Singing Teachers Talk

• How Speech Therapy and Aphasia inspired an Etsy Side Hustle with Sami Wong

  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_  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 ...morebasttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group

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• Ep.231 Evolving Vocal Trends: Training Functional Registration in Contemporary Commercial Music with April Young

  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 dominance12:43 Does imitation have limitation?15:05 Visible, audible and sensory clues of CT dominance16:33 The best time to train vocal registers20:45 Acoustic register shifts and choosing the best vowel25:58 Training registers alongside trends45:16 Changing trends in CCM and impacts on the studioAbout the presenter HERERELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKSJournal 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 YoungWilliam VenardSinging Teachers Talk Ep.152 ‘Tomato, Tomahto’: Understanding Singing TerminologySinging Teachers Talk Ep.133 Mastering Belt in Musical TheatreSinging Teachers Talk Ep.200 The Secret to Powerful Belting and Seamless MixingSinging Teachers Talk Ep.146 How to Understand and Apply Vocal Acoustic PedagogySinging Teachers Talk Ep.172 Understanding Acoustic RegistersShenandoah UniversityThe Systematic Approach to Voice Dr Kari RaganThe Structure of Singing Richard MillerHoberman SphereMary Saunders BartonSinging Teachers Talk Ep.151 How to Sing with TwangABOUT 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.WebsiteBAST 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 ...morebasttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group

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• Ep.230 How to Survive Drama School Auditions: 10 Expert Tips with Alexa Terry

  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  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 ...morebasttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group

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• Ep.229 Ways to Make More Money as a Singing Teacher with Zoe Stibi

  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 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 ...morebasttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group

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• Ep.228 10 Ways to Make Singing Lessons Fun with Alexa Terry

  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 HERERELEVANT 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 GUESTAlexa 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 WebsiteInstagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoachingBAST 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 ...morebasttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group

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