Littlefield/NATS book editorial boards.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Vibrato encompasses several components. Firstly, it involves the rhythmic modulation of the fundamental frequency, which translates into changes in perceived pitch. Secondly, it includes fluctuations in amplitude, affecting the perceived loudness or intensity. Lastly, vibrato introduces variations in timbre as harmonics traverse the resonant frequencies associated with vowel sounds, resulting in shifts in tonal quality.
- The rate of vibrato refers to how frequently the frequency oscillates, essentially measuring the speed of those pitch variations. Extent quantifies the range by which the pitch rises and falls, indicating the breadth of the oscillation. Vibrato jitter assesses the regularity of these cycles, gauging the consistency in the rate of vibrato.
- A regular, stable vibrato with moderate extent and rate indicates a singer's improved balance and control, reflecting refined vocal technique and skill.
- Respiratory Vibrato originates from variations in the breath pressure from the lungs controlled by singers managing their diaphragm to create fluctuations in airflow. Abdominal Vibrato is produced by controlled abdominal muscle contractions. Laryngeal Vibrato occurs due to oscillations in the tension of the vocal cords themselves.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Vibrato extent is measured in cents not hertz because that confuses it with rate’
‘The vibrato esthetic has become more international than regional over time’
‘Heightened emotion imprints itself upon our voice through the tremulousness’
‘It’s easier to target something slower than your natural rate’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Website:
- https://www.johnnixvoiceteacher.com/
Contact John Directly!
- Nix@utsa.edu
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Research/Researchers mentioned: Carl Seashore; Ingo Titze; Joshua Glasner; Iwata & Large; Thomas Shipp; Paul Patinka; King & Horii; C. Dromey; Dr Jenevora Williams; David Howard; Graham Welch; Eric Prame; Randy Wooding
- Voce Vista: https://www.vocevista.com/
- Journal of Singing: https://www.nats.org/cgi/page.cgi/about_journal_singing.html
- (Article) Shaken, Not Stirred: Practical Ideas for Addressing Vibrato and Non Vibrato Singing in the Studio and the Choral Rehearsal by John Nix
- Oren Brown
ABOUT THE GUEST
John Nix is Professor of Voice and Voice Pedagogy and chair of the voice area at the University of Texas at San Antonio. His mentors include Barbara Doscher (singing, pedagogy) and Ingo Titze (voice science). Current and former students have sung with the Santa Fe, Arizona, Chautauqua, St. Louis, Nevada, Omaha, Utah Festival, and San Antonio opera companies, and two have served as NATS Intern Program Master Teachers. In addition to his active voice teaching studio, he performs research in voice pedagogy, literature, and acoustics, having produced 50 published articles and 8 book chapters; he also co-chairs the NATS Voice Science Advisory Committee, serves on The Journal of Singing’s editorial board, and serves on the Rowman and Littlefield/NATS book editorial board.
FUTURE PODCAST SUGGESTIONS
Do you have a burning question on the voice or being a singing teacher? Maybe you have a topic you want us to explore or a guest you’d like to hear from? Let us know by completing the Podcast Suggestion Form: https://forms.gle/naUum9N3unzNMPLN8
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
Want to understand research papers but find them dull and impenetrable? Kate Cubley, dynamic voice researcher and vocal coach, is here to help. In this episode, Kate shares her passion for research and demystifies how to efficiently extract useful information. Learn her cheat sheet for navigating papers, focusing on the abstract, conclusion and applicable gems. Discover where to find studies, how to assess their legitimacy, and why collecting options beats seeking definitive answers. Kate also explains emerging trends in voice research like increased diversity and cultural inclusion.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Read the abstract and conclusion first to determine if a paper is relevant.
- Use keywords related to your interests when searching online databases.
- Many papers are behind paywalls, but open-access publications are freely available.
- Critically evaluate all sources; consider different perspectives.
- Pick out and apply only the most useful parts for your teaching.
- Voice research is expanding beyond Western classical traditions.
- Follow researchers exploring topics that interest you specifically.
- Papers can provide alternate techniques for different learning styles.
BEST MOMENTS
"It's the questions, the little critical questions that come up that are really applicable to the singing studio itself that we can then draw from what's been written before in order to help us with what we're doing."
"I don't ever need to say those ideas are wrong, but I asked them what they've been learning and what kind of language they're using at the moment."
"Cheat, cheat, cheat, cheat. Read the abstract, find out whether it's relevant or what the answers that you're trying to find, then look at the conclusion."
"I think we're moving out of a very Western-centric classical music research into a more contemporary world that is way more inclusive."
"Go to Google and go and find out what you can find out. And when you find out perhaps something that matches up with what your opinion is, then go and search for the exact opposite opinion."
EPISODE RESOURCES
Website:
- progressivestudios.co
Social Media:
- Handles: kanebaronofficial
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- (Podcast) My First Million by Sam Parr and Shaan Puri
- (Podcast) How to Take Over the World by Ben Wilson
- (Podcast) The Podcaster’s Podcast by Kane Baron
- (Podcast) The Joe Rogan Experience by Joe Rogan
- (Podcast) Marketing School by Neil Patel and Eric Siu
- (Podcast) The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett
- (Podcast) The Interesting Health and Safety Podcast by Colin Nottage
- Patreon: www.patreon.com
ABOUT THE GUEST
Kate Cubley
Kate Cubley is a dynamic voice researcher and dedicated advocate for vocal health and performance. Currently pursuing her doctoral studies at De Montfort University and serving as an Associate Lecturer at the Voice Study Centre, Kate possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the field of voice research.
In 2023, Kate founded Tala Performance, a venture that offers comprehensive voice and breath coaching services to individuals, groups, and corporate clients. By blending her passion for research, education, and play, Kate empowers her clients to achieve remarkable performances both on and off the stage.
Guest Website:
www.talaperformance.com
Social Media Link:
www.facebook.com/talaperformance
www.instagram.com/talaperformance
FUTURE PODCAST SUGGESTIONS
Do you have a burning question on the voice or being a singing teacher? Maybe you have a topic you want us to explore or a guest you’d like to hear from? Let us know by completing the Podcast Suggestion Form: https://forms.gle/naUum9N3unzNMPLN8
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
If you've been listening to the Singing Teachers Talk podcast and have been wondering how you could start your own to support your business, then stay put. We are celebrating International Podcast Day right here with podcaster Kane Baron, who also runs the UK's largest podcast agency, Progressive Media. Kane joins me to give expert advice on how to get set up and create content, as well as how podcasts can be monetized.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Kane believe’s podcasts are popular because it only requires one of your senses to engage with. If you’re scrolling on your phone watching videos you need your eyes, ears and hands to be free. Most people don’t have a lot of time in the day when all three of those are not busy with something else, so just having to engage your ears is a huge advantage.
- Organic content is key for any business which provides a service. With things like social media, as your following grows the percentage of followers who see your content gets smaller because of algorithms. With podcasting every single member of your audience has the choice to engage or not, there’s no outside factor deciding if someone gets a notification about your new episode or not.
- Podcast names should be two to four words and do what it says on the tin. Kane’s podcast is "The Podcaster's Podcast" and you can clearly tell what it’s about and who it’s for without even listening.
- If you want to start a podcast, think about what you want to talk about, can you focus that down into a niche, and how does it help you sell your brand. Only then should you look into equipment, which generally isn’t going to break the bank to get a relatively standard set up. Most equipment could last you years and years.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Podcasts don’t compete with any other platform’
‘You are constantly getting in front of the audience you want, it’s a funnel’
‘What do you want to talk about and what is the purpose?’
‘Audio quality doesn’t age as fast as video’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Website:
- progressivestudios.co
Social Media:
- Handles: kanebaronofficial
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- (Podcast) My First Million by Sam Parr and Shaan Puri
- (Podcast) How to Take Over the World by Ben Wilson
- (Podcast) The Podcaster’s Podcast by Kane Baron
- (Podcast) The Joe Rogan Experience by Joe Rogan
- (Podcast) Marketing School by Neil Patel and Eric Siu
- (Podcast) The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett
- (Podcast) The Interesting Health and Safety Podcast by Colin Nottage
- Patreon: www.patreon.com
ABOUT THE GUEST
Kane Baron is a keynote speaker and podcaster within the content creator industry. He is the host of "The Podcaster's Podcast" & runs Progressive Media, the UK's largest podcast agency. His passion is helping independent creators get their voice out into the world to make an impact and an income. Having worked with thousands of small creators over the years he has a unique perspective on what makes creators successful.
FUTURE PODCAST SUGGESTIONS
Do you have a burning question on the voice or being a singing teacher? Maybe you have a topic you want us to explore or a guest you’d like to hear from? Let us know by completing the Podcast Suggestion Form: https://forms.gle/naUum9N3unzNMPLN8
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
Singing teachers and vocal coaches, are you yet to build your business website, or, like Alexa, have been meaning to update it for months but just lack the inspiration for it? Well, stick around because website designer Taylor Rossi from Nicole Ricardo Media is here with me for this week's episode, dishing all the goods on this very topic.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Your business website is an extension of yourself that helps do your marketing for you. It’s like having another person on your team who you don’t have to pay. You can tailor your website to focus on attracting your ideal student or client while you spend your time doing what you actually love, which is the teaching part.
- A conversion based website is one that is designed to actually get new clients as opposed to a more traditional information based landing page. It allows potential clients to take the next step in the process right there and then.
- Taylor’s preferred website builder is Wix because it is very user friendly and offers a lot of creative freedom, which is especially helpful for creatives like musicians who don’t want to be boxed into a format.
- Who you are is important and your story can help you get clients, but nobody wants to read paragraphs about you. Keep it quick and fun. Make sure your content is always geared towards being relevant to the students.
- Include information on what people can get out of your website. Make sure you have testimonials and reviews so other people can see the experience that your past students have had. Any videos of you performing can be helpful too as it will help potential clients see your style.
- When it comes to the number of pages or tabs, Taylor keeps it between 4 and 5. These will be the home page, about page, services, and contact. Then if you have other things for sale such as books or sheet music, they can go on a separate page.
- When writing your website copy, we have a tendency to write a lot to share as much information as possible, but in reality people don’t need all of that information. Use bullet points and short sentences because we don’t want people to be put off by big blocks of text.
BEST MOMENTS ‘The point of having a website that converts is that it will actually help you get more business’
‘Make it super easy for someone visiting your website to know if they’re in the right place or not’
‘It can be helpful for people to know your pricing right away and not have to send inquiries’
‘I always encourage people to switch from the 3rd person to the 1st person’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Website:
- www.nicolericcardomedia.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @nrmedia_
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Website Platforms Mentioned: Wordpress; Wix; Squarespace
- (Booking System) Fons: https://fons.com/
- (Booking System) Acuity: https://acuityscheduling.com/
- Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/
- Shutterstock: https://www.shutterstock.com/
- Website Templates: https://www.nicolericcardomedia.com/website-templates
ABOUT THE GUEST Taylor Rossi is a Boston-based flautist and the website designer for Nicole Riccardo Media which offers conversion-based web design for classical musicians.
FUTURE PODCAST SUGGESTIONS
Do you have a burning question on the voice or being a singing teacher? Maybe you have a topic you want us to explore or a guest you’d like to hear from? Let us know by completing the Podcast Suggestion Form: https://forms.gle/naUum9N3unzNMPLN8
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
This week's guest is a teacher of voice, movement, and wholistic expression. Jeremy Ryan Mossman is the founder of Body-Based Voice Ped and has presented at global events for the likes of The Voice Foundation, Voice Study Centre, and the Musical Theater Educators Alliance and has spoken about many topics, including fascia-based techniques. Jeremy is a contributing author, a 500-hour certified yoga teacher, and a Feldenkrais Practitioner in training. Jeremy is here to discuss why we would benefit from considering the whole self during singing and teaching singing, and what that even means.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Fascia is a pre-tensioned continua in our body, tensioning everything into place. It is the architecture for everything in our body. It surrounds and is throughout each muscle. Fascia is non-Newtonian - it stiffens with force, and is fluidic and compliant without it.
- Muscles are fast-acting contractile proteins that push & pull on the fascia within and around them. Muscle tissues themselves aren't actually very strong, but the fascia that muscles live within has the tensile strength of steel. Muscle and fascia work in a unified myofascial system.
EPISODE RESOURCES
Website:
- www.singingwithjmoss.com
Social Media:
- Handle: @bodybasedvoicewithjmoss
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 90 Help! I’ve Got a Voice Problem with Lydia Hart and Stephen King
- Help I’ve Got a Voice Problem by Lydia Hart and Stephen R King
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 32 The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King
- Tensegrity Icosahedron: tensegriteit.nl/e-well-known
- Joanne Avison: joanneavison.com
- John Sharkey (Clinical Anatomist)
- Homunculus Image
- Feldenkrais: feldenkrais.com
- Notes on Complexity by Neil Theise
- Voice Study Centre: voicestudycentre.com
- Fascia - What It Is, and Why It Matters by David Lesondak
- (Youtube) Strolling Under the Skin by Jean Claude Guimberteau: youtube.com/watch?v=eW0lvOVKDxE&t=114s
- Laban Movement
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.118 Mastering Mix Voice and Belt with Gemma Sugrue
- Thomas Myers of Anatomy Trains: anatomytrains.com
- Ida Rolf: ‘Where you think it is, it ain’t’
- The Case of Nora: Body Awareness as Healing Therapy by Moshe Feldenkrais
- Everything Moves by Susan Lowell De Soloranzo
ABOUT THE GUEST Jeremy Mossman is a teacher of voice, movement, and wholistic expression, currently living in Ontario, Canada. He has recently moved on from academic teaching after 15+ years in order to focus on teaching in more creative and integrative ways while sharing his passion for wholly embodied singing.
Jeremy is a 500-hour certified yoga teacher, and is also in training to be a Feldenkrais Practitioner. Knowledgeable in both biomechanics and biotensegrity, he has a unique way of reconciling long-held beliefs with new understandings about the body and how they relate to teaching voice, which he teaches to other voice teachers in his program, Body Based Voice Ped.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
This show was brought to you by Progressive Media
Education committee chair of PAMA, the Performing Arts Medicine Association, Dr. Kat Cottrell joins Alexa this week. Kat is a pianist, flautist, and percussionist turned GP and now cares for performing artists at the Musicians Clinics of Canada, supporting them with both mental and physical challenges related to their profession. Kat is here to discuss PAMA and is bringing us news of the PAMAthon, a free 24-hour event on the 9th of September.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Join the PAMAthon! On September 9-10 PAMA hosted the inaugural PAMAthon, a 24hr virtual gathering of all those involved in the care of performing artists. It is a collection of panels, presentations, and networking events, with specific sessions for vocalists and those who support vocalists either as educators or health care providers. Come and join the party, it's free! Register here: https://artsmed.org/events/the-pamathon/
- PAMA is an organisation of dedicated medical professionals, artists, educators, and administrators with the common goal of improving the health care of the performing artist.
- The goal of PAMAthon is to connect all those involved with performing arts medicine around the world, and ensure they have an opportunity to participate at some point during their weekend hours, no matter what their time zone or income is.
- The PAMAthon will consist of a mixture of panels, presentations, keynotes and networking opportunities. There will be opportunities based upon performing arts discipline and professional specialty, as well as sessions aimed at all participants.
BEST MOMENTS
‘PAMA really believes that we can’t help performers unless we include everyone in the team’‘We though how can we come together and share information to change the world’‘We offer a fair amount of things for free because we’re aware of the financial troubles in the world today’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Website:
- Musicians Clinics of Canada: www.musiciansclinicsofcanada.com
- PAMA: https://artsmed.org/
Social Media:
- Handles: pamassoc & musicians clinic
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Names mentioned: Dr Hara Trouli; Claire Cordeaux; Dr Finola Ryan; Dr Lucina Halstead
- University College London Performing Arts Medicine MSc: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught-degrees/performing-arts-medicine-msc
- BAPAM (British Association of Performing Arts Medicine): https://www.bapam.org.uk/
- The Health and Wellbeing of Professional Musicians and Music Creators in the EU: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/35056e64-922f-11ed-b508-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
- The Voice Foundation: https://voicefoundation.org/
- Collegium Medicorum Theatri: https://comet-collegium.com/
- British Voice Association (BVA): https://britishvoiceassociation.org.uk/
ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Kat Cottrell attended the Junior Royal Northern College of Music growing up, playing piano, percussion, and flute. Great joy came from accompanying choirs over the years. She studied medicine at Imperial College London for its proximity to the Royal College of Music and Royal Albert Hall. After working in the UK for a couple of years she discovered the Musicians' Clinics of Canada based near Toronto, creating a new dream of moving to Canada. As a GP in Canada, she is now privileged enough to care for performing artists at the Musicians' Clinics of Canada, supporting them with both mental and physical challenges related to their profession. She is also a Board Member and Education Committee Chair of the Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA), an international organisation made up of medical professionals, artists, educators, and administrators all working to improve the healthcare of performing artists.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
This show was brought to you by Progressive Media
Once upon a time, there was a woman called Susan Payton who was passionate about helping fellow business owners to clearly articulate their value to idle customers with a simple messaging strategy. Susan wrote an Amazon bestseller called "The Business of Stories," knocking Diary of a CEO and Dragon Steven Bartlett off the top spot. One afternoon, she joined the host of the Singing Teachers Talk podcast to share her experiences and to talk about her free five-day challenge that voice coaches can join from the 4th of September 2023, to learn how to write their very own stories for their business.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Susan created The Business of Stories in 2016, when I realised how many business owners struggle to tell their story, and talk about what they do in a way that is clear, concise and compelling to the people they want to work with. Using the universal language of story is powerful. No-one has to work too hard to understand a compelling story.
- People buy from people they believe can help them lead a better life. To truly make a difference in people’s lives, you need to connect with them first. To do that, you need to know and share three stories: Your personal story: who you are and why you do what you do. Your business story: why your business exists and what it stands for. Your customer story: what is going on for them and where your business fits into their story.
- Susan’s 5-day challenge will help you discover strategies to share stories that attract perfect-fit clients who are excited about working with you. Master how to make any story relatable to your audience so they deeply connect with it and you. Learn how to link any story to what you do, in a way that feels aligned and congruent, and engages your ideal clients. Stop feeling 'icky' about selling and attract more of the people you love working with.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I went from nobody reaching out to me, to 6 paying clients within the month. All I’d done was share my story’‘I’d been focusing on the wrong thing. All I needed to do was focus on my story and my customers stories’ ‘Stories aren’t just about telling your deepest darkest secrets, you need to have a reason to share it‘We choose people by how they make us feel’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Website:
- https://thebusinessofstories.com/
Social Media:
- Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanpaytonuk/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanPaytonUK/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessofstories/
Susan’s FREE 5-day Challenge starts on 4th September 2023! Join here (BAST Affiliate): https://thebusinessofstories.com/5daychallenge/?fpr=line40
Get your copy of ‘The Business of Stories’ here (BAST Affiliate): https://amzn.to/45GFYQc
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Vocology in Practice
- The Annual Review of Psychology - ‘The Neural Bases of Social Cognition and Story Comprehension’ by Raymond A Mar: https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-psych-120709-145406
- World Science Festival Why We Tell Stories: The Science of Narrative: YouTube.com/watch?v=DJ28V-9LryY&t=987s
ABOUT THE GUEST Released in March 2022, Susan’s book ‘The Business of Stories’ quickly became a UK and US #1 bestseller on Amazon in several business categories, including Marketing and Sales – knocking Dragon’s Den & Diary of a CEO star Stephen Bartlett off the top spot! It also got to #1 on Amazon again in 2023 when the audiobook version was released.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
This show was brought to you by Progressive Media
Choral leader, singer, teacher, composer and now author Olivia Sparkhall is joining Alexa this week to discuss her book, ‘A Young Person’s Guide to Vocal Health’. The book is a simple guide to help you understand what's good (and what's bad!) when looking after your 'vocal instrument', and how you can keep your voice in great shape. It shows you the best ways to maintain good vocal health and how to avoid or deal with problems that young people will face.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Olivia wrote her book in response to her 20-year experience as a secondary school teacher and choir director. She noticed consistent questions from children about their voices and singing, prompting her to gather these queries. As she engaged in voice pedagogy, Olivia saw the opportunity for research and gradually transformed her idea into a comprehensive book that evolved from initial plans for worksheets.
- Olivia noticed a recurring issue even before her book's inception, children sought help with their voices only when problems emerged, particularly on performance or exam days. Addressing these challenges so close to the event posed difficulties in finding effective remedies.
- When children asked Oliva questions that she didn’t know the answer to, she had to go off and do research on that topic, for example the effects of chlorine in swimming pools. When asked about how sport could affect the voice she found some peer reviewed papers to reference.
BEST MOMENTS
‘There wasn’t something aimed at young people for young people to read’
‘I hadn’t realised how important colour would be for the children to understand the different aspects of vocal health’
‘I was thinking about what sort of child would need a book like this’
‘I’d love it to be in school libraries’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Website:
- https://oliviasparkhall.wixsite.com/sparkhallo
Social Media:
- Hande: @oliviasparkhall
Get your copy of ‘A Young Person’s Guide to Vocal Health’ by Olivia Sparkhall, here:
- Amazon (BAST Affiliate) Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Young-Persons-Guide-Vocal-Health/dp/1909082716?&linkCode=sl1&tag=basttraining-21&linkId=9b0b2cdf7f5ed5e84f8789751e3970bb&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
- Olivia Sparkhall Direct: https://oliviasparkhall.wixsite.com/sparkhallo/a-young-persons-guide
- Banks Music Publication: https://www.banksmusicpublications.co.uk/publishers/other-publishers/a-young-persons-guide-to-vocal-health
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 90 Help! I’ve Got a Voice Problem with Lydia Hart and Stephen King
- The Royal School of Church Music Australia: https://rscmaustralia.org.au/
- Compton Publishing: https://www.comptonpublishing.co.uk/
- Voice Study Centre: https://voicestudycentre.com/
- Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults by Dr Jenevora Williams
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.75 Vocal Rehabilitation for Singers with Dr Jenevora Williams
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.120 Understanding Singing and Fitness with With Duncan Rock
- Jstor: https://www.jstor.org/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Olivia Sparkhall is a singing specialist, choir trainer, and award-winning choral conductor. A secondary school music teacher for 24 years, Olivia has a wealth of experience directing choirs, leading vocal workshops and teaching singing. In preparation for writing A Young Person's Guide to Vocal Health, Olivia read for a Master's in Voice Pedagogy, and has since had articles published on vocal warm-ups for children, choral music written by women, and composing for the community. Olivia directs several choirs as well as being in demand as a vocal workshop leader, leading masterclasses to help groups improve their singing. Olivia is a prize-winning composer whose compositions have been performed in concerts and services worldwide as well as on BBC radio and television.
This show was brought to you by Progressive Media
Jono McNeil returns from our last episode, joining Alexa to discuss licks, riffs, runs, and how to master that vocal style. Jono has served as Head of Vocals at the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM), designing degree vocal curriculum content. He's also an external examiner for institutions like Leeds Conservatoire, combining his passion for popular music and artistry with innovative research. With academic qualifications including a Jazz degree and a Voice Pedagogy master's, he's dedicated to realising the potential of popular music.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- According to Jono, ornamentation serves as a delightful artistic tool, reminiscent of classical music's intricacies. He suggests that ornamentation, encompassing turns, formants, borders, trills, and more, adds a layer of decoration to the vocal performance. This not only enhances the musical experience but also enables singers to infuse their personal touch into each phrase.
- Jono's believes that exploring various onsets, from the breathy and balanced to the glottal, shapes the vocal narrative in profound ways. By employing these diverse onsets within a single phrase, singers can achieve a rich dynamic palette that captivates the audience's attention, offering a distinctive auditory journey.
- Dynamics aren't merely about loudness but encompass shading and texture. These nuanced shifts in volume and intensity create a vivid musical landscape, effectively evoking emotions and intensifying the listeners' engagement.
- From Jono's perspective, vocal embellishments like licks, runs, and riffs are essential tools for expressing agility and technical prowess. He believes these techniques add an exciting layer of creativity and individuality to a performance. Jono encourages singers to incorporate these elements organically, allowing their vocal expression to flourish while captivating their audience with the art of improvisation.
- Jono's approach emphasises the fusion of technique and musicality. He believes that true mastery of style involves knowing when to apply specific techniques, a skill that comes from musical wisdom. For Jono, style is not just about adding ornamentation or variations; it's about weaving a tapestry of musicality that resonates deeply with listeners, turning each performance into a unique artistic statement.
- Smooth Singing and Ornaments: When discussing terms like licks, riffs, and runs, we're talking about singing agilely across notes with smooth, connected execution. For instance, "lick" might refer to a melodic ornament, while "riff" could mean a repeating motif in pop. The goal is to master these elements to create engaging performances.
- Different Runs and Combinations: Vocal stylization involves various runs. Some are single-note embellishments, while others are combination runs with distinct sections. Learning and combining these parts enhances vocal skills. Breaking down complexity into manageable portions contributes to dynamic performances.
- Technique and Artistic Expression: Achieving vocal stylisation balances technique and creativity. Mastering techniques like maintaining jaw looseness, proper airflow, and posture enhances licks, runs, and riffs. These elements become easier with a strong technical base. Combining technique and creativity leads to captivating performances.
- Enhancing vocal agility begins with dissecting licks, riffs, and runs. Natalie Weiss's approach of breaking them down simplifies understanding, making it accessible for all skill levels. Slow, methodical practice is foundational; starting with a deliberate pace establishes precision and awareness of physical sensations. Gradually increasing tempo with a metronome builds discipline and muscle memory, leading to mastery.
- Achieving vocal agility requires steady, patient progress. Recognizing individual differences is crucial. The metaphor of the hare and tortoise holds true; steady, consistent practice leads to substantial growth in the industry. While some may advance quickly, embracing a patient mindset fosters sustainable improvement. Building a foundation and gradually progressing towards ambitious goals forms the essence of the journey towards vocal agility.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Style gives you a discernible sound, making your performance stand out’‘Dynamics are about shading, texture, creating a sonic landscape’‘True style mastery is knowing what to include and exclude, weaving musicality into a unique performance’‘At the core of mastering vocal style lies a focus on foundational elements’‘Get those licks on clicks, use a metronome’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Website:
- www.jonomcneiled.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @jonomcneil
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Artists mentioned: Miles Davis; Lester Young; Dexter Gordon; John Coltrane; Karen Carpenter; Whitney Houston; David Bowie; Doja Cat; PinkPantheress; Bella; No Guidance; Scissor; Lalah Hathaway; Yebba
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 123 Insights into TV Vocal Coaching with The Masked Singer's Jono McNeil
- Youtube - Natalie Weiss’ Breaking Down the Riffs: https://www.youtube.com/@NatalieWeissOfficial
ABOUT THE GUEST
Jono McNeil has provided vocal coaching, arranging and production for pop artists, groups and vocalists in a range of influential positions within the UK music and entertainment industries for over 15 years. He works as a vocal coach across a variety of TV shows including The Voice UK, The Voice Kids, The Masked Singer, Little Mix, The Search, Wedding Day Winners and Change Your Tune. He also does coaching and vocal arrangement for touring acts such as JLS, New Rules, Needanamebro and July Jones to name a few. An artist and singer in his own right, Jono has performed with Michael Buble, Paloma Faith, Josh Groban, Nelly, Jamie Cullum, Philip Selway (Radiohead), Lemar, George Ezra and Jocelyn Brown, with also several original albums available on streaming platforms.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
This show was brought to you by Progressive Media
Alexa is joined by Jono McNeil, a seasoned vocal coach, arranger, and producer with over 15 years of experience in the UK music and entertainment industries. Jono's extensive background includes working on popular TV shows like The Voice UK, The Masked Singer, and The Voice Kids, as well as providing coaching for touring acts such as JLS and New Rules. Not only is Jono a sought-after vocal expert, but he's also an accomplished artist and singer, having performed with renowned musicians like Michael Bublé, Paloma Faith, and Jamie Cullum. You’ll gain insights into the world of TV vocal coaching and the dynamic career of this multifaceted music professional.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Jono's affinity for working on TV sets stems from his passion for assisting performers in maximising their 90-second spotlight to captivate the audience. In his daily role, he crafts strategies for each singer and performer, enabling them to effortlessly evoke emotional connections from the viewers. This becomes particularly gratifying given that many of these acts are new and are experiencing the exhilaration of creating such impactful moments on stage for the first time.
- Jono finds working in TV enjoyable because it's a collaborative environment where everyone pitches in to get the job done despite the pressure. He emphasises the importance of trusting the team's expertise and working together to ensure a smooth and effective process.
- There is a challenge of capturing and maintaining audience attention for TV shows, which heavily influences ratings and show longevity. Jono recognises the importance of not just creating new formats but also crafting content that resonates with viewers, making them want to come back for more.
- When it comes to shows like The Voice and The Masked Singer, there is an art of constructing relatable stories and establishing connections between the performers and the audience. Beyond the initial appeal, Jono thinks that viewers are drawn by the personal and emotional aspects of the artists' lives. Creating a genuine connection and engagement with the audience becomes a pivotal aspect of his role as a vocal coach.
- With tens of thousands of applications for shows like The Voice and The Voice Kids, there is the challenge of discovering exceptional talents within the sea of applicants. Jono believes that sometimes the most impactful performers might not be the most technically polished ones. This process involves the collaboration of dedicated scouts, casting teams, and vocal coaches, all working together to identify individuals who have the potential to emotionally resonate with the public.
- Jono assumes the vital role of safeguarding the welfare of the singers he mentors. He embraces a profound duty of care, prioritising their emotional and mental well-being. Not only does he equip them with the necessary technical skills, but he also recognises the significance of their psychological health. Jono is committed to providing singers with the resources they need, including access to psychologists when necessary, to ensure they can navigate the challenges of the industry with resilience and confidence.
- On The Voice, the celebrity coaches offer valuable insights into the direction they envision for their singers, sharing their creative input with Jono and the other vocal coaches. Jono then tailors his coaching to align with the artist's and the celebrity coach's vision. The celebrity coaches are very competitive and do genuinely want one of their singers to win.
- The top three things you will need to work on TV shows like The Voice and The Masked Singer are a wealth of experience, being adaptable to changing situations, and the ability to seamlessly collaborate within a multifaceted team environment.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I love music and what it does to capture our community experiences’ ‘Technique is a wonderful servant but a terrible master’ ‘In TV you’re always being auditioned’ ‘Our job is to extract someone who we feel is really going to strike that chord with the public’‘It’s about giving artists a vision which is much bigger than they had for themselves’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Website:
- www.jonomcneiled.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @jonomcneil
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- BAST Masterclass (via the BAST Membership): Working with Exceptional Kids with Jono McNeil: www.basttraining.com
- Jai Ramage: https://www.jairamagevoice.com/
ABOUT THE GUEST Jono McNeil has provided vocal coaching, arranging and production for pop artists, groups and vocalists in a range of influential positions within the UK music and entertainment industries for over 15 years. He works as a vocal coach across a variety of TV shows including The Voice UK, The Voice Kids, The Masked Singer, Little Mix, The Search, Wedding Day Winners and Change Your Tune. He also does coaching and vocal arrangement for touring acts such as JLS, New Rules, Needanamebro and July Jones to name a few. An artist and singer in his own right, Jono has performed with Michael Buble, Paloma Faith, Josh Groban, Nelly, Jamie Cullum, Philip Selway (Radiohead), Lemar, George Ezra and Jocelyn Brown, with also several original albums available on streaming platforms.
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 Voice Pedagogy.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
This show was brought to you by Progressive Media
Joining Alexa this week is Sarah Summers, who is a musical director, choir leader, and vocal health first aider based in Swindon, UK. Sarah runs four choirs, including one for unpaid carers and another for staff and retired employees of the Great Western Hospitals Trust. She is currently studying on the MA Vocal Health pathway with the Voice Study Center and has published some of her work with the Singing for Health Network. Sarah's research focus lies on the emotional well-being benefits and ethics of running a Community Choir.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Sunshine Singers is a daytime choir for anyone who wants to sing with others, regardless of ability or singing experience. They sing well-known pop songs from all era's, in a relaxed environment where all voices are valued. Harmonies are taught to those who wish to have a challenge and all abilities are catered for within this nurturing environment.
- The Carers Choir is for people who are caring for family members or those who have sadly lost the person they are caring for. People come to the choir for respite and to get some time to themselves. In this environment they can talk to and sing with people going through similar things to them.
- As part of her MA at the Voice Studies Centre, Sarah has researched the emotional benefits that choir members gain from singing together. From this she was incredibly surprised to find the level of respect and understanding that carers showed towards each other, even after incredibly tough days looking after a loved one. Sarah was also shocked at how little the carers got financially for all their work.
- Choirs are great for emotional wellbeing and there are some studies which suggest that the choir leader plays a huge role in this. Sarah is looking to do further research to pinpoint what the choir leader can do to support and enhance the wellbeing within their community.
- When running her choir for carers, Sarah works as hard as possible to be accommodating to everyone and their needs. By making things as easy as possible for them it doesn’t add to any stress they may have and allows them to stop worrying for a short time and relax. Sarah is also understanding and lenient with attendance and learning because carers can’t commit fully to being there every week and having the time to learn the songs. This is where the community spirit comes into play and the more confident singers help those who have had less time to learn the music.
BEST MOMENTS
‘It’s inspirational that they care for people at home but have this unlimited care for each other as well’‘Carers come into the choir room with all of these things on their shoulders so I try to make things as easy for them as possible’ ‘Some people need help themselves to feel confident singing in the choir’ ‘We try and change things to be uplifting when it needs to be’ ‘Learning as you go is just as important for the choir leader as it is for the choir’ ‘They come to the choir as much for the community as for the singing’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Website:
- www.happyhealthyvocals.co.uk
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Voice Study Centre: https://voicestudycentre.com/
- The Singing for Health Network Publication: https://www.singingforhealthnetwork.co.uk/post/getting-to-know-the-community-behind-carers-voices-a-choir-for-unpaid-carers
- Building Community Through Song: The Therapeutic Hospice Choir: https://0201.nccdn.net/1_2/000/000/119/0e0/BJMT---Building-Community-Through-Song.pdf
- Who Cares… For the Carers? By Mike Kelly: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1755-6686.2010.00139.x
ABOUT THE GUEST Sarah Summers is a choir leader and Vocal Health First Aider based in Swindon. As a leader of community choirs, her work is largely informed by her training in Vocal Health. Working with a choir of Unpaid Carers' in her locality, Sarah has recently researched this specific community to explore how she can best cater for their needs as singers. Sarah also leads a choir of staff and retired employees of The Great Western Hospitals Trust. Sarah enjoys getting to know each choir community so that she can tailor her work appropriately. She is currently studying with the Voice Study Centre, as a student on the MA Vocal Health Pathway. Her research interests include how to ensure emotional wellbeing in choirs.
Sarah has worked as accompanist and Musical Director on local amateur theatre projects as well as teaching piano to private students. As a singing teacher, she works with adults to ensure healthy singing and build confidence.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
This show was brought to you by Progressive Media
Alexa is joined by Michelle Weir, a renowned figure in vocal jazz education and arranging. Michelle is the founder of the online school Music Habit and a pioneer in creating an educational path for vocal improvisers through her app ScatAbility. Additionally, she has authored several books on the topic of jazz, so who better to talk you through the topic of how to sing and teach jazz.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Jazz is a diverse genre with various styles and sub-genres. New Orleans jazz originated in the early 20th century and features collective improvisation. Bebop, emerging in the 1940s, is known for its complex harmonies, fast tempos, and intricate improvisations. Cool Jazz, developed in the late 1940s and 1950s, has a more relaxed and laid-back style, emphasising controlled emotions and intricate arrangements. Contemporary Jazz, a diverse category that encompasses various modern jazz styles and fusions with other genres, represents the evolving nature of jazz music.
- In identifying jazz music, several key elements stand out. The rhythmic style, particularly the swing feel, is a defining characteristic. Singers need to develop their rhythmic sense and feel the groove to deliver jazz convincingly. Additionally, jazz singers must master the art of putting lyrics in rhythm to sound conversational, especially in swing. Another indication of jazz interpretation is when the performer adds improvisation to the melody, showcasing their creativity and spontaneity.
- In jazz, singers alter notes and melodies to match the lyrics' subtext, using vocal phrasing and melodic variations to convey storytelling and emotions. This improvisational approach allows for unique expressions and deeper connections with the song's meaning.
- In jazz, ghost notes and articulation add depth and complexity to the music. Ghost notes are subtle, muted tones that enhance the groove, while articulation techniques bring out emotion, expressiveness and individuality in performances.
- Learning jazz piano benefits jazz singers by deepening their musicianship, improving improvisation, and enhancing timing and phrasing. This knowledge enables more expressive performances and better collaboration with accompanists. Overall, it makes jazz singers more versatile and engaging performers.
- Jazz scat is a more organic vocal improvisation technique using nonsensical syllables. A teacher helps by introducing scat patterns, practising rhythm and pitch, and helping the singer actually make up their own rhythms and which syllables to use.
BEST MOMENTS
‘No two jazz singers are alike’
‘Jazz comes in different packages, it’s not always about a well trained voice’
‘Phrasing is a bigger deal in jazz than it is in other styles’
‘I want to be leader of the band so I need to talk to them in the musical language they understand’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Website:
- Michele Weir: https://www.micheleweir.com
- Music Habit: https://www.musichabit.com
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Artists mentioned: Joni Mitchell; Louis Armstrong; Benny Goodman; Count Basie; Charlie Parker; Dizzy Gillespie; Miles Davis; Ella Fitzgerald; Nat King Cole; Sarah Vaughan; Carmen McRae; Nancy Wilson; Mel Tormé; Gretchen Parlato; Bob Dylan
- ScatAbility App
- The work of Judy Niemack
- The work of Bob Stoloff
- Darmon Meader: https://darmonmeader.com/
- New York Voices: https://newyorkvoices.com/
- Jazz Voice: com
ABOUT THE GUEST
Michele Weir is widely distinguished for her work in vocal jazz education and arranging. She served as vocal producer and contributing arranger for the Manhattan Transfer album, "Chick Corea Songbook," and her vocal arrangements are performed by notable groups including Swingle Singers and New York Voices, with instrumental works played by the Boston Pops among others. Michele has delivered teaching and lecture presentations all over the world, and pioneered an educational path for vocal improvisers through the creation of her iOS app, "ScatAbility." She is the author of several educational books in jazz and her online school, MusicHabit, is a popular resource for jazz singers, pianists and educators. Michele's past performance ranges from headliner concerts at numerous educational festivals to touring internationally as pianist and vocalist with singer Bobby Vinton. Michele was a member of the Grammy-Nominated vocal group, "PM Singers" and served as dubbing supervisor for the DreamWorks film, "Prince of Egypt" in Mexico, Greece, Denmark, Portugal, Thailand and Japan.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
This show was brought to you by Progressive Media
Duncan Rock last joined Alexa for our 100th episode on the topic of singing and dairy, since then he’s been performing opera in France at Toulouse’s Théâtre du Capitole. Duncan Rock is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and is a nutritionist working with the likes of Vocal Health Education and The Voice Care Centre. He’s on the podcast to discuss the topic of understanding singing and fitness.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Exercise is important to singers for the overarching reason that singers are people too and they benefit from all of the human benefits of engaging exercise. Exercise increases your cardiovascular health, your metabolic health, your muscular health, your neurological health, your digestive health, and one of the most overlooked being your mental health.
- People often think the benefits of exercise are just weight loss and gaining muscle, but the far more important benefits are around increasing not only the length of your life but also the quality of it too.
- Being strong and having good cardiovascular health can be valuable on stage if you are doing anything that is physiologically demanding while also creating art as a performer. An example often given is the role of Don Giovanni in Mozart's Don Giovanni, which requires a fight in the very first scene.
- Exercising, for some people, somewhat counterintuitively, decreases the time it takes for their body tissues to recover from strenuous work. It's because your blood flow tends to improve, your metabolic health improves, so cellular healing improves. The fitter you are, the more it benefits you.
- Performers should be mindful of the three pillars of fitness: strength, mobility, and cardiovascular endurance. Duncan cautions singers from becoming too specific in their exercises, such as only doing yoga, only running, or only lifting weights. If you focus solely on one activity, you may experience hyper adaptation to that specific activity over the years, to the detriment of your other capacities.
- Duncan believes that singing teachers often misunderstand and get it wrong when they talk about not lifting weights, fearing that it will ruin the voice or that performers can't have a six-pack. He thinks that singers do need to be mindful of not developing muscular imbalances, as they may lead to excessive tension and high threshold strategies. These high threshold strategies refer to the unnecessary overworking of muscles in the body, which can over time impact the vocal mechanism.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Exercise is one of the best things you can do to increase your length and quality of life’ ‘It doesn't matter how good your technique is, if you’re out of breath you’re not going to be able to do it’‘People who have high cardiovascular health, their vocal tissue recovers faster’ ‘Address each part of the pillar as it’s own goal’ ‘There is no relation to the visibility of someone’s six pack and its rigidity or flexibility’‘Don’t do crunches, I don’t think it’s necessary’ ‘Getting the right amount of nutrients from whole foods is infinitely more important than nutrient timing’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Website:
- duncanrocknutrition.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @duncanrock_nutrition
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 100 The Truth About Singing and Dairy with Nutritionist Duncan Rock
- Sussex Back Pain Clinic: https://www.sussexbackpainclinic.co.uk/
- Claudia Hodgson-Rodriguez: @claudia.theatrefit
- Exercises mentioned: Pallof Press; Woodchop; Kettlebell Halo; Deadlift; Romanian Deadlift; Bench Press; Push Ups; Pull Ups/Downs; Rows; Rucking
- Mahant Amar Bharati Ji
- Firas Zahabi Tristar Gym: https://tristargym.com/trainers/firas-zahabi/
- Stephen King and The Voice Care Centre: https://voicecarecentre.co.uk/stephen-king/
ABOUT THE GUEST Duncan is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London) and West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. He has an active career as an operatic Baritone performing roles at many of the world’s leading opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera, Glyndebourne, English National Opera, Teatro Real and the Boston Lyric Opera. As a baritone soloist, he has recorded and performed with the London Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony orchestra.
Concurrently with his performing career, Duncan works as a Nutritionist and Nutritional Science Writer. He holds a Masters of Science in Nutritional Science and an advanced diploma in nutrition and weight management.
His speciality is combining his parallel fields of study and providing nutritional information for performing artists. He is cognisant, from both an academic and personal standpoint, of the heavy demands of a busy performing schedule that often includes the demands of rigorous travel. He has been using his knowledge of diet and nutrition to propel his own career as well as help other performers attain optimal vocal and physical health.
Duncan is now part of the team at the Sussex Back Pain Clinic.
MMus MMperf MSc MRSPH
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
This show was brought to you by Progressive Media
Alexa is joined on The Singing Teachers Talk podcast by Carrie Garrett, who is a BAPAM registered SLT and vocal rehabilitation coach, singer, and co-founder of the company VitaVoice. Through VitaVoice, Carrie and her team produce daily food supplements to support voice users in vocal health and the prevention of voice issues. Carrie has over 25 years of experience as a singer and singing teacher, and she is on the podcast to discuss physical well-being and optimised products for singers.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Carrie views well-being as encompassing comfort, health, and happiness. When it comes to vocal health, these are the ultimate goals for singers and individuals undergoing voice therapy. The aim is to ensure that individuals are comfortable and healthy enough to achieve everything they desire with their voice, while also finding happiness in the process.
- VitaVoice is a daily, food supplement capsule designed to support your wellbeing, health, and maintain your voice. Their product includes key vitamins, minerals, and botanicals including Lion's Mane, Ashwagandha, and Ginseng.
- If you have a healthy lifestyle and good diet, you generally don’t need to take supplements. However there are other factors which impact this, such as the lack of sunlight in the UK at certain times of the year. This can lead to people lacking in vitamin D. As singers we also live irregular lives, often on the road where it’s hard to eat healthy.
- Adaptogens are a class of plants and herbs that help your mind and body adapt to a wide range of stressors (physical, mental, emotional & environmental), helping you to restore balance and function at your best. Adaptogens can boost your energy levels naturally, giving you sustained energy levels throughout the day.
- The term ‘Nootropics’ refers to substances which have a positive impact on mental skills such as memory, creativity, motivation, and attention. They increase the blood circulation to the brain, providing increased energy and oxygen flow.
BEST MOMENTS
‘The Singing and the Actor course completely opened my eyes to what vocal anatomy is’ ‘Well-being is not just the physical side of things’ ‘If you want to look after your vocal health then live well and everything else will fall into place’‘I wanted people to maximise their body function for creativity’ ‘You don’t need a multivitamin if you’re getting everything you need’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Website:
- www.thesingersclinic.com
- www.vitavoice.co.uk
Social Media:
- @carrie_voice_slt
- @vitavoicehealth
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Vocal Process (Gillyanne Kayes & Jeremy Fisher): https://vocalprocess.co.uk/
- Declan Costello: https://www.voicedoctor.co.uk/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 87 How to Manage Allergies and Upper Respiratory Infections with Laryngologist Declan Costello
- The World Health Organisation: https://www.who.int/
- Tim Ferriss: https://tim.blog/
- Podcast: Feel Better, Love More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
- The work of Jessie Inchauspé
- BAPAM: https://www.bapam.org.uk/
- BVA: https://britishvoiceassociation.org.uk/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.25 The Performers Health Starts from the Inside with Nutritionist Stephanie Moore
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 60 The Best Nutritional Do’s and Don’ts for Singers with Stephanie Moore
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 100 The Truth About Singing and Dairy with Nutritionist Duncan Rock
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source
- VitaVoice Contact Email: info@vitavoice.co.uk
ABOUT THE GUEST Carrie is a UK based HCPC registered health practitioner working in the field of Voice. She is a BAPAM Registered SLT and Vocal Rehabilitation Coach and has over 25 years’ experience as a singer and singing teacher, adding to her skillset when she qualified as a Speech & Language Therapist in 2012.
With a wealth of knowledge in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions related to her specialist field, she splits her time working in independent voice therapy practice, is clinical lead for Voice at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, and is co-founder of VitaVoice: a wellbeing company with health and prevention of voice issues at their heart…Good health for great voices!
She holds a degree in Popular Music Performance, is a qualified teacher of music, and spent 9 years working in FE/HE music education alongside recording and performing original music and working in tribute and cover bands across the UK. All of this alongside her classical singing training at Birmingham Conservatoire as a teenager has contributed towards her empathy and compassion for the demands which exist for vocalists everywhere.
VitaVoice is a passion project developed with her husband and their colleague following recognition of a need for holistic health and wellbeing advice and products to support people with hard-working voices. Having been inspired by the nutritionists she worked with in the development of their hero product ‘VitaVoice: Optimise’, any free time she has available is currently spent researching and studying towards her diploma in Health and Nutrition to ensure the information she shares with others relating to health and wellbeing is evidence-based and up to date.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
This show was brought to you by Progressive Media
We have the incredible Gemma Sugrue joining Alexa this week as we dive into a series of episodes dedicated to belting. We're thrilled to explore this topic with Gemma, especially after our enlightening conversation with John Henney in episode 101. Gemma recently ran a three-day boot camp, and today, we'll be delving into the fascinating world of mix and mixed belt techniques.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Gemma believes the belt is characterised by a thick vocal closure, a ratio of high pressure to air pressure, and a significant presence of upper partial activities in the harmonic spectrum frequencies. She sees belt as a way of singing that deviates from the norm and is recognisable by its specific vocal qualities.
- Mixing involves singing higher notes with power, control, and balanced resonances. It requires effective vowel modification, smooth vocal transitions, and proper management of air pressure and airflow. It is a coordinated and controlled technique that allows singers to achieve strength and skill in their higher ranges.
- When training singers, Gemma prioritises developing their listening skills. She believes it is crucial for singers to excel in perceiving sound before focusing on physical sensations. By enhancing their auditory intelligence and spectral hearing abilities, singers can naturally align their body parts to produce the desired sound.
- Gemma focuses on helping singers develop a strong and controlled mode one up to G4. This applies to both male voices with a more testosterone-driven quality and female voices with a more oestrogen-driven quality. It's essential for singers to be able to sing all the vowels and navigate through that octave effectively, maintaining a speech-like dominant sound.
- Gemma also emphasises the importance of accessing a full falsetto range as part of a singer's skillset.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I call it entering into the option area’ ‘A mix is anything that’s connected and still in mode one’‘I like to start with refining the engine first before adding the gas’‘As you sing there’s a different pressure quality to each note’ ‘We want a larynx that’s on the move’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Website:
- Pro Vocal Artist: https://www.provocalartist.com/
Social Media:
- Handle: @gemmasugrue
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/gemmasugrue
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Artists referenced: Sia; Jessie J; Whitney Houston; Beyonce
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 46 How to Develop Lasting and Positive Habits with Gemma Sugrue
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 101 How to Belt with John Henny
- John Henny: https://johnhenny.com/
- The work of Johan Sundberg
- Voice Science Works (David Harris & Laurel Irene): https://www.voicescienceworks.org/
- Kerrie Obert: https://obertvoicestudios.com/
- Heidi Moss: https://www.heidimosserickson.com/
- Ken Bozeman: http://www.kenbozeman.com/
- Chris Johnson: https://www.chrisjohnsonvocalcoach.com/
- Teach Voice: https://www.teachvoice.com/
- Feldenkrais: https://feldenkrais.com/
- Alexander Technique: https://alexandertechnique.com/
- Andrew Byrne: https://www.andrewmbyrne.com/
- Lisa Popeil: https://www.popeil.com/
- 5 Things You Must Know About Belting with Lisa Popeil: YouTube.com/watch?v=eLHyVVwo2ek
- Ian Davidson: https://ianjdavidson.com/
- Dave Stroud: https://davestroud.com/
ABOUT THE GUEST Gemma is an artist coach and the founder/director of Pro Vocal Artist, an online mentorship program for original music artists. Gemma also co-founded Voiceworks Studio, an Irish company that offers choir training and lessons for singers.
Gemma's performance credits as a vocalist include working as a singer for hire for various TV shows (Dancing with the Stars, The Late Late Show) and for artists including Bon Iver, Damien Rice, Maverick Sabre, Rosin Murphy, the RTE Concert Orchestra, The RTE Symphony Orchestra and many more.
Gemma is a sought after contemporary vocal coach and is currently working with artists including Cian Ducrot and Ryan Mack. She is a former board member of vocal coaching network, Vocology in Practice and artist consultant for LA based organisation VocalizeU.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
This show was brought to you by Progressive Media
Alexa is joined by Ruth McPherson, the head of charity development at ISM, the Independent Society of Musicians. Since joining ISM in 2016, Ruth has been dedicated to promoting the organisation's work among musicians and ensuring gold-standard service delivery. She currently spearheads the development of ISM's sister charities, the ISM Trust and the ISM Members Fund, which provide crucial support in professional development and health and well-being services to music professionals. Ruth is here to offer valuable insights into the ISM and tells you why you might want to become a member.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) is the UK’s largest representative non-union body for musicians and a nationally recognised subject association for music. They are financially independent with no political affiliation. Since 1882, they have been dedicated to promoting the importance of music and supporting those working in the music profession.
- The ISM changed its full name from the Incorporated Society of Musicians to the Independent Society of Musicians to coincide with its 140th anniversary on 7 October 2022.
- The ISM offers 3 memberships, Full Membership for those who have been music professionals for over 10 years, Early Career Membership for those with fewer than 10 years in the industry, and finally Student Membership for all studying music professionals.
- Members of the ISM receive unrivalled legal expertise from their in-house legal team, comprehensive insurance and specialist services, to meet the professions and needs of those who work in music.
- The ISM also has two sister charities, the ISM Trust, which as part of the ISM’s commitment to corporate social responsibility delivers professional development to the whole of the music sector, largely on a free basis; and the ISM Members Fund, which provides a range of health and wellbeing services to members.
BEST MOMENTS
‘We were one of the first organisations to allow women to join as regular members
‘If you’re working at any professional level in music you’re welcome at the ISM’
‘There are both opportunities and threats to musicians when it comes to AI’
‘A lot of the trusts output is free even if you’re not a member’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Website:
- ISM: https://www.ism.org/
- ISM Trust: https://www.ismtrust.org/
- ISM Members Fund: https://www.ism.org/members_fund
Social Media:
- @ism_music
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Musicians Hearing Health Scheme: https://www.musicianshearingservices.co.uk/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 67 Protecting The Singer’s Ears for Performance Longevity with Carrie Birmingham
- Chatgpt: https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt
- The Empowered Musician Event Playbacks: https://www.ism.org/professional-development/the-empowered-musician-2023
- Musicians Union: https://musiciansunion.org.uk/
- ISM Annual Fees Survey Results: https://www.ism.org/news/our-annual-fees-survey-results-2023
- Save Our Subjects Campaign: https://www.saveoursubjects.org/
- Edge Foundation: https://www.edge.co.uk/
- ISM resources for music educators: https://www.ism.org/professional-development/resources
- ISM Trust webinars: https://www.ism.org/webinars
- Primary Singing Toolkit: https://www.ismtrust.org/primary-singing-toolkit
- Play: A psychological toolkit for optimal music performance: https://www.ismtrust.org/play
- Performance anxiety: A practical guide for music teachers: https://www.ismtrust.org/resources/performance-anxiety
- British Association of Performing Arts Medicine: https://www.bapam.org.uk/
- Royal Society of Musicians: https://www.rsmgb.org/
- Email contact: membership@ism.org
ABOUT THE GUEST
Ruth McPherson is Head of Charity Development at the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM). She has over ten years' experience in the music sector, working at the ISM since 2016, and prior to that at music publisher Rhinegold Publishing (now Mark Allen Group). During her time at the ISM, Ruth's role has been focused on promoting the work of the ISM to musicians and ensuring gold standard service delivery. She currently leads on the development of the ISM's sister charities, the ISM Trust and the ISM Members Fund, which offer vital professional development and health and wellbeing services to music professionals.
This show was brought to you by Progressive Media
Alexa is in the company of composer, musical director, pianist, arranger, and app creator, Rowland Braché. Originally from Melbourne, Roland has worked as an MD for productions such as West Side Story, The Last Five Years, Into the Woods, and A Chorus Line. He joined Book Music and Lyrics in London in 2015 and was a finalist for the Stars and Drew Best New Song Prize in 2017. Rowland created the UK's premier female vocal rock group called Rock Goddess and is the creator of the Warble app, which was ranked in the top 50 of educational apps.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Warble is an app designed for singers, particularly those in the performing arts industry, who love to sing but struggle to find suitable songs. The app allows users to input their vocal range and instantly generates a curated list of songs within their range, addressing the common question of which songs to sing that best suit their voice.
- The motivation behind creating Warble stems from Rowland’s experiences while working at a dance college. Many talented singers attended the college, but the focus was primarily on dance, leaving some individuals unexplored in terms of their vocal abilities. This inspired the idea for an app that would empower singers by helping them discover songs that showcase their voice and provide a platform for exploration, considering vocal limitations and possibilities.
- When using the app you can either put your voice type in, so whether you're a soprano, alto, baritone, or tenor, and then the app gives you songs that correspond to that voice type. Then you can filter through the different categories: decade, artist, composer, musical style, and genre. If you're searching for a specific audition that's given you a certain type of song, say a 1950s ballad, you can then go and find that through the app quite easily by using the filters.
- You can utilise the voice range feature by inputting your personal vocal range. For example if your range spans from G3 to E5, by entering these notes the app will display all the songs available within that range, encompassing G3 to E5 and everything in between.
- There is a free and premium version of the app available on both android and IOS. You can find it by searching Warble in the app store and Google play store.
BEST MOMENTS
‘One of my friends even uses it to find songs for Karaoke’
‘I found so many songs that made me think why haven't I heard this before’
‘I want to make Warble a one stop shop for everything you need’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Social Media:
- @warble_app
- Instagram: @rowlyb
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Shows/songs referenced: Kimberly Akimbo; Into the Woods; Six; Defying Gravity (from Wicked)
- Book, Music & Lyrics: https://www.bookmusicandlyrics.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 55 Teaching Singing for Mental Health and Wellbeing with Cat Ogden
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep 65. The Top Benefits of Vocal Massage with Lydia Flock
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 74 Understanding Manual Therapy with Walt Fritz
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 85 Vocal Health Red Flags Explained with Kate Valentine
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 87 How to Manage Allergies and Upper Respiratory Infections with Laryngologist Declan Costello
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 90 Help! I’ve Got a Voice Problem with Lydia Hart and Stephen King
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 96 Helping Singers Maintain a Vocally Healthy Lifestyle with Joanna Cazden
ABOUT THE GUEST
Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Rowland moved to London to continue his musical career. He joined the BML workshop as a composer in 2015 where he relished being surrounded by passionate and talented songwriters. Prior to London, Rowland worked as an MD and pianist on the musical theatre and cabaret scene in Melbourne. Australian credits include: West Side Story (The Production Company), Cats, The Last 5 Years, Merrily We Roll Along, Into The Woods, A Chorus Line. Rowland’s first musical “Once We Were…’ was staged in 2012 at The Lithuanian Theatre, Melbourne and a concert version of his 2nd show ‘Illusions’ staged later that year at The GH, Melbourne. Rowland was also a finalist for the Stiles and Drewe Best New Song prize in 2017.Recent UK credits include; MD/Arranger: Footloose UK Tour (Sell A Door)- Repititeur & click tracks, The Dressers (2020, Dublin),Peter Pan (QDOS Pantomimes), Ordinary Days (Streetlights), Sleeping Beauty (QDOS), Jack & the Beanstalk (QDOS), Beauty & The Beast (Imagine Theatre). Rowland is the creator of the innovative app for singers, Warble. On its first day Warble was ranked in the top 50 of educational apps on the App Store. In 2021, Rowland created the UK’s premier female vocal rock group, Rock Goddess, who have been performing on cruise ships and at various festivals, holiday parks, nightclubs and events up and down the UK.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
This show was brought to you by Progressive Media
Line Hilton joins Alexa once again to continue the Best Vocal Exercises series. Following on from previous episodes on chest voice and head voice, today the pair will be tackling the subject of the inbetween of those two, the transition. Find out where the transition occurs, the problems singers face going through the transition, and of course some useful exercises you can use.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The transition in singing refers to the shift between different vocal registers, such as chest voice and head voice. It is a crucial aspect of vocal technique, allowing singers to smoothly navigate between registers and maintain a consistent tone. Vocal exercises and proper technique helped singers develop a seamless transition, ensuring vocal control and flexibility.
- In contemporary singing, males typically experience a shift from chest voice to head voice around the E♭4, while females go through this transition around A♭4. This could be affected by the consonant, the vowel, whether you’re ascending or descending, or even the age of the singer. The shift happens roughly every 4th to 5th interval.
- Transitioning between chest voice and head voice in singing can pose challenges for singers. Issues that may arise include vocal breaks, strain, inconsistent control, uneven tone quality, and pitch accuracy.
- Some useful vocal exercises to try when working on the transition are Staccato Arpeggios, Glides or Sirens, Octave Jumps, Descending Scales, Humming Exercises, Lip Trills, or even Vocal Fry to Head Voice.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Ideally we need to have control over our larynx to go through the transition’ ‘You wouldn’t build a bridge if you didn’t have something to go to on the other side’ ‘Your goal is to shift without anyone noticing’ ‘We sound unattractive for a while because we’re undoing some muscle dysfunction’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.basttraining.com
Social Media:
- @basttraining
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 62 How to Choose the Best Vocal Exercises with Line Hilton
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 73 The Best Vocal Exercises for Laryngeal Stability with Line Hilton
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 83 The Best Vocal Exercises for Sick Voices with Line Hilton
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 113 The Best Vocal Exercises for Chest Voice with Line Hilton
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 114 The Best Vocal Exercises for Head Voice with Line Hilton
- The work of Ingo Titze
- Ian Davidson: https://ianjdavidson.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep 52 Getting to Grips with Vocal Acoustics with Chadley Ballantyne
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
This show was brought to you by Progressive Media
Once again the BAST founder Line Hilton joins Alexa Terry to discuss 'head voice,' and gives some suggestions of exercises (of which there are many) that singing teachers could apply when working with a student on this particular vocal register. As well as that you’ll find out the vocal range covered by head voice, the importance of head voice, and what actually goes on in your body when singing in head voice.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Head voice refers to a lighter and higher vocal register where the sound resonates in the head. It's used for higher notes and requires vocal control and technique to achieve a seamless transition between registers.
- In head voice, the vocal folds lengthen and thin out, vibrating faster to produce higher pitches. The movement involves increased tension and a stretched position, creating a lighter, focused sound resonating in the head.
- Head voice typically covers the higher end of a singer's vocal range in cisgender voices. It encompasses the upper notes, often starting from the middle or upper-middle range and extending towards the highest pitches a singer can reach. The specific range of head voice varies depending on the individual's vocal capabilities and training.
- The tongue plays a key role in head voice by shaping the sound and resonance of the voice. It rests slightly raised and forward, creating space in the throat for a lighter, more resonant sound. The tongue's flexibility and control aid in navigating pitch changes and achieving vocal agility. Proper tongue position and relaxation contribute to balanced and well-coordinated head voice technique.
BEST MOMENTS
‘It could be loud and piercing or lighter but is distinct from falsetto’ ‘For balance and health it’s important to be able to access all areas of your voice’ ‘It’s easier to explain our range from a more functional point of view’ ‘I like to encourage a feeling of expansion in a singer if they describe it as being tight’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.basttraining.com
Social Media:
- @basttraining
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Artists/shows mentioned: Adele; Beyonce; Regina Spektor; Joni Mitchell; Anastasia (Broadway)
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 62 How to Choose the Best Vocal Exercises with Line Hilton
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 73 The Best Vocal Exercises for Laryngeal Stability with Line Hilton
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 83 The Best Vocal Exercises for Sick Voices with Line Hilton
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 113 The Best Vocal Exercises for Chest Voice with Line Hilton
- Chris Johnson: https://www.chrisjohnsonvocalcoach.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 44 Exploring Vocal Registers with Chris Johnson
- Kerrie Obert: https://obertvoicestudios.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 59 Top Tongue Tips for Boosting High Frequency Energy with Kerrie Obert Singing Teachers Talk Podcast
- Voice Geeks Forum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/VoiceGeek/
- Dane Chalfin: https://danechalfin.com/
- (BAST Trainer)Kaya Herstad-Carney: https://kayamusic.com/
- Lisa Popeil: popeil.com
- Warble App
- Amelia Carr: https://www.ameliacarrvoice.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk - Ep. 50 Managing ‘Pushy Parents’ and Teaching ‘Legit’ with Amelia Carr
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BAST founder Line Hilton joins Alexa for another instalment in the ongoing series ‘The Best Vocal Exercises for’ where this week they’ll be discussing chest voice. Find out what a vocal range is, how many we have, why this is a debated topic, identifying chest voice, accessing your chest voice, and of course how you as a singing teacher can create the best vocal exercises for using chest voice.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- In terms of singers, chest voice refers to the lower and more powerful range of their vocals. It produces a rich, full-bodied sound felt in the chest, and is used for lower and mid-range notes. The chest voice is just one component of a singer's overall vocal range.
- Chest voice is associated with power, projection, and emotional expression. Singers develop and strengthen their chest voice through exercises and technique to improve control, range, and tonal quality. It is part of a singer's overall vocal range, and professional training helps coordinate chest voice with other registers.
- When we’re in a chest voice our TA is engaged. This means that we have more mass coming together on the vertical vocal folds from the bottom to the top or just the top with no TA engagement. This leads to a bigger or louder tone.
- A glottal cycle refers to the complete opening and closing sequence of the vocal folds during a single vibration cycle. It is the basis of sound production in the larynx. The vocal folds close to block airflow (closed phase) and then open to allow airflow and create vibrations (open phase). Skilled control of the glottal cycle enables singers to produce different pitches and vocal effects.
- The first thing Line does when teaching chest voice is establish if her student has control and stability over the larynx and the vocal folds.
BEST MOMENTS
‘A register is just an area of your range’ ‘Anything from G4 down for females is chest, and for males anything from D4 down is chest’‘I’ve heard people belting up to F5 but if they go beyond that it might all fall apart’ ‘It might be harder for a shy person who doesn’t have a loud voice to find this register’ ‘Those who are extroverts tend to over engage their TA and get vocal fold issues’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.basttraining.com
Social Media:
- @basttraining
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 62 How to Choose the Best Vocal Exercises with Line Hilton
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 73 The Best Vocal Exercises for Laryngeal Stability with Line Hilton
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 83 The Best Vocal Exercises for Sick Voices with Line Hilton
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 44 Exploring Vocal Registers with Chris Johnson
- The work of Dr Ingo Titze
- BAST Blog - Case Study: Working with Shy Singers: https://www.basttraining.com/case-study-working-with-shy-singers/
- BAST Blog - Case Study: The One with the Yelly Child: https://www.basttraining.com/case-study-the-one-with-the-yelly-child/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 59 Top Tongue Tips for Boosting High Frequency Energy with Kerrie Obert
- Repertoire mentioned: Adele; Jessie J; Elton John; Billy Joel; Ed Sheeran; Ella Fitzgerald; Dianne Reeves; Cassandra Wilson; Mark Murphy; Kurt Elling
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 110 Articulation and Singing: Assessing Jaw Behaviour with Chris Johnson
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 65 The Top Benefits of Vocal Massage with Lydia Flock
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 74 Understanding Manual Therapy with Walt Fritz
- BAST Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@basttraining
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today we’ve got a professional voice coach and vocalist who has been working for over 15 years in the music industry. Hannah Smikle is back on the podcast after 61 episodes, in her last appearance she spoke to Alexa about how to boost a singer’s confidence. Hannah is on Singing Teachers’ Talk this week to talk all about helping musical theatre singers build a reliable pop toolbox.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- In the last year Hannah has noticed an influx of singers and students who are concerned about their contemporary sound. They are often being asked to perform more contemporary pieces or sing contrasting styles which many don’t feel comfortable doing. Other genres tend to be more dominant and students need help finding the style.
- Very few auditions on broadway are asking for a golden age song, it goes to show how pop is now part of mainstream musical theatre productions at this point.
- A pop contemporary vocal is characterised by a clear and bright tone, expressive techniques, emotional delivery, rhythmic alignment, catchy melodies, and current stylistic elements. It aims to connect with listeners through its expressive and engaging performance, reflecting the trends and styles of modern pop music.
- Pop affords us a flexibility which we’re not afforded in other genres. You can celebrate your own vocal identity and USP, this can be the building blocks around your own artistry. This wouldn’t be acceptable in other genres.
- Teaching singers to achieve a pop contemporary vocal style involves technical training, stylistic awareness, expression, performance skills, recording techniques, and repertoire development. By combining these elements, vocal teachers help singers develop their unique voice within the genre while maintaining healthy vocal technique and effective communication with the audience.
BEST MOMENTS
‘How do I sing with this style? What makes this style?’‘It’s difficult, we’re asking singers to be vocal chameleons’ ‘It’s hard to pigeonhole what pop is’ ‘How do I use this, and put it into this framework?’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.vocalperformancecoaching.com
Social Media:
- Facebook & Instagram Handles: @vocalperformancecoaching
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 51 How to Boost a Singer’s Confidence with Hannah Smikle
- Musical Theatre Shows mentioned: Heathers; Six; Moulin Rouge; & Juliet; Hadestown; Bonnie and Clyde; Spongebob the Musical; Hamilton; Mrs Doubtfire; Oklahoma! (2019 revival)
- Artists/Characters mentioned: Billie Eilish; Snow White; Julie Andrews; Lizzo; Dua Lipa; Lady Gaga; Adele; Jessie J; Ed Sheeran; Pixie Lott; Ella Fitzgerald; Jess Glynne
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep 89 How to Teach Musical Theatre Styles Successfully Dr Matt Edwards
- The Sing Space: https://thesingspace.com/
- Kerrie Obert: https://obertvoicestudios.com/
- Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy with Kerrie Obert and The Voice Study Centre: https://voicestudycentre.com/online-qualifications/certificate-in-vocal-pedagogy-with-voice-scientist-kerrie-obert/
- BAST Blog - How to Nurture a Singer’s Authentic Voice with Dr Trineice Robinson-Martin: https://www.basttraining.com/how-to-nurture-a-singers-authentic-voice/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep 105 How to Teach Popular Music Styles to Singers with Jo Sear
ABOUT THE GUEST Hannah Smikle is a professional voice coach and vocalist, working for over 15 years in the music industry. She has extensive experience both in live performance as a gigging musician and backing vocalist, and in the studio as a session singer and recording artist.
Hannah has an impressive multi-disciplinary approach to vocal training - using her advanced technical knowledge alongside her industry experience, she is passionate about equipping a singer for optimum performance, be that on stage or in the studio. Hannah frequently works with vocalists to engineer and coach a recording session, enabling the singer to capture their best, most authentic vocal delivery. She has a holistic approach to working with performers, highly regarding whole-person wellbeing in the coaching process.
Hannah is dedicated to continuing her professional development; she regularly attends specialist courses, and is a qualified Vocal Health. First Aider, has a level 3 certificate in Counselling Skills, and has trained as a Vocal Health Practitioner with Vocal Health Education. She is a recommended Sing Space Coach, and a member of the Musician’s Union.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today Alexa is joined by the person otherwise known as the Piano Skills for Singers Woman. Brenda Earle Stokes is an internationally recognised pianist, vocalist, and educator who has taught keyboard and musicianship skills to hundreds of singers. She is the creator of The Versatile Musician, a membership that includes the likes of piano training, music theory improvisation, and lots more. Brenda is here to chat about how to build piano skills as a voice teacher and singer.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- When working with singers, Brenda discovered that despite them all having piano training in the past, it had not worked for them. This is because they have been trained by people who were pianists, not singer-pianists who could help them develop these skills in the way that they needed.
- It’s beneficial for singers to have piano skills because piano offers a unique opportunity to maximise the value of your investment in music education. When you learn piano, you not only acquire essential music theory knowledge. You also learn skills that can also be applied to thrive in a professional work environment, making it a versatile instrument with multifaceted advantages.
- It takes about two years to gain the skills you need to play your major and minor chords in all twelve keys, that allows you to play anything you can think of from the world of popular music. You’ll become proficient in reading music to a basic level which is something a songwriter needs.
- Brenda’s advice is to get the best keyboard you can get for your budget. Check your local online marketplaces to see if you can pick up a bargain. It does not have to be a major investment and you can always upgrade later.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I like to say my native language is piano’ ‘Piano is the place where you can get the skills you need to be able to function in a work environment’‘The purpose of this is that it does not happen in a vacuum’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- pianoandvoicewithbrenda.com
Membership:
- theversatilemusician.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @brendaearlestokes
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrendaEarleStokes/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/pianoandvoicewithbrenda
Crash Course in Piano Skills for Singers:
- https://pianoandvoicewithbrenda.com/crash-course-in-piano-skills/
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. Coaching Contemporary Commercial Musical with Kim Chandler: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source
- Sheet Music Direct: www.sheetmusicdirect.com
- Ultimate Guitar: ultimate-guitar.com
- Keyboard Kraze Blog Post - Best Fake Books for Piano by Chris Senner: https://keyboardkraze.com/fake-books-for-piano/
ABOUT THE GUEST Brenda Earle Stokes is an internationally recognised pianist, vocalist and educator. Known far and wide as the "Piano Skills for Singers" woman, she has taught hundreds of singers to find success at the keyboard and to fortify their musicianship skills with her unique methods. A longtime private teacher, Brenda is now an online course creator and her membership The Versatile Musician, which combines piano training with musicianship, theory, jazz and improvisation, serves students around the globe. Her teaching style is practical, efficient and filled with humour and enthusiasm.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chris Johnson is a professional singer turned vocal coach who has worked with major label artists, West End leads, backing vocalists, singer/songwriters and vocal coaches. He is also the creator of Teach Voice, a programme that helps singing teachers up-skill and develop their technical and business acumen. He joins Alexa on Singing Teachers Talk to discuss all things articulation and singing when it comes to assessing jaw behaviour.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The jaw plays an important role in singing as it affects the resonance and tone quality of the voice. Tension in the jaw can cause a strain on the voice, affect breath support and hinder vocal range. Singers are often encouraged to relax their jaw muscles and maintain a loose, open jaw to allow for better resonance and vocal production. Proper jaw alignment and movement can also help with diction and articulation in singing.
- The jaw can affect pitch and register in singing because it is connected to the tongue, which plays a crucial role in shaping the sound of our vocal cords. If the jaw is tense or locked, it can limit the movement of the tongue and make it more difficult to produce certain pitches and registers.
- Ultimately, the key to using the jaw to affect pitch and register is to maintain a balance between freedom and control. Too much tension can restrict the movement of the tongue and limit vocal flexibility, while too little control can lead to sloppy diction and poor vocal technique.
- An under or overbite can affect pitch and register in singing by altering the position and tension of the vocal folds, as well as the resonance of the vocal tract.
- In the case of an underbite, the lower jaw may protrude forward, which can cause tension in the muscles surrounding the larynx and vocal folds. This tension can lead to a higher pitch and a strained or pressed sound. On the other hand, an overbite may cause the jaw to retract, resulting in a looser and more relaxed position of the vocal folds, leading to a deeper or more relaxed tone.
BEST MOMENTS
‘The jaw's function and range of movement is unrestricted’
‘A lower larynx tends to have a warmer sound’
‘A lot of stability issues are because of the jaw’
‘The tongue needs to make up the pronunciation from the lack of mobility in the jaw’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- Teach Voice: teachvoice.com
- Coaching: chrisjohnsonvocalcoach.com
- Podcast: thenakedvocalist.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @teachvoicetraining
- Instagram: @chrisjohnsonvocalcoach
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.44 - Exploring Vocal Registers with Chris Johnson: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source
- Artists mentioned: Boys2Men; Amy Winehouse; Adele;
- Anatomy of Voice by Blandine Calais-Germain & Francois Germain
- Stephen King: https://voicecarecentre.co.uk/stephen-king/
- Feldenkrais Principles: https://feldenkrais.com/
- Circle: https://circle.so/
- Teach Voice Contact: teachvoice.com/email
ABOUT THE GUEST Chris Johnson started his performance career in a casual choir before working as a professional singer for 12 years. During the early part of his career, his busy schedule took its toll on his voice. Narrowly missing a serious vocal injury, Chris relearned his instrument and started on a never-ending journey of vocal development.
After seeking help and turning his own seemingly ‘hopeless’ voice around, Chris realised he might also be able to help other singers and moved into vocal coaching.
Chris has worked with major label artists, West End leads, backing vocalists, singer/songwriters and vocal coaches. He also helps singing teachers worldwide navigate the overwhelming amount of pedagogical information available to them, and develop their technical and business acumen, mainly via the courses he delivers through his programme: Teach Voice.
Chris has also trained in manual laryngeal therapies and studied with scientists in vocal acoustics, physical and somatic therapy, and laryngology. He’s also one half of The Naked Vocalist podcasting/blogging duo.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Alexa is joined by guest Louisa Morgan who teaches singing, spoken voice, and audition prep, with a specialism in Acting Through Song. She is the main voice teacher for the full-time Acting students at the Cygnet Theatre in Exeter and teaches Musical Theatre students at Italia Conti. Louisa is a Vocal Process accredited teacher and is currently studying part time for her masters degree in Vocal Pedagogy with the Voice Study Centre. Louisa is here to talk about her specialist subject of acting through song and that of her masters research project which aims to challenge current acting through song techniques for the musical performer.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The main challenge musical theatre performers face when it comes to acting through song is the synergy of the three disciplines. Generally, we train musical theatre actors by sending them to their singing lessons, then their acting, then their dance. The difficulty is bringing all of those together and embracing that the singer will have to go out on stage and do all three at once.
- Another problem when it comes to acting through song training is that there isn’t enough when it comes to the text-based approach. There is a big gap when it comes to the text that’s in front of the student on the page. Where is their punctuation? Which words are being emphasised?
- Louisa finds that the skills she learned acting for radio are very transferable when it comes to acting through singing, especially on the script side of things. Add a double question mark when it’s a real question, and cross the question mark out if it’s rhetorical, highlighting their verbs on the text.
- When a singer is fully embodying the character and feeling the emotion we expect them to feel, it can actually cause problems when it comes to vocal health and on stage movement. Louisa is studying what people are listening for in the voice, to make them feel that emotion. She believes the focus should be on making the listener feel the emotion, rather than the performer feeling that emotion themselves.
BEST MOMENTS
‘You shouldn’t be approaching a song if you don’t know the context’
‘Pulling out those verbs doesn’t mean just making them louder’
‘If we could collaborate more in training institutes, everyone would benefit’
‘The job is not that we feel the emotion, it’s that the audience feels the emotion’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- louisajmorgan.co.uk
Social Media:
- Instagram: @louisamorganvoicecoach
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Voice Study Centre: voicestudycentre.com
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 40 Integrated Skills: Teaching Singing to Dancers with Jennie Morton
- Practitioners Mentioned: Stanislavski; Meisner
- David Sabella: https://www.davidsabella.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 34 The Most Neglected Skill in Vocal Training with Phillippe Hall
- Acting Through Song by Paul Harvard
- Acting in Musical Theatre: A Comprehensive Course by Joe Deer and Rocco Dal Vera
- Actions: The Actor’s Thesaurus by Marina Caladrone & Maggie Lloyd-Williams
ABOUT THE GUEST
Louisa teaches singing, spoken voice, and audition prep, with a specialism in Acting Through Song. She is the main voice teacher for the full-time Acting students at the Cygnet Theatre in Exeter, which has been training actors for 40 years. Louisa also teaches Musical Theatre students at Italia Conti on the Diploma, BA and CertHe courses. Many of Louisa's students are either working towards a career in the performing arts or are already working in the performance industry. Louisa is currently working part-time towards an MA in Vocal Pedagogy with Voice Study Centre (due to complete in October 2023). She is now one of only 19 Vocal Process accredited teachers, a course headed by Dr Gillyanne Kayes and Jeremy Fisher. Louisa takes vocal health very seriously and is a qualified Vocal Health First Aider and member of Vocal Health Education. Because of Louisa's training and experience as an actor and director, she is able to offer text-based coaching and voice work for speech in addition to singing.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Alexa’s guest this week is Wendy Rolls, who divides her time teaching singing at two Brisbane girls’ secondary schools and at her own private studio, conducting a chamber choir for middle school girls. Wendy completed a Masters where her thesis focused on the pedagogical needs of adolescent female singers and is currently tracking the development of nine girls for her PhD. She is the creator of the female voice change pamphlet and post packs and is on Singing Teachers Talk to discuss how we can best navigate the adolescent female voice change.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- An adolescent girl’s voice will generally change when their bodies begin changing during puberty at around 13 or 14. Things become closer to their adult form usually around the age of 16 but this will be different for everyone.
- As a teacher, it’s important to remember that during these changes your students will be more anxious, more emotional, more impulsive, and generally less able to reason and identify subtle emotions. Because of this Wendy makes sure she cuts them some slack and smiles in ‘big print’ to make sure the positivity is not misinterpreted.
- The female larynx grows overall, whereas in males it grows by dropping down an octave. In females the range drops by around one-third overall so you will have to look at changing the key.
- Externalising progress is important to keep students on track, motivated, and positive about their development. Wendy likes to get students to give themselves a star rating out of 5 when it comes to learning a song. For example, if they gave themselves a 3 for melody or remembering lyrics one week and then 4 the next, we can see where they are and they can evaluate their own progress.
- The more we affirm our students, the more they can see their value. They’re at a time in life where confidence can be knocked easily and that can shape who our students become as adults. As a teacher, you need to make learning and progress visible to allow your students to see their own progress and affirm themselves.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Everything is growing, not just the larynx, everything is changing in the body’
‘It’s really important to make sure we’re safe adults for our students’
‘I love the word noticing when it comes to teaching’
‘Our language is so important that we need to make sure we don’t inadvertently put pressure on students’
‘Singing is a source of joy and a creative release’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- rolls.id.au
Social Media:
- Facebook: Wendy Rolls Singing & Musicianship
Resources: (available from the website)
- Female voice change pamphlet & poster packs in a range of quantities (Australian & international packs available)
- Musicianship postcards for pentatony & diatony
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Mental Health First Aid England: https://mhfaengland.org/
- Harvard Thinking Routines: https://pz.harvard.edu/thinking-routines
- Canva: https://www.canva.com/en_gb/
- Accent Method
- If in Doubt, Breathe Out by Ron Morris and Linda Hutchison
- The work of Janice Chapman
- Singing and Teaching Singing: A Holistic Approach to Classical Voice by Janice Chapman
- James Clear: https://jamesclear.com/habit-triggers
- The work of Lynne Gackle
- Finding Ophelia’s Voice, Opening Ophelia’s Heart by Lynne Gackle
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 87 How to Manage Allergies and Upper Respiratory Infections with Laryngologist Declan Costello: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source
- The work of Barbara Connable
- The work of Dr Jenevora Williams: https://jenevorawilliams.com/
- Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults by Dr Jenevora Williams
- Doctor Vox: https://www.doctorvox.co.uk/
- Dane Chalfin: https://danechalfin.com/
- Untangled by Lisa Damour
- Good Habits, Bad Habits byWendy Wood
- Blame My Brain by Nicola Morgan
- Thinking Outside the Voice Box by Bridget Sweet
ABOUT THE GUEST
Wendy Rolls enjoys working with singers of all ages as teacher, conductor and performer. Her work is informed by a wide-ranging background with a Master of Music Studies in vocal pedagogy from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Bachelor of Veterinary Science (UQ), Bachelor of Education (QUT), and an Australian Kodály Certificate.
Wendy has worked with many young female singers as choristers and music students, including twelve years in a singing-based school music program, from early childhood to middle school.
Wendy currently divides her time teaching singing at two Brisbane secondary girls’ schools and private studio, conducting an auditioned chamber choir for middle school girls, and PhD study.
Following her Masters’ thesis on the pedagogical needs of adolescent female singers, Wendy recognised the need for a clear and simple way to explain girls' voice change. The subsequent pamphlets were well received by both teachers and students, and she was encouraged to explore this area more deeply. Wendy’s current PhD study involves one-to-one singing lessons with nine girls whilst tracking their vocal development and responses to changes they experience.
She has presented at workshops and conferences on vocal pedagogy, vocal health, and musicianship for singers for ANATS, ANCA and Kodály Australia.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kimberley George is a singer-songwriter and topliner for DJs, she joins Alexa today on Singing Teachers Talk to tell you everything you need to know about songwriting for electronic music styles. Listen in to find out what happens when a DJ contacts a vocalist, the problems in communicating creative ideas, the advantages of doing your own production, and what you as a singing teacher can do for a student wanting to get into that industry.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- When it comes to collaborating with DJs, Kimberly always looks at the music from a perspective of no ego. She looks at what kind of vocals the song actually needs, not necessarily how her own vocals would be best for that specific track.
- Some DJs want to create a track around an existing vocal, which Kimberly has already recorded lots of different versions of with a basic background loop. The background loop is usually just used as a reference and not used on the final track.
- Other DJs send her instrumentals which she writes a vocal track for. When she does this she asks for reference tracks with notes of why this track has been chosen as a reference. The notes on the references are very important because sometimes they might like the style, or maybe just the placement.
- There is no common language between vocalists and DJs and producers. The producers might not know how to ask for what they want and the vocalist is left guessing what they might mean.
- As a voice teacher working with someone who wants to go into this industry, you might want to invest in a good laptop, a DAW (digital audio workstation) that you know how to use, your interface, mic, and reflection filter. This would just be for recording demos etc.
- On a vocal level, as a teacher, you should be very versatile and able to teach students to sing in multiple different styles for different types of electronic music. These have their roots in varied genres over multiple decades.
BEST MOMENTS
‘By being versatile I can adapt to what people need and create the best vocal that I can’
‘It’s a massive advantage doing your own production and not having to go to a studio’
‘A DAW is like your kitchen cupboard, the one that works for you is the one where you can find the cups’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @kimberleygeorgemusic
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Artists Mentioned: Fleetwood Mac; Ellie Goulding; Avicii; Jax Jones & Becky Hill
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 105 How to Teach Popular Music Styles to Singers with Jo Sear: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source
- Equipment: DAW (Kim uses Logic); interface; SM58 microphone; reflection filter (Kim uses Aston Halo)
- Tommy Ludgate: @tommyludgatecoach
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 49 - Unlocking Your Creative Potential with Tommy Ludgate: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source
- Chad Kowal: @chadkowal
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BAST founder Line Hilton joins Alexa Terry today on Singing Teachers Talk to discuss giving student-led singing lessons, a method of teaching centred on student-led learning rather than teacher-led. We’ll be talking about the different types of questions teachers ask students, how you can get them to expand on their answers, reflecting back on lessons, and students setting their own goals.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Great questions are simple, have purpose, and influence the direction of thought without being controlling. Closed-ended questions can be answered with “Yes” or “No,” or they have a limited set of possible answers. Open-ended questions are questions that allow someone to give a free-form answer asking how, why, what, and when.
- Closed questions do have their place. If someone is having trouble articulating how they’re feeling or what they’re experiencing, you can ask a question where they can give a grade. For example, was that better, worse, or the same as previous times you’ve done that. You can then try and expand on that so they can then explain better in the future.
- A lot of the time students aren’t tuning into how their body actually feels, they’re relying on you as the teacher to tell them how it should feel in different scenarios. What we need to do is teach them to identify that for themselves and with that awareness comes greater ability to learn.
- Line encourages students to say what they want to focus on in that lesson. People feel more on board when there is some form of autonomy and they feel like they’ve been listened to. She also encourages students to reflect back on the lessons to find out if they’ve understood what happens physically and vocally and if they achieved their goals.
- You don’t need to fill in the gaps all the time. Don’t jump in when a student is reflecting on their lesson. Say less and let them sit with it. When the time is right, ask another question to go deeper.
- Just because you’re the teacher it doesn’t mean you know every answer, that’s too much pressure. Line likes to say, that’s a good question, why don’t you try and find out the answer yourself. You have to give people the opportunity to learn by themselves, that’s when we’re at our best.
BEST MOMENTS
‘It’s not about how good or bad I was, it’s about if I achieved what I wanted to achieve or not’
‘I’ve always felt the role of the teacher is to become redundant so a student can teach themselves’
‘Goals are a great form of motivation’
‘If you persist with teaching in a way they don’t like, you might lose them’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.basttraining.com
Social Media:
- @basttraining
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- The Coaching Manual by Julie Starr
- BAST Book Review - The Coaching Manual by Julie Starr: https://www.basttraining.com/the-coaching-manual-a-must-read-coaching-skills-guide/
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joining Alexa today is Jo Sear, a rock, pop and soul singer and teacher of CCM singing styles. In April 2021 Jo completed her MA in Voice Pedagogy through the Voice Study Centre and will soon begin her PHD at The Royal Northern College of Music. She is here to discuss teaching popular music styles, the topic of her final MA dissertation project which has been published.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- ‘Modern Vocal Pedagogy: Investigating a potential curricular framework for training popular music singing teachers’ is a published paper by Jo. She did this because she would like a course out there that teaches people how to be popular music singers. She wants students to learn about the industry, how producers and engineers think, what they expect, and how studio singing is different from live singing.
- Contemporary commercial music or CCM is a term used by some vocal pedagogists in the United States to refer to non-classical music. This term encompasses jazz, pop, blues, soul, country, folk, and rock styles.
- Jo suggests that Jazz should be its own category because of the kind of improvisation and musical knowledge you need to know to sing it. She also thinks that musical theatre and popular music genres do cross over, but don’t belong in the same category.
- Jo listens to the singers that her students want to be like and then brings them more examples that they might not have heard or may be older. For example, if someone wanted to sing like Florence and the Machine, she’d bring them a song from Kate Bush and find out what it is that resonates with them. It’s about helping them find their style but not pushing them in a direction.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I’m trying to be the teacher that I wanted, that I never had’
‘The whole basis of popular music is authenticity’
‘Listening widely is key, lots of different artists’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- popupvocaltraining.co.uk
Social Media:
- Facebook: @PopUpVocalTraining
- Youtube: @popupvocaltraining828
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Voice Study Centre: com
- Royal Northern College of Music: rncm.ac.uk
- British Voice Association (BVA): org.uk
- The Journal of Popular Music Education: https://www.popularmusiceducation.org/the-journal/
- Modern Vocal Pedagogy: Investigating a potential curricular framework for training popular music singing teachers by Joanna Sear
- Jeanie LoVetri and Somatic Voicework: https://somaticvoicework.com/
- This is a Voice by Jeremy Fisher & Gillyanne Kayes
- Books by John Henny: Teaching Contemporary Singing; Voice Teacher Influencer; Beginning Singing
- Jo Thompson Singing Coach: http://www.jothompson.net/index.html
- Yvie Burnett: https://www.yvieburnett.com/
- Kim Chandler: http://www.kimchandler.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast:
- Dr Matt Edwards: https://www.edwardsvoice.com/
- Ann Peckham: Vocal Workouts for the Contemporary Singer
- Rode Studio Microphone
- Shure SM58 Microphone
- Journal of Voice: https://www.jvoice.org/
- The work of Heidi Moss Erickson: https://www.heidimosserickson.com/
- The Musician’s Mind: Teaching, Learning and Performance in the Age of Brain Science by Lynn Helding, Pam Ward et al
- The work of Dr Trineice Robinson-Martin: https://soulingredients.drtrineice.com/drtrineice
- BAST Interview Article with Dr Trineice Robinson-Martin: How to Nurture a Singer’s Authentic Voice: https://www.basttraining.com/how-to-nurture-a-singers-authentic-voice/
- Podcast: A Voice and Beyond by Dr Marisa Lee Naismith
- Podcast: The Naked Vocalist
- Voice Work by Christina Shewell
- So You Want to Sing…Rock and Roll by Matthew Edwards and NATs
- The Art of Singing Onstage and in the Studio by Jennifer Hamady
ABOUT THE GUEST
Jo has been singing rock, pop and soul music all her life. She joined her first professional working band at age 21 and has been behind a microphone ever since, singing lead and backing vocals in a wide variety of rock, soul and blues bands, working as a session singer and taking part in many stage productions, including several at the London Palladium. Her current band is Soul Enforcement Bureau, an 8-piece professional soul band.
Jo has been a teacher of CCM singing styles exclusively for over 17 years, working both privately and within secondary and dance schools. She has trained extensively in many different areas of voice study, including the Estill Model, advanced anatomy and voice acoustics, and has taught a wide range of students, from amateurs to professionals. She completed her MA in Voice Pedagogy with Distinction in April 2021 and is a passionate advocate of the importance of training more rock/pop teachers and conducting more contemporary voice research. Her final dissertation project - a research-based curriculum outline for training Popular Music singing teachers - has recently been published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Popular Music Education.
Jo begins PhD study at the Royal Northern College of Music in September 2023 on the institution’s Music Education pathway. She is a member of APME and the British Voice Association and has presented for the BVA on several occasions.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joining Alexa today is Colin McGee who is trained in Psychoanalytic and Humanistic therapy and Hypnotherapy. Colin McGee works at the National ADHD charity ADDISS as a Psychotherapist, supervisor and trainer, and also has his own personal clinical practice specialising in behaviour management, ADHD, and autism. He’s the perfect guest for this episode where we’re looking at teaching neurodivergent singers.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects around 5% of people's behaviour, but only about 1% are diagnosed. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse.
- Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age and may become more noticeable when a child's circumstances change, such as when they start school. Most cases are diagnosed when children are under 12 years old, but sometimes it's diagnosed later in childhood.
- You need a trained psychiatrist to diagnose ADHD rather than just your general GP. Getting a diagnosis is more like moving towards a conclusion based on lots of evidence, rather than a test for a binary yes or no answer.
- Being dismissive of the validity of someone’s ADHD is only going to hurt them, it impacts life hugely. People with ADHD aren’t doing things or being forgetful deliberately just because they feel like it, it’s a genuine condition.
- There’s no one size fits all approach to teaching singing to someone with ADHD, it’s a case of working out what works best for them as an individual.
- When you’re in an emotionally flooded state you lose about 30 IQ points and have reduced hearing. As a teacher you need to find ways to reduce this in neurodivergent students, usually breathing exercises help.
BEST MOMENTS
‘ADHD is not deliberate, they’re not late on purpose’
‘People with ADHD are visual kinesthetic learners’
‘When you become emotionally overloaded, that’s where the problems start’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- addiss.co.uk
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Dr Russell Barkley - This is How you Treat ADHD Off Science Lecture: com/watch?v=_tpB-B8BXk0
- Georgia & Tommy: Baby Steps Documentary (Series 3; episode 1)
ABOUT THE GUEST
Trained in Psychoanalytic and Humanistic therapy and Hypnotherapy, Colin McGee works at the National ADHD charity ADDISS as a Psychotherapist, supervisor and trainer (Schools and Parents), and also has his own personal clinical practice.
Colin has a background in education and has taught in three countries over many years, teaching in most types of schools from Kindergarten to MA level and as Deputy Head and Headteacher. His specialist areas are behaviour management, ADHD, and, more recently, Autism, particularly as part of a dual diagnosis.
In the early 1990s, Colin started to work with singers from various backgrounds from students to young professionals and established international performers; he has also worked with a number of classical musicians. Colin says: ‘I think that one of my strengths is that I know very little about music or singing and I tend to ask questions that others may overlook.’
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kaya Herstad-Carney is our guest this week and she’s joining Alexa to tackle the subject of how to measure a singer. That doesn’t mean marking their heights on the wall in pencil, it’s about understanding someone’s limitations and exceptions that they may be able to reach. Kaya is creative with a wide skill set, ranging from powerful performances of her original music, vocal coaching, singing teacher training, and artist development.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- There are two things that come into play when looking at a singer, their nature and their nurture. When we as singing teachers look at their nature there are things we can change and things we can’t. We’re not going to change their size and shape but we can change how things are coordinated and how their body is positioned.
- The lamina propria is a thin layer of connective tissue that forms part of the moist linings known as mucous membranes or mucosae, which line various tubes in the body, such as the respiratory tract. It is part of the vibrating filament of the vocal fold.
- If someone has none problematic large tonsils it will influence their sound because the biggest bass will boost the lower frequencies and smallest bass will boost the higher ones. Kaya has had people who have had them removed who have liked their new sound and some who have found it harder to adjust.
- We have moved away from the idea of that very rigid head up posture. Not everyone’s ideal posture is the same so we need to work with the student to find their ideal posture for them as an individual.
BEST MOMENTS‘Measure but don’t mention the physical appearance of someone and what we can expect from their sound’ ‘People’s ideal posture is individual’‘If in doubt go and check it out’‘Breathing out literally lowers your heart rate’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- kayamusic.com
Social Media:
- @kayamusic
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- BAST Blog - The Vocal Fold Layers: https://www.basttraining.com/the-vocal-fold-layers/e vocal folds article
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 40 Integrated Skills: Teaching Singing to Dancers with Jennie Morton
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 97 Elevate Your Performance Through Anatomical Efficiency with Jennie Morton
- Spotlight: https://www.spotlight.com/
- Chris Johnson & Teach Voice: https://www.teachvoice.com/
- Kerrie Obert: https://obertvoicestudios.com/
- Voce Vista: https://www.vocevista.com/
- The Work of: Ken Bozeman; Ian Howell; Ingo Titze; Johan Sundberg
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 101 How to Belt with John Henny
- Voice Science Works: https://www.voicescienceworks.org/
- Pitch Analyser App
- Vocal Pitch Monitor App
- Waterbear: https://waterbear.org.uk/
ABOUT THE GUEST Kaya is a creative with a wide skill set, ranging from powerful performances of her original music, vocal coaching & singing teacher training, artist development & co-writing, artistic direction for Threshold Festival and gig promotion, band & choir direction/arranging, mentoring and community workshops, in addition to her lecturing career across the popular music subjects including voice, songwriting, band skill and music industry studies. Originally from Norway, she made the UK her home in 1999. She is an established artist with a track record of performances at The Royal Variety Show, to the BBC Songwriting Showcase, touring UK and Europe.
Kaya has a varied portfolio career and is a passionate singer, songwriter, performer and a harmony/vocal fanatic, vocal arranger and producer, festival director, mentor, musical/choir director, vocal geek and senior lecturer with a wide range of experiences and interests on and off the stage. She has a particular love for vocal habilitation and artist development in the Contemporary Commercial field of music including popular music, musical theatre and extreme vocals.
ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today Alexia is joined by the wonderful Joanne Bozeman who has been a voice teacher for almost 50 years. She is a singer herself and was a faculty member at Lawrence University’s Conservatory of Music in the state of Wisconsin ,and is a frequent presenter for many organisations such as the BVA, NATS, and PAVA. Joanne is a coauthor of Singing Through Change: Women’s Voices in Midlife, Menopause and Beyond, and she is on Singing Teachers Talk to share her expertise on singing through the stages of menopause.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels. This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55. You reach menopause when you have not had a period for 12 months.
- Perimenopause is when you have symptoms before your periods have stopped. Menopause and perimenopause can cause symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods. These symptoms can start years before your periods stop and carry on afterwards.
- About 80% of people complain of some kind of symptom, usually hot flushes, but there are some who are almost disabled by the severity of symptoms. Also our bodies react differently to different hormones and hormone levels so responses are individualistic.
- Smears of the larynx and the cervix stained for oestrogen throughout the menstrual cycle were indistinguishable with microscopy. Both types of tissues have been shown to have oestrogen, progesterone and androgen receptors. Meaning the menstrual cycle and pubertal development both have an effect on the female larynx.
- Oestrogen contributes thickness, smoothness, and pliability to the epithelium and mucosal layer of the vocal folds. This means when oestrogen is higher there are more cellular layers in this tissue and oestrogen increases oxygenation to the vocal folds.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Menopause is not an old age situation, it’s a mid life one’ ‘Some bodies are just more sensitive to oestrogen’‘Our bodies responses to hormones are individualistic so it’s not a one size fits all’‘Sometimes we have to get back to basics and address this tiny trauma’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:https://singingthroughchange.com
Social Media: Instagram: @singingthruchange
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- The Effect of Hormones on the Voice by Same Kadakia, Dave Carlson and Robert T. Sataloff; Care of the Professional Voice; 2013: http://www.vocapedia.info/_Library/JOS_files_Vocapedia/JOS-069-5-2013-571.pdf
- BAST Blog - Singing and the Premenstrual Voice: https://www.basttraining.com/singing-and-the-premenstrual-voice/
- The work of Dr Jean Abitbol (referenced in The Effect of Hormones on the Voice article noted above)
- Singing Through Menopause: Reactions and Responses Survey by Martha Elliott: http://marthaelliott.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Menopause-articleWP.pdf
- Vocal Function work by Joe Stemple
- The work of Rebecca Moseley-Morgan: https://www.inspectorvoice.co.uk/
- Chadley Ballantyne: https://www.chadleyballantyne.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 52 Getting to Grips with Vocal Acoustics with Chadley Ballantyne: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 84 The Benefits of Cross-Genre Training with The Voice Collective: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source
- Co-authors: Cait Frazier-Neely & Nancy Bos
- Journal of Voice: https://www.jvoice.org/
ABOUT THE GUESTJoanne Bozeman, co-author of Singing Through Change: Women’s Voices in Midlife, Menopause, and Beyond, has been a voice teacher for nearly 50 years, beginning when she was completing her music training at the University of Arizona. She was faculty member at Lawrence University’s Conservatory of Music in the state of Wisconsin for 26 years, where she taught singing and a number of voice and music education courses. Along with her teaching career, Joanne was an actively performing soprano, specialising in recital repertoire, oratorio and chamber music.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Internationally renowned leading voice teacher John Henny returns to chat with host Alexa Terry on this episode of Singing Teachers Talk. He has taught thousands of singers, including Grammy winners and top background and session singers. John has also trained hundreds of voice teachers, including many industry leaders. We’ve got a belting episode for you this week, quite literally, as Alexa and John will be discussing how to belt.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Belting is an intense style of singing, characterised by a longer closed phase in the vocal folds creating a more intense soundwave. If you’re singing in a light voice, harmonics roll off quickly but with a belt they don’t roll off as fast so you’re getting more upper harmonic content.
- With the more intense soundwave you're tuning the vocal tract to boost those high frequencies so you’re not left with any of the mellow jazzy sounds.
- You can make your belt more intense and forward by pushing the first resenance in the vocal tract really high into the shout configuration. When we do this our brain thinks we are shouting and overpresses the vocal cords, good singers like Whitney Houston can override this switch in their heads.
- Unless there is a physical or neurological issue, then anyone can belt. It can be of varying strength and quality, but it’s a skill anyone can learn.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Belting, I know it when I hear it’
‘Most contemporary music can use belt, it’s only really female classical singers who won’t’
‘You’ve got to break that connection to work up to the belt’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.basttraining.com
Social Media:
- Facebook: @John Henny Vocals
- Instagram: @johnhennyvocals
- Twitter: @johnhennyvocals
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jhenny62
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Belt Example @ 3:18 to end - Gimme Gimme from Thoroughly Modern Millie (Sutton Foster): YouTube.com/watch?v=OxYoHdAwFZc
- Belt Example @ 1:23 - I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston: YouTube.com/watch?v=FxYw0XPEoKE
- Kerrie Obert: https://obertvoicestudios.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 59 Top Tongue Tips for Boosting High Frequency Energy with Kerrie Obert: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source
- Jeremy Ryan Mossman: https://www.singingwithjmoss.com/
- Vocology in Practice: https://www.vocologyinpractice.org/
- Ken Bozeman: http://www.kenbozeman.com/
- Practical Vocal Acoustics by Kenneth W. Bozeman
- Voce Vista: https://www.vocevista.com/
- Demo: You Don’t Do it for Me Anymore by Demi Lovato
- Chris Johnson: https://www.chrisjohnsonvocalcoach.com/
ABOUT THE GUEST
John Henny has been a leading voice teacher for over 25 years. He has taught thousands of singers, including Grammy winners and top background and session singers. John's students have appeared on Broadway and in major touring companies. John has also trained hundreds of voice teachers, including many industry leaders.
John hosts the popular podcast, The Intelligent Vocalist and his YouTube channel has over 8 million views and counting. His books, including Beginning Singing, are Amazon bestsellers.
John has lectured at USC, The Paul McCartney Liverpool Institute, and the Learning Annex.
John is known for making complex concepts simple and easy to understand and is a leader in creating online programs for singers and voice teachers.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This episode is very special! It marks 100 episodes of the BAST Singing Teachers Talk podcast! We just wanted to take a second to do a massive shout out to all of the incredible guests we’ve spoken to and also you, our amazing listeners! To thank you for joining us, we’re running a special giveaway to win over a thousand pounds worth of educational videos, knowledge and singing teacher goodness! All you need to do to enter is take a screenshot of this episode of the podcast playing on your device, pop it on your story and tag @basttraining. That’s it! You’re entered! We’ll be announcing winners over on Instagram and Facebook so give us a cheeky follow. Competition entry ends at midnight tonight so get screenshotting!
On to the podcast and on this milestone episode we’re joined by Duncan Rock, a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama who has an active career as an operatic Baritone performing roles at many of the world’s leading opera houses. He is a nutritionist working with the likes of Vocal Health Education and The Voice Care Centre and is currently training to be a physiotherapist.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Singers have a ritual of avoiding eating chocolate before singing because they think as it naturally contains caffeine, it will dry you out and constrict the muscles around your vocal cords. It’s also an acid reflux trigger, creates more phlegm, and it coats the back of the throat giving you a flatter sounding voice. Duncan believes this is just a performative act people give as there is very little evidence that it will actually have any effect.
- Liquids that are emulsive, whether dairy or not, can create the feeling of thickness and can feel like they leave a sticky residue in your throat. This goes away with time and you can even just wash it off with a glass of water.
- Sugar has long term effects on our health that happens over time with large consumption. It will not have any short term effects on your voice. We do need to watch our sugar intake, but this is just a long term health risk rather than a vocal one.
- In Duncan’s opinion, trying to manage chronic inflammation and digestive health seems to have the best overall net result for any vocal health issues around mucus and reflux. Chronic inflammation is becoming more of an issue due to stress and the amount of processed food we eat.
- It’s a myth that Duncan has heard at every single level of his career in classical music that if you are fit and exercise then you can’t sing opera. Pavarotti was an amazing singer despite his weight, not because of it.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Dairy does not create mucus, this is a myth’
‘You’re just as likely to experience the same thing with a soy based drink as with dairy’
‘These lists of best food for singers you find online are rarely based on anything substantial’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.basttraining.com
Social Media:
- duncanrocknutrition.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @duncanrock_nutrition
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Vocal Health Education: vocalhealtlh.co.uk
- Pubmed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 60 The Best Nutritional Do’s and Don’ts for Singers with Stephanie Moore: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source
ABOUT THE GUEST
Duncan is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London) and West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. He has an active career as an operatic Baritone performing roles at many of the world’s leading opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera, Glyndebourne, English National Opera, Teatro Real and the Boston Lyric Opera. As a baritone soloist, he has recorded and performed with the London Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony orchestra.
Concurrently with his performing career, Duncan works as a Nutritionist and Nutritional Science Writer. He holds a Masters of Science in Nutritional Science and an advanced diploma in nutrition and weight management.
His speciality is combining his parallel fields of study and providing nutritional information for performing artists. He is cognisant, from both an academic and personal standpoint, of the heavy demands of a busy performing schedule that often includes the demands of rigorous travel. He has been using his knowledge of diet and nutrition to propel his own career as well as help other performers attain optimal vocal and physical health.
MMus MMperf MSc MRSPH
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We’re starting a new series on Singing Teachers Talk called Ask Me Anything where the listener can pose your questions to BAST founder Line Hilton. Today is the first in the series where Alexa will be asking Line for advice on cancellation policy, optimal booking systems, when you might need to use a debt collection agency, pains and aches in the studio, and the movement of the larynx.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Next week we’re going to be celebrating our 100th episode of the podcast! To thank you for listening and to help you on your singing teacher journey we’re going to be running a giveaway worth more than £1000! On the 1st March one lucky winner will get a 12 month subscription to the BAST membership and the replays from every single one of our Focus On events. To win you’ll need to tune in on the 1st March so make sure you’re subscribed!
- As a singing teacher you need a cancellation policy in place, it’s a legal agreement and everyone should be aware of what is expected. If a lesson is booked in then you may have turned down other work and should rightfully be paid for your time.
- You are perfectly within your rights to suspend lessons with a student who hasn’t paid for previous sessions. Let them know they can book new lessons when the outstanding balance is cleared.
- Line personally uses a 24 hour cancellation policy but it can vary depending on demand. 48 hours or even a week can be necessary.
- Make sure the lesson is booked by the person who is paying for it, in situations where younger people have their lessons paid for by parents make sure it’s the parent who books you.
- For new students Line has an upfront payment policy. She also offers a discount for people who pay longer in advance by direct debit.
- Line teaches people to put the flat of their fingers over their throat and feel the lumps there. If you swallow or talk or sing, those lumps move. This allows people to be more aware of the movement of their larynx.
BEST MOMENTS
‘We need to overcome the awkward feelings that come up when talking about money’
‘Don’t let yourself get into a bad situation, stop it before it happens’
‘If you don’t look after your money, no one else will’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.basttraining.com
Social Media:
- @basttraining
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/beasingingteacher/
- Xero (Accounting Software): https://www.xero.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 93 How to Organise Your Singing Studio Business with MyMusicStaff
- On Late Payment Charges: https://www.gov.uk/late-commercial-payments-interest-debt-recovery/charging-interest-commercial-debt
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 62 How to Choose the Best Vocal Exercises with Line Hilton
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 73 The Best Vocal Exercises for Laryngeal Stability with Line Hilton
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 83 The Best Vocal Exercises for Sick Voices with Line Hilton
- Linktr.ee to the Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today Alexa is joined by a singer and voice coach who was the first artist to perform at London’s O2 Arena. She has taught music to over four thousand children and has worked on ITV’s ‘The Voice Kids’. In 2019 she was awarded an MA from the Voice Study Centre where her work focused on the benefits of singing and songwriting on mental health. Author of 'The Creative Songwriting Journal' and 'If You Can't Say it Sing it!’ Sophie Garner is on Singing Teachers Talk.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- In two weeks we’re going to be celebrating our 100th episode of the podcast! To thank you for listening and helping you on your singing teacher journey we’re going to be running a giveaway worth more than £1000! On the 1st March one lucky winner will get a 12 month subscription to the BEST membership and the replays from every single one of our Focus On events. To win you’ll need to tune in on the 1st March so make sure you’re subscribed!
- The left side of the brain focuses on speech, but the right side handles singing and music. This means that if someone has suffered an injury to the left side of their brain, you can use lyrics and melody to get them speaking more confidently.
- Sophie works in a group setting to encourage the camaraderie and “we’re all in this together” spirit of the people she works with.
- During lockdown, upon all her work stopping, Sophie became the published Author of 'The Creative Songwriting Journal' and 'If You Can't Say it Sing it!’ Both books teach children and young adults how to write songs for self-expression, building confidence and encouraging individual creativity.
- When working with children, Sophie’s approach is about creating a comfortable atmosphere where singers can feel free to tell their story through their voice. She hates it when people are told that they can’t sing, it can be a very traumatic thing to be told that destroys confidence.
- One thing any teacher can do to settle energy is to make a playlist of a song from every child in the group. Then every day after break you get them to sit in silence and listen to one of the songs. Everyone’s song gets heard and they feel validated.
BEST MOMENTS
‘It enables people to literally have a voice’
‘I love the work, I’d do it even if I wasn’t being paid’
‘You’re only a really good teacher if you can teach something in its simplest terms’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.sophiegarner.com
- www.thecreativesongwritingjournal.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @sophie.garner
Contact Email:
- hangarmusic@gmail.com
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- (Novel) Lean Fall Stand by Jon McGregor
- Mental Health First Aid England: https://mhfaengland.org/
- Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults by Dr Jenevora Williams
- The Young Musician’s Guide to Songwriting by Lisa Donovan Lukas
- Songwriting Without Boundaries by Pat Pattison
- The Theory and Practice of Vocal Psychotherapy by Diane Austin
- Recovery of Your Inner Child by Lucia Capacchione
- The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
ABOUT THE GUEST
Sophie began her career upon leaving school as an actress, training with The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain where worked with Matt Lucas (British Bake Off and Les Misérables). Deciding her singing was her first love she set out on a path focused on music. Her professional singing career has seen a great deal of experience. She was the very first artist to play London's iconic O2 Arena! She has been a vocal coach for ITV’s The Voice Kids, taught music to 4,000+ kids, runs 4 adult choirs and is a specialist in working with brain injury and dementia through singing on a weekly basis for Headway and various specialist neurology care units. Sophie graduated in 2019 from Voice Study with her master's degree (distinction) in her expert area: the benefits of singing and songwriting on wellbeing and mental health.
Sophie is also a public speaker and mentor for young adults, providing songwriting workshops, teacher training and presentations across the UK.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Alexa is joined on this week’s episode of the Singing Teachers Talk by osteopath and former ballet dancer and singer, Jennie Morton. She also works as a Performance Coach for singers and actors, focusing on anatomical efficiency, embodiment of artistry, movement education, and rehabilitation from vocal injury. Jennie is here to tell you how you can elevate your performance through your anatomy.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- As musicians and performers, our heart rates can actually reach the levels of endurance an athlete running a marathon would. We don’t think about how our blood is pumping around our bodies to our muscles delivering the right amount of oxygen to avoid fatigue.
- Our muscles interact differently with different musical instruments. For example we lift it with one hand, and manipulate strings with the fingers of the other hand. It is often uneven in which muscle groups they develop and makes our bodies grow in an asymmetrical way.
- Muscular endurance is the ability to continue contracting a muscle, or group of muscles, against resistance over a period of time. Increasing the performance of these muscles means they can continue to contract and work against resistance.
- All of our bodies have a neutral state when it comes to things like the curve of our spines. The issue is that when people have played an instrument for a long time, they don’t know where the neutral state is.
- When we look at the vocal apparatus we think they’re only related to how we speak and sing, but they’re also part of what holds up our heads and is part of how we balance.
BEST MOMENTS
‘We call instrumental musicians, the athletes of the small muscles’
‘People’s bodies actually develop around the instrument’
‘Your body is an organic instrument’
‘The body ideally has equal tone on the right and left’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.jenniemorton.com
Social Media:
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenniemorton9317
Contact:
- hello@jenniemorton.com
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 40 Integrated Skills: Teaching Singing to Dancers with Jennie Morton: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3fm53D7NcGWTmwzE3Sg2nM?si=bcdb8934210246b9
- Masters Degree in Performing Arts Medicine at University College London: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught-degrees/performing-arts-medicine-msc
- Chris JohnsonVocal Coach: https://www.chrisjohnsonvocalcoach.com/
- Singing With Your Whole Self by Samuel H. Nelson and Elizabeth L. Blades
- BAST Training Membership: https://www.basttraining.com/bast-training-membership/
ABOUT THE GUEST
After a long performing career as a Ballet dancer, West End Musical Theatre performer, and lead singer of a London Big Band, Jennie is now a Clinical Osteopath specialising in the field of Performing Arts Medicine. She provides treatment for musculoskeletal, neurobiological, and psycho-physiological issues from her base in Los Angeles. She also works as a Performance Coach for singers and actors, focusing on anatomical efficiency, embodiment of artistry, movement education, and rehabilitation from vocal injury. Jennie co-created the MSc in Performing Arts Medicine at University College, London, and lectures internationally to artists, arts educators, and healthcare professionals on the subject of performance-related injuries. She is the author of three books: The Authentic Performer: Wearing A Mask And The Effect On Health; The Embodied Dancer: A Guide To Optimal Performance; and Dancing Longer, Dancing Stronger. Her website www.jenniemorton.com contains many of her published articles and educational resources, as well as links to her online courses on a range of health topics.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today Alexa is joined by a singer-songwriter, speech pathologist and voice rehabilitation specialist. She's also the author of Everyday Voice Care, the Lifestyle Guide for Singers and Talkers, with other publication credits including the Journal of Voice and Voice and Speech Review. Joanna Cazden is on Singing Teachers Talk to tell you how you can help your singers maintain a vocally healthy lifestyle.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The Singing Teachers Talk podcast will be airing its 100th episode on the 1st of March, 2023. And so to celebrate this milestone and to thank all of our amazing listeners, we are giving away an incredible prize to one lucky winner. Keep an eye out for more details.
- In the late eighties and early nineties the only vocal health advice you would get was that you need to drink a lot of water and avoid reflux. That's what the vocal health experts were saying and even doctors were too. Joanna did a little research and decided to make the information that was only in textbooks available in a more accessible form.
- In her book Joanna advises the reader to understand and tolerate that contradiction is part of the health journey, referring to how sensations we feel can be contradictory to what is actually happening.
- A fundamental bit of information is that it feels like the mouth and the throat are all one thing, but they’re not. We think if I drink something, it should help my voice. We have all this folklore about what to put in your tea and so many other recipes that are recommended. But we’re not realising that the vocal cords are further away than we think.
- One of the functions of having a daily warmup routine is that it becomes self diagnostic and everybody should know their typical range at each time of day. If that starts to change consistently, then there's a problem. If it takes a little more effort to get sound going, you make a note of that. So it's really about getting to know your own instrument.
- There are a lot of different ways singing teachers can cue the thing that you want. You should use the simplest possible sensory language to do it and pay attention to which parts of what you instruct the student gets and which they don’t. Reinforce that.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I was afraid to tell anyone about it. I had no clue what was going on. I had no idea of going to a doctor’
‘Contradiction is part of the health journey’
‘That system is designed by survival to be out of mind and unconscious’
‘We're balancing this seesaw of considering vocal health, but also not becoming neurotic’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- https://joannacazden.com/
Social Media:
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8UDIaxfQ5I5_WxOnFFqrag
Book Link - Everyday Voice Care: The Lifestyle Guide for Singers and Talkers by Joanna Cazden:
- Hal Leonard: https://www.halleonard.com/product/333734/everyday-voice-care
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Voice-Care-Lifestyle-Singers/dp/1458443183
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Vocal Health Education: vocalhealtlh.co.uk
- Homunculus: https://www.google.com/search?q=homunculus&rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB916GB917&sxsrf=AJOqlzXXbPTA0L7otbvtAn-FEHP4a8GolA:1674575611845&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj3jPmjyOD8AhVPhlwKHQqmC9oQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1166&bih=726&dpr=2
- American Speech-Language Hearing Association: asha.org
- Brain, Mind and Voice Therapy by Joanna Cazden at the ASHA Convention (2017): https://youtu.be/dnvNjoows90
- Mirroring People: The New Science of How We Connect with Others by Marco Lacoboni
- Joanna Cazden’s talk on Empathy and Self-Care for The Voice Foundation: https://www.facebook.com/events/1354751692019414
- Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks
- Kate Devore: https://www.colum.edu/academics/faculty/detail/kate-devore.html
- The Vocal Pitstop: Keeping Your Voice on Track by Adam D Rubin MD
ABOUT THE GUEST
Joanna Cazden is a voice rehabilitation specialist, singer-songwriter, and educator in Santa Cruz CA, recently retired from the Voice Clinic at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles where she was senior speech pathologist for 18 years. Her book Everyday Voice Care: The Lifestyle Guide for Singers and Talkers (Hal Leonard, 2012) is widely used in vocal performance and pedagogy programs, and her lectures to national and international groups are regularly praised for her ability to bridge medical, artistic, and humanistic points of view. Other publication credits include the Journal of Voice, Voice and Speech Review, and numerous music magazines and guest blogs.
Joanna toured widely in the feminist-folk circuits of the 1970s-80s, released six solo albums, and continues to perform with local folk, jazz, and chamber ensembles. In addition to her musical and clinical credits she has also trained deeply in theatre arts, counselling, and energy healing. Consistent themes throughout her work include preventive wellness education and advocacy for performing artists; the interdisciplinary nature of voice training and care; and the need for improved communication and understanding among all voice care professions. She is Certified in HealthCare by the Performing Arts Medicine Association.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joining Alexa on this week's episode is a musician, university professor and founder of Creative SEO. She manages her own music studio and helps musicians to create their own paid opportunities to live the life that they deserve. Dr. Tanya Lawson is on Singing Teachers Talk to tell you how you can improve your SEO and earn passive income.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- There are a lot of people that think that passive income means sitting on the beach with a cocktail, with an umbrella in it, just relaxing. That's not how it works. Passive income is where you put a lot of work in on the front end, but then it continues to pay out over time.
- Tonya is earning money every single week from Amazon off of articles that she wrote two to three years ago. The articles are already written and she is continuing to earn money from affiliate sales. She has courses that were a lot of work to build, but now that they're built, Tonya is earning income passively from them as new people sign up.
- You need to think of passive income like compounding interest. It starts out with a little, but over time it grows more and more as your website and presence grows and the volume of work you have increases.
- If you've never done any sort of SEO implementation, you need to give yourself 12 months to start seeing real growth happening.
- Lots of the websites we use and send our students to that you have to pay for, use affiliate links. These are essentially referrals that you can set up where when someone signs up from your link, you get a small percentage of that.
- SEO is really important in order to get your website to rank because if your website is not ranking in Google, if nobody's finding then you're not going to earn money from it.
- SEO stands for search engine optimization. In plain terms, it's how you get your website found on Google or any of the other search engines. It's how you get your website found and you do this by focusing your content around a targeted keyword.
- Google looks for something called EAT in your content. Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trust. And with the rise in AI writers, they've added a fourth letter, a second E for Experience because they want to know that you know what you're talking about.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Now I don't worry about any of that when I have a student cancel. I instead, I'm like, Hey, I have extra time in my day now’
‘Passive income takes time. There is no get rich quick’
‘You have to do what feels intuitive to you, what feels natural to you. If you've always enjoyed writing, do that. If you feel really comfortable on camera, then courses’
‘A lot of creatives, they've heard about seo, but they don't even know what it is’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- https://tonyalawson.com/
SEO Membership:
- https://tonyalawson.com/creative-seo/
Social Media:
- Instagram: @dr.tonyalawson
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.tonyalawson
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Amazon Associates: https://affiliate-program.amazon.co.uk/
- Sheet Music Plus Affiliate Program: https://affiliates.sheetmusicplus.com/affiliates
- Blog - The Best Clarinet Mouthpiece for Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced Players: https://www.tonyalawson.com/best-clarinet-mouthpiece/
- Jasper AI: https://www.jasper.ai/
- Grammarly: https://www.grammarly.com/
- John Mueller Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnmu
- Yoast: https://yoast.com/wordpress/plugins/seo/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAiJSeBhCCARIsAHnAzT_xoowZ9e3QH5e_OfWTV1PK8EpY9_3svgqWzfdy6wdBMzSKx3kj4NYaArXoEALw_wcB
- Search Engine Journal: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/
- Search Engine Roundtable: https://www.seroundtable.com/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr. Tonya Lawson is a professional clarinettist turned SEO specialist who specialises in helping freelance creatives build out passive income streams so they can live the life they deserve.
Not only is Dr. Lawson a professor at Middle Tennessee State University, but she also maintains a large private studio, runs 2 niche websites, and creates digital courses that provide musicians with the knowledge they need in order to have sustainable and profitable businesses.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Our guest today is best known as The Holistic Artist Coach and the founder of the Parr Method, and she's on a mission to empower artists to create a career that they love. With over 20 years experience in the industry, Wendy Parr has created a development pathway to assist artists in defining and elevating their skills as well as embracing their authenticity for true connection through music.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Artist development is on the shoulders of the music artist these days. The Parr Method is a series of online courses and communities designed to empower the recording artist to elevate their vision, connect to an incredible community and create a magnetic brand.
- The Parr method is broken down into different pathways - Blueprint - CONFIDENCE - Reconnect with your artistic instinct and kill the perfectionist.
- Voice Maps - STYLE - Explore your vocal landscape to expand your style.
- Sound Chart - SOUND - Find the unique elements to define your music's sound.
- Compass - BRAND - Elevate your artistic vision and create a magnetic brand.
- Artist’s Circle - COMMUNITY - A collaborative community of handpicked professional creatives for genuine connections.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Now let's start doing it the way it feels good to you’
‘I want to help people get back the freedom of that three year old, seven year old, 15 year old self’
‘My goal is to empower artists to have tools and insights and processes to shrink that time period and to spend less time wandering and wondering’
‘I'm breathing through this song instead of making sure I hit the marks’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.wendyparr.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: instagram.com/wendyparr
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Alec Chambers - Dark Can Be Beautiful: https://youtu.be/tjWdj1_d16E
- Allie Moss: https://www.alliemoss.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 43 Vulnerability, Individuality and Technology: The Songwriting Journey with Allie Moss: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4UyFlWqus2SeZDeJUJ5Trb?si=51b69d593c8a46f8
- Book - Nobody Ever Asked Me About the Girls: Women, Music and Fame by Lisa Robinson
- Facebook Group - The Parr Pack: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theparrpack/
ABOUT THE GUEST
A multi-hyphenate artist, educator, and networking magician, Wendy Parr is best known as The Holistic Artist Coach. With 20+ years in the entertainment industry, her mission is to empower artists to define their artistic purpose and create a career they love. As founder of The Parr Method, Wendy has turned her processes + coaching into an incredible Artist Development Pathway through online courses and private sessions. Whether it's through 1:1 coaching or leading artists through her flagship artist development course, Compass, her processes + ideology help creatives elevate their skills and foster authentic connections with each other.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today Alexa is joined by the Strategic Communications specialist of the popular business management software platform My Music Staff, Erin Ross. Erin is on Singing Teachers Talk to tell you how you can organise your studio business. You’ll also find a special offer for a 60 day free trial just for podcast listeners in the links below.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- My Music Staff started in 2013 as a love story between their founder, who's a software developer and his wife, who's a private music teacher. She needed something to help her manage the administrative side of her business so she could focus on teaching. She asked him if he could build something for her and it grew from there as more and more people adopted it.
- My Music Staff has four core features, students, calendar, attendance and billing.
- In the students area you can manage your entire student list, all of their family contact information, their birthday, you can track notes about them, information about instruments, any information you need about that student is stored there. You also add their default billing information here.
- The calendar is where you set up all of your lessons. You can create custom categories. You can create custom locations. If you do online music lessons, you can set up a Zoom meeting, a Skype meeting, or FaceTime link. All of that can be started directly from the calendar.
- Once you build out your schedule for all of your lessons. It uses what they call calendar based billing. Instead of having to manually add up every month how much money every single family owes you. All you need to do is keep an accurate calendar and because you already set up what your default billing is for that student, it automatically calculates their bill.
- feature number three is attendance. You're letting the system know, did they come to the lesson? If they didn't come to the lesson, do you still want to charge them? Do you want to offer them a makeup credit and they can take up the time later?
- All of these things are then fed into the billing feature, it saves you time by automatically gathering the information needed for the invoice and sending it for you.
BEST MOMENTS
‘It gives you time to actually focus on what you enjoy doing’
‘How can we improve the experience so that as a teacher or as a studio owner, you're not spending all of your time outside of lessons handling more administrative tasks’
‘Now the world is so fast paced, everyone's on the go. We find there's been such an increase in people working on their phones,
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- com
- mymusicstaff.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @mymusicstaffapp
- Private Facebook Group: @MyMusicStaffCommunity
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- My Music Staff Trial Deal: Sign up for a special 60-day free trial today at mymusicstaff.com/singing-teachers-talk
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.92 How to be Resilient in 2023 with Line Hilton: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source
- Duet Partner: https://duetpartner.com/
- Website builders mentioned: Wix; Squarespace; Wordpress
- My Music Staff Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Mymusicstaff
ABOUT THE GUEST
Erin Ross is the Strategic Communications Specialist at My Music Staff, the #1 business management software for private music teachers and music studios. She oversees social media, partnerships, trade shows, and, well... anything with words! She loves to find new, creative ways to help music teachers learn more about how My Music Staff can help manage their students, organise their calendar, automate online payments, and much, much more!
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Happy New Year! January is usually the time when we set resolutions for the year, but let's face it, most of us aren’t going to see them through a couple of weeks let alone a whole year. So this week on Singing Teachers’ Talk, Alexa is joined by BAST founder Line Hilton to discuss how you can be more resilient in 2023, how you can improve resilience in your students, and what you can put in place to make sure you achieve your goals.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- One of the problems with resolutions is that people set them and then don't do them. So it's much better to set goals throughout the year and then follow up with whatever strategies or tools that you can to maintain them.
- When working on self-improvement, if you haven't dealt with the beliefs that are feeding into the thing that you're trying to stop or forcing yourself to do, then your mind will just go back to what it's comfortable with.
- It can take around four weeks to form a habit, which involves repeating the thing you want to do daily for it to be imprinted in your brain as part of your routine.
- Low resilience can be mental or physical. It could be related to work or our home life. Often, when you physically learn resilience, it will affect everything. Sometimes with mental resilience, that only happens in particular settings.
- As a singing teacher, you need to be aware of the things that can affect your students from a psychosocial point of view. It’s not all about asking what's wrong with the voice, it’s about asking what other factors may be at play. Maybe someone has really low energy, or something has happened at school and they’ve brought it with them into the lesson.
- Usually, When somebody has severe anxiety or response to a negative experience as a performance, it's because they've attached a meaning to it. So it means I'm not good enough. It means I'm a failure. It means that I'm being judged. It means that I've disappointed others. It means that I can't make it. Help the student to reframe their thoughts and understand that it's just a thought, it's not a fact.
BEST MOMENTS
‘We have the resolution, but we don't put a plan in place or have support.’
‘Physical things are just a little bit more obvious than with mental low resilience’
‘The singing teacher quite often is privy to a lot of stuff that other people are not in that person's life’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- basttraining.com
Social Media:
- @basttraining
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 32 The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source
- Duncan Rock: https://duncanrocknutrition.com/
- Rock On Ruby (slogan clothing): https://rockonruby.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA7bucBhCeARIsAIOwr-8qNWJZranfBEK3TqAmO02l_ujYUkszuAWssDHgxhcZd2Z7HFgkjVgaAiQzEALw_wcB
- Marisa Peer: com
- Mel Robbins: com
- Instagram: @linehilton
- British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM): https://www.bapam.org.uk/
- Dr Mark Hyman: https://drhyman.com/
- Dr Rangan Chatterjee: https://drchatterjee.com/
- Mind Charity: org.uk
- Help Musicians: https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/
- Mindset by Carol S. Dweck
- Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
- Insight Timer App
- The Chimp Paradox by Professor Steve Peters
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 33 The Chimp Paradox by Professor Steve Peters Book Review: https://open.spotify.com/episode/05XH8aZkXCrSq4rKsLIwCs?si=366951a969514cb4
- The High Five Habit by Mel Robbins
- Norman Doidge: https://www.normandoidge.com/
- The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks
- Lifetime by Russell Foster
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joining Alexa today on Singing Teachers Talk is the Head Tutor of Singing at Italia Conti who additionally works in private practice as a singing teacher with both aspiring and professional performers. His work also encompasses singing voice rehabilitation. Michael Vickers is here to talk about preparing singers for drama school auditions.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Michael's advice for choosing where to audition for in the first place is to do your research. Ask yourself what are your skillets right now? Where do you want to be in X number of years? Talk to staff and go to open days.
- For an audition a performer will typically need to prepare one to three songs which contrast. Some schools might only ask for one song of your choice for the first round.
- Some schools will always ask for one song being pre 1965 and some will always ask for one post 1965. Not all musical theatre songs pre 1965 are legit.
- Know what the criteria is for the Drama School. Tick all the boxes.
- When it comes to eye contact, start at a level just above the panel but if they give direction on where to look then take it.
BEST MOMENTS
‘There are things I started teaching differently after having seen how panels work'
'Go to the website and constantly check what they're looking for'
'Be flexible in that moment. Whatever they ask, dive in and try it'
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.voiceteacher.co.uk
Social Media:
- @michaelvickersvoice
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Italia Conti: italiaconti.com
- NATS Rubric Video 2018 Final with Matt Edwards: https://youtu.be/42lTQYJXxTY
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 89 How to Teach Musical Theatre Styles Successfully with Dr Matt Edwards: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source
- Mix Registration by Ingo Titze: https://vocology.utah.edu/_resources/documents/mixed_registration_titze.pdf
- Linda Hutchison: https://www.bapam.org.uk/practitioner-search/miss-linda-hutchison/
- Lewisham Voice Clinic: https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/voice-clinic/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 87 How to Manage Allergies and Upper Respiratory Infections with Laryngologist Declan Costello:https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source
ABOUT THE GUEST
Born in Leeds, Michael Vickers is an established singing teacher and educator based in London. He is the Head Tutor of Singing at Italia Conti and additionally works in private practice as a singing teacher with both aspiring and professional performers. His work also encompasses singing voice rehabilitation.
Michael trained at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where he received his undergraduate degree in Vocal Studies and then his Master's Degree on the school's prestigious Opera Course. Michael's teaching is underpinned by substantial study and teaching experience, and he has been fortunate to learn from a range of world-leading pedagogues and clinicians. Notably, Michael has a significant collaborative relationship with the Voice Clinic at Lewisham Hospital, where he has volunteered weekly since 2018.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Co-authors Lydia Hart and Stephen King are back on the podcast to talk about their recently published book, ‘Help! I’ve Got a Voice Problem’. A book which should belong on every singer and voice user’s bookshelf as well as on display in the voice teacher's studio; so that everyone has the opportunity to understand how voice problems can occur.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Lydia and Stephen wrote this book for the reader, that's what's different about this book. They didn't want to write another book about voice, they wanted to write all the things that had never been written for all the people out there who are experiencing a voice problem, where those people will have lots of questions.
- From their work with the NHS and the Voice Care Centre Lydia and Stephen discovered that people with voice issues felt a real lack of empathy right from seeing their GP to diagnosis and if they’re lucky a referral to a speech therapist. They’re not seeing a doctor that has an understanding or sympathy for somebody that's a professional voice user.
- There’s not just the issue with the voice itself that the book addresses, but also the emotions people may be feeling and the fears they have.
- In the medical or diagnostic world people have started to refer to the body as a machine and not as a living thing. We are not machines and when being treated should be thought of as what we are, people with emotions.
BEST MOMENTS
‘The book is dedicated to everyone without a voice’
‘When framing the journey of voice through a biopsychosocial perspective, all of those questions become clearer’
‘I'm fairly confident that the stuff that we have committed to paper has an almost universal truth about it’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- voicecarecentre.co.uk
Social Media:
- @lydiahartvoice
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Stewart Harris: https://stewartharrisdesigns.myportfolio.com/
- Sing Like Never Before by Justin Stoney with illustrations by Mark Pate: https://singlikeneverbefore.com/
- VoiceWork: Art and Science in Changing Voices by Christina Shewell
- Lydia Flock: https://www.flockstars.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 32 The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4R13bvilWjwQnd9WOfTiVc?si=f2b9489b9e914317
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 58 Understanding the Speaking Voice with Lydia Hart: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5q4JLR8tByssABbUeVNk7F?si=cc1553bd79f54f8c
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 88 What can be Learned from Teaching 100,000 lessons with Bob Marks: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Nc7qa6VxhYALuamxwgKZB?si=a37c1d39d8a64a24
- Help! I’ve Got a Voice Problem book: https://www.newvoicepublishing.co.uk/books/
- Lydia’s contact email: lydia@voicecarecentre.co.uk
- Stephen’s contact email: stephen@voicecarecentre.co.uk
ABOUT THE GUESTS
Lydia Hart:
Lydia Hart is a specialist Speech and Language Therapist, working in the field of Voice and Upper Airway. She works with people experiencing difficulties with their speaking or singing voice, or other throat symptoms. Lydia is known for being vibrant, caring and sensitive, taking time to hold a holistic space for clients to explore and improve their symptoms. Lydia is also a singer, and voice therapy – which ultimately means working with a person, not a diagnosis – is a true vocation for her.
Alongside her work at Voice Care Centre, Lydia works for the NHS including the Joint Voice Clinic at Wexham Park Hospital, with leading laryngologist Declan Costello. This involves assessment and management of a range of voice disorders, from muscle tension dysphonia to vocal cord paralysis, and her clinical expertise is constantly expanding.
Lydia is dedicated to developing her knowledge and experience in fields outside of Speech and Language Therapy, in order to provide truly holistic, biopsychosocial care. She is currently undertaking a Diploma in Hypnotherapy with Chrysalis Courses, and has trained in manual therapy with Stephen King and most recently Walt Fritz. She is experienced in breath work, including training in Buteyko Breathing Method, and is also undertaking training in Reiki.
Lydia incorporates holistic health and wellness into her own life, through natural movement including rock climbing and running, minimal footwear, meditation, breath work and cold water exposure.
Stephen King:
As a thought leader in the voice health sector, Stephen has been responsible for creating the Voice Care model in the UK and sat at the helm of disseminating the core ideas around Biopsychosocial philosophy. As a Co – Founder of the not for profit Vocal Health Education, he has overseen the education of over 2,000 externally accredited Vocal Health First Aiders and several industry leading Voice Rehabilitation Specialists. As an author, Stephen has co-written Help! I’ve Got A Voice Problem, with further academic articles published in peer reviewed journals. Within his role as a manual therapy educator, Stephen has delivered masterclasses and seminars across Europe, China and Japan, as well as having written and delivered the UK’s only 9 day intensive vocal massage training qualification. Stephen currently sits as the Director of London’s award winning, multidisciplinary Voice Care Centre, where he still occasionally gives treatments to people with voice problems seeking biopsychosocial management of their ongoing issues. The Centre for Mental Wellness is Stephen’s latest venture, where he intends to build an online, multidisciplinary, evidence based and relational therapy platform to help performing artists in times of mental ill health.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today’s guest is the associate professor of Voice and theatre, coordinator of musical theatre voice training and artistic director of the CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute of the Shenandoah Conservatory. He has authored articles which have been published in the likes of the Journal of Singing and has contributed to titles such as the Manual of Singing Voice Rehabilitation by Leda Scearce, and the So You Want to Sing book series by Nats. Dr Matthew Edwards is on the podcast to talk about teaching musical theatre styles.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Matt plays several instruments and understands enough that when something's going wrong, he knows what to do. What has gone wrong, and what does he need to do to fix it? So taking that on to the vocalist, it's reasonable that singers should be able to do the same thing.
- At a very basic level, they should understand that their voice has a power source, the respiratory system, and have some understanding of how it works at a basic level. When you breathe in and you feel your lungs full of air, that air wants to get back out. So the more air you take in, the more air that wants to get out, and that'll make you louder. The less air you take in, the less air that's going to come out, it's going to make you a little bit quieter.
- Thinking about the vocal fold level is understanding that's where the buzz happens. So if you want breathy singing, you need lightly closed vocal folds. If you want to have more edge to the sound, then you're going to have to close those vocal folds up a little bit for a belt or for an overdrive.
- Singers don't have to memorise their muscles. Matt thinks of it as a consumer-level understanding of the voice. They know enough about how to keep it functioning, but they don't have to know enough to be able to tune it on their own.
- The history of musical theatre starts unamplified. You're singing in theatres and have to project your voice to the back. A lot of that classical technique work was beneficial because classical singers were projecting their voices acoustically as well. So in the early days of the golden age of musicals in projection, we needed to think about having enough air in our lungs to project the voice and then use it accordingly.
- When you get into microphone singing and amplified singing, you're no longer trying to project your voice far away from you. You're trying to project it just centimetres away from you.
BEST MOMENTS
‘It doesn't have to be in depth about understanding every muscle name, but just that basic biomechanics of how the respiratory system works’
‘So to me, it's about getting them to understand the basics so they can troubleshoot on their own’
‘Donors change as the economy changes’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @edwards_voice
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- How The Voice Works Course: https://www.how-the-voice-works.com/enroll-now
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 84 The Benefits of Cross-Genre Training with The Voice Collective: https://open.spotify.com/episode/50yCDCVVxrgJp9NiQQFqKu?si=6a8a946adf8b4709
- Picker Wheel: com
- Thomas Cleveland at the Vanderbilt University Medical Centre: https://www.vumc.org/ent/person/thomas-f-cleveland-mm-phd
- Respiratory Function in Singing: A Primer for Singers and Singing Teachers by Thomas J Hixon
- Respiratory Function in Speech and Song by Thomas J Hixon
- Breathing for Singers: A Comparative Analysis of Body Types and Breathing Tendencies by Jennifer Cowgill: https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Breathing+for+singers%3A+a+comparative+analysis+of+body+types+and…-a0221850658
- Journal of Singing: https://www.nats.org/cgi/page.cgi/about_journal_singing.html
- Etude Magazine
- Cinderella (original): https://youtu.be/a0iOeAHeCA8
- Cinderella (revival): https://youtu.be/rVY3nV21Ixs
- National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATs): org
- Vocal Authority: Singing Style and Ideology by John Potter
- Ken Bozeman: kenbozeman.com
- Acting in Musical Theatre: A Comprehensive Course by Joe Deer & Rocco Dal Vera
- Cross-Training in the Voice Studio: A Balancing Act by Norman Spivey & Mary Saunders-Barton
- So You Want to Sing CCM (NATs Series) edited by Matthew Hoch
- Training Contemporary Commercial Singers by Elizabeth Ann Benson
- Highbrow-lowbrow: Emergence of Cultural Hierarchy in America - The William E Massey Sr. Lectures in American Studies
- The Rise and Fall of the Broadway Musical by Mark Grant
- The Theatre Will Rock by Elizabeth Lara Wollman
ABOUT THE GUEST
Matt Edwards is currently Associate Professor of Voice and Theatre, Coordinator of Musical Theatre Voice Training, and Artistic Director of the CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah Conservatory.
Edwards' work lies at the intersection of identity, technique, and artistry. He uses evidence-based techniques that coordinate the instrument and empower performers to communicate the human experience through song. Former and current students have performed on American Idol, Broadway, off-Broadway, national and international tours, national television, cruise ships, theme parks, bands touring throughout the world. He has written dozens of articles and book chapters for publications including the Journal of Singing, Journal of Voice, "Vocal Athlete," "Manual of Singing Voice Rehabilitation," "Training Contemporary Commercial Singers" and numerous editions of the "So You
Want to Sing" book series. His book "So You Want to Sing Rock 'N' Roll?" is published by Rowman and Littlefield Publishing and was called "an authoritative text on rock 'n' roll singing" by Classical Singer magazine.
In high demand for his presentations and masterclasses on commercial and musical theatre voice, he has presented at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) National Conference, NATS Summer Workshop, Voice Foundation Annual Symposium Care for the Professional Voice, Acoustical Society of America, Southeastern Theatre Conference, Musical Theatre Educators Association, National Center for Voice and Speech, Pan-American Vocology Association, and NATS chapters and universities throughout North America.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today Alexa is joined by Robert ‘Bob’ Marks, a voice teacher, coach, conductor, arranger, author, and director. His extensive career has seen him act as musical director for over 200 productions, and his clients have included Ariana Grande, Ricky Lake, Sarah Jessica Parker, Natalie Portman, Britney Spears, and Ashley Tisdale. His writings have appeared in the Journal of Singing and he has recently published the book, 88 Keys to Successful Singing Performances with co-author Dr. Elizabeth Gerbi.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Bob saw his first musical theatre performance on Broadway when he was five years old. It was Jerry Herman's first show called Milk and Honey. Bob was much more enthralled with the conductor and the orchestra players than he was with what was happening on stage.
- For the most part, Bob’s clients were not celebrities when they first started working together. At the time when Natalie Portman saw him, she hadn't won an Oscar. Britney Spears was sent to Bob by her agent because she had an audition coming up for Les Misérables. Ariana Grande was the younger sister of Frankie Grande who was Bob’s student and he had just gotten his first Broadway show called Mama Mia.
- It's a wonderful thing to be in control of your own audition with self tapes. You don't have to deal with a stranger at the piano. You don't have to try to prepare your music properly so that they can read it at site. You don't have to worry about tempo. You know what you're singing with. You have a track and you can do it again. But don’t do it too many times, try to stay in the moment.
- 88 Keys to Successful Singing Performances is called that because Bob personally doesn't like to read long chapters. He likes to read small chapters. So with 88, he figured those would be small chapters. People can just read a chapter or two at a time and get what they need.
- In the book there's knowledge of vocal health, dealing with voice teachers, finding a voice teacher, finding a coach, preparing music for the accompanist, just all the things that you need to know.
BEST MOMENTS‘I learned a lot. I learned from my mistakes. I learned by my successes’‘Now we know that the idea that if you sing opera, you can sing everything is not necessarily true’‘Once people know who you are, they start calling’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- www.BobMarks.com
Social Media:
- Handle: @bobmarks
Book Link:
- https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1945586311/robertmarksprofe
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Sheet Music: www.musicnotes.com
- Dr Elizabeth Gerbi: https://www.elizabethgerbi.com/
- The Voice Foundation: https://voicefoundation.org/
ABOUT THE GUESTRobert (“Bob") Marks is a voice teacher, coach, conductor, arranger, author, and director. He holds a degree in speech and voice pathology and has taught at the American Musical & Dramatic Academy and the Weist-Barron School in New York. He has given workshops, Master Classes, and seminars internationally. His articles have appeared in several publications, including the internationally recognized “Journal of Singing.”
He has been the musical director of over 200 productions across the country, including every style of music, from Kismet to The Rocky Horror Show. He has coached cast members of almost every current Broadway musical, and former students have included Laura Bell Bundy, Kerry Butler, Debbie Gibson, Ariana Grande, Nikki M. James, Ricki Lake, Constantine Maroulis, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Natalie Portman, Christy Carlson Romano, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Britney Spears, and Ashley Tisdale.
He was a pianist with the Broadway and national companies of the hit musical Annie, and spent two seasons as the Associate Conductor of the St. Louis Muny Opera, working with such stars as Shirley Jones, Paul Williams, Carol Lawrence, and Vincent Price. Recently, he published a book with co-author Dr. Elizabeth Gerbi, 88 Keys to Successful Singing Performances which is available on amazon.com.
ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today we are in the company of Laryngology Royalty, who during the Covid 19 pandemic helped coordinate research on the perceived dangers of aerosols and singing. He is a singer himself and today is stationed at Wexham Park Hospital in Berkshire as a consultant nose and throat surgeon specialising in voice disorders, welcome to Singing Teachers’ Talk, Declan Costello.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Pollen allergies have been quite rife this year and many have experienced symptoms for longer, and that's said to be related to climate change. The issue is that when you have an allergy you develop a reaction that causes the lining of the nose and the lining of the throat to swell.
- If somebody is coming into our studios with an allergy and they sound a little bit nasal, if the problem is really isolated to the nose and irritation, by and large it's okay to carry on singing.
- The concern is if somebody's got an audible difference in their voice. If their voice is husky or if they've got difficulty with their range, then that makes you worry that maybe the vocal cords themselves are swollen.
- If you are keen to know precisely what you're allergic to, then there are various blood tests and other kinds of tests that you can do to know exactly what it is you should be avoiding. Most people who have hay fever are allergic to a whole number of things. So it's not just a single allergen.
BEST MOMENTS
‘General hay fever and stuffiness wouldn't necessarily mean I would suggest stopping singing’
‘Colds are viral. They will do what they're gonna do’
‘We didn't go into it in order to open up singing again. We had to go into it completely dispassionately and saying, we don't know what the dangers are’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- voicedoctor.co.uk
Social Media:
- Twitter: @Voicedoctor_uk
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Neil Med Nasal Rinse: https://www.neilmed.com/unk/
- Sterimar: https://www.sterimarnasal.co.uk/
- Advised Nasal Spray: Dymista
ABOUT THE GUEST
Declan Costello is a consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon specialising in voice disorders (a laryngologist). He studied music at St John's College,Cambridge, where he was a choral scholar, and went on to study medicine at Imperial College. As a singer himself, he has a particular interest in treating voice disorders in performers. Having worked for ten years in Birmingham as a consultant, he moved to Wexham Park Hospital in Berkshire in 2018. He has published a number of books and has written many chapters, including the chapter on "Larynx" for the 42nd edition of "Gray's Anatomy”. In the middle of 2020, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, he helped to coordinate research on the perceived dangers of singing and aerosols. This research led to the UK government opening up performing after a prolonged period of enforced silence.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BAST has reached its 10th, or 11th birthday and to celebrate this milestone Line Hilton, founder of BAST joins Alexa today on Singing Teachers’ Talk. She’s here to talk about how BAST came about and also the pros and cons of singing teacher qualifications.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- BAST came about when Line was head of vocals at ACM and had a bunch of graduates coming to her who were about to head off into the real world and realised that they probably needed to do some teaching to get some income whilst they were looking for gigs. They asked for an understanding of what was expected and what they should know so that they could teach safely
- Line originally had the goal to leave some sort of legacy to singers. She wanted it to have a bursary or funding for singers who couldn't afford to have singing lessons and she wanted to create a centre for singing teachers to be able to rent out.
- Line realised that what she wanted to do would take so much funding to be able to pull off and gradually through doing more training, concluded that the legacy she could leave would be through teaching.
- In 2023 BAST will be offering an accredited level 5 Avocational qualification which is part of the RSL Awards. These are highly regarded in the world of music qualifications.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I never wanted to be a singing teacher trainer’
‘There needs to be a lot more accountability out there for singing teachers who are working with young or sick voices’
‘The reality is you could go out and start teaching without anything . You don't have to. It's an unregulated sector’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:
- basttraining.com
Social Media:
- @basttraining
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- ising Magazine: https://www.isingmag.com/
- Nicole Gill: https://nicolegillvocalcoach.com/
- Voice Study Centre: https://voicestudycentre.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 56 Taking the Academic Route with Debbie Winter: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ckKi3m0WYCoDa8ffNQCsD?si=-s76GZUUSGy0lhjCOVgdvQ&utm_source=copy-link
- Vocal Health Education: vocalhealth.co.uk
- Joshua Alamu: Instagram @madaboutthevoice
- Denosh Bennet: Instagram @denoshbennett
- Gemma Sugrue: https://www.provocalartist.com/
- Voiceworks Studio: https://voiceworksstudio.ie/
- Brandon Brophy: https://brandbrophy.wordpress.com/
- RSL Awards: https://www.rslawards.com/
- Kaya Herstad-Carney: https://kayamusic.com/
- BAST contact email: info@basttraining.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Vocal Massage and Laryngeal Manual Therapist Kate Valentine is today’s guest. Kate, who runs her own treatment space called Valentine Voice Care, discusses how to spot the signs your student may have vocal health issues and how to prevent vocal injury.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Whilst enjoying a successful career as a principal artist on the international operatic stage , Kate sustained a vocal injury: a career-defining moment which sparked a fascination with vocal health, rehabilitation, and the long-term benefits of manual therapy for voice.
- Kate noticed that, among other things, she was having to take a long time to fully recover after a vocal performance. That is such an easy red flag we can identify as a singing teacher.
- Kate’s onboarding process involves asking a lot of questions so she gets to know people and their voices as well as she can. It’s so important to make students aware of their own voice because then they can identify the problems.
- As well as running her own ‘Valentine Voice Care’ treatment spaces in Seaford and Glasgow, and managing a busy client list including English National Opera, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Scottish Opera, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Voces8, and The Dunedin Consort, Kate also works with two multidisciplinary voice teams: the Voice Care Centre (London) and Clyde Consulting Rooms (Glasgow).
BEST MOMENTS‘I used to just throw myself in without any real knowledge of what I was doing’‘We coexist with our voice in our body’‘I was frustrated because I could see things getting away from me’
EPISODE RESOURCESBAST Training
Guest Website:
- www.valentinevoicecare.com
Social Media:
- Facebook: www.fb.me/valentinevoicecare
- Instagram: @valentinevoicecare
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Voice Care Centre: https://voicecarecentre.co.uk/
- Voice Care Centre - Vocal Massage Training: https://voicecarecentre.co.uk/vocal-massage-training/
- Clyde Consulting Rooms: https://www.clydeconsultingrooms.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 32 - The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4R13bvilWjwQnd9WOfTiVc?si=f5b789d3500e4cef
- Help Musicians UK: https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/
- The Royal Society of Musicians: https://www.rsmgb.org/
- Line Hilton (Burnout): (Instagram) @linehilton & (website) linehilton.com
- Contact Kate Valentine: kate@valentinevoicecare.com
ABOUT THE GUESTKate Valentine specialises in Vocal Health and Injury Prevention for singers, Vocal Massage and Laryngeal Manual Therapy. A passionate ambassador for vocal health, it is her mission to help remove the mystery and stigma surrounding vocal wellbeing and injury, and to provide a safe space for clients to support them with their careers.
ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today Alexa is joined by two guests from across the pond in New York City. They are the duo who founded The Voice Collective, a voice studio from which they deliver coaching, specialising in body voice connection, musical theatre, pop, rock, rough vocal effects, and cross genre. Cassi Mikat and William Pazdziora are on Singing Teacher’s Talk this week to tell you about the benefits of cross-genre training.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- In general, cross-genre training means taking a singer who is comfortable in a particular genre and helping them find their footing in a new one. The training can completely vary depending on the singer you have in front of you.
- A singer who learns to work across multiple genres is more hireable and will usually find it easier to find work as a singer. Also a student who explores more types of singing can find more of who they are and where they fit.
- All singers need to practise stretching their chords. They need to practise balancing registration. There is no genre that doesn't require you to have an understanding of your voice and your technique. And there's no genre that does it better than other genres.
- As a voice teacher you don't need to be specially trained in a specific genre, you just need an understanding of vocal function which can help you make all the sounds that you need and want to make.
BEST MOMENTS‘I love that. The neutral voice, finding out what feels the most authentic’‘As a voice teacher, I'm interested in making sure all of my students have all of the options’‘We can get a little bit tripped up in defining contemporary and musical theatre singing by putting a checklist on it’
EPISODE RESOURCESBAST Training
Guest Website:
- cassimikat.com
- williampazdziora.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @voice.collective
- TikTok: @voice.collective
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Boston’s Conservatory Professional Pedagogy Professional Workshop: https://bostonconservatory.berklee.edu/extension-programs/vocal-pedagogy-professional-workshop
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 50 Managing ‘Pushy Parents’ and Teaching ‘Legit’ with Amelia Carr: https://open.spotify.com/episode/69p10R0n5FWT3OKlvmJdDO?si=d8ec53d26293409e
- Kristin Linklater: https://www.linklatervoice.com/
- (Featured Song): Don’t You Remember by Adele
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 40 Integrated Skills: Teaching Singing to Dancers with Jennie Morton: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3fm53D7NcGWTmwzE3Sg2nM?si=5343dc5ef2d94892
ABOUT THE GUESTCassi Mikat and William Pazdziora are the co-founders of The Voice Collective, a voice studio based in NYC (and across the country, online). Their mission at The Voice Collective is to bring collaborative, empowering, and elite voice training to singers everywhere who want to feel joy in their singing, free from limitations. Cassi and William met at Boston Conservatory, where they were a part of the inaugural class to complete their MFAs in Musical Theatre Vocal Pedagogy. There, they became quick friends, bonding over their similar philosophies for both life and the voice.
Cassi and William both have extensive performance experience in regional theatres and entertainment venues across the United States and the globe. In addition to their MFAs, Cassi holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Wright State University in Acting with an emphasis in Musical Theatre, and William holds a Bachelor of Arts from Temple University in Theatre with a concentration in Musical Theatre and a Minor in Dance. William currently serves on the voice faculty at Berklee College of Music.
Cassi and William both were selected to present at Boston Conservatory's Vocal Pedagogy Professional Workshop in 2022. Cassi presented on finding sustainability and authenticity in pop/rock singing alongside Dr. Jessye DeSilva. William's presentation was titled: "The Triple Threat Tango: Navigating Breath Strategies for Singers in Musical Theater." Cassi and William both taught voice at The Boston Conservatory to Contemporary Theater Majors and aspiring Musical Theater Students as instructors for the Conservatory Musical Theater Dance Intensive. Together, Cassi and William have launched a social media campaign to help provide access to information, inspiration, and training for singing artists everywhere.
ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today Alexa is joined by two guests from across the pond in New York City. They are the duo who founded The Voice Collective, a voice studio from which they deliver coaching, specialising in body voice connection, musical theatre, pop, rock, rough vocal effects, and cross genre. Cassi Mikat and William Pazdziora are on Singing Teacher’s Talk this week to tell you about the benefits of cross-genre training.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- In general, cross-genre training means taking a singer who is comfortable in a particular genre and helping them find their footing in a new one. The training can completely vary depending on the singer you have in front of you.
- A singer who learns to work across multiple genres is more hireable and will usually find it easier to find work as a singer. Also a student who explores more types of singing can find more of who they are and where they fit.
- All singers need to practise stretching their chords. They need to practise balancing registration. There is no genre that doesn't require you to have an understanding of your voice and your technique. And there's no genre that does it better than other genres.
- As a voice teacher you don't need to be specially trained in a specific genre, you just need an understanding of vocal function which can help you make all the sounds that you need and want to make.
BEST MOMENTS‘I love that. The neutral voice, finding out what feels the most authentic’‘As a voice teacher, I'm interested in making sure all of my students have all of the options’‘We can get a little bit tripped up in defining contemporary and musical theatre singing by putting a checklist on it’
EPISODE RESOURCESBAST Training
Guest Website:
- cassimikat.com
- williampazdziora.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @voice.collective
- TikTok: @voice.collective
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Boston’s Conservatory Professional Pedagogy Professional Workshop: https://bostonconservatory.berklee.edu/extension-programs/vocal-pedagogy-professional-workshop
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 50 Managing ‘Pushy Parents’ and Teaching ‘Legit’ with Amelia Carr: https://open.spotify.com/episode/69p10R0n5FWT3OKlvmJdDO?si=d8ec53d26293409e
- Kristin Linklater: https://www.linklatervoice.com/
- (Featured Song): Don’t You Remember by Adele
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 40 Integrated Skills: Teaching Singing to Dancers with Jennie Morton: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3fm53D7NcGWTmwzE3Sg2nM?si=5343dc5ef2d94892
ABOUT THE GUESTCassi Mikat and William Pazdziora are the co-founders of The Voice Collective, a voice studio based in NYC (and across the country, online). Their mission at The Voice Collective is to bring collaborative, empowering, and elite voice training to singers everywhere who want to feel joy in their singing, free from limitations. Cassi and William met at Boston Conservatory, where they were a part of the inaugural class to complete their MFAs in Musical Theatre Vocal Pedagogy. There, they became quick friends, bonding over their similar philosophies for both life and the voice.
Cassi and William both have extensive performance experience in regional theatres and entertainment venues across the United States and the globe. In addition to their MFAs, Cassi holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Wright State University in Acting with an emphasis in Musical Theatre, and William holds a Bachelor of Arts from Temple University in Theatre with a concentration in Musical Theatre and a Minor in Dance. William currently serves on the voice faculty at Berklee College of Music.
Cassi and William both were selected to present at Boston Conservatory's Vocal Pedagogy Professional Workshop in 2022. Cassi presented on finding sustainability and authenticity in pop/rock singing alongside Dr. Jessye DeSilva. William's presentation was titled: "The Triple Threat Tango: Navigating Breath Strategies for Singers in Musical Theater." Cassi and William both taught voice at The Boston Conservatory to Contemporary Theater Majors and aspiring Musical Theater Students as instructors for the Conservatory Musical Theater Dance Intensive. Together, Cassi and William have launched a social media campaign to help provide access to information, inspiration, and training for singing artists everywhere.
ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode, BAST founder Line Hilton returns to discuss the best vocal exercises for sick voices. Listen in to discover the differences between a sick voice and a well one. Line also explores the challenges of working with a student who is feeling below par, or post-operative.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Often we don’t hear or notice things in our own voices, so having a singing teacher who can point out issues such as breathiness and tension can be very useful.
- Vocal injuries can be very obvious, or quite subtle and more noticeable to the singer than to the external listener. This is why it’s important to have good communication with your students to find out exactly what they’re feeling.
- Line also discusses topics such as diet and hydration with students. It’s important to make sure that, where possible, the singer is as healthy and fit as possible and that issues such as reflux and allergies are addressed.
- When working with someone who’s post-op, the first thing Line will do is check that they have been cleared to return to singing. She will then ask them about the rehabilitation work they’ve been doing, for example, if they’ve been working with a vocal rehab coach or an SLT.
BEST MOMENTS
‘It's always good to have a second pair of ears as well’
‘’Intrinsic muscles are quite deep, and so you don't necessarily realise one of those deeper muscles is being hyper contracted and overworking’
‘I'll just gradually start to increase the range and get more challenging’
‘I’m always just checking in and changing one thing’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website:
- basttraining.com
Social Media:
- @basttraining
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 62 How to Choose the Best Vocal Exercises with Line Hilton: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4dWJ0kU0g65yJIpgVVWP6I?si=5c4983e81ec84c57
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 73 The Best Vocal Exercises for Laryngeal Stability with Line Hilton: https://open.spotify.com/episode/434D7YZ7hWphm1ebzDi9ku?si=fc488543ded04559
- Dr Jenevora Williams: https://jenevorawilliams.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 75 Vocal Rehabilitation for Singers with Dr Jenevora Williams: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4MMPy91Bhy0u58P01PUXo9?si=b67efa92d1a84498
- British Association of Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM): https://www.bapam.org.uk/
- Voice Care Centre: https://voicecarecentre.co.uk/
- Vibrant Voice: https://www.vibrantvoicetechnique.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 32 The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4R13bvilWjwQnd9WOfTiVc?si=12271e4e200446b7
- The Voice Clinic Handbook by Tom Harris & David Howard
- Clinical Voice Disorders by Arnold Elvin Aronson
- Anatomy of Voice by Blandine Calais-Germain & Francois Germain
- Laryngeal Endoscopy and Voice Therapy by Sue Jones & Carrie Garrett
- Principle of Voice Production by Ingo Titze
- Vocology by Ingo Titze and Kathrine Verdolini-Abbott
- The Voice Book by Kate DeVore and Star Cookman
- The Performer’s Voice by Meredith Dame-Bunch
- Vocal Health and Pedagogy (Volumes 1 & 2) by Robert T. Sataloff
- British Voice Association (BVA): https://www.britishvoiceassociation.org.uk/
- National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS): https://www.nats.org/
- Pan American Vocology Association (PAVA): https://pavavocology.org/
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode, BAST founder Line Hilton returns to discuss the best vocal exercises for sick voices. Listen in to discover the differences between a sick voice and a well one. Line also explores the challenges of working with a student who is feeling below par, or post-operative.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Often we don’t hear or notice things in our own voices, so having a singing teacher who can point out issues such as breathiness and tension can be very useful.
- Vocal injuries can be very obvious, or quite subtle and more noticeable to the singer than to the external listener. This is why it’s important to have good communication with your students to find out exactly what they’re feeling.
- Line also discusses topics such as diet and hydration with students. It’s important to make sure that, where possible, the singer is as healthy and fit as possible and that issues such as reflux and allergies are addressed.
- When working with someone who’s post-op, the first thing Line will do is check that they have been cleared to return to singing. She will then ask them about the rehabilitation work they’ve been doing, for example, if they’ve been working with a vocal rehab coach or an SLT.
BEST MOMENTS
‘It's always good to have a second pair of ears as well’
‘’Intrinsic muscles are quite deep, and so you don't necessarily realise one of those deeper muscles is being hyper contracted and overworking’
‘I'll just gradually start to increase the range and get more challenging’
‘I’m always just checking in and changing one thing’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website:
- basttraining.com
Social Media:
- @basttraining
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 62 How to Choose the Best Vocal Exercises with Line Hilton: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4dWJ0kU0g65yJIpgVVWP6I?si=5c4983e81ec84c57
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 73 The Best Vocal Exercises for Laryngeal Stability with Line Hilton: https://open.spotify.com/episode/434D7YZ7hWphm1ebzDi9ku?si=fc488543ded04559
- Dr Jenevora Williams: https://jenevorawilliams.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 75 Vocal Rehabilitation for Singers with Dr Jenevora Williams: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4MMPy91Bhy0u58P01PUXo9?si=b67efa92d1a84498
- British Association of Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM): https://www.bapam.org.uk/
- Voice Care Centre: https://voicecarecentre.co.uk/
- Vibrant Voice: https://www.vibrantvoicetechnique.com/
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 32 The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4R13bvilWjwQnd9WOfTiVc?si=12271e4e200446b7
- The Voice Clinic Handbook by Tom Harris & David Howard
- Clinical Voice Disorders by Arnold Elvin Aronson
- Anatomy of Voice by Blandine Calais-Germain & Francois Germain
- Laryngeal Endoscopy and Voice Therapy by Sue Jones & Carrie Garrett
- Principle of Voice Production by Ingo Titze
- Vocology by Ingo Titze and Kathrine Verdolini-Abbott
- The Voice Book by Kate DeVore and Star Cookman
- The Performer’s Voice by Meredith Dame-Bunch
- Vocal Health and Pedagogy (Volumes 1 & 2) by Robert T. Sataloff
- British Voice Association (BVA): https://www.britishvoiceassociation.org.uk/
- National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS): https://www.nats.org/
- Pan American Vocology Association (PAVA): https://pavavocology.org/
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today's guest is a musician, song writer, singing coach, and business consultant to voice teachers known as ‘The Voicepreneur’ which is also the title of her very own podcast. Allie Tyler joins Alexa all the way from Colorado to give you advice on growing your teaching business.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- At 19, Allie got a job at a local mall as a vocal coach making $22 per hour. As a teenager, she thought that was great but after doing it for a few years she realised that her wage wasn’t going up and someone was still taking a percentage of the money she earned. From then on, Allie explored running her own business.
- One of the things that really helped Allie when she was starting and growing her business was journalling. Get a notebook and take notes after every lesson on what worked and what didn’t work. Do this after a day of teaching or at the end of a week of teaching, whichever suits you.
- Ask yourself: what do you value as a singing teacher? What is your mission? Then you’ll know what kind of students you want to attract and what you want them to learn from you. Most people deliver the same knowledge, but in a way that suits their individual style and personality.
- Once you know what you want to do, write down how you’re going to achieve that. What exercises and techniques do you know that will get that student to where they need to be.
- When it comes to building a brand, you need to remember that the main part of your brand is you. Your branding is your mission, your messaging and how it comes across.
- Treat all of your online and marketing presence as a store front. Instead of talking about me and I, talk about your students desires and wants and problems.
BEST MOMENTS‘I don’t love the business side either!’‘Follow your curiosities, not your passions’‘I felt like I learned more about the voice being a voice teacher than as a singer’‘You need to be hyper observant of your students and what worked’EPISODE RESOURCESBAST Training
Guest Website:
- https://www.thewholevoice.com/
- The Program: www.thewholevoice.mykajabi.com/join-us
Social Media:
- Instagram: @thevoicepreneur
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- The Voicepreneur Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ljn7rfAZbSCGgNAh8tC9L?si=aa540b29b5d4415b
- ‘Big Magic’ by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Donald Miller’s Business Made Simple Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5f0OGY9WUKiuQ1mU2Pug6z?si=5f35456370cd4546
- On Intention: Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.63 Developing a Singer’s Self Awareness and Clarifying Intention with Robert Sussuma: https://open.spotify.com/episode/11FNDp5koUAa7XkCf81pim?si=ce22cd90af234ba8
- Canva: canva.com
- Voxer App: www.voxer.com
- Andrea Miller’s Music Studio Start Up Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4WlWfEStWljiec8H8eRYVL?si=c0129b18dc4142b4
ABOUT THE GUESTAllie Tyler is a professional vocalist, singer-songwriter, voice teacher, and marketing and business coach for voice teachers.
Her voice teaching journey began 13 years ago, leading her to fall in love and learn everything about online marketing. In 2015, she began her formal business education while consulting music teachers as a side hustle to help them grow their teaching businesses.
In 2018, she rebranded her own teaching business to "The Whole Voice", focusing on singing as a self care practice through group workshops, online courses, and The Whole Voice podcast. When covid hit two years later, her focus shifted from teaching voice students to coaching voice teachers on how to transition to the online space and make money in creative ways.
Now, she is the founder and teacher behind The Voicepreneur — a podcast, program, and worldwide community that helps voice teachers scale their businesses online.
ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today's guest is a musician, song writer, singing coach, and business consultant to voice teachers known as ‘The Voicepreneur’ which is also the title of her very own podcast. Allie Tyler joins Alexa all the way from Colorado to give you advice on growing your teaching business.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- At 19, Allie got a job at a local mall as a vocal coach making $22 per hour. As a teenager, she thought that was great but after doing it for a few years she realised that her wage wasn’t going up and someone was still taking a percentage of the money she earned. From then on, Allie explored running her own business.
- One of the things that really helped Allie when she was starting and growing her business was journalling. Get a notebook and take notes after every lesson on what worked and what didn’t work. Do this after a day of teaching or at the end of a week of teaching, whichever suits you.
- Ask yourself: what do you value as a singing teacher? What is your mission? Then you’ll know what kind of students you want to attract and what you want them to learn from you. Most people deliver the same knowledge, but in a way that suits their individual style and personality.
- Once you know what you want to do, write down how you’re going to achieve that. What exercises and techniques do you know that will get that student to where they need to be.
- When it comes to building a brand, you need to remember that the main part of your brand is you. Your branding is your mission, your messaging and how it comes across.
- Treat all of your online and marketing presence as a store front. Instead of talking about me and I, talk about your students desires and wants and problems.
BEST MOMENTS‘I don’t love the business side either!’‘Follow your curiosities, not your passions’‘I felt like I learned more about the voice being a voice teacher than as a singer’‘You need to be hyper observant of your students and what worked’EPISODE RESOURCESBAST Training
Guest Website:
- https://www.thewholevoice.com/
- The Program: www.thewholevoice.mykajabi.com/join-us
Social Media:
- Instagram: @thevoicepreneur
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- The Voicepreneur Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ljn7rfAZbSCGgNAh8tC9L?si=aa540b29b5d4415b
- ‘Big Magic’ by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Donald Miller’s Business Made Simple Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5f0OGY9WUKiuQ1mU2Pug6z?si=5f35456370cd4546
- On Intention: Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.63 Developing a Singer’s Self Awareness and Clarifying Intention with Robert Sussuma: https://open.spotify.com/episode/11FNDp5koUAa7XkCf81pim?si=ce22cd90af234ba8
- Canva: canva.com
- Voxer App: www.voxer.com
- Andrea Miller’s Music Studio Start Up Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4WlWfEStWljiec8H8eRYVL?si=c0129b18dc4142b4
ABOUT THE GUESTAllie Tyler is a professional vocalist, singer-songwriter, voice teacher, and marketing and business coach for voice teachers.
Her voice teaching journey began 13 years ago, leading her to fall in love and learn everything about online marketing. In 2015, she began her formal business education while consulting music teachers as a side hustle to help them grow their teaching businesses.
In 2018, she rebranded her own teaching business to "The Whole Voice", focusing on singing as a self care practice through group workshops, online courses, and The Whole Voice podcast. When covid hit two years later, her focus shifted from teaching voice students to coaching voice teachers on how to transition to the online space and make money in creative ways.
Now, she is the founder and teacher behind The Voicepreneur — a podcast, program, and worldwide community that helps voice teachers scale their businesses online.
ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week Alexa is joined by a vocal coach, singer songwriter, vocal producer, arranger and artist developer who has worked with the likes of Justin Timberlake, the Dave Matthews Band, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Lizzo, Kelly Clarkson, and Kelly Rowland. The list goes on. Robert ‘RAab’ Stevenson is on Singing Teachers Talk.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- RAab came from a family of singers; his sister and mother sang in the Florida Mass Choir. Whenever the family visited a church, people would recognise his mother and ask her to sing; she would be the one who would set the atmosphere for worship.
- He started as an artist back in 1993 and released a couple of singles and an album that did really well. After briefly leaving the industry, RAab returned and joined a group called 911. The band quickly folded, but RAab was still signed to the label.
- One day Justin Timberlake was in Virginia Beach working on his album with Pharrell Williams. Justin was looking for a background vocalists to go on tour with him. RAab’s former 911 bandmate Darrell Adams had a connection with the mix engineer, and hence RAab got the call.
- As a vocal coach, RAab believes that when singers stop training, they start to develop bad habits. And with bad habits comes bad technique, which leads to singers performing in ‘survival mode’ – taking any means possible to get the notes out. The next thing you know a singer’s confidence drops, and then they start dropping keys of songs.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I used to call her the vocal magician. She was able to do all kinds of things with the voice’
‘They might think I might be harder on them or easier on the big pop star. Nobody gets a break’
‘Sometimes they'll be like I don't have time for a voice coach. They go back out and repeat the same thing, then they come back to the same doctor with the same problem only worse’.
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website:
- kimadproductions.com
Social Media:
- @robertraab
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- The late Robin Lee Wiley
- Clayton State University: https://www.clayton.edu/
- Brandi Carlisle & Joni Mitchell: com/watch?v=4aqGjaFDTxQ
- Mercy by Trey Anastasio: https://open.spotify.com/album/41lEQWwC9dVwn7bA8Puzjl?si=ZUX1geZ4QemBnQEO6Svj8Q
ABOUT THE GUEST
Vocal coach, singer, songwriter, vocal producer and artist developer, Robert “RAab” Stevenson has worked with some of the most famous voices and producers heard on pop radio today. Among them are Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, The Dave Matthews Band, Zac Brown Band, Ne-Yo, The Lumineers’ lead singer, Phoenix’s lead singer, Kelly Rowland, and more.
RAab started working for Justin Timberlake in 20o2 and is still presently working for him. He has coached Justin and his backing vocalists for the likes of world tours and their 2018 ‘Super Bowl’ halftime performance, and has also toured with him as a background singer, vocal arranger and vocal coach.
RAab started coaching Lizzo in 2020, preparing her for upcoming performances, and has coached singer/songwriter Charlie Puth since 2017, amongst many others.
In 2010, RAab partnered with vocal coach Mindy Pack, to create “Voice Tutor”, a vocal coaching app for the iPhone and iPad.
Check out www.kimadproductions.com for RAab’s full profile!
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week Alexa is joined by a vocal coach, singer songwriter, vocal producer, arranger and artist developer who has worked with the likes of Justin Timberlake, the Dave Matthews Band, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Lizzo, Kelly Clarkson, and Kelly Rowland. The list goes on. Robert ‘RAab’ Stevenson is on Singing Teachers Talk.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- RAab came from a family of singers; his sister and mother sang in the Florida Mass Choir. Whenever the family visited a church, people would recognise his mother and ask her to sing; she would be the one who would set the atmosphere for worship.
- He started as an artist back in 1993 and released a couple of singles and an album that did really well. After briefly leaving the industry, RAab returned and joined a group called 911. The band quickly folded, but RAab was still signed to the label.
- One day Justin Timberlake was in Virginia Beach working on his album with Pharrell Williams. Justin was looking for a background vocalists to go on tour with him. RAab’s former 911 bandmate Darrell Adams had a connection with the mix engineer, and hence RAab got the call.
- As a vocal coach, RAab believes that when singers stop training, they start to develop bad habits. And with bad habits comes bad technique, which leads to singers performing in ‘survival mode’ – taking any means possible to get the notes out. The next thing you know a singer’s confidence drops, and then they start dropping keys of songs.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I used to call her the vocal magician. She was able to do all kinds of things with the voice’
‘They might think I might be harder on them or easier on the big pop star. Nobody gets a break’
‘Sometimes they'll be like I don't have time for a voice coach. They go back out and repeat the same thing, then they come back to the same doctor with the same problem only worse’.
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website:
- kimadproductions.com
Social Media:
- @robertraab
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- The late Robin Lee Wiley
- Clayton State University: https://www.clayton.edu/
- Brandi Carlisle & Joni Mitchell: com/watch?v=4aqGjaFDTxQ
- Mercy by Trey Anastasio: https://open.spotify.com/album/41lEQWwC9dVwn7bA8Puzjl?si=ZUX1geZ4QemBnQEO6Svj8Q
ABOUT THE GUEST
Vocal coach, singer, songwriter, vocal producer and artist developer, Robert “RAab” Stevenson has worked with some of the most famous voices and producers heard on pop radio today. Among them are Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, The Dave Matthews Band, Zac Brown Band, Ne-Yo, The Lumineers’ lead singer, Phoenix’s lead singer, Kelly Rowland, and more.
RAab started working for Justin Timberlake in 20o2 and is still presently working for him. He has coached Justin and his backing vocalists for the likes of world tours and their 2018 ‘Super Bowl’ halftime performance, and has also toured with him as a background singer, vocal arranger and vocal coach.
RAab started coaching Lizzo in 2020, preparing her for upcoming performances, and has coached singer/songwriter Charlie Puth since 2017, amongst many others.
In 2010, RAab partnered with vocal coach Mindy Pack, to create “Voice Tutor”, a vocal coaching app for the iPhone and iPad.
Check out www.kimadproductions.com for RAab’s full profile!
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
David Juncos is a clinical psychologist, author and performance coach who specialises in music performance anxiety. His treatment approach includes the use of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and he has presented his research on this subject on an international scale. He is a faculty member at the Voice Study Centre and his book, Act for Musicians: A Guide for Using Acceptance and Commitment Training to Enhance Performance, Overcome Performance Anxiety and Improve Well-being, is available for purchase now.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- David is a musician at heart and in his work as a psychologist naturally gravitated towards musicians – this led to his interest in the area of music performance anxiety (MPA).
- When you have social anxiety, you have a fear of doing things in front of others. When you combine that fear with other symptoms that are highly distressing, you have a disorder. The disorder is not just the presence of symptoms but the presence of symptoms plus distress over having symptoms.
- People with performance anxiety experience many different symptoms including: physiological arousal symptoms such as tachycardia and shortness of breath; cognitive symptoms, so what your mind is doing when anxious; and behavioural symptoms. Behavioural symptoms cover avoidant or anxious behaviours such as not making eye contact during a performance or positioning yourself further away from the audience.
- ACT is part of a wave of newer behavioural psychotherapies that have become popular in the last 20 or 30 years. ACT encourages people to learn to coexist with anxious thoughts rather than try to eliminate them. The aim is to create a neutral relationship with anxiety so that you’re not in an adversarial tug-of-war role with yourself and your anxiety.
BEST MOMENTS
‘There was a lack of good methodological rigour in how these psychotherapies were being studied in the lab’
‘What your mind is doing when anxious is worrying about making a mistake and worrying about the implications and making it’
‘Being female unfortunately makes you more likely to have MPA’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website:
- actformusicians.com
- hptherapy.com
- http://www.hptherapy.com/OurPsychotherapists.en.html#DavidJ
Social Media:
- Research Gate: researchgate.net/profile/David-Juncos-2
- Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-juncos-psy-d-b688a53b/
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Voice Study Centre: voicestudycentre.com
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep 76. Mental Health Training for Performing Arts Workers with Raffaella Covino: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source
- Applause for Thought: applauseforthought.com
- The work of Diana Kenny
- The Psychology of Music Performance Anxiety by Diana Kenny
- Mental Health First Aid England: https://mhfaengland.org/
- Voice Geek Facebook Forum
- Noa Kageyama & The Bulletproof Musician: https://bulletproofmusician.com/
- org
ABOUT THE GUEST
David G. Juncos, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist, author and performance coach based in Philadelphia, PA. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from La Salle University in 2015. He has over 17 years' experience in treating a variety of clinical problems, including anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders. He specialises in the treatment of music performance anxiety (MPA) and has presented internationally on his research in using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to treat MPA and enhance music performance. He is on faculty with the Voice Study Centre, a UK-based provider of postgraduate study in Voice Pedagogy and Performance Coaching for Performing Artists. There he provides lectures and tutorials on MPA, ACT, Motivational Interviewing, achieving peak performance, and statistics/research design, and he trains music teachers in ACT coaching to help them manage students' MPA and other performance-related problems. He recently co-authored his first book, entitled ACT for Musicians: A Guide for Using Acceptance and Commitment Training to Enhance Performance, Overcome Performance Anxiety, and Improve Well-Being. Lastly, he is an amateur songwriter and has performed both as a solo artist and in bands throughout the Philadelphia area as a vocalist, guitarist, and keyboardist.
NOW AVAILABLE: To learn more about David’s book ACT for Musicians, an evidence-based guide for using Acceptance & Commitment Training to enhance performance skills, overcome performance anxiety, and improve overall well-being, go here: https://www.universal-publishers.com/book.php?method=ISBN&book=1627343814
See David's latest publication here:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.830230/full
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
David Juncos is a clinical psychologist, author and performance coach who specialises in music performance anxiety. His treatment approach includes the use of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and he has presented his research on this subject on an international scale. He is a faculty member at the Voice Study Centre and his book, Act for Musicians: A Guide for Using Acceptance and Commitment Training to Enhance Performance, Overcome Performance Anxiety and Improve Well-being, is available for purchase now.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- David is a musician at heart and in his work as a psychologist naturally gravitated towards musicians – this led to his interest in the area of music performance anxiety (MPA).
- When you have social anxiety, you have a fear of doing things in front of others. When you combine that fear with other symptoms that are highly distressing, you have a disorder. The disorder is not just the presence of symptoms but the presence of symptoms plus distress over having symptoms.
- People with performance anxiety experience many different symptoms including: physiological arousal symptoms such as tachycardia and shortness of breath; cognitive symptoms, so what your mind is doing when anxious; and behavioural symptoms. Behavioural symptoms cover avoidant or anxious behaviours such as not making eye contact during a performance or positioning yourself further away from the audience.
- ACT is part of a wave of newer behavioural psychotherapies that have become popular in the last 20 or 30 years. ACT encourages people to learn to coexist with anxious thoughts rather than try to eliminate them. The aim is to create a neutral relationship with anxiety so that you’re not in an adversarial tug-of-war role with yourself and your anxiety.
BEST MOMENTS
‘There was a lack of good methodological rigour in how these psychotherapies were being studied in the lab’
‘What your mind is doing when anxious is worrying about making a mistake and worrying about the implications and making it’
‘Being female unfortunately makes you more likely to have MPA’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website:
- actformusicians.com
- hptherapy.com
- http://www.hptherapy.com/OurPsychotherapists.en.html#DavidJ
Social Media:
- Research Gate: researchgate.net/profile/David-Juncos-2
- Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-juncos-psy-d-b688a53b/
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Voice Study Centre: voicestudycentre.com
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep 76. Mental Health Training for Performing Arts Workers with Raffaella Covino: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source
- Applause for Thought: applauseforthought.com
- The work of Diana Kenny
- The Psychology of Music Performance Anxiety by Diana Kenny
- Mental Health First Aid England: https://mhfaengland.org/
- Voice Geek Facebook Forum
- Noa Kageyama & The Bulletproof Musician: https://bulletproofmusician.com/
- org
ABOUT THE GUEST
David G. Juncos, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist, author and performance coach based in Philadelphia, PA. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from La Salle University in 2015. He has over 17 years' experience in treating a variety of clinical problems, including anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders. He specialises in the treatment of music performance anxiety (MPA) and has presented internationally on his research in using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to treat MPA and enhance music performance. He is on faculty with the Voice Study Centre, a UK-based provider of postgraduate study in Voice Pedagogy and Performance Coaching for Performing Artists. There he provides lectures and tutorials on MPA, ACT, Motivational Interviewing, achieving peak performance, and statistics/research design, and he trains music teachers in ACT coaching to help them manage students' MPA and other performance-related problems. He recently co-authored his first book, entitled ACT for Musicians: A Guide for Using Acceptance and Commitment Training to Enhance Performance, Overcome Performance Anxiety, and Improve Well-Being. Lastly, he is an amateur songwriter and has performed both as a solo artist and in bands throughout the Philadelphia area as a vocalist, guitarist, and keyboardist.
NOW AVAILABLE: To learn more about David’s book ACT for Musicians, an evidence-based guide for using Acceptance & Commitment Training to enhance performance skills, overcome performance anxiety, and improve overall well-being, go here: https://www.universal-publishers.com/book.php?method=ISBN&book=1627343814
See David's latest publication here:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.830230/full
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Alexa’s guest today is Mark Peacock, the founder and managing director of Price Maker, a company that helps businesses improve their pricing. If you're considering raising your prices, or have a new service to offer and want to know how to price it, Mark is the expert to ask.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The standard seven-step methodology that Mark uses with clients looks at a company’s goals, customers, competitors, product offering, price, how the product is sold, and profitability.
- People are afraid to raise their prices for a number of reasons. Firstly, they don’t want to upset their customers. Secondly, they don’t know how their competitors will react, and thirdly, they don’t want to scare off potential new business.
- Start your pricing as high as you dare – you can always go down if you’re not attracting any business. Set a price that works for you before looking at what the competitors are doing.
- If you’re new to singing teaching, remember that your customers aren’t just paying for the qualification you’ve only had for a few months. They’re also paying for your experience. That includes everything you’ve done in the past, for example performing on stage.
- Don’t just stick to one price or hourly rate; offer your customers a choice between different packages. Give them a price for ten hours and the price for one, with the ten hours being better value per hour. Give your customer the highest priced thing first, if you give them the lowest first then they become anchored at that price point.
BEST MOMENTS‘The myth I want to dispel is that increasing your prices is a scary thing’‘Be mindful of your competitors but don’t get hung up about them’‘Ask yourself how much your best customer is willing to pay’EPISODE RESOURCESBAST Training
Guest Website:
- pricemaker.co.uk
Social Media:
- Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-peacock-the-pricing-coach/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThePricingCoach
Email Contact:
- mark@pricemaker.co.uk
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- BAST Blog – Putting a Price on It – The Art of Setting Your Fees.
- Pricing Scorecard Quiz: https://mark-kgztnm2l.scoreapp.com/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Mark Peacock is passionate about helping businesses improve their pricing. Pricing is one of the most powerful levers any business can use to increase profits and drive revenue growth. Yet all too often businesses are scared to review their pricing meaning many business owners are leaving a lot of money on the table as a result.
Through his work at Price Maker, Mark has helped clients increase net profits by an average of 21% (which puts anything from £60K to £600K p.a. on the bottom line). Price Maker has advised hundreds of businesses using a unique process for designing a better pricing strategy.
ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Alexa’s guest today is Mark Peacock, the founder and managing director of Price Maker, a company that helps businesses improve their pricing. If you're considering raising your prices, or have a new service to offer and want to know how to price it, Mark is the expert to ask.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The standard seven-step methodology that Mark uses with clients looks at a company’s goals, customers, competitors, product offering, price, how the product is sold, and profitability.
- People are afraid to raise their prices for a number of reasons. Firstly, they don’t want to upset their customers. Secondly, they don’t know how their competitors will react, and thirdly, they don’t want to scare off potential new business.
- Start your pricing as high as you dare – you can always go down if you’re not attracting any business. Set a price that works for you before looking at what the competitors are doing.
- If you’re new to singing teaching, remember that your customers aren’t just paying for the qualification you’ve only had for a few months. They’re also paying for your experience. That includes everything you’ve done in the past, for example performing on stage.
- Don’t just stick to one price or hourly rate; offer your customers a choice between different packages. Give them a price for ten hours and the price for one, with the ten hours being better value per hour. Give your customer the highest priced thing first, if you give them the lowest first then they become anchored at that price point.
BEST MOMENTS‘The myth I want to dispel is that increasing your prices is a scary thing’‘Be mindful of your competitors but don’t get hung up about them’‘Ask yourself how much your best customer is willing to pay’EPISODE RESOURCESBAST Training
Guest Website:
- pricemaker.co.uk
Social Media:
- Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-peacock-the-pricing-coach/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThePricingCoach
Email Contact:
- mark@pricemaker.co.uk
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- BAST Blog – Putting a Price on It – The Art of Setting Your Fees.
- Pricing Scorecard Quiz: https://mark-kgztnm2l.scoreapp.com/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Mark Peacock is passionate about helping businesses improve their pricing. Pricing is one of the most powerful levers any business can use to increase profits and drive revenue growth. Yet all too often businesses are scared to review their pricing meaning many business owners are leaving a lot of money on the table as a result.
Through his work at Price Maker, Mark has helped clients increase net profits by an average of 21% (which puts anything from £60K to £600K p.a. on the bottom line). Price Maker has advised hundreds of businesses using a unique process for designing a better pricing strategy.
ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Expert coach, sound healer, vocalist, author of Coaching for Performance Excellence, and host of The Soulfull Sound podcast, Simone Niles joins Alexa on Singing Teachers Talk. Simone's work includes empowering soul-driven creatives and entrepreneurs to generate meaning in their work and life.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- From the age of seven, Simone knew she wanted to be a singer and she did everything she could to pursue this dream. At 21, she moved to the UK to study.
- When she told her university that she wanted to teach there, they told her to go away for two years and get some experience. Two years later Simone returned with a list of all the experience she’d gained in that time.
- Failure is feedback. No matter what you do in life, you will fail at something. You need to take on board what that experience is showing you about yourself. What feels true to you?
- Getting a ‘no’ builds your character more than a ‘yes’; it allows you to move and refine your character for the next time. You can be disappointed but don’t let rejection stop you. You grow when you get knocked down and have the ability to get back up and go again.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Expert coach, sound healer, vocalist, author of Coaching for Performance Excellence, and host of The Soulfull Sound podcast, Simone Niles joins Alexa on Singing Teachers Talk. Simone's work includes empowering soul-driven creatives and entrepreneurs to generate meaning in their work and life.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- From the age of seven, Simone knew she wanted to be a singer and she did everything she could to pursue this dream. At 21, she moved to the UK to study.
- When she told her university that she wanted to teach there, they told her to go away for two years and get some experience. Two years later Simone returned with a list of all the experience she’d gained in that time.
- Failure is feedback. No matter what you do in life, you will fail at something. You need to take on board what that experience is showing you about yourself. What feels true to you?
- Getting a ‘no’ builds your character more than a ‘yes’; it allows you to move and refine your character for the next time. You can be disappointed but don’t let rejection stop you. You grow when you get knocked down and have the ability to get back up and go again.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week Alexa is joined by an author, educator, presenter, and vocal coach who specialises in teaching the child singer. She is the founder of Born 2 Sing Kids and mentors other voice teachers in working with this particular demographic. Dana Lentini joins us from New York to tell you all you need to know about teaching children to sing.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Often it is said that kids shouldn’t take private voice lessons: Many well-intentioned experts recommend choral and group singing as the only means for children to learn singing proficiency, pushing their individual learning to instruments like piano and violin. While choral singing is a great experience for kids and offers a broad understanding of good singing techniques, what it doesn’t offer is the opportunity for singers to recognize their own uniqueness. And other instruments, while wonderful to learn, do not teach children how to become empowered with one of the most important assets they will use throughout their entire lives: their own voices.
- Private voice lessons offer the young singer freedom to uncover their own personal growth and ability. And unlike other instruments, children use their voice all day every day - why not help them learn how to use it in a healthy manner, with techniques designed just for their age and ability? Under the guidance of a well-educated and knowledgeable vocal expert - one who understands the differences between teaching voice to a child versus an adult - these experiences can be a wonderful opportunity to explore their own range of singing possibilities.
- Through a systematic, customised approach, young singers learn the foundations for a healthy singing technique that will support them throughout their lives. Born 2 Sing Kids offers a positive, nurturing environment where kids can learn to grow and express their voice.
- Dana's book Teaching the Child Singer is an indispensable resource for teachers who work with kids in the voice studio. Coming soon is Level 1 of her Kids' Singing Songbook series, designed to take the guesswork out of repertoire and make learning music fun.
- Research has proven that structured music lessons can positively affect all areas of child development, including higher academic performance, cognitive and memory skills, confidence, focus, self-expression, language and listening skills, task completion, enhanced creativity, and so much more.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I always want to grow and become a better version of myself’
‘I use lots of props in my lessons to make it fun’
‘Think about teaching as a life skill’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website:
- www.danalentini.com
- www.born2singkids.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @lentinidana
- Facebook: @Born2SingKids
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Zoltán Kodály Method/John Spencer Curwen Solfege Hand Signs
- Teaching the Child Singer: Pediatric Pedagogy for Ages 5-13 by Dana Lentini: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dana-Lentini/e/B08DD7DD28/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1
- Kids’ Singing Song Book Series - Level 1 by Dana Lentini: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dana-Lentini/e/B08DD7DD28/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1
- Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults by Dr Jenevora Williams: https://jenevorawilliams.com/book-and-dvd/
- Teaching Children to Sing by Kenneth Phillips
- Full Voice Music (Nikki Loney): https://www.fullvoicemusic.com/
- Voice Teachers for Young Singers Facebook Forum
- The Full Voice Podcast with Nikki Loney
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dana Lentini is a US-based mentor, author, presenter, and educator specialising in working with the child singer. After cultivating techniques as a singer, performer, and music educator, Dana Lentini created Born 2 Sing Kids to nurture the development of young singers through a systematic, yet customised approach. Through various forms of mentorship, she helps teachers learn about the unique differences in teaching singing to children and how to build their own successful studios.
Dana has been sought after as a presenter for universities and professional music organisations as well as for the National Association of Teachers of Singing, for whom she has also served on various panels and committees. Her consulting and courses on teaching children in the private studio are offered through her website at danalentini.com. Dana holds a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from The University of Southern California, Thornton School of Music and a Master of Music degree in Vocal Pedagogy from Oakland University. Her book, Teaching the Child Singer: Pediatric Pedagogy for Ages 5-13, is available from Hal Leonard Publishing. Dana's new and unique spiral approach to repertoire development can be found in her Kids' Singing Songbook series, to be released by Hal Leonard in fall 2022.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week Alexa is joined by an author, educator, presenter, and vocal coach who specialises in teaching the child singer. She is the founder of Born 2 Sing Kids and mentors other voice teachers in working with this particular demographic. Dana Lentini joins us from New York to tell you all you need to know about teaching children to sing.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Often it is said that kids shouldn’t take private voice lessons: Many well-intentioned experts recommend choral and group singing as the only means for children to learn singing proficiency, pushing their individual learning to instruments like piano and violin. While choral singing is a great experience for kids and offers a broad understanding of good singing techniques, what it doesn’t offer is the opportunity for singers to recognize their own uniqueness. And other instruments, while wonderful to learn, do not teach children how to become empowered with one of the most important assets they will use throughout their entire lives: their own voices.
- Private voice lessons offer the young singer freedom to uncover their own personal growth and ability. And unlike other instruments, children use their voice all day every day - why not help them learn how to use it in a healthy manner, with techniques designed just for their age and ability? Under the guidance of a well-educated and knowledgeable vocal expert - one who understands the differences between teaching voice to a child versus an adult - these experiences can be a wonderful opportunity to explore their own range of singing possibilities.
- Through a systematic, customised approach, young singers learn the foundations for a healthy singing technique that will support them throughout their lives. Born 2 Sing Kids offers a positive, nurturing environment where kids can learn to grow and express their voice.
- Dana's book Teaching the Child Singer is an indispensable resource for teachers who work with kids in the voice studio. Coming soon is Level 1 of her Kids' Singing Songbook series, designed to take the guesswork out of repertoire and make learning music fun.
- Research has proven that structured music lessons can positively affect all areas of child development, including higher academic performance, cognitive and memory skills, confidence, focus, self-expression, language and listening skills, task completion, enhanced creativity, and so much more.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I always want to grow and become a better version of myself’
‘I use lots of props in my lessons to make it fun’
‘Think about teaching as a life skill’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website:
- www.danalentini.com
- www.born2singkids.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @lentinidana
- Facebook: @Born2SingKids
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Zoltán Kodály Method/John Spencer Curwen Solfege Hand Signs
- Teaching the Child Singer: Pediatric Pedagogy for Ages 5-13 by Dana Lentini: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dana-Lentini/e/B08DD7DD28/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1
- Kids’ Singing Song Book Series - Level 1 by Dana Lentini: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dana-Lentini/e/B08DD7DD28/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1
- Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults by Dr Jenevora Williams: https://jenevorawilliams.com/book-and-dvd/
- Teaching Children to Sing by Kenneth Phillips
- Full Voice Music (Nikki Loney): https://www.fullvoicemusic.com/
- Voice Teachers for Young Singers Facebook Forum
- The Full Voice Podcast with Nikki Loney
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dana Lentini is a US-based mentor, author, presenter, and educator specialising in working with the child singer. After cultivating techniques as a singer, performer, and music educator, Dana Lentini created Born 2 Sing Kids to nurture the development of young singers through a systematic, yet customised approach. Through various forms of mentorship, she helps teachers learn about the unique differences in teaching singing to children and how to build their own successful studios.
Dana has been sought after as a presenter for universities and professional music organisations as well as for the National Association of Teachers of Singing, for whom she has also served on various panels and committees. Her consulting and courses on teaching children in the private studio are offered through her website at danalentini.com. Dana holds a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from The University of Southern California, Thornton School of Music and a Master of Music degree in Vocal Pedagogy from Oakland University. Her book, Teaching the Child Singer: Pediatric Pedagogy for Ages 5-13, is available from Hal Leonard Publishing. Dana's new and unique spiral approach to repertoire development can be found in her Kids' Singing Songbook series, to be released by Hal Leonard in fall 2022.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week’s guest has made it her mission to open up the conversation on mental health in the performing arts. Raffaella Covino has spent the past ten years working on the West End and internationally as a Dance Captain and Swing. She’s also the founder and director of Applause for thought which offers accessible mental health training and support to those in the entertainment industry. Raffaella joins Bronwyn on Singing Teachers Talk to chat about all things mental health.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- After dealing with her own mental health issues, Raffaella discovered a passion for helping people overcome their personal struggles. This led to the creation of Applause for thought in 2019.
- Applause for thought is now a triple award-winning Community Interest Company. It facilitates lower-cost mental health support, talks, workshops, accredited mental health training and bespoke consultancy to all those working in the arts.
- The mental health practitioners working for Applause for thought understand the industry so they know and understand the pressures facing performers.
- The biggest industry-specific trigger around mental health is burnout. When you’re a freelancer, it’s hard to turn down work. And when you’re not working, you’re trying to find the next thing.
- Singing teachers can support performers by not just focusing on the skill of singing, but also on confidence and resilience.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Mental health wasn’t spoken about the way it is now’
‘Education equals prevention’
‘Mental health is so tricky because it seems invisible’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website:
- www.applauseforthought.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @applauseforthought
- Twitter: @ApplauseThought
ABOUT THE GUEST
Raffaella Covino is a creative who has spent the past decade working as a Dance Captain/Associate and Swing across the West End, UK and internationally. She took a year-long hiatus from the industry in 2018 as she navigated mental illness. But born out of that experience is the now triple award-winning Community Interest Company Applause for thought.
AFT launched in February 2019 with the ethos and mantra ‘education equals prevention’. It facilitates lower-cost mental health, support, talks and workshops, accredited training and bespoke consultancy to the arts and entertainment industry.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week’s guest has made it her mission to open up the conversation on mental health in the performing arts. Raffaella Covino has spent the past ten years working on the West End and internationally as a Dance Captain and Swing. She’s also the founder and director of Applause for thought which offers accessible mental health training and support to those in the entertainment industry. Raffaella joins Bronwyn on Singing Teachers Talk to chat about all things mental health.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- After dealing with her own mental health issues, Raffaella discovered a passion for helping people overcome their personal struggles. This led to the creation of Applause for thought in 2019.
- Applause for thought is now a triple award-winning Community Interest Company. It facilitates lower-cost mental health support, talks, workshops, accredited mental health training and bespoke consultancy to all those working in the arts.
- The mental health practitioners working for Applause for thought understand the industry so they know and understand the pressures facing performers.
- The biggest industry-specific trigger around mental health is burnout. When you’re a freelancer, it’s hard to turn down work. And when you’re not working, you’re trying to find the next thing.
- Singing teachers can support performers by not just focusing on the skill of singing, but also on confidence and resilience.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Mental health wasn’t spoken about the way it is now’
‘Education equals prevention’
‘Mental health is so tricky because it seems invisible’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website:
- www.applauseforthought.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: @applauseforthought
- Twitter: @ApplauseThought
ABOUT THE GUEST
Raffaella Covino is a creative who has spent the past decade working as a Dance Captain/Associate and Swing across the West End, UK and internationally. She took a year-long hiatus from the industry in 2018 as she navigated mental illness. But born out of that experience is the now triple award-winning Community Interest Company Applause for thought.
AFT launched in February 2019 with the ethos and mantra ‘education equals prevention’. It facilitates lower-cost mental health, support, talks and workshops, accredited training and bespoke consultancy to the arts and entertainment industry.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dr Jenevora Williams was the first singing teacher to be awarded a PHD in voice science in the UK and was awarded the BVA Van Lawrence prize for her outstanding contribution to voice research in 2010. Her research has taken her to subjects such as vocal health, performance anxiety, teaching young singers, and singing in the brain. Dr Jenevora Williams joins Alexa this week on Singing Teachers’ Talk to discuss vocal rehabilitation for singers.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Vocal rehabilitation is the process of restoring health to a voice user who has for whatever reason injured or tired their voice. It can also be because of other health conditions. The research specialist can work with them to identify the causes, work on the impact of lifestyle on the voice, and pacing the voice. The rehabilitation specialist’s job is to restore the singer's voice back to functionality.
- Singing teachers should not diagnose a problem with a singer's voice. You can identify problems and say what you hear. You can’t diagnose but you can have a fairly good idea on if it’s a functional problem or a pathological one.
- The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is a statutory regulator of over 280,000 professionals from 15 health and care professions in the United Kingdom.
- A maladaptation is a trait that is more harmful than helpful, in contrast with an adaptation, which is more helpful than harmful.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Legally you need to be covered by insurance, and if you’re not then you’re a bit of an idiot’
‘Our life is governed by learned patterns of behaviour’
‘Parting company is an absolute last resort’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website:
- jenevorawilliams.com
- evolvingvoice.co.uk
Social Media:
- @jenevorawilliams
- @jwevolvingvoice
- Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvB9gXV_cAj0e29wrWzMwew
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults by Dr Jenevora Williams: https://jenevorawilliams.com/shop/
- Vocal Health Education: vocalhealth.co.uk
- National Association of Teachers of Singing: https://www.nats.org/
- Dana Lentini: https://www.born2singkids.com/
- Nikki Loney: https://www.fullvoicemusic.com/
- Dr Steven Sims (ENT Laryngologist Consultant)
- Voice Care Centre: voicecarecentre.co.uk
- Duncan Rock: duncanrocknutrition.com
- Joanne Bozeman (on hormones)
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 32 - The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4R13bvilWjwQnd9WOfTiVc?si=a40590fb79384bd4
- Everyday Voice Care - The Lifestyle Guide for Singers and Talkers by Joanna Cazden
- The Voice Clinic Handbook
- Manual of Singing Voice Rehabilitation by Leda Scearce
- Laryngeal Endoscopy and Voice Therapy - A Clinical Guide by Sue Jones
- The National Centre for Voice Studies: https://ncvs.org/prescriptions/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr Jenevora Williams is a leading exponent in the field of vocal health and singing teaching. After a successful career in Opera, Jenevora turned her attention to investigating healthy and efficient vocal function. The combination of academic study and practical experience has resulted in a unique perception for understanding the human voice. She was the first singing teacher to be awarded a PhD in voice science in the UK, and won the 2010 BVA Van Lawrence Prize for her outstanding contribution to voice research. Her book, Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults, has been enormously popular with singing teachers throughout the world. She is well-known for her imaginative and rigorous international training courses for singing teachers and voice professionals. She now runs Vocal Health Education and Evolving Voice, training the first generation of Voice Rehabilitation Specialists worldwide. As a teacher of singing, she works with professional singers of all ages in both voice rehabilitation and career mentoring.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week Alexa is joined by a physical therapist, whose approach to manual therapy has evolved to consider bio-psychosocial influences, as well as incorporating shared decision making between clinician and patient, Walt Fritz. Walt is on Singing Teachers’ Talk today to tell you all about manual therapy.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Manual therapy is essential for touch-based therapy although there is no perfectly defined answer. It could be osteopathic or chiropractic or even as subtle as massage therapy.
- Walt considers laryngeal manipulation as a very aggressive form of manual therapy. His approach is much more subtle and Walt works with his patients to work out what more nuanced and safe therapy is needed. He values the input of his patients.
- Walt uses none medical phrases to describe what he can feel in a patient in an attempt to not over-pathologize them. Instead of diagnosing someone, he speaks to them about how something feels and if it impacts them and in what way. What treatment feels good, like it will work for the individual.
- As a licensed physical therapist, Walt has the legal ability to touch his patients or clients. As singing teachers, you would need permission from your student before moving their shoulders for example or touching their throat.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Ask ten clinicians what manual therapy is then you’ll get twenty different answers’
‘I was trained that it was all about the connective tissues, then my evolution started’
‘Our work is not about what we do with the tissue, it’s about what we do with the person’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website:
- WaltFritz.com
Social Media:
- @waltfritzpt
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 32 - The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4R13bvilWjwQnd9WOfTiVc?si=a40590fb79384bd4
- The Naked Vocalist Podcast: Ep. 57 - Walt Fritz on Vocal Massage, Manual Therapy, Nocebo: https://hu-hu.facebook.com/tnvquestions/videos/202759024499353/?comment_id=215605243214731
- Vocal Health Education: co.uk
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 63 - Developing a Singer’s Self Awareness And Clarifying Intention with Robert Sussuma: https://open.spotify.com/episode/11FNDp5koUAa7XkCf81pim?si=c7e17eda7c7e41ef
- Research Citations (used to support Walt’s work): https://waltfritzseminars.com/resources-2-2/research/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Walt Fritz is a physical therapist from Upstate New York, USA. Since beginning work as a manual therapy educator in the mid-1990s, he has more recently evolved into teaching a unique interpretation of manual therapy for speech-language pathologists, registered dental hygienists, voice professionals, and related communities. This approach advances views of causation and impact from historical tissue-specific models into a multifactorial narrative, leaning heavily on biopsychosocial influences. His principles apply to a broad spectrum of intervention models using a model of evaluation and intervention that incorporates shared decision-making rather than clinician-as-expert. Unlike traditional laryngeal manipulation, Walt offers the clinician and patient a more subtle approach, aligning well with newer models and allowing the patient to frame the intervention from their preferences. Seeing the utility of manual therapy not as a standalone treatment but as an integral part of clinicians' more extensive body of work, Walt makes his approach easily assimilated into those treatment protocols.
Walt presents his workshops internationally through his Foundations in Manual Therapy Seminars, www.WaltFritz.com, and maintains a physical therapy practice in Upstate, NY.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teachers. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BAST founder Line Hilton joins Alexa this week to continue on from a discussion they had in Episode 62 - How to Choose the Best Vocal Exercises. This week the focus is on the larynx and finding the best vocal exercises for larynx stability.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- There are times where the height of the larynx will impede the sound and the ability to produce pitch and negotiate the transition.
- The larynx can be too high or too low, or neutral high and neutral low. The later two are quite hard and a little arbitrary to find.
- It’s very common for the larynx to track the pitch as and the singer gets higher in the melody the larynx gets higher too.
- We can sing with a higher larynx in a belted coordination and still be in tune.
- To help someone with a larynx that goes too low you start with working on the singer's awareness of the larynx, then do pitch work in a spoken style.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Most singers don’t even realise they can control the height of their larynx’
‘Ask your students to notice what’s happening while they’re singing, awareness is the first step’
‘This is how it should feel and I can feel where it is’
‘Many singer are not tuned into the feeling of singing’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website:
- www.basttraining.com
Social Media:
- @basttraining
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep 62 - How to Choose the Best Vocal Exercises with Line Hilton: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4dWJ0kU0g65yJIpgVVWP6I?si=a62fc2bfd4ac4381
- David Phelps: https://www.davidphelps.com/
- Kerrie Obert: obertvoicestudios.com
- Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep 59 - Top Tongue Tips for Boosting High Frequency Energy with Kerrie Obert: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1P8K7Ys9gpeCaT2eUqIQQX?si=0a000c384b414171
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Two guests for you today on the show, firstly it’s Kaya Herstad-Carney who is a BAST trainer and educational director for vocology in practice. Our second guest is Claire Cannon, lead vocalist for Flip and Fill and vocal coach specialising in advanced vocal techniques. The pair joined Alexa this week on Singing Teachers Talk to chat about becoming a vocology in practice authorised teacher.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- ViP (Vocology in Practice) is a global network of elite voice professionals, including singing teachers, vocal coaches, songwriters, producers, music industry professionals, speech and language practitioners, ENT’s and laryngologists. They exist as a community committed to continuous professional development, education and networking via in person training, one on one mentorship, research, educational events, seminars, webinars and articles.
- Their aim is to be at the forefront of vocal health, science and pedagogy in order to provide the best vocal training and 360 degree care for today’s contemporary vocalist.
- ViP has seven principals, those are: Artistry, Anatomy & Health, Musicianship, Voice Science, Body & Mind, Vocal Pedagogy, and Business Practices & Personal/Professional Development.
- If you feel like you know more than anyone else in the room, then you should find a different room to be in. Both of our guests Kaya and Claire found it so beneficial to surround yourself with people who know more than you.
BEST MOMENTS
‘It’s about having the network of experts to take questions to’
‘If you want to progress and gain more skills and knowledge, you have to be in the room’
‘It’s important to be part of a network which is really passionate’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website:
- kayamusic.com
- vocologyinpractice.org
- www.clairecannonvoice.co.uk
Social Media:
- @kayamusic
- @vocologyinpractice
- @_clairecannon
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- Jono McNeil: www.jonomcneiled.com
- Wolfgang Saus: www.oberton.org
- Dr Felix Graham: www.singwithdrfelix.com
- Lisa Haupert
- Ian Davidson: www.ianjdavidson.com
- Justin Stoney: justinstoney.com
- (Amber Mogg Cathey) Nashville Vocal Studio: www.nashvillevocalstudio.com
- Gemma Sugrue: www.provocalartist.com
- Teach Voice with Chris Johnson: www.teachvoice.com
- Voice Study Centre: voicestudycentre.com
- Heidi Moss: www.heidimosserickson.com
- Line Hilton: linehilton.com
- Johan Sundberg
- Get Vocal Now: https://portal.getvocal-now.com/pages/home
- Kerrie Obert: obertvoicestudios.com
- Songbird Studio: https://songbirdsf.com/
- Kaya’s ViP Email Contact: education@vocologyinpractice.org
ABOUT THE GUESTS
Kaya Herstad-Carney
Kaya is a creative with a wide skill set, ranging from powerful performances of her original music, vocal coaching & singing teacher training, artist development & co-writing, artistic direction for Threshold Festival and gig promotion, band & choir direction/arranging, mentoring and community workshops, in addition to her lecturing career across the popular music subjects including voice, songwriting, band skill and music industry studies. Originally from Norway, she made the UK her home in 1999. She is an established artist with a track record of performances at The Royal Variety Show, to the BBC Songwriting Showcase, touring UK and Europe.
Kaya has a varied portfolio career and is a passionate singer, songwriter, performer and a harmony/vocal fanatic, vocal arranger and producer, festival director, mentor, musical/choir director, vocal geek and senior lecturer with a wide range of experiences and interests on and off the stage. She has a particular love for vocal habilitation and artist development in the Contemporary Commercial field of music including popular music, musical theatre and extreme vocals.
She is the Director of Education for the global vocal organisation Vocology in Practice (ViP), managing the education programme, and is a singing teacher trainer for BAST. Before taking on the course leader role at Water Bear, Kaya was head of vocals at Bårdar Academy and Principal Lecturer of Songwriter at DIME Online, and artist developer and senior lecturer in performance, vocals and songwriting/creative artistry at the Academy of Contemporary Music. She has also written HE module content for RSL (Rockschool) and WaterBear. She taught for seven years at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) and five years at the University of Chester.
Kaya specialises in singing, songwriting, vocal work, motivation, coordination, networking, vocal arranging and artist development, both as a vocal coach, musical director, mentor and lecturer.
Claire Cannon
For over a decade Claire has been dedicated to developing voices. Her clients include amateur and professional performers, leading speakers and charting recording artists.
Claire graduated from Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts with a Diploma in song and a Degree in Performing Arts - Music. Since then she has studied vocal science under some of the world's leading vocal coaches, gaining a Certification in Contemporary Vocal Coaching from The Voice College. She is a qualified vocal health first aider and has been involved with BAST since completing the program in 2015. She has gone on to become an authorised teacher with Vocology in Practice, a global network of elite voice professionals.
Claire is the lead vocalist for successful electronic dance group 'Flip and Fill' and has worked as a session singer for the past 12 years.
Claire specialises in teaching advanced vocal technique to both contemporary music artists and musical theatre performers in order to improve vocal function and overall vocal health.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joining us today is the founder of the Singing for Health Network who has worked in music for wellbeing and music education for over 20 years. She is the director of the charity Music for Good and holds a masters degree in vocal pedagogy through the Voice Study Centre, where she is now a senior lecturer. Emily Foulkes joins Alexa this week on Singing Teachers Talk about the Singing for Health Network.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The Singing for Health Network is a UK-based membership network for anyone interested or involved in Singing for Health, including singing practitioners, researchers, health and healthcare professionals. Their aim is to bridge research and practice and provide a platform for sharing practice and opportunities.
- The Singing for Health Network model is a work-in-progress representation of the different levels of singing groups, showing where they most commonly fit within the health system. It is intended to help practitioners from both arts and health sectors to understand which types of groups suit different conditions and needs.
- Emily’s research took her in the direction of looking at trauma, mental health, and pain management. She ran a pilot research project for people with chronic pain while also training to be a trauma and mental health practitioner.
- There is research that leans towards the idea that singing can improve mental health, especially singing in groups can help us connect with other people and build relationships which is beneficial to mental health.
- Chronic pain is pain that lasts for more than three months and can’t be treated. Chronic pain is associated with depression and other mental health issues.
BEST MOMENTS
‘We’re hard wired to sing, we were singing before we were speaking’
‘We can see the connectivity of singing together’
‘If I could do this every day, I think I could manage my pain so much better’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website:
- www.singingforhealthnetwork.co.uk
- www.musicforgood.uk
- www.voicestudycentre.com
Social Media:
- (Instagram) @thesingingforhealthnetwork
- (Instagram) @em.foulkes
- (Facebook) Singing for Health Network Forum
- (Twitter) @NetworkSinging
- (Twitter) @EmilyFoulkes1
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- The British Lung Foundation: lunguk.org
- Phoene Cave & The Musical Breath: www.themusicalbreath.com
- Dr Stephen Clift; Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health at Canterbury Christ Church University
- Bjorn Vickhoff et al; Choral Singing Has a Soothing Effect on Heart Rate: https://culturecase.org/research/2014/05/choral-singing-has-a-soothing-effect-on-heart-rate/
- (For trauma awareness) Peter Levine; The Body Holds the Score by Bessel van Der Kolk; Stephen Porges Polyvagal Theory
- Singing for Health Network Partners: Sound Sense; Sing Up & Sing Up Foundation; Making Music; Natural Voice Network
- Sing Up: https://www.singup.org/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Emily has worked in Music for Well-being and Music Education for over 20 years, from national level at Youth Music, managing grant funding and networks to working as a practitioner. Since 2008, Emily has lived in Cornwall where she is the Director of Music for Good, a charity providing and supporting music for well-being in a range of settings.
After receiving a bursary to complete MA studies, Emily gained a Distinction in her MA in Voice Pedagogy with a specialism in Singing for Health and Well-being. Her research and specialist work has led to winning commissions from the NHS and being awarded funding. Her research into Online Mindfulness and Singing for people with Anxiety and/or Depression is published in the International Journal for Community Music. Emily is a Trauma and Mental Health Practitioner and Trainer and is working with the Sing Up Foundation to further develop and roll out training for Singing Practitioners.
Emily has presented her research at numerous conferences and has trained more than 100 singing practitioners in Trauma and Mental Health informed practice. She set up the Singing for Health Network in 2021 with the vision to bridge research and practice and support the singing for health movement. The aspiration is to bring together researchers, practitioners, healthcare professionals and to provide a useful platform for sharing and supporting the field. Emily is a Senior Lecturer with the Voice Study Centre supporting students on the MA in Voice Pedagogy.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week's guest is a renowned contemporary vocal coach and session singer who teaches professional singers from her studio in Marbella. Her career as a performer has seen her provide vocals for TV and film and she often presents workshops for teachers of voice. She has also created a funky and fun vocal exercise series and a curriculum poster used by fellow contemporary voice teachers within their studios. Kim Chandler joins Alexa on Singing Teachers Talk all the way from sunny Spain.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Kim didn’t actually intend on being a vocalist, it was a case of being asked to do more and more and more until she found that it was her full time profession. Some people still only know her as their old French teacher. As a session singer you need to be able to be quite gymnastic vocally. Your voice technique needs to be on form and have a very robust stamena level. You might need to sing for hours and hours. Kim has had to sing for 6 or 7 hours at a time going from the top of her range to the bottom of her range. A session singer should also be quite generic sounding, if you have a signature sound you should be an artist. A session singer needs to blend into everything that’s happening around them and be none distinctive. Having great ears is the number one thing for a session singer. That’s for tuning, harmonising, timing, and double and triple tracks.
BEST MOMENTS
‘The more you do it, the better you get, the more exposure you get’
‘I like the challenge of not knowing what I need to do next’
‘We’re like the decathletes of the singing world as session singers’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website: www.kimchandler.com www.virtualvocals.com www.funkynfun.com
Social Media: (Twitter) @KimChandlerVox (Instagram) @KimChandlerSinger
Relevant Links & Mentions: Michael McDonald Top of the Pops: YouTube.com/watch?v=DapM2CSVdUg Humidiflyer: https://humidiflyer.com/ Curriculum Poster: www.comptonpublishing.co.uk/the-chandler-curriculum-for-training-pop-s.php The Ultimate Vocal Voyage by Daniel Zanger-Borch Funky Fundamentals Online Course: www.musicgurus.com/courses/funky-fundamentals-for-pop-singing Training Contemporary Commercial Singers by Elizabeth Ann Benson (YouTube) Breaking Down the Riffs by Natalia Weiss: YouTube.com/c/NatalieWeissOfficial Fun Vocal Exercises for Improvisation by John Flucker
ABOUT THE GUEST
Kim Chandler is a renowned contemporary vocal coach/session singer. She runs a busy studio in Marbella, Spain, coaching arena-level band singers, charting artists & professional vocalists. Kim also helps singers rebuild their voices after surgery & rehabilitation and has worked with HMUK for years in this capacity.
Kim has decades of high-end performing experience. Her voice is heard on TV series, films, albums, cruise ship shows, thousands of jingles worldwide and has backed & supported many international artists. Kim has performed at some of London's most iconic locations such as the Royal Albert Hall and Buckingham Palace.
Kim is regularly invited to lead workshops, teacher training events and present at voice conferences. She spent more than a decade in leadership positions for the British Voice Association, as President & Director and Head of Communications, and as a Principal/Senior Lecturer at Leeds Conservatoire & London College of Music.
Her pedagogical output features in academic compendiums such as "Training Contemporary Commercial Singers" and "Teaching Singing in the 21st Century". Kim is the creator of the popular "Funky 'n Fun" vocal exercise series used by singers, teachers and institutions alike and a new curriculum poster for CCM teaching studios.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Something a bit different this week as Alexa is joined by two guests. Cat Ogden is a singer and vocal coach who specialises in singing for mental health and wellbeing, and she is alongside founder of Sing Now, Sarah Joyce. As you’ll see from the episode title, congratulations are in order as both guests on Singing Teachers Talk are expecting, so the topic of conversation today is all around understanding pregnancy for the singer and the self-employed.
KEY TAKEAWAYS In Dr Catherine Gardner’s report, she notes that the common physical experiences of pregnancy such as nausea, vomiting, breathlessness, swelling, reflux, difficulty sleeping, and fatigue were sometimes made worse by singing. Cat experienced debilitating sickness while pregnant with her second child which led to vomiting, weight loss, and hospitalisation. As someone who is self-employed, there was nobody to fall back on while she was ill. There was no one else to take her students’ lessons and she had to do it all herself. The vomiting she experienced while ill affected Cat’s voice but she was able to find support from Pregnancy Sickness Support, which is linked in the notes below. The positive impacts that pregnant women brought up in Dr Gardner’s research included greater breath awareness, reduced performance anxiety and the ability to refocus priorities.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I was literally vomiting either side of lessons’
‘Acid reflux through trimesters 1, 2, and 3 was a really big one for me’
‘When it comes to performing I’m more relaxed than I ever have been’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website: sarah-joyce.co.uk sing-now.co.uk catogdensinging.com
Social Media: @sarahjoycesing @catogdensinging
Relevant Links & Mentions: Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Episode 55 - Teaching Singing for Mental Health and Wellbeing with Cat Ogden: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7EE00DU5gciDilLMAfq1SG?si=50834e119d7141e8 Dr Catherine Gardner: singingfortwo.com Vocal Health Education: vocalhealtlh.co.uk Pregnancy Sickness Support: https://www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/; @pregnancysicknesssupport Medication List: https://ncvs.org/prescriptions/ Happy Mum Happy Baby Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1q5dLwCTmrU4XNEy8cXyBX?si=c046318def5344e8
ABOUT THE GUEST
Sarah Joyce:
On graduating from Guildford School of Acting in 2008, Sarah made her West End debut in Zorro at the Garrick Theatre, covering and playing the lead female role, Luisa. This was followed by a world tour as principal singer on board Cunard’s renowned Queen Victoria. Sarah then toured the UK with the 25th anniversary production of Phantom of the Opera, covering and playing Madame Giry, and appeared in the London Palladium production of Scrooge starring Tommy Steele, where she played Mrs Cratchit.
As well as running her own choir in Surbiton, Sarah gigs with the London Contemporary Voices and is lead singer for the Soultanas, funk & soul band. In addition, Sarah enjoys working as a vocal coach at her studio in Guildford as well as teaching at Italia Conti and the University of Creative Arts. She holds a certificate in vocal health first aid from Vocal Health Education, and is now a Vocal Habilitation Professional.
Cat Ogden:
Cat Ogden trained at UCLan in Music Theatre and is currently studying for a Master’s in Voice Pedagogy with the Voice Study Centre. She specialises in teaching children and young adults, and in singing for mental health and wellbeing. Cat has a certificate in mental health first aid, vocal health first aid and has completed the BAST 20 hour course. She lives in Cheshire.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dr Felix Graham is a New York based performer, teacher, conductor and author, who has presented globally on the subject of gender, trans voice, and inclusion. He is also the musical director for New York’s first transgender singing ensemble. Felix joins Alexa this week to talk all about training transgender voices.
KEY TAKEAWAYS If you want to make your studio inclusive then you have to start with transparency. Singing teachers shouldn’t be afraid to admit that they don’t know everything. Being honest helps build trust We need to move away from the teacher and student model and to more of a collaborative learning experience. The student is the one who lives in their body and uses their voice all day, they’re the expert. Classical vocal terms are essentially just a way of labelling stereotypes. There will always be voices that defy those rules. Remember, there is no one appropriate terminology for every situation or every person. The language around transition is shifting because it’s a relatively recent thing. Why not use your induction forms to find out more about your students? Leave a space for them to write their pronouns and or a space for them to tell you about themselves. When you introduce yourself, let them know your pronouns.
BEST MOMENTS
‘It’s a warm safe environment where we can be creative’
‘Inclusive is not a noun, it’s a verb’
‘There is no singular language, just singular people’
‘A label is just a way of conveying information and if it doesn’t then there’s no need for it’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website: singwithdrfelix.com
Social Media: @singwithdrfelix
Relevant Links & Mentions: Vocology in Practice: vocologyinpractice.org TRANScend Vocal Ensemble: www.transcendsings.org The Voice and Speech Review (To T or Not to T): https://www.vasta.org/voiceandspeechreview Peacock Pedagogy Series: https://medium.com/@dr.felix/coming-out-again-272ae7e12290
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr. Felix Graham is a New York-based performer, teacher, conductor and author. Felix found his musical 'home' by way of the operatic and concert stage where started life as a 'pants' mezzo - his primary repertoire consisting primarily of pants roles, or operatic drag – women singing young male characters...or sometimes, the more complicated version: a woman playing a young man, disguised as young woman. As he explored gender transition in his personal life, he was inspired by the recursive nature of these pants roles, bringing that gender fluidity and characterisation to cabaret as well as his concert repertoire.
As an academic, Dr. Graham has presented research and workshops at home and abroad on vocal habilitation, gender, trans voice and inclusive choral methods. His private teaching practices focuses on vocal health and retraining, as well as guiding clients in reconciling their voice and personal identity. Additionally, he taught choral methods and applied voice at Teachers College, Columbia University and the City University of New York, served as musical director for the off-Broadway production Love is a Many-Splintered Thing, and currently serves as music director of the TRANScend Vocal Ensemble in New York City.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Founder of Pro Vox in Liverpool, Senior Popular Vocals Lecturer at Leeds Conservatoire, volunteer at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospital Voice Clinic, researcher and PHD student specialising in singers experiences in using in-ear technology. Carrie Birmingham joins Alexa this week on Singing Teachers Talk to talk us through her speciality, in-ear technology.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Carrie started looking into in-ear technology and protection when talking to singers about the lack of precautions they take and how they don’t consider what permanent damage could be done in the future. As someone with a hearing impairment, these are things that Carrie thinks about often. We need to be aware of what our exposure levels actually are but it’s hard in today's world where we’re inundated with loud noise. Even walking down the street or eating at a restaurant, you’d be surprised just how high the decibel levels actually get. Hearing is a psychoacoustic response, meaning that we all hear things in a different way. For one person something could be incredibly loud and damage their hearing, whereas someone may be more used to that level of exposure. It’s about experimenting with what is right for you. Carrie thinks that as teachers we need to be more proactive about making our students who have higher exposure more aware of what they need to do to keep safe. If your singer works regularly in a band or with a drummer, we should know right away that they are at higher risk.
BEST MOMENTS
‘There are many performers who have tinnitus and some to a level where they can’t perform anymore’
‘Is your in-ear mix safe?’
‘Singers respond to what they’re hearing as well as what they’re feeling’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website: http://www.facebook.com/ProVox1 @ProVoxLiverpool
Contact Email: mccsb@leeds.ac.uk cbirmingham@lcm.ac.uk
Relevant Links & Mentions: Soundbrenner Watch Artists mentioned: Plan B, Chris Martin, Mariah Carey, Sigrid Help Musicians UK: https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/ Psycho-Acoustics: David Howard & Ian Howell
ABOUT THE GUEST
Carrie Birmingham is vocal teacher and researcher based across Liverpool and Leeds. Alongside running her own private studio, Pro Vox based in Liverpool, she is also a Senior Popular Vocals Lecturer at Leeds Conservatoire, a Vocal Health Education First Aid Assessor, a Singing Specialist Volunteer (VRC) at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospital voice clinic, alongside current study as a PhD candidate at the School of Music, University of Leeds; specialising in 'Singers' experiences of working with in-ear technology'. As a hearing-impaired alt-rock singer currently wearing one hearing aid, her recent years of research have taken a specific focus as to 'how we hear' and more specifically 'how singers hear', alongside 'the impact of hearing devices/protection during live performance', which is a field lacking in research. Carrie hopes to bring new theories to light within this subject matter across coming years.
Carrie recently completed her MA in Applied Practice of Vocal Pedagogy with Voice Workshop Ltd. alongside recent years' worth of CPD in Vocal Anatomy, Vocal Health, Teaching Young and Changing Voices, Auditory Processing, Vocal Rehab, and The Exploration of Tinnitus, to name a few. Prior to recent studies she holds a Teaching Diploma in Popular Vocals from the London College of Music, and a Ba (Hons) Popular Music & Drama and Theatre Studies from Liverpool Hope University. Her performance experience spans over 20 years as a dancer, musical theatre performer, actor, flautist, saxophonist, singer-songwriter performing in a variety of venues and performance settings across the UK, most notably fronting alternative-rock band, F I G U R E S since 2015 and now a new duo project, Charlie's Girl launched in late 2021.
Alongside her teaching, researching, volunteering and performing roles, Carrie is also the north area representative to the Association of Teachers of Singing (AOTOS) where she is involved in bringing together a community of singing teachers, choral directors, and professional voice users across the north of the UK. She hosts annual CPD events and is available to offer advice to new and growing teachers through many events and networking opportunities with the charity.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Take a deep dive into the world of Instagram with social media expert Katya Willems. Katya is an Instagram specialist who provides courses, workshops and one to one training to small businesses. She joins Bronwyn on Singing Teachers Talk to explain the often confusing and ever changing social media trends.
KEY TAKEAWAYS You can do many things on Instagram, and that can make the platform a bit overwhelming for people. It’s best to simplify your approach. Pick a style and message, and stick to it. Don’t obsess over the number of followers you have. Some followers might not be people who want to engage with your brand – they’re just there because an algorithm sent them. You want to reach your target audience and provide content they want to see and will respond to. If you see Insta content that you like, don’t be afraid to use it as inspiration to create your own content. People on Instagram have a 3-second attention span. You need to convey your message in a simple, bold way. If the font is too small or not easy to read, people will just scroll past it. When people are looking for a singing teacher, they want to find someone with whom they can connect. Use Instagram to tell people who you are, and explain your values. Your values can help people engage with you.
BEST MOMENTS
‘They’re squeezing their brand into a format without thinking about what they need to get across’
‘The reason reels are popular is because Instagram pushes them to try and compete with Tik Tok’
‘View it as a blank canvas to fill with your content’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website: https://easyinstamcr.com/
Social Media: Instagram @easyinstamcr Twitter @easyinstamcr
ABOUT THE GUEST
Katya Willems is an Instagram Coach and 'cheerleader'. After a long career with the BBC, she set up Easyinstamcr in 2017, which delivers Instagram workshops, retreats and one-to-one training.
Katya has worked with the likes of The Lake District National Park and Victoria Baths and smaller businesses ranging from PR consultants, marketers, yoga teachers, photographers and coaches.
She says: “I believe that behind every business is a fascinating story. I love digging in and helping the people I work with understand why their story is interesting and how to translate that into content.”
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Vocal manual therapist, vocal coach and published researcher Lydia Flock joins Alexa on Singing Teachers Talk to discuss all things massage. Lydia works at the Voice Care Centre in London and from her clinic in Oxford. Find out how Lydia’s vocal injury as a teenager influenced her career path and inspires her work with clients.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Lydia experienced a voice injury when she was 17 and it really rocked her vocal identity and how she perceived herself as a singer in terms of her longevity and stamina. A vocal injury is not just the injury itself, it’s the intricate muscle system that will still be reacting to it for years down the line. There are lots of different facets of vocal manual therapy and one of those is manipulation. The aim with manipulation is to create space and potentially stretch the muscles. When we yawn, the thyroid cartilage drops down and the space between the cartilage and the hyoid bone increases. When we swallow, that thyroid cartilage is going to lift up and that space is going to be smaller. Laryngopharyngeal reflux or LPR is a condition in which acid that is made in the stomach travels up the oesophagus and gets to the throat. Symptoms include sore throat and an irritated larynx. Treatments consist mostly of lifestyle changes. Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a digestive disorder that affects the ring of muscle between your oesophagus and your stomach.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I was so nervous to touch another person’s larynx, I didn’t want to hurt them’
‘Quite gentle things can be really effective and have long lasting effects’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website: @oxfordvocalmassage @flockstarscoaching
Contact Email: lydia@oxfordvocalmassage.co.uk
Relevant Links & Mentions: Voice Care Centre & Stephen King: co.uk Jing Massage: jingmassage.com Modern Vocal Training: com Charles Ward: https://www.bapam.org.uk/practitioner-search/mr-charles-ward/ Craniosacral Therapy with Caroline Laurence: https://www.carolinelaurence.co.uk/ Journal of Singing: https://www.nats.org/cgi/page.cgi/about_journal_singing.html Vocal Health Education & The Thinking Voice Podcast: co.uk The Singing Athlete by Andrew Byrne
ABOUT THE GUEST
Lydia Flock (flock@voicecarecentre.co.uk) is an exceptional vocal manual therapist, vocal coach, and published researcher, with a particular interest in exploring vocal identity in relation to vocal manual therapy. One of Lydia’s favourite aspects about being a therapist is the journey of working with each client individually to discover what is most useful for them from a practical and professional perspective. As someone who experienced vocal injury herself, Lydia understands that vocal challenges go beyond the physical, and so Lydia leans into the psychological vocal empowerment that is possible through her work in manual therapy.
Lydia was endorsed for the prestigious Global Talent Visa (under Exceptional Promise Criteria) by Arts Council England. You may find Lydia’s research in the peer-reviewed academic journals Voice and Speech Review and Journal of Singing (in press). Lydia trained as a massage therapist with Jing Advanced Massage Training in Brighton, UK and specialised in vocal massage after training in Vocal Massage and Advanced Laryngeal Manipulation with Stephen King/Vocal Massage Training. She is currently furthering her manual therapy skills and understanding of pain science through the Advanced Clinical Massage Training certification at Jing Advanced Massage Training (expected completion September 2022). Lydia holds an MA in Music Theatre from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and a BA from the University of Virginia (BA in Drama, with honours). She also trained at Ithaca College’s BFA Musical Theatre programme.
When not working at the Voice Care Centre, Lydia is working at her Oxford clinic, Oxford Vocal Massage and coaching through her holistic voice company, Flockstars Coaching.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today Alexa is joined by the President of the British Voice Association, who is also a jazz singer, composer, and educator teaching at Chester, Leeds, and York Universities, Louise Gibbs. Join in the chat from all things from gardening to jazz to improvisation and all you need to know about the British Voice Association.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Louise has always had the instinct as a musician to create rather than reproduce. After she had her first piano lesson, Louise went home and created her own compositions, then when she played them for her teacher in the second lesson she was told never to do it again and to follow the sheet music. That’s when she knew that classical might not be for her. We need to remember that most music just existed in people's imagination and in the oral tradition before it was ever written down. A jazz singer is someone who treats a piece of music as a form which they improvise with, it’s a more compositional approach. Whereas a jazz stylist will take the features of that music and reproduce them, with that you often get the same result every time. Every time you alter something, you’re adding some form of improvisation. The British Voice Association (BVA) is the 'voice for voice' in the UK, an association of multi-disciplinary professionals who work to promote the field of voice in its broadest sense. Their remit is the encouragement of a healthy voice, vocal skills and communication in such areas as the performing arts, business and industry, medicine and education.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I was always taken by the rhythm’
‘Jazz is the ability to make something new every time and be creative with that’
‘The idea of not knowing what you’re going all the time can put a lot of fear into people’
‘You have to be able to embody rhythm and if you’re not familiar with it, it’s very tricky to do’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website: louisegibbs.co.uk britishvoiceassociation.org.uk
Relevant Links & Mentions: Jazz Artists Mentioned: Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Mahalia Jackson, Miles Davis iSing Magazine - Vocal Style: A beginners guide to singing jazz by Louise Gibbs: https://www.isingmag.com/vocal-style-a-beginners-guide-to-singing-jazz/ BVA Event: Breakthroughs & Boundaries Forum (Sunday 17th July 2022) Louise Gibbs’ Email: louise@jazzmine.co.uk
ABOUT THE GUEST
Louise Gibbs is a jazz singer, composer and educator, and graduate in both music and education from Columbia University, New York. She is Visiting Professor at the University of Chester, and teaches jazz and popular voice and musicianship for the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield, and York. She has held academic and teaching positions at Leeds College of Music (Course Leader for the Postgraduate Programme and the Jazz Programmes), Goldsmiths, University of London, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and Royal College of Music, and given workshops for major conservatoires and international institutions in the US and New Zealand. She maintains active research and writing interests in voice, improvisation, education and musical aesthetics. Louise is currently President of the multidisciplinary British Voice Association.
Louise continues to perform her own music, and the jazz repertory. Described in Jazzwise as “meeting all musical challenges with creativity and charisma” she has recorded with top UK and US artists and has five acclaimed albums as leader. Her performance of self-penned song suite, Seven Deadly Sings for voice and septet earned a 4-star review: “Both in its conception and execution, …is an unqualified triumph”.
Louise is a keen gardener, allotment-holder, and sourdough bread baker.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Featured teacher for Vocal Health Education and co-host of the Thinking Voice podcast, Robert Sussuma joins Alexa this week on Singing Teachers Talk. He’s here to discuss how you can develop a singer’s self awareness and clarifying intention. Robert will also be presenting at BAST’s Focus On: The Body and the Singer event on the 27th of June.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Feldenkrais lessons are designed to work at the level where your system runs the system. They update you from within at this deep core nervous system level so that when you go to do things in a more conscious way, then the system is already there to support you. In the Feldenkrais method there are two modalities for doing this, functional integration which is hands on and none verbal, and the other version is awareness through movement or ATMs, which are verbally led. Teaching someone to become self aware involves a lot of novelty, telling them to do something strange or something they know how to do but in a totally new way. It’s tricking the nervous system into paying attention through novelty. These awareness lessons are like experiments outside of life that get deep into the system. When you come back to life, if the system has truly changed, there is a change in the self image, in the nervous system, in the foundation of how you act. The lesson will automatically have an effect on that action when you do that action again.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I have a student who calls it updating the motherboard’
‘Working with novelty is really effective but strange compared to what most people do’
‘The lesson isn’t what we do, it’s what we’re learning having done it’
‘We can all do the same lesson and learn something different’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website: @robert_sussuma
Relevant Links & Mentions: BAST Focus On The Body & The Singer Event: https://www.basttraining.com/event/focus-on-the-body-and-the-singer/ Vocal Health Education: vocalhealth.co.uk The Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education Thinking Voice Podcast - The Endings Conversation: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4WPhNUEgbRulnsf6OBd313?si=6e04fa1041bb4d38 Vocology in Practice: www.vocologyinpractice.org Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 32 - The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4R13bvilWjwQnd9WOfTiVc?si=1ffb4c437bdd4f34 The Joys of Singing and Sex?!? - A Somatic Approach (Blog): https://thesingingself.com/joys-of-singing-and-sex-somatic-approach/ Sense and Sensuality Event: https://thesingingself.com/voice-incorporated-2022-sense-and-sensuality/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Robert Sussuma, a native New Yorker, is an explorer, a life-long learner and a connoisseur of connections: movement, speaking and singing, voice science, emotions, music history, motor learning, existentialism, neurology-in-action, consciousness and deep personal development - to name a few. His formal education is in vocal performance (Bachelors of Music in Voice Performance and Masters of Music in Early Music Voice Performance). Early in that training, he discovered the Feldenkrais® Method of Somatic Education and has seen the two fields as inseparable ever since. He is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner.
Robert has taught Private Voice Lessons and Voice and Movement Classes at Naropa University (Boulder, Colorado), Haverford College (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and PACE University (New York, New York), and has maintained an active private studio for over 20 years, working with with well-known and successful actors and singers in NYC. Robert has also been a guest teacher at Harvard University, the University of Michigan and Barcelona University.
Robert now teaches mostly online working with singers of all kinds and training voice teachers to work somatically. He has created two extensive online courses THE SINGING SELF PROGRAM and THE SINGING SELF PROGRAM: TEACHER TRACK at www.thesingingself.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joining Alexa this week on Singing Teachers Talk, all the way from Perth, Western Australia, is BAST founder Line Hilton. The topic of conversation in this episode is one that many voice teachers will come up against when working with their clients, and that is selecting or designing the best vocal exercises in response to what they perceive as a vocal fault.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Teachers who have not yet found out how to understand what’s going on functionally, might not have the tools yet to go in and counteract vocal problems. When identifying problems, Line usually starts with the larynx. If the vocal folds aren’t coordinating in a balanced manner, it could be because the larynx is in the wrong position. As soon as you go over an octave, you’re challenging the voice very quickly to negotiate between one register and another and go through the transition. As a vocal coach, Line doesn't do that unless she feels the voice is ready for that. SOVTs are great to get the voice ready. Line usually does them at the beginning of every lesson to stretch the ligaments. It’s a great way to warm up the voice and stretch the vocal cords. If Line has a singer who she wants to get more air flow, she’ll make them use a fricative sound that has a lot of air flow, for example a ffff or ssshh.
BEST MOMENTS
‘The problem is that with singing there’s usually more than one thing going on at a time’
‘I don’t want to set their exercises up in a what where they’re constantly failing’
‘I’ll move the voice in that direction depending on what I want to achieve’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website: www.basttraining.com
Social Media: @basttraining
Relevant Links & Mentions: Dr Ingo Titze (On SOVTs) Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.47 Finding The Best Air Pressures and Straw Configurations For Your Voice with Oren Boder Kim Chandler: http://www.kimchandler.com/
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ana Flavia Zuim is a multi-award winning musical director and conductor, musician and associate director of vocal performance at NYU. Her credits include the likes of associate conductor and vocal coach for Billy Elliot tours in the USA and the rehearsal pianist for Hamilton on Broadway. Anna joins Alexa this week on Singing Teachers Talk to discuss her work as a researcher in the field of forensic voice analysis.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Ana’s published paper on the voice started because she noticed there’s not a lot of research on contemporary styles of vocalism that gives an indication of how much is too much. The original intent was to have both the measurements for an opera and a contemporary show and compare the two. About 3 or 4 years ago Ana visited colleagues at Harvard and discussed the KayPENTAX APM 3200, a pretty rare device that they don’t make anymore. They decided to let her borrow it to collect data for her study. With this device they decided to measure the effect on three male identifying voices and three female identifying, this was made up of a major role, minor role, and ensemble for each. They measured separate phases of the show from learning lines to the show day. From the study Ana and the team found that the distance dose, how many cycles the vocal folds go through but converted to distance, was different between males and females. Female identifying singers sang approximately 3.23 miles per day and the male identifying singers about 2.34 miles. Ana believes we need to change the stigma around vocal injuries. Singers feel like they need to push through and are reluctant to get help because of the culture in the theatre. Shows have physical therapists to assist with physical injuries, but don’t have a vocal specialist.
BEST MOMENTS
‘It was fascinating because it gave us an idea on the demands on the voice of preparing for a show’
‘I don’t know if educating will change critics’
‘The stimaga about voice and voice injury is real’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website: www.anaflaviazuim.com
Social Media: @anaflaviazuim
Relevant Links & Mentions: Journal of Voice: www.jvoice.org Vocal Dose and Vocal Demands in Contemporary Musical Theatre by Ana Flavia Zuim, Celia F Stewart & Ingo R Titze: https://www.jvoice.org/article/S0892-1997(21)00278-2/ppt Studied Productions: The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart & Wonderland by Frank Wildhorn & Jack Murphy Maurice E Goodwin SLP Vocal Health Education Example: Astonishing from Little Women by Sutton Foster Ben Platt and Dear Evan Hansen Matt Edwards and the Asbury Park Press (Jon Bon Jovi vocal issues: What is going on and how can it be fixed?): https://eu.app.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/05/09/jon-bon-jovi-voice-vocal-issues-bad-singing/9661274002/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Ana Flavia Zuim is a multi award-winner musical director/conductor and an accomplished pianist, vocologist, electric bassist and expert witness. She serves as Associate Director of Vocal Performance at NYU, Steinhardt. Dr. Zuim holds a bachelor's degree in music from State University of Londrina (UEL), a master's in piano performance (Lynn University, 2006), a doctorate - Ph.D. in Fine and Performing Arts (Florida Atlantic University, 2012) and a Vocology certification (University of Utah, 2015).
Prior to joining the NYU faculty, Dr. Zuim served as Director of Contemporary Voice at the Frost School of Music with a secondary appointment as Lecturer of Otolaryngology at the Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami.
She is an active researcher and has worked in several productions including the Broadway musical Hamilton (Rehearsal Pianist - since 2016), the Broadway Across America tours of Billy Elliot (Associate Conductor/Vocal Coach, 2012), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Keys, 2013), among others.
The knowledge of voice science and acoustics, combined with her passion for languages paved the way into forensic voice analysis. She has served as an expert witness for cases involving both singing and speech, including a death threat case, contributing within her scope of practice to furthering a more just legal system in which evidence is evaluated through evidence-based, data-driven science.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Stephanie is a self-employed natural health therapist, clinical nutritionist, author and health coach. With degrees in Performing Arts and nutritional medicine, and a Masters degree in counselling and psychotherapy, plus a long history as a multi-disciplinary physical therapist, she combines all 3 skill sets to help people with many kinds of health issues, both physical and psychological. Stephanie joins Alexa this week to discuss the do’s and don’ts for singers.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Nutritional needs are not black and white, we all need different things in different amounts. It’s not an absolute science that will be 100% effective for everyone. We need to find what works for us. Stephanie believes in fats. There are healing fats that are essential for healthy bodies, but the highly processed fats and oils will often lead to inflammation. It’s better to use more natural fats to cook with like butter or good quality olive oil. We’d expect to find around 1000 different microbes in a healthy person, and those microbes feed on fibre. Digestion is a process that takes time, so if you’re performing you need to time your meals to optimise your body for when you need to output energy. Apple cider vinegar is a good anti-inflammatory digestive aid.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Muscles, aches and pains, it’s all affected by nutrition’
‘We think about the brain being a separate bit of the body, but they do connect’
‘There are good fats and there are bad fats’
‘Microbes are the programmers of our health, they feed on fibre’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website: www.health-in-hand.co.uk
Social Media: @healthinhanduk
Relevant Links & Mentions: Focus On The Body & The Singer Event: https://www.basttraining.com/event/focus-on-the-body-and-the-singer/ Singing Teacher’s Talk Podcast; Episode 32 - The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4R13bvilWjwQnd9WOfTiVc?si=960e26bf568a4db1 BAST Membership: https://www.basttraining.com/membership-levels/ The Laryngeal Nerves Blog (for the Vagus Nerve): https://www.basttraining.com/the-laryngeal-nerves/ Why Eating Less & Exercising More Makes You Fat! by Stephanie Moore Contact Stephanie Moore directly: stephanie@healthinhand.co.uk
ABOUT THE GUEST
Stephanie is a self-employed natural health therapist, clinical nutritionist, author and health coach. With degrees in Performing Arts and nutritional medicine, and a Masters degree in counselling and psychotherapy, plus a long history as a multi-disciplinary physical therapist, she combines all 3 skill sets to help people with many kinds of health issues, both physical and psychological.
Stephanie has worked in the natural health field for over 30 years offering a comprehensive assessment of my patients’ health issues to then provide detailed, personalised health programmes addressing the individual’s health concerns.
For 9 years Stephanie was head of nutrition at Grayshott Medical Spa and clinical lead for the 7-day digestive health regime that she co-developed in 2012. Her gut health protocol is the inspiration behind GutGastronomy, a cookbook based on her gut healing philosophy. Since the closing of Grayshott Medical Spa in November 2020, Stephanie has relocated the health programme to Goodwood, where it is now run as a 5 day, fully immersive experience at the Goodwood hotel and spa. Stephanie also holds nutritional therapy clinics in Surrey and Online.
Stephanie is often featured in the media as a health expert; she published her first, best-selling book in 2017 called ‘Why Eating Less & Exercising More Makes You Fat!’, which explains why conventional weight loss advice fails and what to do instead to achieve permanent health and weight loss goals. She has also co-authored a new book on Super Foods with doctor of biochemistry and health campaigner, Dr James DiNicolantonio, to be published in 2022 and is now working on a new book, ‘Eat Your Brain Happy’ following her recent training in Nutritional Neuroscience, focusing on the critical role of food, sleep, exercise and other factors known to directly influence the health of the brain.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Speech and language pathologist and singing voice specialist Kerrie Obert has conducted thousands of endoscopies to diagnose and help patients with laryngeal disorders. She is an author of four books, has presented globally at many events and is also the executive principle of getvocal-now.com. Kerrie joins Alexa as this week's guest on Singing Teachers Talk.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Kerrie was drawn to researching the tongue because after doing so many endoscopies she noticed that people were using the pharynx and the tongue in ways that she wasn’t reading about in pedagogical books. Kerrie decided that the tongue needed more of a focus than it was getting. Strength in the back of the tongue and not enough in the front of our tongue leads to uneven muscle activity. We use the back of our tongue to shape every sound we make and we have a lot of contouring and possibilities and if we don’t work on it then we’re losing some of those possibilities. The back of the tongue has its own sensory innovations separate from the front of the tongue. That awareness is something a lot of singers can have problems with because it’s usually more associated with eating and swallowing, not singing. When we feel an emotion, our brain tells our bodies how to feel. But the reverse can also be true, if we’re in a low bad posture, that can send signals to our brains telling them that something is wrong.
BEST MOMENTS
‘The more I learn about the tongue and the pharynx, the more I think this cause needs to be championed’
‘I like to think about the tongue being like a game of tug of war’
‘We think an emotion then our body feels it’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website: www.ObertVoiceStudios.com
Relevant Links & Mentions: getvocal-now.com BAST Membership: https://www.basttraining.com/membership-levels/ Singing With Your Whole Self by Samuel H Nelson & Elizabeth L Blades BAST Book Review - Singing With Your Whole Self by Samuel H Nelson & Elizabeth L Blades: https://www.basttraining.com/singing-with-your-whole-self-a-guide-to-feldenkrais-and-singing/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Kerrie Obert is a speech language pathologist and singing voice specialist from Columbus Ohio. Ms. Obert holds degrees in both musical theatre performance and speech language pathology. She spent nearly 20 years working at The Ohio State University JamesCare Voice & Swallowing Disorders Clinic where she performed thousands of endoscopies as part of a diagnostic team and provided therapy to patients with a wide variety of laryngeal disorders. Ms. Obert was instrumental in setting up the Singing Health Specialization at OSU and served as the Director of Medical Arts for that program. Although she stepped away from her clinical duties at OSU, she remains on the faculty for research purposes. Ms. Obert has written four books on voice and has conducted clinical research using acoustics, MRI and EGG. She has presented on several continents and is passionate about bridging science and art. Ms. Obert is the executive principal of Getvocal-now.com, an online continuing education platform for singers, speech language pathologists and voice teachers. Her current research interests are in pharyngeal and tongue positions as they relate to boosting high frequency energy.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week's guest is specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Lydia Hart. Lydia specialises in the field of Voice and Upper Airway and also works for the NHS and in the Joint Voice Clinic at Wexham Park Hospital. She joins Alexa on Singing Teacher’s Talk to talk about the work she does as an SLT and how that can help you as a singing teacher.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Speech and language therapy provides treatment, support and care for children and adults who have difficulties with communication, or with eating, drinking and swallowing. Speech and language therapists (SLTs) are allied health professionals. They work with parents, carers and other professionals, such as teachers, nurses, occupational therapists and doctors. Training to become an SLT involves a two year Masters or four year Undergrad Degree. Most places where you might study, voice will only be a small part of your course. You can choose to do your research or dissertation on it, but there are a lot of other components that aren’t related to the voice. The GRBAS scale (grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, strain) is the main tool used in auditory-perceptual evaluation, which physicians. and speech pathologists use to subjectively assess the degree and quality of hoarseness. It does not include pitch or volume. The GRBAS scale is as follows: grade 1 (subjectively normal voice), grade 2 (mild dysphonia), grade 3 (moderate dysphonia), grade 4 (severe dysphonia), and grade 5 (aphonic) plus use of additional qualifiers used as necessary - for example, breathy, strained
BEST MOMENTS
‘The longer I’ve worked in this field… I’m realising that we overpathologize so much’
‘If I hear a voice that sounds a bit unusual then I might do a mental GRBAS of it’
‘If you know your own body then you’ll know if you’re getting reflux’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website: www.lydiahartvoice.com
Social Media: @lydiahartvoice
Relevant Links & Mentions: Voice Care Centre: voicecarecentre.co.uk Vocal Health Education: vocalhealtlh.co.uk Declan Costello: www.voicedoctor.co.uk University of Reading: http://www.reading.ac.uk/ GRBAS Scale PPI = Proton Pump Inhibitor Stephen King Singing Teacher’s Talk Podcast; Episode 32 - The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King NeilMed Saline Nasal Rinse Tor Spence: voicefituk.co.uk; @voicefituk
ABOUT THE GUEST
Lydia Hart is a specialist Speech and Language Therapist, working in the field of Voice and Upper Airway. This means she can help people who are experiencing difficulties with their speaking or singing voice, or other throat symptoms. Lydia is known for being vibrant, caring and sensitive, taking time to create and hold a space for clients to work on their voice in a holistic way.
Alongside her work at Voice Care Centre, Lydia works for the NHS and works in the Joint Voice Clinic at Wexham Park Hospital, with leading laryngologist Declan Costello. This involves assessment and management of a range of voice disorders, from muscle tension dysphonia to vocal cord paralysis, and her clinical expertise is constantly expanding.
Lydia is passionate about health and wellbeing, in both her personal and professional life. She enjoys yoga and breath work, as well as weightlifting and rock climbing. Lydia is a singer herself, and voice therapy – which ultimately means working with a person, not a diagnosis – is a true vocation for her.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Vox Yoga is a holistic approach to voice training, considering the voice as a whole instrument. Rosie Secker works in exploring the connection between body, breath, mind and voice, allowing a singer to embody their performance and sing in a healthy and expressive way. She joins Alexa on Singing Teachers Talk to discuss the connection between voice and body. Rosie will also be a guest speaker at the next Focus On event, The Body and The Singer, on June 27, 2022.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Vox Yoga is something people of any age can do although most of Rosie’s classes are focused on adult learning. She does involve these techniques in one on one learning for people of all ages. When we’re in yoga postures, we often work on the core - without overworking it. We can listen to our bodies and take on modifications. Yoga calms your nervous system which is fantastic for overall focus as well. It’s easy to read a textbook that tells you where things are on your body and how they should move, but yoga creates physical awareness. It also highlights that everyone is different in terms of movement and flexibility. To be insured as a yoga teacher, you must be certified; however, you can carefully incorporate yoga techniques into your singing teaching if you understand how they will benefit students.
BEST MOMENTS
‘It can change you having a regular practice’
‘Just getting moving is fantastic’
‘Connecting to the breath helps us move more efficiency’
‘You don’t need anything to become a beginner’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website: www.voxyoga.co.uk www.rosiesecker.co.uk
Social Media: @voxyogawithrosie
Relevant Links & Mentions: Focus On The Body & The Singer Event: https://www.basttraining.com/event/focus-on-the-body-and-the-singer/ Yoga for Singers by Linda Lister Vocal Yoga Teacher Certification with Heather Lyle: vocalyoga.com Vocal Yoga: The Joy of Breathing, Singing and Sounding by Heather Lyle Yoga and Singing by Judith E Carman Vocal Health Education: vocalhealtlh.co.uk BAST Training: basttraining.com Thomas Myers: Myofascial Release Vox Yoga Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/VoxYoga
ABOUT THE GUEST
Rosie trained with the vocal department at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, graduating with a First Class BMus (Hons). She went on to pursue a Master of Arts at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and since graduating has led a successful portfolio career as a singing teacher, holistic voice teacher and performer.
As a singing teacher, Rosie has worked in a variety of contexts with different colleges, ensembles, age groups and abilities. She currently teaches at Bird College (Conservatoire of Dance & Musical Theatre) on the Degree and Diploma courses, and teaches singing at Lewes Old Grammar School, also running three choirs. Rosie has completed Estill Levels 1&2, is a Certified Vocal Health First Aider and is hoping to
become a Vocal Rehabilitation Professional. Rosie is also a Certified 500hr Yoga Teacher, Certified Vocal Yoga Teacher and runs her own Vox Yoga workshops for organisations and individuals.
Rosie works with singers to find their own unique voice, and sing with ease and confidence. Vox Yoga is a holistic approach to voice training, considering the voice as a whole instrument. Exploring the connection between body, breath, mind and voice, allows a singer to embody their performance and sing in a healthy and expressive way.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Debbie Winter is the director of the Voice Study Centre and creator of popular Facebook group Voice Geek. Debbie has three published peer reviewed articles and she’s partnered with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David to form a training pathway in vocal pedagogy. Hear her discussion with Alexa on taking the academic route on this week's Singing Teachers Talk.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Debbie believes the academic route into becoming a singing teacher is good because it enables people from diverse backgrounds and builds on their knowledge in the right areas. It also allows you to think critically about the work you do and form your own opinions from the different methodologies you study. It allows you to build your own pedagogical pathway. The course Debbie is involved with is a masters degree so you will need a degree level qualification already to qualify. There is now a foundation degree where those without a degree already can work towards the masters course if they have the right real world experience. A lot of the students go on to write pieces of work which have been published in well respected places. The Voice Study Centre also opens up its doors for free for special talks on skill development. There are also cheap and affordable courses that are open to everyone.
BEST MOMENTS
‘A lot of foundation students go on to do some publishable work’
‘We give 5 times more support than your average academic degree’
‘You can’t be a lone wolf in the academic field’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website: voicestudycentre.com
Social Media: @voicestudycentre
Relevant Links & Mentions: Voice Geek Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/VoiceGeek/ Cardiff Metropolitan University: cardiffmet.ac.uk University of Wales Trinity St David: uwtsd.ac.uk Estill: com Juliet Russell: com Emily Foulkes: https://www.musicforgood.uk/projects-3 Dr David Juncos Sophie Garner: com Chadley Ballantyne: https://www.chadleyballantyne.com/ Jeanie LoVetri Somatic Voicework:com Dr Trineice Robinson-Martin: com Line Hilton:com Respiratory Function in Speech & Song by Thomas J Hixon Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA): vasta.org The Voice and Speech Review (VASTA) Rockford Sansom: com Journal of Voice:org Journal of Interdisciplinary Voice Studies National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS): org Journal of Singing (NATS): https://www.nats.org/cgi/page.cgi/about_journal_singing.html Christian Herbst (Vocal Registers Research) British Voice Association: britishvoiceassociation.org.uk Association of Teachers of Singing (AOTOS): org British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM): org.uk Debbie Winter: debbie@voicestudycentre.com
ABOUT THE GUEST
Debbie Winter (LLB Hons, MA) lectured in Law and sang professionally on the jazz scene before deciding to change careers and become a vocal coach. Debbie worked in partnership with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) and leading pedagogues to develop a unique training MA pathway in Vocal Pedagogy.
She is the Director of The Voice Study Centre and is responsible for all aspects of provision ranging from academic content, staffing, recruitment, pastoral care, business development and innovation.
Debbie was nominated for the Student-Led Teaching Fellowship awards for her outstanding work on the previous programme at Cardiff Metropolitan University and is the only external provider to receive such recognition. The programme was also shortlisted for the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence ‘Outstanding Music Educational Product’ in 2019 and UWTSD has recognised the Voice Study Centre to be a Centre of Excellence.
Debbie has also established the popular Facebook group Voice Geek, which consists of 5.3k members. She has also published three peer-reviewed articles on practitioner research and performance anxiety and is on the Editorial Board of the Voice and Speech Review published by Routledge.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Vocal coach and mental health first aider, Cat Ogden joins Bronwyn this week on Singing Teachers Talk to discuss the topics of well being and mental health. Cat’s studio specialises in singing for mental health and wellbeing and she is also studying for a masters where her research work focuses on adolescent mental health.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Self care isn’t taking yourself on a spa day and it’s not a selfish thing to do. It’s about taking time for yourself. You cannot support those around you or do your job to the best of your ability if you are not taking time for self care. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood. ACEs can include violence, abuse, and growing up in a family with mental health or substance use problems. Toxic stress from ACEs can change brain development and affect how the body responds to stress. We never stop learning, not only to become a better singer and a better vocal coach, but also because things change, new ideas and new information becomes available.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Absolutely everyone should practice self care’
‘I can’t ever imagine a point in my life where I’m not learning about the voice’
‘The BAST course is the best thing I’ve ever done, it’s given me so many opportunities’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website: https://catogdensinging.com/
Social Media: @catogdensinging
Relevant Links & Mentions: Adverse Childhood Experiences
ABOUT THE GUEST
Cat Ogden trained at UCLan in Music Theatre and is currently studying for a Master’s in Voice Pedagogy with the Voice Study Centre. She specialises in teaching children and young adults, and in singing for mental health and well-being. Cat has a certificate in mental health first aid, vocal health first aid and has completed the BAST 20 hour course. She lives in Cheshire.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aliki Katriou is a metal singer and vocal coach who teaches across many different styles. She studied with New York Vocal Coaching and is now involved in helping train their coaches in extreme vocals, as well as delivering masterclasses on distortion for music schools across the US and UK. She joins Alexa on this week's Singing Teachers Talk to discuss exploring extreme vocals.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Extreme vocals fall under a vague umbrella, like most other things in singing. They might fit under the heading of extended vocal techniques. They’re the unnatural noises that most singing teachers don’t want to hear. Some people would say that whistling and yodeling are extreme vocals. Misconceptions around extreme vocals are that they’re unhealthy or harmful. There is also the misconception that it is a natural sound because a baby can do it, but the problem is babies and adults have different anatomies, so the comparison is flawed. The idea that extreme vocals are harmful to your voice can be easily countered by the number of singers in their 60s and older who still do it.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I felt like the higher I went in my range, the more comfortable and effortless everything was’
‘I like students to have examples’
‘The fear of extreme vocals is only enforced by authority figures’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website: www.aliki.katriou.com
Social Media: @aliki.katriou_vocals
Relevant Links & Mentions: New York Vocal Coaching: newyorkvocalcoaching.com Artist Examples: Earth Song by Michael Jackson; Fit For An Autopsy; Cattle Decapitation; Opeth; Bring Me The Horizon; Slipknot; Bryan Adams; Britney Spears; In This Moment; Leave a Light On by Tom Walker; Arch Enemy; Beetlejuice the Musical; Kurt Cobain; Beyonce; Kristen Chenoweth; Nirvana; Soundgarden Mongolian Throat Singing research (for death metal growling) Vocal Health Education: https://vocalhealth.co.uk/ Descartes' Error by Antonio Damasio Aliki Katriou Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AlikiKatriou
ABOUT THE GUEST
Aliki loves singing in all its varieties, especially extreme vocals. A soprano, she started classical singing lessons at age 16, which she continues to this day. Realising early on that classical technique couldn't produce some tones that interested her, Aliki took contemporary singing lessons in a variety of styles and eventually trained as a singing teacher. She has an extensive knowledge of classical technique, contemporary styles and extreme vocals. Since 2013, she has been teaching voice to students from around the globe in many different genres.
Aliki is known as the vocalist in the critically acclaimed Greek metal project Desolate Plains, the lyricist and female voice for Tattered Pages - an international project hailing from Birmingham - and the lyricist and vocalist for her own band; Eight Lives Down.
As a graduate from one of the world's leading vocal studios, New York Vocal Coaching, Aliki continues on as a consultant by training their vocal coaches on vocal distortions, and is also the guest speaker Distortion Specialist at their Teacher Training courses. She continues to study as an advanced voice teacher with world-renowned authors Dr. Gillyanne Kayes and Jeremy Fisher of Vocal Process and has been asked to teach Master Classes on distortion at music schools in the US and the UK.
Constantly expanding her knowledge on voice, Aliki has completed the first two tiers of the vocal health course with Dr Jenevora Williams and the team from Vocal Health Education. She is in the process of completing the full three tiers.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What’s it like to turn your back on the corporate world and become your own boss? 18 months ago David Valks quit his career in recruitment and started his own vocal coaching business. David joins Bronwyn this week on Singing Teachers Talk to chat about how he got into singing teaching and what BAST has done for him.
KEY TAKEAWAYS David did the five-day BAST course and found it to be everything he needed to start teaching. He knew how to sing but not how to teach and that’s where the knowledge that came from the BAST course really helped him. After studying with BAST, David felt reassured that his piano skills were up to scratch for the role of singing teacher. David thinks a good singing teacher elevates a student and helps them reach their full potential. Because of the area where his business is based, David can’t get too specialised in terms of what he offers his students. Looking for ways to increase your knowledge doesn’t just keep things fresh for you, but for your students too.
BEST MOMENTS
‘You always remember the singing teachers you had when you were younger and that inspires you’
‘It gave me a foundation and all the fundamentals I needed to start as a singing teacher’
‘Some people want a strict formal teacher, that’s not me, I want to have fun’
‘You learn from the student too’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website
www.dvss.com.au
Social Media:
Facebook: DavidValksSingingSchool
Relevant Links & Mentions:
ArtsEd School
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
ABOUT THE GUEST
David is a singing teacher, podcaster, and founder of the David Valks Singing School on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
He started singing at a young age and was lucky to be trained by an amazing singing teacher in Scotland. He still uses the tools and techniques that he learned back then to this day. The impact that this teacher was one of the reasons he went on to become a teacher himself.
David studied Musical Theatre for three years at Arts Educational in London. After graduating, he performed in the West End, with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, toured the UK many times (Joseph, Pirates of Penzance, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and A Christmas Carol) and travelled the world as a lead vocalist for a cruise line.
He completed the BAST programme for singing teachers before starting his singing studio.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bass-baritone Chadley Ballantyne is Assistant Professor of Music, Voice at Stetson University. Dr Ballantyne is a frequent guest speaker on the topic of applying vocal acoustic pedagogy for both classical and CCM techniques. He joins Alexa this week on Singing Teachers Talk to discuss acoustics, formants, and resonances. Think of this episode as your guide to getting to grips with vocal acoustics.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Within voice pedagogy, there is no consistency in the use of terms formant and resonance. Chadley explains that the vocal tract is a resonator with multiple resonances. Those resonances create formants in the radiated sound. So the formant is the thing that we hear and affects timbre, and the resonance is the thing in the vocal tract that causes the formant. The F1 and F2 formants are known as the vowel formants, they’re impacted quite a lot by the movement of the mouth. We can create favourable matchups for certain vocal techniques by lining up a vowel with a harmonic. One of the articulation problems Chadley runs into is that a lot of singers don’t use their tongue in an open space, but instead crimping that open space to meet the tongue. We want our tongue to be active and precise. The vowel E needs high frequency energy to stand out in contrast to the low frequency energy in your tone.
BEST MOMENTS
‘If I can move a formant I can do something with it and get better at it’
‘You use language everyday so you use formants all day long’
‘We don’t even realise our body is reacting to that oncoming change’
‘This R that I’ve been given so much grief about in my classical singing is actually so cool’
EPISODE RESOURCES BAST Training
Guest Website https://www.chadleyballantyne.com/ https://www.stetson.edu/other/faculty/chadley-ballantyne.php
Relevant Links & Mentions: Pan-American Vocology Association Symposium: pavavocology.org NATs (National Association of Teachers of Singing): nats.org Vocology in Practice: www.vocologyinpractice.org The Evolving Singing Voice: Changes Across the Lifespan by Karen Brunssen Ken Bozeman: www.kenbozeman.com Justin Stoney & New York Vocal Coaching: www.newyorkvocalcoaching.com Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 48 Getting Started as A Teacher, Creating Content & Vocal Versatility with Justin Stoney Overtone Singing Ian Howell: ianhowellcountertenor.com Voce Vista & Bodo Maas: vocevista.com Practical Vocal Acoustics & Kinesthetic Vocal Pedagogy by Ken Bozeman The work of Donald Gray Miller
ABOUT THE GUEST
Bass-baritone Chadley Ballantyne is Assistant Professor of Music, Voice at Stetson University. Dr. Ballantyne is a frequent guest speaker on the topic of applying vocal acoustic pedagogy for both classical and CCM techniques. He has presented his work at the 2017 Pan-American Vocology Association Symposium in Toronto, Canada, the 2017 West Central and Central Regional NATS Conferences, the 55th NATS National Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, the VASTA/PAVA 2018 Joint Conference in Seattle, Washington, the 2020 National Opera Association Southeastern Regional Conference, and at the 56th NATS National Virtual Conference. He is a co-instructor at the Acoustic Vocal Pedagogy Summer Workshop held at the New England Conservatory of Music. Chadley is a contributing author to The Evolving Singing Voice: Changes Across the Lifespan, by Prof. Karen Brunssen.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hannah Smikle is a professional voice coach and vocalist, working for over 15 years in the music industry. She has extensive experience both in live performance as a gigging musician and backing vocalist, and in the studio as a session singer and recording artist. She joins Alexa this week on Singing Teachers’ Talk to discuss how you can boost a singer's self confidence.
KEY TAKEAWAYS The lack of live shows over Covid has impacted singers emotionally, financially, physically, and vocally. We’ve all been wondering “do I still have it” or “am I still going to be able to deliver”. The root of low confidence can often go back as far as childhood and those feelings of anxiety or nerves are programmed into our heads if things don’t go well early on. There is also a fear of judgement that people can develop, someone might not want to sing in front of an audience, or maybe not even want you, the teacher, to be watching them while they sing. Never be afraid to change our session to suit the mood of your student. If they’re not in a good way or have had a really tough day, we can alter what we do for them. CBT is based on the concept that your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and actions are interconnected, and that negative thoughts and feelings can trap you in a vicious cycle. CBT aims to help you deal with overwhelming problems in a more positive way by breaking them down into smaller parts. Preparation is so much more than we think it is. There are so many tiny things that can make us feel more prepared. For example if you’re performing at a new venue, you can prepare your voice, but you can also prepare where you’re going to park, if there is a phone charger in the dressing room, if you’ve made a connection with any of the staff there. It’s all preparation.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I never thought that I’d anticipate the sweet spray of a lip trill from someone else quite as much’
‘We need to understand the difference between being a listener and being a counsellor’
‘Make that performance a positive experience’
‘We have a choice of how we can react’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website:
vocalperformancecoaching.com
Social Media:
@vocalperformancecoaching
Relevant Links & Mentions:
‘Empowering The Vocalist’ Event (2nd April 2022; Manchester):
Line Hilton
Accent Method
BAPAM (British Association for Performing Arts Medicine)
CBT Therapy (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
ABOUT THE GUEST
Hannah Smikle is a professional voice coach and vocalist, working for over 15 years in the music industry. She has extensive experience both in live performance as a gigging musician and backing vocalist, and in the studio as a session singer and recording artist.
Hannah has an impressive multi-disciplinary approach to vocal training – using her advanced technical knowledge alongside her industry experience, she is passionate about equipping a singer for optimum performance, be that on stage or in the studio. Hannah frequently works with vocalists to engineer and coach a recording session, enabling the singer to capture their best, most authentic vocal delivery. She has a holistic approach to working with performers, highly regarding whole-person wellbeing in the coaching process.
Hannah is dedicated to continuing her professional development; she regularly attends specialist courses, is a qualified Vocal Health First Aider, has a level 3 certificate in Counselling Skills, and is currently training as a Vocal Health Practitioner with Vocal Health England. She is a recommended Sing Space Coach, and a member of the Musician’s Union.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Amelia, AKA 'Curly Coach' is a specialist musical theatre vocal coach who has been delivering coaching to children and young people in theatre, film and television for 20 years. Amelia joins Alexa this week on Singing Teachers Talk to chat about her vast career, getting young people excited about non-contemporary singing, teaching legit, the importance of quiet singing, and most of all how to deal with pushy parents.
KEY TAKEAWAYS People think that you always have to hit those hard notes and belt out a song, but casting directors look for variety and range. Quiet singing is a controlled skill that many people need to learn. We know students don’t always want to listen to us. A great way of teaching is encouraging our students to go and find things out by themselves. Encourage them to listen to a singer do a wide range of styles, so they can hear and feel it for themselves. A good way to see what musical directors want in the here and now is to compare how the sound of a musical has evolved over the years. Compare the original sound to how it is currently being performed. Some of Amelia’s advice for dealing with pushy parents is to get an expert to back you up. If you can find a class or talk on video where an expert agrees with you, it will help convince them that you’re right. Another approach is the banter approach, it won’t work with everyone but talking to them and lightly letting them know that you wouldn’t tell them how to do their job. Don’t be afraid to let a student with toxic parents go. Acknowledge that they have different needs.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I always wanted to play Rizzo but always ended up a Sandy’
‘To sing big, you’ve got to be able to sing small’
‘Each time period has its own evolving sound’
‘In the industry at the moment, people are needing to be as diverse as possible’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website
www.ameliacarrvoice.com
Social Media:
@AmeliaCarrVocalCoach
curlycoach
Relevant Links & Mentions: Mentioned Musicals: Hamilton; Dear Evan Hansen; Grease; Rent; Carousel; Oklahoma!; The Sound of Music; Frozen; Heathers; The King & I; Sweet Charity; Gypsy; Easter Parade; On the Town; Wicked; The Bridges of Madison County; Singing in the Rain; Company; Matilda; Les Miserables Mentioned Artists: Rodgers & Hammerstein; Cole Porter; Jason Robert Brown; Adele; Carrie Hope Fletcher; Kelli O’Hara; Louise Dearman; Cynthia Erivo; Steven Pasquale Jai Ramage Kim Chandler The Vocalscope Book club Nadine Cox
ABOUT THE GUEST
Amelia, AKA 'Curly Coach' is a specialist musical theatre vocal coach who has worked in the professional industry and has been delivering coaching to children and young people who work professionally in theatre, film and television for 20 years. Amelia's experience of performing, coaching and having run a 380-strong performing arts school, coupled with a passion for coaching professional performers, inspires her work, bringing an understanding of the complexities faced by young performers training for and working in the industry.
Amelia has worked at many UK training schools and colleges, and currently enjoys teaching some of the many talented performers at Laine theatre arts as well as at her private London practice and her Online Singing School Associate programme.
Her studies have involved a multi-disciplinary research project for helping professional children in musical theatre experiencing performance anxiety. Amelia received a distinction for her MA research project and is now teaching these helpful strategies to teachers and performers of all ages across the UK.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In her former life, Tommy Ludgate performed with Paloma Faith, Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller; now she helps people fulfil their creative and professional goals. Tommy joins Bronwyn Bidwell on Singing Teachers Talk this week to share her story of going from singing to coaching, they discuss overcoming challenges and how you can unlock your creative potential.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Tommy works a lot to shift perceptions around failure. We’re brought up to think that failure is a bad thing, but Tommy coaches people to develop a growth mindset, and to see every failure as an opportunity for growth. Fear will always follow you into a new venture or experience. Instead of letting fear stop you from doing something new, remember that it will be there no matter what, so don't let it control you. Networking is important. Tommy has built up a network of people she can go to for advice. Collaboration brings in skill sets that you haven't had the chance to develop yet. Before you work with a coach, it’s important to find the right person for you. Take your time and do some research, have conversations with people.
BEST MOMENTS
‘There’s a feeling of hitting the same wall over and over again’
‘Fear is always going to be part of that, so invite it along anyway’
‘Seek conversation and ask for other people’s input’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website:
brightlyimagine.com
Social Media:
Instagram @tommyludgatecoach
Relevant Links & Mentions:
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
The Practice by Seth Godin
Magic Lessons podcast
ABOUT THE GUEST
Tommy Ludgate is a certified coach who helps creatives achieve professional and personal success. She has more than a decade’s experience in coaching singers, songwriters and performers, and is an expert in nurturing people and bringing their talents to the main stage.
In her former life, Tommy performed with Paloma Faith, Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller and worked as vocal coach at the BIMM Institute in London.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Justin Stoney is the Founder of New York Vocal Coaching, developer of the NYVC Voice Teacher Training Program, and author of the award-winning book Sing Like Never Before. His clients have included Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award-winning artists, and now he joins Alexa on this week's Singing Teachers Talk. Find out about his incredible story of finding his way into teaching and get some great tips on creating content.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Justin had only just got to New York and was about to go into an audition when he was asked to play piano for another audition. He ended up playing accompaniment for one of the best casting directors on Broadway who told him he had what it takes to be a great singing teacher. We all learn in different ways, it’s about finding out what works best for each individual. Some people learn by playing games and others learn by learning the science and the technical theories. Justin alters his method for each person and works with them to find their own path to learning. He doesn't expect everyone to practice all day, people have their own lives and his vocal studio is a safe space for them to come and sing, not feel guilty. If an hour's practice at home is too much, then spend 10 minutes practising your favourite song whenever you can fit it in. Voice Lessons to the World started on YouTube as a way for Justin to give back to the vocal community and those who might not be able to access the resources he had. He found a lot of online content was sometimes misleading and wanted to combat this. Justin doesn’t see his success in his vocal coaching as a result of his YouTube channel, in fact it’s the other way around, his success allowed him to give back with the free online lessons.
BEST MOMENTS
‘When one of the greatest casting directors in New York City tells you have what it takes to be a great vocal coach, you listen’
‘The best teachers are just the best students’
‘I went into the arts to inspire and to give, with teaching that always happens’
‘I just can’t wait for the next lesson where we see this persons next link’
EPISODE RESOURCES BAST Training
Guest Website:
NewYorkVocalCoaching.com VoiceTeacherTraining.com VoiceLessonsToTheWorld.com SingLikeNeverBefore.com
Social Media:
@newyorkvocalcoaching
Relevant Links & Mentions:
Barry Moss (Casting Director)
Justin’s Mentors: David Jones; Aaron Hagan
Your Voice, an Inside View by Scott Mccoy
Johan Sundberg
Dr Ingo Titze
Youtube (including Voice Lessons to the World & the David Phelps Series): https://www.youtube.com/user/NewYorkVocalCoaching
David Phelps
ABOUT THE GUEST
Justin Stoney is the Founder of New York Vocal Coaching, developer of the NYVC Voice Teacher Training Program, and author of the award-winning book Sing Like Never Before.
Justin has taught thousands of singers and voice teachers from around the world. His clients also include Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award-winning artists. He has been invited as a presenter for lectures and workshops both nationally and internationally for numerous conferences, appeared on multiple media outlets, including NBC, CBS, and ABC, and been featured in multiple publications, including The New York Times, Esquire, and SELF. He is a member of NATS, ViP, PAVA, VASTA, The Voice Foundation, Actors' Equity, and SAG-AFTRA. Justin also collaborates with leading voice doctors and laryngologists to help bridge the gap between vocal pedagogy and voice medicine.
Justin is devoted to helping all people "Make A Joyful Noise" and passionate about helping Voice Teachers develop their teaching gifts and inspiring them to approach Voice Teaching as a craft and art-form.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How can a straw make us better singers? Oren Boder is an award winning singing teacher, voice researcher, entrepreneur, and inventor of the SOVT Singing Straw. Oren joins Alexa this week on Singing Teachers’ Talk to tell us all about what SOVT is, how it works, and how it can help us as singing teachers.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Oren didn’t set out to write a book, he took all the recorded talks he’d done in the past and ran them through an AI transcriber. He then took the bits that sounded good and tweaked them. A Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract (SOVT) means there is some sort of narrowing somewhere along the vocal tract, which is anywhere from the vocal cords to the lips. Semi-occluded vocal tract: Say the OO /u/, V /v/, Z /z/, J /ʤ/, or M /m/ sounds - notice how your lips and/or teeth come together to shape the sound. This also happens with a lip or a tongue trill - the airflow is “semi” closed off to make a sound. Fully closed vocal tract: Close your mouth and purse your lips together. Your vocal tract is closed (except for your nasal passage for breathing). SOVT exercises can improve the conditions inside the throat as your vocal cords are vibrating. They do this by neutralising the pressure that is coming up from the lungs. When you have a semi-occluded vocal tract, some of the airflow is blocked from exiting the mouth, because your lips and/or teeth are closing off the airflow as you say “OO”, “ZZ”, “VV”, etc. This airflow is reflected back towards the vocal cords (see the following pages for drawings) and pushes back against the vocal cords from the top. This pushing from the top will balance out the pressure that is being pushed up from below from the lungs, and this allows your vocal cords to vibrate more efficiently (not too pressed or strained, not too breathy). cmH2O is a pressure unit that is mostly used to measure breathing on respirators and ventilators which are used in medical and physiological applications such as controlling respiratory conditions or monitoring athletic performance.
BEST MOMENTS
‘It’s like a Swiss army knife of techniques’
‘We never want to train in the extreme because we don’t want to be under loading or overloading our voice’
‘We can get a minimum of 40 resistance configurations from one device, it can be infinite’
‘The products we have designed have been designed by an aerospace engineer’
EPISODE RESOURCES BAST Training
Guest Website Website: www.rayvox.co.uk
Social Media: Instagram: @sovtstraw
Relevant Links & Mentions:
Singing Through A Straw Can Make You An Awesome Singer by Oren Boder
Singing Teachers Talk: Episode 30 - Clearing the Brain Fog with John Henny: Covid-19, Acoustics, Passive Income & The Teaching Triangle
Balloon Activity for Maximum Threshold Pressure (MPT) (shared by Chris Johnson with credit to Kerrie Obert)
ABOUT THE GUEST
Oren is an award winning singing teacher, voice researcher, entrepreneur, and inventor of the SOVT Singing Straw, and is proudly supported by both the Prince’s Trust and Virgin Startup. Oren believes in enriching lives through the arts, and through the pursuit of meaningful science, develops innovative tools and resources to help singers enhance and improve their vocal development, health, and wellbeing, whilst also having an impact on the universe.
Oren's journey started at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where he trained in singing and vocal technique, as well as studying internationally in Holland in collaboration with the London College of Music, and then with New York Vocal Coaching (NYVC). Oren also holds a degree in Psychology. His current pedagogical focus is on researching and developing vocal development tools and techniques that involve singing through straws, using state of the art computer simulations to explore the interactions of airflow and air pressures of different straw types and their effects on the voice.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The beginning of the year is always the time we make promises to ourselves and by February, we’ve all forgotten about them. Gemma Sugrue is a vocal coach and certified Tiny Habits coach and joins Bronwyn on Singing Teachers Talk this week to tell you how to trick your brain for the better. Listen in to learn how to develop lasting and positive habits.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
B = M A P. This means Behaviour = Motivation, Ability, and a Prompt. A lot of us lean into motivation for forming a new habit. Instead of relying on this you should lean on your ability to do it. Meaning, if you can remove as many of the obstacles as you can that stand between you and a new habit, then we are more likely to do it. Remove the friction. To make a new habit you need to set your goals and aspirations from the beginning. You then need to break it down into milestones and make a list of daily behaviours that will get us to that milestone. These behaviours should be two things, easy and effective. If it’s not easy then we’re not going to do it, and if it’s not effective then why are we doing it. We have to create pleasure within the practice. As singing teachers we need to instil the element of fun or winning when trying to get your students into good habits around singing and keeping your voice healthy. Help your students learn how to self praise.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Motivation is a fickle friend’
‘The pain is in having to be patient’
‘Creating a habit is to celebrate it’
‘Not hitting snooze was the biggest win in my life’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Gemma on Instagram
Voiceworks Studio
Atomic Habits
The Fogg Behaviour Model
Tiny Habits
High 5 Habit
Cal Newport
Elizabeth Gilbert
Hubermanlab Podcast
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Breathing is something we all do subconsciously all day every day, so can we be doing it wrong? Barbara Tanze coaches amateur and professional athletes to optimise their respiratory biomechanics and physiology, both online and at her private practice in Slovenia. She joins Alexa this week on Singing Teachers’ Talk to break down how breathing affects the voice and body as a whole. Barbara will also be part of BAST’s ‘Focus On Breathing’ Event on Friday 11th February 2022, linked in the notes below.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Barbara became interested in breathing after being on stage and hyperventilating due to a tight costume. Our bodies are very adaptable but you need to know and be used to the costumes we wear on stage and they need some kind of elasticity to them. When working with a student, make sure you have a discussion about breathing. Make it an exploration with open questions. Never force something on someone like you should feel this or you’re doing this wrong. It can be a pretty strange thing for someone to hear that they are breathing wrong. Make it open with no wrong answers ever. Barbara also teaches athletes optimal breathing which differs from singers as an athlete needs to be more mobile in the shoulders for example, but a singer would need to be more mobile in the neck. This is to do with making sure you have the range of motion you need in specific places and how your breathing can optimise that.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Our bodies are amazingly adaptable’
‘Without a basic understanding of how the instrument works you can’t maintain progress in your work’
‘We’re always trying to explain internal pressure on the outside’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training www.voiceup.si Instagram: @btbreathing Facebook: Barbara Tanze - Breathing Coach Get your tickets here for BAST’s ‘Focus On Breathing’ Event on Friday 11th February 2022: https://www.basttraining.com/event/ol-feb-fo-breathing/#tribe-tickets Robin de Haas & MDH Breathing Co-ordination: https://www.breathingcoordination.ch/en/welcome/ Singing And The Premenstrual Voice: https://www.basttraining.com/singing-and-the-premenstrual-voice/ Oren Boder: https://www.ob1.co.uk/ The Art of Breath (Brian Mackenzie & Rob Wilson): https://shiftadapt.com/ The Sing Space: https://thesingspace.com/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Born in Munich, Germany and raised between Germany, Switzerland and the USA, Barbara Tanze graduated from the Conservatoire de Lausanne with an M.A. in vocal pedagogy and classical vocal performance.
After several years of concentrating on her operatic career, Barbara also explored and studied other vocal styles before discovering her passion for optimal breathing.
Barbara has completed an advanced certificate in MDH Breathing Coordination as well as several other breath-related training programmes. She is an external consultant at Modern Vocal Training and a visiting lecturer at different institutions, including the Pacific Opera Company in Sydney, the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, the World Voice Teachers Expo and the Slovenian Institute for Rehabilitation.
In addition to her work with singers and voice teachers, Barbara coaches amateur and professional athletes to optimise their respiratory biomechanics and physiology, both online and at her private practice in Slovenia.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Creator of Teach Voice and one half of The Naked Vocalist, Chris Johnson discusses vocal registers and keeping your dynamic range long term. He also explains abduction and adduction and explores the TA/CT dominance debate.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Chris recognised the need to create a course dedicated to vocal registers after listening to the opinions of a lot of different people in the vocal coaching community. Many teachers change their views and understanding of pedagogy as more information and research comes out about the voice. Chris recommends teachers make time to stay up to date with the latest voice research. Abduction: The vocal folds abduct (come apart) in order to let air in and out of the lungs during breathing. Adduction: The vocal folds may adduct (come together) to trap air in the lungs. They may also adduct to vibrate to produce vocal sound. The TA/CT debate is a little problematic. TA-dominance is responsible for chest voice quality and CT-dominance is responsible for head voice quality as the vocal folds become either thick and short or thin and lengthened. TA-dominance is all about perception rather than reality, it doesn’t necessarily have to do with the chest.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Most pedagogues will have changed their ideas over time as more evidence comes out’
‘If you don’t practice functional chest, then you will effect your ability to be dynamic in the long run’
‘Chest voice is a perception, it’s not a reality’
EPISODE RESOURCES BAST Training
Guest Website Teacher Training: https://www.teachvoice.com Artist Coaching: https://www.chrisjohnsonvocalcoach.com
Social Media: @teachvoicetraining @chrisjohnsonvocalcoach
Relevant Links & Mentions: The Naked Vocalist Podcast: https://www.thenakedvocalist.com/ Glottal Configurations by Christian Herbst & Jan Svec Dr Ingo Titze Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Episode 31 - Where to Start with Digital Marketing with Candi Louise. LCA = Lateral Cricoarytenoid IA = Interarytenoid Falsetto Voice Example: Robin Thicke (Lost Without You) Principles of Voice Production by Dr Ingo Titze Vocology by Dr Ingo Titze and Kitty Verdonlini Nathalie Henrich Bernardoni National Association of Teachers of Singing: https://www.nats.org/ NATS Snakepit: YouTube.com/watch?v=zcFi6QvEduA
ABOUT THE GUEST
Chris Johnson started his performance career in a casual choir before working as a professional singer for 12 years. During the early part of his career, Chris’s busy schedule took its toll on his voice. Narrowly missing a serious vocal injury, he relearned his instrument and started on a never-ending journey of vocal development.
After seeking help and turning his own seemingly ‘hopeless’ voice around, Chris realised he might also be able to help other singers and moved into vocal coaching.
Chris has worked with major label artists, West End leads, backing vocalists, singer/songwriters and vocal coaches. He also helps singing teachers worldwide to up-skill, navigate the overwhelming amount of pedagogical options, and develop their own technical and business acumen.
Chris has also trained in manual laryngeal therapies and studied with scientists in vocal acoustics, physical and somatic therapy, and laryngology. He’s also one half of The Naked Vocalist podcasting/blogging duo.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week Singing Teachers Talk takes a deep dive into the songwriting process with artist, songwriter and vocal coach Allie Moss. The New Orleans-based songwriter reveals how the creative process works for her and shares some top writing tips. Allie’s music has featured in Charmed, Batwoman, and Netflix’s Virgin River. She also co-leads education platform Thinking Outside the Blocks.
KEY TAKEAWAYS There is no one defining skill that you need to be a songwriter, but it helps if you’re good at storytelling and able to allow yourself to be vulnerable. Try reverse engineering the structure of your favourite song. Try ghost writing and counting the syllables. Then write something with the same number of syllables in each line. Keep the hook in the same place and rewrite it in your own words. The melody is not more important than the lyrics, nor are the lyrics more important than the melody. There is no one-size-fits-all formula for writing a song. Just experiment and follow your feelings. Sometimes writing songs is just for you. It can be a deeply personal way of processing emotion, rather than being intended to be shared with the rest of the world. Focus on getting your emotions out on the page. You can spend time and edit later. While the emotion is there you should use that without trying to filter it down.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I got bitten by the bug of making something out of nothing and being that creative spark’
‘Songwriting can feel like a little bubble where you’re alone with your thoughts and fears’
‘Pause and assess your skills with kindness and honesty’
EPISODE RESOURCES BAST Training
Guest Website:
alliemoss.com thinkingoutsidetheblocks.com/ patreon.com/alliemoss
Social Media:
@alliemoss @thinkingoutsidetheblocks
Relevant Links & Mentions:
Allie’s artist examples: Joni Mitchell, Sia, David Bazan, Bon Iver, Coldplay, Joseph, The Beatles
Blog on The Genius Myth: https://thinkingoutsidetheblocks.com/listentothisrevisionisthistory
Recommended Podcast: https://www.pushkin.fm/episode/hallelujah
Music Technology Tools: Pro Tools; Logic Pro; Garageband; Splice
Yamaha Reface CP
ABOUT THE GUEST
New Jersey-born Allie Moss is an artist, songwriter, sideman, and vocal coach. Her 2011 debut Late Bloomer landed high-profile syncs on Pretty Little Liars, Bones, Parenthood, and a prominent BT Infinity campaign in the UK. Since then her songs have been placed in many TV & film spots throughout the years. Most recently, her single “Already Down” was featured in Charmed, Batwoman, and Netflix’s Virgin River. She’s been an integral member of Ingrid Michaelson’s band since 2006 and has also toured backing William Fitzsimmons, Joshua Radin, and Rosi Golan.
Allie co-leads Thinking Outside the Blocks with her longtime collaborator Bess Rogers. TOTB is an education platform and soon-to-be membership for songwriters of all levels and genres. Its workshops and resources are designed to help writers break away from unhelpful mindsets and patterns and get them into a place where their creativity is flowing and evolving. What began in 2016 as a single presentation on their personal experiences working through their creative blocks is now a thriving community offering free weekly Community Classes, monthly BlockBusters songwriting challenges, Immersive Workshops, Coaching, and 2 courses (Rhythm for Songwriters, Music Theory for Songwriters).
Allie currently lives in New Orleans, LA with her partner, where she is writing songs, learning Logic Pro, and getting used to the humidity and hurricanes. Her next single, “Forward Motion” will be released in January 2022.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The New Year is a good time for singing teachers to review their goals and set new ones. This week on Singing Teachers Talk, Line Hilton discusses goal setting using the SMART system. Listen in for some great advice on setting goals for yourself and your students.
KEY TAKEAWAYS SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time frame. A dream is different to a goal. A dream is something you want to happen but is not fully within your control. Goals are within your control and can help to make your dreams happen. Singing teachers can talk through goals with their students, and then work backwards to reverse engineer an appropriate strategy. You can create an action plan with your student that consists of achievable tasks. Often the real obstacle to success is the person themselves. Things such as procrastination, self-doubt and self-sabotage can derail the process of achieving our goals. It’s important to address the limiting beliefs that are undermining the student’s chances of success. When students are trying to achieve specific goals, it’s helpful for them to check in with a teacher or mentor to discuss their progress.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Ask what is standing in the way’
‘If you don’t believe that you deserve success then you won’t go and do the work to make you a success’
EPISODE RESOURCES BAST Training www.linehilton.com SMART Goals: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteria Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12228097-the-chimp-paradox Episode 33 https://www.basttraining.com/ep-33-the-chimp-paradox-by-professor-steve-peters-book-review Action Planning help sheet: https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/linehilton.com/TCE/TCE+Action+Planning+Help+Sheet.pdf Creating a vision board: https://www.jackcanfield.com/blog/how-to-create-an-empowering-vision-book
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2021 is nearly over so it’s time for Alexa Terry and Line Hilton to look back on the last year of The Singing Teacher’s Talk Show and BAST Training as a whole. Listen in as Alexa and Line recap what we’ve all learned as vocal coaches in the last year with a little help from clips of some of the best guests since the podcast re-launch.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
If you’re working with someone who has never looked inside of themselves to link their feelings to a location in the body, you need to first help them attune to themselves. "How do you feel?" is such an important question and we need to make sure they know how to answer it. In terms of the health and wellbeing of a student, it’s very important to build up trust and a safe environment for them to open up. There are so many medical or other factors that can cause issues with singing ability and knowing about them is the only way teachers can tackle them. Have a premade medical questionnaire for your students to fill out beforehand. The more you know going into any lessons then the better equipped you as a teacher can be. Also if you have a form that you can look at and discuss with them, it can make it less intimidating. Read through the BAST Singing and the Premenstrual Voice Blog, linked in the resources below. SWOT = Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. If you’re a singing teacher starting your own business then note these things down. It’s such a helpful tool in figuring out what you want and who you want to teach.
BEST MOMENTS
"Sleep is so important to the voice"
"I wish I’d had that conversation with my teacher"
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training Rachel Lynes Episode 28: Finding the Fundamental Truths of Singing with Rachel Lynes Episode 29: How to Ask a Singer Those Awkward Health Questions with Line Hilton Singing and the Premenstrual Voice Blog: https://www.basttraining.com/singing-and-the-premenstrual-voice/ Joanne Bozeman (Singing Through Change: Women’s Voices in Midlife, Menopause, and Beyond by Nancy Bos, Joanne Bozeman & Cate Frazier-Neely) Candi Louise Episode 31: Where to Start with Digital Marketing with Candi Louise Daniel Priestly; Dent; Threshold Accelerator: https://www.dent.global/
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What is the relationship between being a dancer and being a singer? The training for both is so segregated, but should it be? Host Alexa Terry is joined on this week’s episode of the Singing Teachers Talk by osteopath and former ballet dancer and singer, Jennie Morton. Find out about the work Jennie does with her clients in LA.
KEY TAKEAWAYS A dancer is trained to keep their belly in and tense, whereas a singer is told to relax it and let it out. This disconnect can present challenges for dancers who want to learn how to sing. Jennie teaches students who trained as dancers to change the way they breathe as sucking your abs in (as dancers typically do) prevents the diaphragm from going all the way down. Most dancers are trained to do things on an inhale. If you can correct this to an exhale then the body is in a stable but relaxed state. Muscles work in pairs, it’s a push and pull relationship. This can also be seen as a stabilising relationship where if one over works then the other has to work harder to balance it, if not you’ll fall over. People can get very locked into their own technique and over-think every process. While technique is important, it’s just the scaffolding to our voice so don’t obsess over it. The muscle memory will be there, let your brain let go and be creative.
BEST MOMENTS
"That was my Pavlovian conditioning when I stepped on stage" "It’s about stability and rigidity" "The body will always do the most efficient thing" "What show on Earth do you stand on a postage stamp and sing?!"
EPISODE RESOURCES BAST Training Voice and Dance Technique Integration - Triple Threat or Double Trouble? Kegel ‘pelvic floor’ exercises (Arnold Kegel) Kerrie Obert Janice Chapman ‘SPLAT’ breath Hilliard Discussion 2017 (hosepipe analogy) Kenneth Tom - Speech Language Pathologist Whipped into Shape from Legally Blonde Heathers the Musical (characters Kurt & Ram) Duncan Rock The Dance Resource Centre LA What Do You Do With Your Arms? from Carner & Gregor’s Island Song A BAST Educational video: ‘A Holistic Approach to Safe Vocalising’ by Jennie Morton The Integration of Voice and Dance Techniques in Musical Theatre: Anatomical Considerations (first published for Medical Problems of Performing Artists Journal) Voice and Dance Technique Integration - Triple Threat or Double Trouble (a chapter in a book aimed at a clinical audience) Voice and Dance Technique Integration - Triple Threat or Double Trouble (for VASTA journal aimed more at teachers) Integrating Voice & Movement Course
ABOUT THE GUEST
After a long performing career as a Ballet dancer, West End Musical Theatre performer, and lead singer of a London Big Band, Jennie is now a Clinical Osteopath specialising in the field of Performing Arts Medicine. She provides treatment for musculoskeletal, neurobiological, and psycho-physiological issues from her base in Los Angeles. She also works as a Performance Coach for singers and actors, focusing on anatomical efficiency, embodiment of artistry, movement education, and rehabilitation from vocal injury. Jennie co-created the MSc in Performing Arts Medicine at University College, London, and lectures internationally to artists, arts educators, and healthcare professionals on the subject of performance-related injuries. She is the author of three books: The Authentic Performer: Wearing A Mask And The Effect On Health; The Embodied Dancer: A Guide To Optimal Performance; and Dancing Longer, Dancing Stronger. Her website www.jenniemorton.com contains many of her published articles and educational resources, as well as links to her online courses on a range of health topics.
Guest Website:
www.jenniemorton.com
Contact:
hello@jenniemorton.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What signs should singing teachers be looking out for that signify something isn’t right physically? What are the red flags that someone has a physical problem affecting their voice? Singing teacher and osteopath, Chloe Spencer joins host Alexa Terry on this week's Singing Teachers’ Talk podcast to answer these questions. They also talk in depth about osteopathy, how it can help the body and in turn help the voice too.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Osteopathy is manual therapy along the lines of physiotherapy and chiropractic therapies. It is based around the holistic view of the body that if everything is working together in harmony the body will be healthy. Chloe sees people who have a range of problems that affect the voice. For example, any problems with your legs or back will affect your balance, which will affect your voice. If you have pain in your shoulder, which is causing tension in your neck, then that has a bearing on how well you can sing. As a singing teacher, you need to be looking for signs that someone might have a physical problem. It might sound obvious but if someone tells you they have neck pain from sleeping poorly, then it might affect the voice. Be on the lookout for bad posture too. You need to guide your students into body awareness. Get them to stand with good posture and ask them what they can feel and where. If you can teach them to recognise when something may be wrong or impacting their voice you are helping them before the problem gets any worse.
BEST MOMENTS
"You don’t come to an osteopath to be fixed, you come to an osteopath to fix yourself”
"The voice is not solely held in the larynx”
"The only bad posture is the one you’re in for too long”
EPISODE RESOURCES BAST Training Stephen King https://voicecarecentre.co.uk/stephen-king/ Myofascial Release & fascial trains https://www.anatomytrains.com/blog/2016/08/09/pure-fascial-release-vs-myofascial-release Hypermobility and the Beighton Score https://www.hypermobility.org/faqs/what-is-the-beighton-score
ABOUT THE GUEST
Following a varied career in music, archaeology, forensics, TV and finance, Chloe retrained and graduated from the University College of Osteopathy with a Masters in Osteopathy (MOst). With a background in sports massage, drama and singing (both in teaching and performance) Chloe has a unique insight into manual therapy for the voice. Her approach is both holistic and patient centred: she treats the whole person, not just the voice, and actively encourages the patient to engage in their own recovery through education and home-based ongoing exercises. Her treatments include standard osteopathic techniques of manipulation and soft tissue work, alongside more gentle interventions depending on the individual case. Chloe has also trained in cranial osteopathy with the Sutherland College of Cranial Osteopathy and breathing therapy with Dr Rosalba Courtney, and is interested in optimising breath and respiratory health for the voice. She currently works as resident osteopath for the Voice Care Centre in London, and at Still House Clinic in Egham, Surrey.
Guest Website: voicecarecentre.co.uk stillhouseclinic.co.uk
Contact:
chloe@voicecarecentre.co.uk
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hear the behind-the-scenes story of how Caroline Redman Lusher turned Rock Choir into a household name – and kept the business afloat during lockdown. In this episode, Caroline also talks about the importance of building a strong team and finding a healthy work/life balance. The singer-turned-entrepreneur also discusses her fierce loyalty to Rock Choir’s 33,000 members, whom she affectionately calls her ‘Rockies’.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Pivoting from face-to-face rehearsals to online sessions during lockdown was a huge challenge, one that took an enormous team effort. The Rock Choir team set up daily singing sessions during lockdown so that Rockies could stay connected and still enjoy the benefits of singing. Caroline has a strong personal connection with Rock Choir members - and wouldn’t want it any other way. For her, it’s much more than a business. Rock Choir provides many people with important social connections and, as a result Caroline feels a huge sense of responsibility to keep things running smoothly. The biggest challenge Caroline faced was finding a healthy work/life balance. While she may have made things look easy, behind the scenes she was grafting to make the business a success. The long hours and stress took their toll.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Everyone’s reaction was to try and find their own solutions’
‘We had the same objective that everyone was working towards’
‘I really felt like I’d found plan A in my life’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Dancing in the Street, Rock Choir, Proms, Hyde Park 2018
BBC Proms in the Park (What Would Have Been!) 2020
ABOUT THE GUEST
Caroline Redman Lusher is the founder and creative director of Rock Choir, the UK’s biggest contemporary choir.
The former lounge singer started the first ever Rock Choir in Farnham, Surrey, in 2005. Today the brand has 33,000 members rehearsing at 400 locations in the UK every week.
Caroline continues to personally oversee every creative aspect of Rock Choir which includes the musical harmony creations and choreographing of each song in the Rock Choir repertoire.
Her voice has contributed to more than a million album sales and she has gained four gold and platinum certified sales awards from the British Phonographic Industry.
Guest Website:
http://rockchoir.com
https://carolineredmanlusher.com
Social Media:
https://twitter.com/rockchoir
https://twitter.com/rockchoir
https://twitter.com/credmanlusher
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How can singing help prisoners rebuild their lives? The formidable MJ Paranzino, co-founder of Liberty Choir, tells her inspiring story on this week's episode of Singing Teachers Talk. Find out why MJ started a choir in Wandsworth Prison, why she believes group singing is so powerful, and what she plans to do next.
KEY TAKEAWAYS MJ’s choirs were created in areas where people aren’t represented and for disabled people who may not have had the opportunity to sing before. It took MJ ten years to convince prison authorities to let her start a choir in HMP Wandsworth. Singing lifts your burdens and can relieve pain. This can be so important and transformative to someone who is behind bars, depressed or has a chronic illness. MJ has a dream for every prison in the UK to have its own choir. Everyone should have the opportunity to find their sound in a supportive, creative singing environment.
BEST MOMENTS
‘"It’s just a groovy thing to do and it’s contagious! No matter what your mood is" "Being part of peoples lives enriches you’" "Our excellence comes from enjoying the singing’"
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Toward the Unknown Region, Vaughan Williams,
Geographical Fugue, Ernst Toch
Uptown Funk, Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
My Shot, Hamilton
One Love, Bob Marley
Toreador Song, Carmen
Lacrimosa, Mozart
ABOUT THE GUEST
MJ Paranzino is passionate about bringing people from all walks of life together to sing, learn and build friendships. She leads five community choirs and is the co-founder of Liberty Choir, a charity that takes singing into prisons and secure psychiatric settings
Guest Website:
https://www.mjparanzino.co.uk
https://libertychoir.org
Social Media:
https://twitter.com/MJParanzino
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbJKfD9WJDxgzdmAQnVqGdQ
https://www.facebook.com/unlockingheartsthroughsong/
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Owner of the singing studio known as a ‘confidence haven’ Gia Morgan joins host Alexa Terry on this week’s Singing Teachers Talk Show. Find out all about how Gia uses a holistic approach to teach contemporary vocal techniques and performance skills, as well as how she uses affirmation to grow her students.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Gia isn’t trying to sell an aesthetic, she has just put her personality and world beliefs into her studio. She is devoted to creating a place you can find your ground, learn about your vocal anatomy, vocal pedagogy and where your unique voice is rooted in you. It's a place of no judgement and a safe space. Gia believes the body is connected through different chakras. The throat chakra is used for communication and singing. All of our emotions come through the voice and larynx. The University of Maryland did a study on the use of crystals and the positive effects it can have on the body and mind. The results showed that there was a placebo effect which Gia believes is a good thing, showing mind over matter. The most used crystals in Gia’s studio are would be aquamarine and blues such as Lapis Lazuli for healing the throat chakra. Gia works on affirmation with her younger students, getting them to tell themselves that they are good, and confident, and can achieve. Even by just going to a singing lesson you are taking an affirming action, showing that you believe in yourself.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Whether it works or not and you get the result, who gives a …. You felt more comfortable right’
‘Every singing teacher, even if you’re not into the crystals, should get a nice rose quartz or jade’
‘The feelings you get through your body are static for some and nerve racking’
EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training https://www.basttraining.com/bast-course-description
Singing Teacher’s Talk Podcast: Episode 32 - The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King
Virtual Fireplace (for your enjoyment)
Lapis Lazuli Necklaces (as mentioned by Gia)
Gua Sha (as mentioned by Gia)
ABOUT THE GUEST
My studio in Jersey is a safe, cosy and eccentric abode to learn Contemporary Vocal techniques as well as performance skills and repertoire, public speaking coaching and artist development, whilst intertwining holistic mindsets essential for all human beings.
If we look back hundreds of years our ancestors used voice as medicine, connection and healing - as do certain animals like whales, toadfish, crickets and birds!
My holistic singing studio is known to be a ‘confidence haven,’ a place you can find your ground, learn about your vocal anatomy, vocal pedagogy and where your unique voice is rooted in you.
A few examples of the holistic side of my practice is singing barefoot, crystal healing (connection to the voice is fascinating for children), mindfulness and music as a therapy. My aim is to allow singers of all ages to emotionally communicate and express themselves in a non-judgmental space.
Opening the power within the voice and sharing your creative gift reaps so many health benefits for those who dare try.
Guest Website:
https://vocalswithgia.com
Social Media:
@vocalswithgia
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, vocal coach Norwood reveals how his business, Transitions Voice Lab, flourished after he made one important change to his marketing strategy. Norwood also explains how to identify your USP as a singing teacher, how to juggle teaching and a pro singing career and ways to make your studio welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Norwood studied with several top vocal coaches and BAST Training. His studies gave him a solid foundation for creating his own studio. If you’re starting out as a singing teacher, identify what sets you apart from your peers. Do you have a specific skill? Are you part of a community that could benefit from your expertise? When it comes to marketing and branding, don’t cast a wide net; be specific. Transitions Voice Lab also caters to transgender students who want to work on their speaking voice, singing voice - or both. Norwood has built a safe teaching space where all students can feel understood, supported and welcome. Top tip: To ensure transgender students feel welcome, add your pronouns to your website and social media. This will send a clear message that you are respectful of people who are transgender.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I learned things from that course that I didn’t even know about before and use them in every lesson I teach now’
‘I want them to feel that they are seen and that we will take care of them’
‘You need a willingness to learn and to set your ego aside’
‘BAST was so helpful in finding out the physicality of my voice’
EPISODE RESOURCES
RAab Stevenson https://kimadproductions.com/?page_id=663
Line Hilton http://www.linehilton.com/voice-performance-coaching
BAST Training https://www.basttraining.com/bast-course-description
ABOUT THE GUEST
Norwood is a BAST-certified professional vocal coach and a Vocal Health First Aider, international pop artist, actor, emcee and public speaker.
As the co-founder of Transitions Voice Lab, Norwood is dedicated to providing professional and affordable vocal training for people of all ages, genders, and skill levels. He offers coaching for both singers and people looking to improve their speaking voice.
Transitions Voice Lab is an LGBTQ+ affirming company that prides itself on being inclusive and welcoming to people from all walks of life.
Guest Website:
www.transitionsvoicelab.com
https://www.norwood-music.com
Social Media:
https://twitter.com/norwoodmusic
https://www.instagram.com/norwoodmusic
https://www.facebook.com/transitionsvoicelab
https://www.instagram.com/transitionsvoicelab
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Professional singer, actor, dancer, voice-over recording artist Philippe Hall joins Alexa on Singing Teachers’ Talk this week to discuss emotional layering, the most neglected skill in vocal training. How do you add those emotional layers into your voice and how do you teach others to do so? Listen in and find out.
KEY TAKEAWAYS If you’re smiling your friend can hear that even on the other side of the phone, and when you’re miserable, they can hear it and ask what’s wrong. Perfect pitch singing is not necessarily going to hit you emotionally. It’s some of the breaks in the voice that can create and evoke that emotive response. Philippe wants singers and teachers to know that he wasn’t good at the beginning, The teaching he was getting was just “try emoting more”, he was hearing things that don’t actually tell you how to do it. That’s why he thinks a good vocal coach is so important. The real purpose of technical skills is to allow you to be free to layer your singing with emotion. Your true power is your uniqueness and your ability to communicate emotionally. Your voice can be part of your identity even while playing a role. One of the fourteen layering techniques Philippe teaches is asking yourself the question “who is singing, who is sending this message”. The answer will always be “I am” but it’s not limited to you. It can be you being anything you want.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Perfect pitch and perfect technique does not equal singing success’
‘You’d rather be making a performer who is making you feel something’
‘It’s sincere, emotional communication’
‘The brain doesn’t need truth, it just needs detail’
SHOW RESOURCES
BAST Community Discount Offer Link (expires 14th November 2021): https://www.singingrevealed.com/bast_special_offer_emotional_layering
Alexa’s Performance Choice: Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music performed by Judi Dench on a 1996 daytime talk show with Alan Titchmarsh: Judi Dench - Send In the Clowns, 1996
Philippe’s Performance Choice: I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables film 2012 performed by Anne Hathaway: Les Misérables (2012) - I Dreamed A Dream Scene (1/10) | Movieclips
How to Nurture a Singer’s Authentic Voice: An interview with Dr Trineice Robinson-Martin: https://www.basttraining.com/how-to-nurture-a-singers-authentic-voice
Dr Paul Ekman: https://www.paulekman.com
Singing and Teaching Singing by Janice L Chapman (3rd Edition)
Pamela Davis; contributing author to Singing and Teaching Singing by Janice L Chapman (3rd Edition)
‘To Be or Not to Be’ Sketch; Shakespeare Live! From the RSC, BBC: Hamlet with Prince Charles and Benedict Cumberbatch | Shakespeare Live! From the RSC - BBC
ABOUT THE GUEST
For the past 30 years Philippe Hall has been in demand non-stop internationally as a professional singer, actor, dancer, voice-over recording artist.
He has performed in more than 80 professional productions in 28 countries, amounting to well over 3,000 performances, not including public & private concerts and corporate show events. He has lent his voice to over 200 games as well as various commercials & films.
He earned three degrees in three different countries from acclaimed institutions. BFA Music Dance Theater, BYU - USA. Masters of Music in Voice Performance Opera, Folkwang University of the Arts - Germany. Masters Voice Pedagogy equiv. in Contemporary Singing Styles, Complete Vocal Institute - Denmark.
He is an authorized Vocology in Practice & CVT teacher.
Philippe is a sought-after speaker & teacher at international educational events for voice teachers & singers.
Guest Website:
https://www.singingrevealed.com/
Social Media:
https://www.youtube.com/c/SingingRevealed
https://www.instagram.com/singingrevealed
https://www.facebook.com/SingingRevealed
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As you may or may not know we like to give you our reviews of resources and books as recommendations for you to add to your list, or sometimes leave off the list. And in this podcast, Alexa will be giving her review of The Chimp Paradox by Professor Steve Peters and explaining why she believes it's a book every adult could benefit from, as well as why the model is so easily applicable to coaches.
KEY TAKEAWAYS The likes of Sir Chris Hoy, Steven Gerrard, and Sir Bradley Wiggins have all advocated Peters’ work and have used the model described in the book as ways to achieve their successes. In a nutshell, for me, The Chimp Paradox is a revealing and encouraging mind management, self-help resource for adults. Throughout the book, the emotional centre - or the limbic system, is referred to as a ‘chimp’ and the more logical centre as the ‘human’, and Peter's details the relationship between the two. That battle between head and heart.
BEST MOMENTS
‘In other words, what life is to us. Deep, right!’
‘You can go over to frontal cortex, crazy if you want’
SHOW RESOURCES
Goodreads
Vocal Health Education
Dr Jenevora Williams
Chimpmanagement.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website
Get updates to your inbox
Link to presenter’s bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Owner of the Voice Care Centre in London’s West End, Stephen King drops into The Singing Teachers’ Talk Show to chat with Alexa about all things Harry Potter, pasta, and what on earth The Bio-Psycho-Social Model actually is.
KEY TAKEAWAYS We all understand cause and effect, but when we can’t find the cause, we have to go back to the drawing board. The Bio-Psycho-Social Model is a three-part Venn diagram that looks at the biological, psychological, and sociological aspects that can contribute to the cause-and-effect equation. As a coach, one of the most important things you can do is to listen, in this instance not to the voice, but to what they’re saying. Actively listen to your student and you may find out other causes that are affecting their voice and vocal performance. The core of what a coach does is just being with someone while they discover who they are through an activity. Your role is to care, listen really well and help them discover that. One of the critiques of The Bio-Psycho-Social Model is that it is too passive. If you’re spending your whole time listening, you’re not actually guiding.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Voice pedagogy is a social science’
‘Just listening well could be the start to that’
‘No one should live without a voice’
SHOW RESOURCES
George Engel and the BioPsychoSocial Model
Robert Sussuma: http://www.robertsussuma.com
Carl Rogers and Person Centred Therapy
Dr Jenevora Williams: https://jenevorawilliams.com
Brenda Shankey: https://www.brendashankey.net
Chloe Spencer (no electronic link)
Lydia Flock: https://www.flockstars.com
Duncan Rock: https://duncanrocknutrition.com
Lydia Hart: @lydiahartvoice
Lauren Smallwood: @SLT_LaurenS
Declan Costello: @Voicedoctor_uk
Line Hilton: http://www.linehilton.com
The work of the late Meribeth Dayme; listen to our podcast interview here:
https://www.basttraining.com/episode-22-the-pioneering-spirit-with-dr-meribeth-dayme-1938-2019
Fundamental Anatomy Course: https://vocalhealth.co.uk/product/fundamental-anatomy
ABOUT THE GUEST
Voice users from all over the world trust Stephen with their vocal recovery and rehabilitation. He has personally worked with Hollywood A-listers right through to World Champion Beatboxers, and owns the multidisciplinary VOICE CARE CENTRE in London's West End.
Passionate about professional development, Stephen has acquired a breadth of knowledge from his qualifications in Advanced Clinical Massage, Medical Acupuncture, Manual Maxillofacial Therapy, Spinal Manipulation, Anatomy (including human dissection) and Voice Pedagogy, and is now continuing his studies into Psychotherapy.
As an advocate of health and wellbeing, Stephen co-founded the not-for-profit Vocal Health Education, seeking to educate every single voice user around the world on the subject of Vocal Health with the pioneering; Vocal Health First Aid. As a teacher and educator across the world, Stephen can be found seeking out beautiful natural vistas whilst running (normally barefoot on a beach!)
Website: https://voicecarecentre.co.uk & https://vocalhealth.co.uk
Social Media: @voicecarecentre @thevocalhealth
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Are you looking to learn how to reach your ideal client through digital marketing, or want to know more about targeting audiences with digital marketing? Then this week’s episode of Singing Teachers Talk is for you. Join host Alexa Terry and guest, vocal coach Candi Louise as they chat everything from jam donuts, to social media, to the movie Die Hard.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Taking the first step into digital marketing can be scary. First figure out two things, who are you and what are your strengths and weaknesses. Write down what your unique selling point is, why should they choose you. Also, write down what the stumbling blocks can be, the more prepared you are, then the better you can deal with any challenges such as Covid. It’s tempting to teach everyone, but you should also ask yourself ‘who do I want to teach’. You don’t want to get further down the line with a client list full of kids and then realise that you don’t like teaching young people, maybe you want to work with stage singers. When you’ve worked this out then partner it with the point above, so you know who you want to target and why they should choose you. You could be on every social media platform but that doesn’t mean that you’ll enjoy it and that your audience is using it too. Choose one platform to start with that suits your demographic, Candi uses Instagram because it suits her 25-35 age bracket. She’s not on Tik-Tok because she doesn’t like it and the audience skews younger. Work out what you can do with it and have some fun. Take advantage of freelancers who might know more about website building and social media than you do. It can be an inexpensive way of getting something that you don’t have the skillset for and it can save you time.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Who knew that all those skills would come in useful’
‘It takes a good coach to identify what you’re not good at’
‘Social media strikes fear into anyone's heart’
‘The more you do it, the more you get over it’
‘I’m not sure I’ve designed my website but I've definitely designed my living room’
SHOW RESOURCES
Register interest in the Digital Marketing course: https://candilouise.co.uk/registeryourinterest
Imposter Syndrome Blogs: https://www.basttraining.com/imposter-syndrome-how-to-spot-ths-symptoms-and-causes/ & https://www.basttraining.com/five-ways-to-manage-imposter-syndrome/
The Pricing Coach Blog: https://www.basttraining.com/putting-a-price-on-it-the-art-of-setting-your-fees/
Voice Teacher Influencer: Grow Your Studio, Increase Your Authority, and Make More Money by John Henny: Book Review: https://www.basttraining.com/book-review-the-voice-teacher-influencer-grow-your-studio-increase-your-make-more-money-by-john-henny/
Sprout Social: https://sproutsocial.com
Canva: https://www.canva.com
Squarespace: https://www.squarespace.com
Wix: https://www.wix.com
Accuity Booking: https://www.acuityscheduling.com
Hootsuite: https://www.hootsuite.com
Buffer: https://buffer.com
ABOUT THE GUEST
Candi Louise is a professional vocal coach who specialises in training performers & songwriters to develop a unique, sustainable vocal style and carry this through to live performance. Prior to vocal coaching, she spent 9 years working in digital marketing, working alongside organisations such as the World Health Organization, Teenage Cancer Trust, Mind & more to help them deliver their digital marketing goals and, ultimately, achieve their mandate. Alongside this her own musical journey progressed; as a session singer/screamer, front-person of a rock band and a vocal coach she understood early on the importance of getting the right things in front of the right people in order to succeed. Eager to share this knowledge, more recently she’s been working with other coaches & singers to demystify digital marketing and help them identify the building blocks of their own marketing strategy through consultation and her specifically designed course: Digital Marketing 101.
Guest Website: https://candilouise.co.uk/
Social Media:https://www.instagram.com/candilouisesinger/
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Internationally renowned leading voice teacher John Henny joins host Alexa Terry on this episode of Singing Teachers Talk. Hear all about John’s Covid scare and the brain fog that comes along with it. Join the discussion on acoustics, passive income, and find out what ‘the teaching triangle’ actually is. Find all the referenced talking points under the ‘Show Resources’ section.
KEY TAKEAWAYS A singing teacher needs to understand how the vocal cords work. You have to develop the ability to know how to manage the healthy tug-of-war between tensing and stretching muscles. If you understand the shifts in the soundwaves and the resonance we create, then it explains why you get a vocal break and the subtleties of the vowel sounds. Most of the issues a singer has with acoustics are to do with throat resonation. Try using the ‘uuuhhh’ sound to drop the larynx. The pitch you’re hearing is made up of many different pitches. Your vocal tract is a filter. The original pitches don’t change, it’s but the filter that changes it. Formant essentially means boost. ‘You’ and ‘me’ are two things we sing about a lot but they’re hard to do, that’s why you often hear singers say ‘may’ instead of ‘me’ and distort the vowel to an unrecognisable form.
BEST MOMENTS
‘In the heat of battle when you’re singing, you can’t do these calculations, you need to feel it’
‘Vowels are just perception’
SHOW RESOURCES
Dr Rachel Goldenberg: https://rachelbgoldenberg.com/
The Intelligent Vocalist Podcast: https://johnhenny.com/category/podcast/
Dr Reena Gupta: https://www.centerforvocalhealth.com/meet-dr-gupta
‘The OHNI Voice Book: Straight Talk with Dr Reena Gupta’ Book Review: https://www.basttraining.com/the-ohni-voice-book-straight-talk-with-dr-reena-gupta/
Ken Bozeman: http://www.kenbozeman.com/
Dr Donald Miller: https://www.vocevista.com
Dr Ian Howell: https://www.ianhowellcountertenor.com/
The Pomodoro Technique: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique
ABOUT THE GUEST
John Henny has been a leading voice teacher for over 25 years. He has taught thousands of singers, including Grammy winners and top background and session singers. John's students have appeared on Broadway and in major touring companies. John has also trained hundreds of voice teachers, including many industry leaders.
John hosts the popular podcast, The Intelligent Vocalist and his YouTube channel has over 8 million views and counting. His books, including Beginning Singing, are Amazon bestsellers.
John has lectured at USC, The Paul McCartney Liverpool Institute, and the Learning Annex.
John is known for making complex concepts simple and easy to understand and is a leader in creating online programs for singers and voice teachers.
Website: johnhenny.com
Social Media:
Facebook: @John Henny Vocals
Instagram: @johnhennyvocals
Twitter: @johnhennyvocals
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jhenny62
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week on Singing Teachers Talk, host Line Hilton will be talking to you about asking those awkward health questions, what questions we need to ask, why we need to ask them, and how we should go about doing it.
KEY TAKEAWAYS It’s important to get the background health history of someone’s voice so you know what it’s capable of and how long it might last. Remember to be up to date with your GDPR procedures when storing any information about students and avoid having handwritten notes. One of the most important things to know is about any previous spinal issues and any injuries that can affect the voice, they should be taken into account. Medicines such as steroids can weaken the epithelial. Female oral contraception can affect the singing voice to, so it is worth asking about these specifically. Explain why you're asking about their health history and ask if there is any medical issues or medicines that you should know about. Once this is disclosed then you should ask follow-up questions that can help inform your knowledge of their condition to get a better framework. One of Line’s top tips is to create a form to be completed in advance. This will also help with spellings of conditions of medications.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Mitigate the side effects and optimise vocal health’
SHOW LINKS
Vocal Health Education: https://vocalhealth.co.uk
National Center for Voice and Speech Medications and the voice: http://www.ncvs.org/rx_generic_name.php
Jotform: https://eu.jotform.com
Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com
Laryngeal Endoscopy & Voice Therapy by Sue M Jones: http://www.comptonpublishing.co.uk/laryngeal-endoscopy-and-voice-therapy.php
Vocal Health And Pedagogy Ed. by Robert T. Sataloff: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vocal-Health-Pedagogy-Assessment-Treatment/dp/1597568600
Singing Voice Rehabilitation Karen Wicklund: https://www.amazon.com/Singing-Voice-Rehabilitation-Speech-Language-Pathologist/dp/143543854X
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: https://www.basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: https://www.basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s the return of Singing Teachers Talk!
What are the six fundamentals of singing? That’s just one of the topics of conversation on the podcast this week. Alexa Terry is joined by guest Rachel Lynes, vocal coach and ex-West End performer. Find out all about how and why Rachel founded Sing Space, home of the world's first online Vocal Gym.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Are you aware of your resonance? Can you feel that tangible thing within your body? All of the muscles in your body are connected. For example, you can’t clench your jaw with your tongue out. Are all your muscles free to move how they need to? The Vocal GYM has expanded to having guest coaches who run a wide range of classes such as vocal yoga, as well as Rachel’s fundamentals of singing. The scientific knowledge Rachel gained while putting together her vocal coaching has helped her understand and define the things that we feel in our bodies as we sing.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Singing isn’t about doing, it’s about guiding and feeling’
‘The science gave me context. It provided clarity to the view’
‘We sing better when we feel safer’
SHOW LINKS
Vocal Gym: https://vocalgym.thesingspace.com/
Sensory Homunculus Images, referenced at 21:43: Linked here.
Line Hilton: http://www.linehilton.com/
Heidi Moss: https://www.heidimosserickson.com/
Kenneth Bozeman: http://www.kenbozeman.com/
Stephen King: www.voicecarecentre.co.uk/
The Laryngeal Nerves: https://www.basttraining.com/the-laryngeal-nerves/
Natalie Weiss: https://natalieweissofficial.com/
She Used to be Mine from Waitress Breakdown by Rachel Lynes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfg3-AGRoyyGwMptgp7z6gA
OnlineMD: https://online-md.co.uk/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Rachel Lynes is an ex-West End performer and Vocal Coach. She specialises in vocal advancement, and career mentoring for performers and vocal coaches. She is the founder of the Sing Space, home of the world's first online Vocal Gym™ - open 24/7 for you to access professional development with globally renowned experts in all genres and techniques.
Websites: www.thesingspace.com www.rachellynes.co.uk
Social Media:
Rachel on Instagram: @rachellynesvocalcoach
The Sing Space on Instagram: @thesingspace
The Sing Space on Twitter: @thesingspace
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Becky Gilhespie has had an interesting journey from singing, to teaching to cheffing, and now, as a result of Covid-19 back to teaching singers again. A Masterchef semi-finalist, Becky talks about her journey and how her diversion into the world of cheffing and food informs her teaching these days. Recently Becky has taken her experience of being a self-conscious singer and written a practical book, “Singing for the Self-Conscious”, to help singing teachers and singers who suffer from the same issue. (Get Chapter 1 free Download Here ). Other discussions she and Line have are around good food for singers, teaching online (with some very non-techno-babble) and classroom teaching.
ABOUT
Becky is an experienced vocal coach who specializes in the application of vocal technique in contemporary music. Originally from southern US, Becky moved to London after university and there carved out a career in music. She undertook extensive teacher training with some of the industry's best voice teachers and became in demand as a singing teacher herself. As well as founding a successful voice studio in Soho, she taught at The Academy of Contemporary Music where she trained up and coming artists in the music industry. She has worked with Universal, EMI, Mercury Records, and has helped actors win roles in the West End.
Becky now lives in the countryside near Sydney, Australia with her family and continues to teach students around the world, online. When not teaching she loves to cook and was a semi-finalist on BBCs Masterchef.
Guest website: http://vocals.beckygilhespie.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
During the Covid 19 lockdown, Nigel has been very busy helping college students to finish off their performance years, online. Having never taught online he discusses the challenges he's encountering and how he's dealing with them. He advises how a teacher can help the student prepare for college auditions. Nigel discusses the vocal and physical challenges he encountered whilst playing the lead role in Phantom of the Opera, travelling and performing, his pet performer peeves and how he deals with the fact he's the least well known Guildhall graduate of his year! Finally, Nigel gives his top tips for how a teacher can bring out the best in their student's performances.
ABOUT
Nigel is a veteran of 8 West End shows, both plays and musicals, including the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera. He has had an eclectic career, from touring the world in Tom Waits TheBlack Rider to singing Weil at the Royal Opera House, Figaro in Vienna, and as soloist at the John Wilson Orchestra Proms.
Since working with Bernstein whilst studying at the Guildhall, Nigel has concentrated on new writing and nurturing young composers, culminating in his solo album, A Shining Truth. He has also been teaching singing, and ‘acting through song’ for over 15 years privately and at many of London’s top Musical Theatre schools.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nigel-Richards-ActorSinger-127597843977190/
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nutritionist and author, Stephanie Moore is a powerhouse of nutritional and health information. It's becoming more and more accepted that health and wellbeing begins from the inside. Stephanie and Line discuss how gut health impacts not only the performer's general health but also their brain  health and function. Do you experience 'brain fog'? Well, this could be down to your gut health. Stephanie gives advice on how we can help singers understand the impact of their general health and wellbeing on their voice and performance, useful supplements to boost the immune system, why sleep is important to health and practical nutritional advice. Stephanie also advises how a singing teacher can help a singer who they suspect might have eating issues, and how to counter the often quite sedentary work-life a teacher experiences at the piano.
ABOUT
Stephanie is a clinical nutritionist, author and health coach with a degree in nutritional medicine and a Masters degree in counselling and psychotherapy. She has worked as a natural health and physical therapist for over 30 years combining her numerous skill sets to help people with all kinds of health issues, both physical and psychological. Stephanie is head of nutrition at Grayshott Medical Spa where she oversees a radical 7-day digestive health regime that she co-developed 8 years ago and is Lead Nutritionist at a cutting edge medical and sports clinic that opened in July 2019 in Mayfair, London.
Stephanie published her first book in 2017: ‘Why Eating Less & Exercising More Makes You Fat!’, which explains why conventional weight loss advice fails and what to do instead to achieve permanent health and weight loss goals and she has co-authored a new book on SuperFoods with doctor of biochemistry and health campaigner, Dr James DiNicolantonio, to be published in 2020. Stephanie is now researching her new book on learning to love your wrinkles and the psychological and physical cost of trying to reverse the ageing process.
Guest website: https://www.health-in-hand.co.uk
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Natalie Andreou's CV includes lead roles in West End and touring shows as varied as Rock Of Ages, Wicked, Mama Mia and Evita. She and Line discuss the various pathways to the West End, the challenges and joys of the job - vocally, mentally and physically. Other topics they discuss include the various vocal qualities required in MT, belt, vocal health, vibrato, dealing with costume and staging challenges. They also discuss Natalie's teaching practice including how she went about increasing her prices, useful teaching MT tools, tips on helping a student prepare for auditions, and how she now helps singers achieve their MT career goals.
ABOUT
Natalie Andreou is a vocal coach and career mentor for the musical theatre industry. Her 10 year career saw her performing in many shows around the world, including Standby Elphaba in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria, London. This followed a two year run playing the lead role of Sherrie in the original London cast of Rock Of Ages. Her career varies from ensemble dancer to leading lady, so her personal experience is of great benefit for those looking to work within the specialism of musical theatre, from any aspect. Since training with BAST in 2015, Natalie has taught from her private studio in central London. Natalie offers a personalised 1-2-1 service mentoring industry professionals, whether it's to secure agency representation or get through that audition door. She also currently runs online workshops in subjects such as Acting Through Song and Audition Prep.
Guest website: http://www.natalieandreou.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
One of the things that we love about Dr Jenevora Williams is her open, intelligent and enquiring mind. She has contributed to the BAST Training webinar library and past live training events.
In this interview, we find out more about what makes Jenevora tick. She talks about her journey which started as a Botany undergrad, to becoming an opera singer, then getting a PhD in voice science. Her research was around male chorister voices as they went through puberty. Naturally, this then led her to write a book, 'Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults.', a popular staple in many a singing teacher's bookshelves.
Jenevora discusses her research findings, how she works with singers needing vocal rehabilitation, her latest topics of favour - the learning process, motor learning theory, and the work she does helping teachers on UK's only MA Voice Pedagogy degree.
There are a lot of handy teaching gems for you to pick up in this podcast, so don't miss this one!
ABOUT
Dr Jenevora Williams is a leading exponent in the field of vocal health and singing teaching. After a successful career in Opera, Jenevora turned her attention to investigating healthy and efficient vocal function. The combination of academic study and practical experience has resulted in a unique perception for understanding the human voice. She was the first singing teacher to be awarded a PhD in voice science in the UK, and won the 2010 BVA Van Lawrence Prize for her outstanding contribution to voice research. Her book, Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults, has been enormously popular with singing teachers throughout the world. She is well-known for her imaginative and rigorous training courses for singing teachers in the UK, the US and Europe. As a teacher of singing, she works with professional singers of all ages, as well as working in and training teachers for Vocal Rehabilitation for BAPAM and the NHS.
Guest website: http://www.evolvingvoice.co.uk
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dr Meribeth Dayme is a familiar name to many singing teachers. From her detailed but comprehensible books on vocal anatomy, The Performer's Voice and Dynamics of the Singing Voice, to her holistic and energy-based approach to singing and vocal training, CoreSinging®, thousands of singers have benefited from Dr Dayme's passion for voice and treating the singer as a 'whole'.
A pioneer in the world of singing pedagogy, Dr Dayme has been instrumental in helping singing teachers understand the role of energy and alternative healing to bring out the authentic performer.
In, what turns out to be her last interview, Dr Dayme reveals how she went from singing to becoming an anatomy geek and specialist to delving into the unseen world of energy and alternative healing.
Sadly Dr Dayme passed away on 28th Oct 2019 and before this podcast was published. Her legacy will continue and we, in the singing teaching world, are ever-better because of her dedication and passion for singing and teaching.
ABOUT
Meribeth Dayme PhD, a pioneer in the field of the singing voice, founded CoreSinging® in 2010. Her dream is that singers become channels for healing themselves and the audiences they reach. After years of research, writing and teaching singing she has found a way to honour that dream through CoreSinging®. She has taught singing and vocal pedagogy in university and privately for over 35 years and is recognised internationally for her textbooks on singing and teaching singing, masterclasses and courses.
Guest website: https://www.coresinging.org
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Stephen King started his performance career with great promise. On the road to a dance and MT career, Stephen had to take a dramatic turn away from performing after a serious knee injury. With all the physical therapy and medical attention he received Stephen found himself pulled into the world of manual therapy and decided to combine it with singing teaching.
Stephen has worked as a vocal coach and MD for 20+ productions as well as being a residential teacher for a variety of colleges and academies. He is deeply committed to learning all he can about the performer’s anatomy and physiology and regularly trains with vocal, medical and physical clinicians to hone his skills even further. With a passion for helping to prevent vocal and physical injuries in performers and singers, Stephen is a key player in health promotion in the performing arts world.
In this podcast, Stephen dives into his rather unconventional journey as a performer turned manual therapist and anatomy geek. He explains the importance of touch, emotionally, mentally and physically. He also talks about how vocal hyperfunction occurs and how it can be treated, how heel height can impact the larynx, his pet peeve, the proton pump inhibitor and his goals for changing the way singers are treated.
Website: https://voicecarecentre.co.uk
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this podcast Line Hilton talks to Laurel Irene and Dr David Harris from VoiceScienceWorks. These two met several years ago at Dr Ingo Titze's Summer Vocology Institute at the National Center for Voice & Speech and have not been apart since!
In the beginning, like many singers and singing teachers, they struggled to translate the scientific knowledge into practical strategies for their voices and the voices of those that they worked with. So they set about to unravel the complexities of voice science into a singer friendly language. They have also been developing practical tools and strategies that work whether or not you understand the science behind it.
Laurel and David love sharing their knowledge and understanding of voice science and helping others to understand the power of this knowledge. They work with singers online and in person, and take their educational programme on the road.
In this podcast, we find out how they got into the science, how it helps them in their work and what's in store for their up and coming VSW European 2019 tour.
Guest website: https://www.voicescienceworks.org
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Now based in Melbourne, Australia, Lisa Perks started her singing and teaching career in the UK. In this podcast, she talks about moving to a new country as a well established singing teacher, and having to completely start over with her teaching practice. One of the ways she built her new business was to put on singing and training events. Lisa shares some of the benefits and the lessons learnt from putting on major events.
As with many singing teachers today Lisa has begun to take a more holistic approach to teaching, recently incorporating Meribeth Bunch Dayme's Core Singing strategies. Lisa reveals a mindset breakthrough she experienced after suffering from three voice surgeries and significantly damaged voice. She explains how this breakthrough has changed her attitude towards teaching and is spurning a new teaching service. Line and Lisa discuss the benefits and pitfalls of teacher-related Facebook groups and other such teachery stuff.
Guest website: https://www.singwithease.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This podcast's guest is Manchester-based vocal coach Hannah Smikle. Hannah attended the Brit School and talks about her experience giving advice on how a singing teacher can help prepare a student who wants to, or is attending a performing arts school like this. As a teacher she got thrown into the job, quickly realising she had many gaps.
Hannah talks about how she started to fill these teaching gaps including the BAST Singing Teacher Retreat, where felt she, "found her people". As well as the education she received on the retreat she talks about discovering how she had a special skill that could augment her service to give her an edge.
In her practice, Hannah noticed there were many people who had negative emotions around their voice. She decided to gain skills in counselling and devised a programme to help people create a positive relationship to their voice. She shares some tips on how you can help singers who have this issue. Hannah also helps singers in the studio environment and gives us some great tips for getting the best recording takes from singers.
Guest website: https://www.vocalperformancecoaching.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
If you're a fan of The Naked Vocalist podcast then this guest's voice will be a familiar one to you. Line Hilton chats with Steve Giles who is a vocal coach, member of the board of directors and authorised coach for Vocology in Practice and co-founder and co-host of the world’s leading singing podcast, The Naked Vocalist.
Steve was very chatty (caffeine may have been involved!) about a wide range of topics from his thwarted career as a footballer, to his unexpected journey into singing and then teaching. He talks about how football training influenced his approach to teaching, how TNV podcast got started and how it changed his life and work, what he believes singers really want, whether voice science is essential to being a great singing teacher, whether he recommends podcasting as a way to build a teaching business and what he wish he'd understood when first setting out as a business owner. Line and Steve discuss how they deal with the social media trolls/haters.
Guest website: https://www.stevegilesuk.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
You may already have seen Ryan Luchuck in his two-part webinar series in the BAST Training Membership and Store, where he breaks down voice science for beginners.
Multitalented Ryan, sings, plays the keys, guitar, and a variety of other instruments as well as being a sound engineer and producer. All of this he puts to good use in his teaching practice.
In the podcast, we have a fascinating discussion around a variety of topics from how he lost his voice due to poor technique and decided to stop singing for three years, how he fell in love with teaching, how he uses a technique of communication he learnt through couple's therapy to communicate better with his students, how he loves to work with singers who have been told they can't sing and how he helps singers become more accurate with their rhythm and timekeeping.
Ryan also talks about what he's learnt from putting regular on concert events for his students.
Guest website: https://www.torontovoicelessons.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Not to be confused with singer/songwriter, Cat Stevens, Kat Stephens is a singing teacher and owner of Aspire Arts Academy in Towcester. As with many teachers, Kat is trying to balance home life with business. Her academy, aspireartsacademy.uk enrols around 100 students a term and along with this and her privates, Kat also runs a choir for hobby singers. Her passion is to help people grow in confidence and attain healthy mental health through singing.
Kat talks about her challenges with the business, helping students deal with negative college experiences, how she finds students, advises on the process of putting on a musical show and how she maintains her own professional development.
Guest website: https:///www.katstephens.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this podcast we hear from singing teacher & Intuitive Confidence Coach, Lilli Badcock. Lilli started performing arts at a dancing school as a child but found herself wanting to sing the song rather than dance to it.
Lilli talks about her journey from singer, to choir leader, singing teacher and now confidence coach. After having experienced a considerable amount of anxiety throughout her life Lilli had to do a lot of work to overcome these dark periods. Her new purpose came after one particularly dark episode when she lost her voice for a time, She found herself questioning her identity and purpose. Taking what she discovered on her journey to overcome this crippling condition Lilli now focuses her work to help people realise they "can do it" and to find their purpose through singing. Lilli also talks about how she has found a balance between being a mother to 3, wife, teacher and entrepreneur.
Guest website: http://www.lillibadcock.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Like many singing teachers, Juliet Russell juggles a variety of hats including being a singer/songwriter, a vocal coach, choir director and music festival organiser. As well as running her own practice working with artists, Juliet loves to work with choirs, recently arranging and featuring in the Pamper's tribute to midwives with Paloma Faith on lead vocals. Juliet is a vocal coach on two of the UK’s biggest entertainment shows; ITV’s The Voice and BBC1’s Michael McIntyre’s Big Show.
Line and Juliet talk about her random journey into singing and teaching from a very young age. In spite of not having any specific goals in the music industry, she has gone on to coach Grammy, Brit, MTV Europe Music and MOBO award-winning singers. As part of an MA Juliet got involved with the British Lung Foundation to research and develop a singing related tool to improve dysphonia in people with respiratory illnesses. Juliet also talks about how a teacher can prepare singers for TV singing competitions , how she got the gig and what the challenges of that kind of coaching are.
Guest website: https://www.julietrussell.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this podcast Line Hilton talks to Joshua Alamu, a professional vocal coach with over 15 years experience as a singing teacher in the music and television industry. He has been a voice coach for the TV talent shows such as The Voice UK and is currently working with acts such as Fleur East, Little Mix and JP Cooper. Joshua talks about his unexpected journey to becoming a vocal coach, the pros and cons of coming from a gospel background, how Ultimate Artists, an artist development summer programme he co-founded came about and his goals with the programme and how he works with artists under the pressure of promotional work, recording and touring.
Guest website: https://www.joshuaalamu.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This podcast is a bit different as I am talking to recent BAST Graduate, Matt Thorns, about his journey. Matt started out singing as a six-year-old chorister in Oxford. He talks about his vocal experience going through puberty. He then moved into general performing arts and eventually music production and songwriting. He noticed that he was spending a lot of time helping singers to get the best out of their voices in the studio, and he was enjoying the role more and more. In the interview, Matt reveals the top issues he found singers to have when in a recording studio setting.
Eventually, his coaching interest blossomed into a desire to find out more and to delve into the performance coaching world further eventually bringing him to the 20 Hour BAST course, which he took with Kaya Herstad Carney. He talks about his biggest obstacle, lack of confidence, as a new teacher and how he overcame it, and the current challenges he is experiencing. Together we discuss how to deliver an online lesson along with a variety of other teaching topics.
Guest website: https://www.musicalignment.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Many of you will have already encountered this podcast's guest, John Henny. He's a singing teacher and music school business owner and also provides training and education for singing teachers. His singing journey started when he realised that singing was going to give him the edger as a drummer. He was a part of the Speech Level Singing organisiation for many years, as one of the teacher training team that traveled around the world training SLS teachers. Eventually, he headed out on his own to follow his entrepreneurial itch. We find out about his journey and the lessons learned along the way
Guest website: http://www.johnhenny.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Singer and songwriter Whitney Nichole started her teaching studio back in 2008. Over the past ten years, her studio has grown from a two-person operation to nineteen teachers, nearly four hundred students and for locations. As you can imagine a lot has been learned along the way.
Whitney tells us her story, how she grew the business, helped her teachers get on board with the Songbird values, her process of finding the right teacher for the studio and what she loves about running a business this size. Whitney also talks about Vocology in Practice where she is the current chairperson.
Guest website: http://www.songbirdsf.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Gemma Sugrue is one of those natural entrepreneurs. She started her own wedding singer business at college and on finishing her degree joined forces with a friend to set up a singing teaching studio in Cork where they now have 300+ students, and are earning enough to employ a manager whilst she spends time on her own creativity as singer/songwriter. Gemma talks to Line Hilton about her journey from a naive 17 year old touring Australia with an Irish dance show, how she went about learning to sing in a contemporary vocal style, setting up her first business as a wedding singer, and the trials and tribulations of becoming a studio boss with 15 teachers. She also talks about how she has gone about finding a balance between her business and artist mindset.
Guest website: https//www.gemmasugrue.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
From a humble beginning in a local choir to one of the most highly regarded vocal pedagogs in the UK and co-founder of the very popular The Naked Vocalist Podcast, Chris Johnson talks to Line Hilton about his journey from singing as a hobby to a career.
Chris talks about his mistakes, challenges and victories, how he transitioned from being a small-town teacher to running an oversubscribed London teaching studio. Chris also talks about his vocal issues and how he dealt with them physically and mentally. Chris talks about the benefits the podcast has had on his practice, how he deals with negative criticism and shares a little trick he’s learned to market his practice and increase bookings.
Guest website: https://www.chrisjohnsonvocalcoach.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mindy Pack hails from Salt Lake City, Utah. She began singing professionally from a young age, taking up teaching as it seemed the right thing to do. Like many of us took her voice for granted until the day it wasn't there. This event was a turning point for Mindy as it took her down an unexpected path. As a teacher, she was already exploring and building on her technique and teaching skills, but now she had to figure out how to get her voice back. As a result of this new journey, Mindy has become a go-to voice teacher for ENTs and Speech Pathologists to send their rehab patients to. Mindy works with pro singers from all genres and styles of music.
Her clients have been seen on world tours, national Broadway tours, AMA’s, Grammy’s, Saturday Night Live, International Award shows, YouTube Sensations, College Scholarship Winners, Reality TV Shows, Cruise Lines, and local and national performances to name a few. As you will discover Mindy has a dynamite personality and she and Line always find something to get hysterical about, this podcast was no different. Find out why Mindy's neighbour came running into her studio one day with a gun in hand...
Guest website: https://www.mindypack.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Line Hilton talks to BAST Trainer and sound engineer Gareth Henderson. A British expat now 'living the life' in Perth, Australia, Gareth came to singing and teaching through lucky circumstance, and along the way scored his lovely wife, Louise - he says she was part of a package deal of singing lessons he had with her father! Gareth talks about the lessons he learnt from building 3 singing teaching studios, what he wished he'd known about singing teaching from the start, the surprising thing he learnt from working with signed artist, Birdy, how he deals with students who seem to want to use the lesson as a counselling session, plus more. He asks Line how she would deal with a singer who didn't like their sound or trust it was right even when they were singing functionally well.
Guest website: https://www.australianpopacademy.com.au
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Line Hilton, talks to BAST Trainer, Lisa Haupert. They discuss her musical journey from piano to singing, becoming a singing teacher after initially studying psychology then training as a general nurse (something she and Line have in common), the differences she's noticed in singing students in the different locations she's worked in (USA & UK) and Lisa asks Line how she maintains her own motivation.
Guest website: https://www.shamelesssinging.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Line Hilton, talks to BAST Trainer, Ian Davidson who is based in Liverpool. They discuss his musical journey and how he became a singing teacher as a result of working for the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA). Line and Ian discuss the benefits and constraints of being a part of a specific teaching methodology. They both trained as Speech Level Singing teachers initially. Ian recently changed his teaching approach, which in turn affected the way he set up his teaching studio. He and Line discuss the kinds of students they enjoy and don't enjoy teaching.
Guest website: http://www.ianjdavidson.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In our inaugural Teachers On Teaching podcast, BAST founder, Line Hilton, talks to BAST Trainer, Kaya Herstad Carney. They discuss her singing journey, becoming a teacher (by being thrown in at the deep end), how her MA helped her teaching, working with choirs, teaching vocal technique in a classroom setting and how working with people recovering from addiction taught her a humbling lesson. Kaya asks Line how she would deal with a student who was getting inaccurate advice and teaching from another singing teacher.
Line and Kaya answer Sarah Nixey's question " Can we look at how to apply exercises to songs? In other words, how can we help our students to work on their songs via scales, vowels etc. What should we look for in the song to choose the right exercises? And how can we help them perform the song? Use of dynamics, telling the story of the song etc."
Guest website: https://www.kayamusic.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.
Website: basttraining.com
Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training
Link to presenter’s bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-bios
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.