Singing Teachers Talk

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
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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 
Instagram 
🎁 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 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
basttraining.com | Stay Updated

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
basttraining.com | Stay Updated

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
basttraining.com | Stay Updated