Singing Teachers Talk

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?
5:21 What 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
basttraining.com | Stay Updated

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
basttraining.com | Stay Updated

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
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
Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW
basttraining.com | Stay Updated