Singing Teachers Talk

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. 
 
Email 
Website 
Instagram 
Facebook 
 
🎁 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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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
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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
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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
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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 
Instagram 
LinkedIn 
🎁 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