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

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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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  

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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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: [email protected] IG: @rachael_drury

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 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

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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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

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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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

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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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 

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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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  

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 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

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, 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

basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group