Singing Teachers Talk

Could AI be the future of singing education, or is there something about human connection that technology simply can't replace? In this episode, Alexa is joined by Sergey, founder of Singing Carrots, an AI-powered singing platform helping people build confidence and develop their voices. They explore the journey behind Singing Carrots, some of the data collected, and how AI is changing the way people learn to sing. But can technology really replace a singing teacher, and what opportunities might it offer vocal coaches? Tune in to discover how AI could shape the future of singing education, and let us know what you think. 

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?  

1:06 Naming ‘Singing Carrots’ 

5:15 The AI argument  

12:25 Singing Carrots: The process of discovery  

22:10 What Singing Carrots offers: development, content & success tracking  

38:19 The AI singing teacher: How nuanced can it be? 

42:36 Corporate to Self-employment: creating an AI subscription  

51:28 Creating an AI powered product: Advice to singing teachers  

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS 

Folding Burritos 

Claudia Rolando 

Dominika Zawada 

Selina van Woerkom 

Linor Oren 

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.270 How to Help Singers Overcome Fear and Build Confidence with Linor Oren 

The Intelligent Vocalist Podcast 

Voce Vista 

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep. 222: "The Rise of AI: What It Means for Singers & Teachers with Rachael Drury 

Singing Teachers talk - Ep.Ep. 226: "The Rise of AI: Practical Tools and Strategies for the Singing Teacher with Rachael Drury 

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Sergey Kuhne is an entrepreneur, engineer, musician, husband and father, and the founder of Singing Carrots, an AI vocal coach. Before Singing Carrots, he spent 15 years in big tech, six of them at Booking.com. Now he's exploring how AI can make vocal coaching feel safe and personal. 

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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How do you choose the right repertoire for musical theatre auditions? In this episode of Singing Teachers Talk, we explore the many musical styles of contemporary musical theatre, using SIX the Musical and its six queens as our inspiration. 

From Beyoncé and Avril Lavigne to Adele and Alicia Keys, discover how pop influences, vocal demands, character and storytelling can help shape repertoire choices. Plus, pick up practical repertoire-searching tips and song suggestions to expand your singing teacher toolbox, whether you teach musical theatre, pop or other contemporary commercial music (CCM) styles.  

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS 

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.174 Demystifying Tax for the Self-Employed Singing Teachers with Accountant Andy Muckett 

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.258 10 Plus ‘Legit’ Songs for Musical Theatre Singers with Alexa Terry 

So You Want to Sing Musical Theatre by Amanda Flynn 

Amanda Flynn 

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.133 Mastering Belt in Musical Theatre  

Singing Teachers talk - Rep eps 

Six the musical  

Amelia Carr 

Musical Theatre Resources 

Theatre Trip  

Chicago Shakespeare Theatre Article 

musicnotes.com  

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Alexa is the Deputy Head of Singing at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools - Italia Conti, and she also runs a private singing tuition practice in the South of England. In addition, Alexa is the host of BAST Training’s Singing Teachers Talk podcast, and acts as both unit tutor and mentor for their level 5 vocational singing teaching qualification, as well as mentoring on their foundation course.[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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What does it really mean to help someone find a voice that feels like their own? This week, Alexa is joined by gender-affirming voice specialist - Renée Yoxon - to explore the fascinating relationship between voice, gender and identity. From rethinking traditional approaches to vocal training to creating more inclusive spaces for singers, Renée shares fresh perspectives that might just challenge the way we think about the voice, as well as giving us an insight to her book ‘The Trans Voice Practice Journal.’ Whether you're already working with trans and non-binary singers or simply looking to broaden your understanding, this is a conversation every singing teacher can learn from. 

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?  

0:00 Book Review: The Trans Voice Practice Journal by Renee Yoxon 

6:33 From physics to gender-affirming voice work  

9:00 What is gender-affirming voice work?  

12:28 Why is it important to play with gender expression?  

16:07 How transferable are speaking voice exercises to singing?  

18:01 Understanding hormone replacement therapy  

23:57 An insight into gender-affirming voice work in practice  

32:34 Creating inclusive learning spaces  

37:57 Leveraging online platforms 

39:54 Creating The Trans Voice Practice Journal 

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS 

Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith 

Eli Conley 

Peter Fullerton 

Stephen Davidson 

The Transmasculine Voice: A Guide to Vocal Euphoria by Stephen Davidson 

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.175 Understanding the Transmasculine Voice with Stephen Davidson 

The Singing Teacher's Guide to Transgender Voices by Liz Jackson & Brian Kremer 

Queering Vocal Pedagogy: A Handbook for Teaching Trans and Genderqueer Singers and Fostering Gender-Affirming Spaces by William Sauerland 

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.68 Training Transgender Voices with Dr Felix Graham 

ASHA 

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Renée Yoxon (they/them) is a queer, nonbinary, and disabled gender-affirming voice teacher based in Montreal. They have taught voice since 2008, and since 2019 have focused on helping trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people create speaking voices they love. Renée is known for explaining complicated concepts in plain language, and for an approach that lets each student decide what their own voice should sound like. Their online courses have reached nearly 2,000 students worldwide, and they have trained over 100 voice teachers and speech-language pathologists. Renée is the author of The Trans Voice Practice Journal (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2026) and was named Canada's Inspiring Person of the Year at the 2026 INSPIRE Awards. Learn more at reneeyoxon.com 

Website 

Instagram: @reneeyoxon 

🎁 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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How can singing teachers better support neurodivergent singers? In this insightful episode, Alexa is joined by singer, educator and former hospital school deputy head Sarah Marion to explore neurodiversity in singing lessons. From ADHD, autism, Tourette’s and anxiety, to sensory overload, perfectionism and performance overwhelm, Sarah shares practical ways teachers can create safer, more flexible and inclusive learning environments. Discover why structure and preparation matter, how music can support communication and connection, and why focusing on each singer’s individual ‘superpowers’ can transform the way we teach. 

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?  

7:33 What is a hospital school?  

8:02 The role of music in education and neurodiversity  

17:34 Supporting singers with ADHD 

19:26 Supporting singers with autism and Tourrette’s  

22:42 Recognising the signs of overwhelm 

24:00 Preparation, predictability and structuring the singing lesson 

30:27 Supporting neurodivergent singers in rehearsals and auditions 

31:43 Helping neurodivergent singers with organisation  

36:34 The neurodivergent teacher  

38:44 Rethinking professionalism and making adaptations 

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS 

Alternative Provision Huh - The Importance to the Arts and Wider Opportunities’ by Myatt and John Tomsett 

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.280 What Singing Teachers Need to Understand About Performance Anxiety with Mel Toy 

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Sarah is a Wirral-based singer and pianist with a lifelong passion for music and performance. In her twenties, based in Manchester she performed extensively with bands, session work and solo gigs, including a stint working abroad. Sarah is a classically trained singer to post graduate level. Following her performing career, Sarah dedicated 30 years to teaching music in Wirral comprehensive schools. During this time, she led numerous school productions and successfully prepared students for GCSE music examinations, inspiring a new generation of musicians. During the last 10 years in education Sarah became a Deputy Headteacher in a hospital school specialising in Trauma Informed Teaching, creating teaching toolkits for reducing anxiety in young people with poor mental health, often comorbid with a diagnosis of neurodiversity. Sarah now combines her time between performing, 1:1 Teaching and has a mentor role with the SSAT. [Schools Students and Teachers Network] 

Youtube 

Instagram: @sarah_marrion_sings 

🎁 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 does it take to be ready to step into multiple roles in the musical theatre industry Today, Alexa is joined by West End performer and vocal coach Corinne Priest to talk about her time in Titanique, where she covered Céline Dion, Rose and Molly Brown alongside her role as a backing vocalist. Corinne shares how she prepared to embody Céline’s unmistakable vocal style, the realities of switching between multiple tracks, and why making a role fit your own voice is so important. They also explore the growing vocal demands of musical theatre, life as a swing, and what it takes to build the versatility and vocal sustainability needed for eight shows a week.  

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?  

1:33 Corrine’s favourite song in a contract so far  

2:18 Corrine’s journey into the Musical Theatre industry 

4:15 Representation: drama school and agencies  

7:45 Titanique  

23:24 Impersonation as a training tool  

24:30 Vocal coaching Vs performing  

26:25 Corrine’s top tip for current musical theatre demands  

29:45 Corrine’s contract wish list  

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS 

London School of Musical Theatre (LSMT)  

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.221 How Knowing Musical Theatre History Makes You a Better Performer with Molly Marie Walsh 

The Criterion  

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.279 On Vocal Crashes, Career Lessons and Sustainable Singing with Chris Killik 

Mischief Comedy 

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Corrine is a professional Musical Theatre Performer and Vocal Coach, originally from Somerset. 

Training: London School of Musical Theatre 

2025 Vocal Balance Accredited Teacher  

Corrine is a guest tutor at Urdang Academy and full time Singing Teacher at Emil Dale Academy, and also teaches private 1:1s. 

Credits include: BGV2, cover Celine Dion, Rose and Molly Brown in Titanique the Musical (Criterion Theatre, Lido2Paris), Beauty in Beauty and the Beast (Playhouse Theatre), Swing, cover Sister Mary Robert, cover Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act (UK Tour), Workshop of Disruption (Park Theatre), Fairy Queen / Resident Director in Claus The Musical (The Lowry), Ensemble in Les Misérables (Sondheim Theatre), Dance Captain in Les Misérables: The Staged Concert (Sondheim Theatre), Elizabeth Benning in Young Frankenstein (English Theatre Frankfurt), Swing, cover Fantine, cover Gavroche, assistant Dance Captain, assistant Children's Director, in Les Misérables (UK & International Tour), Lucy in Can't Stop It (The Other Palace), Lucy in Ushers: The Front of House Musical (Edinburgh Fringe & Arts Theatre), Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol (Blackpool Opera House), Soloist in Stephen Sondheim 85th Birthday Gala (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), cast in God: The Stephen Sondheim Parody (London Theatre), Amy Thomas in Girlfriends (Union Theatre), Lead Vocalist onboard Holland America Line, and Viv Nicholson in Spend Spend Spend (Bridewell Theatre).  

Corrine won The Stephen Sondheim Student Performer of the Year award and more recently won a What's Onstage Angel award in 2021. Corrine also recorded the critically acclaimed one-woman song-cycle Heart of Winter, available on iTunes and Spotify.  

Website 

Instagram: @corrinepriest @coachingwithcorrine 

🎁 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 if performance anxiety isn’t just about what happens on stage? In this episode, Alexa is joined by performance rehabilitation coach and PhD researcher Mel Toy to dig beneath the surface of music performance anxiety. They unpack the surprising factors that can shape anxiety, why common advice doesn’t always help, and how singers and teachers can approach performance with more curiosity, compassion and individuality. They also discuss the surprising impact of noise, sleep and everyday life and why anxiety isn’t always easy to spot. A thought-provoking conversation for singing teachers and performers that challenges some common assumptions about anxiety and performance.  

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?  

2:05 ‘Music Performance Anxiety’ as a social anxiety disorder  

8:52 Creating well-being environments for learning 

12:40 A note on cognitive reframing  

24:52 Anxiety contributors  

31:16 Spotting anxiety 

35:05: Stress and progress   

46:30 What about when it’s the teacher who is anxious?  

51:23 Mel’s research 

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS 

Singer & the Self 

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.271 Singer & the Self: Rethinking Singing Teacher CPD with Becky Gilhespie 

Cat Ogden  

The Singer’s Guide Podcast by Tessa Smith - Trust the Process: Alexa Terry on Unfinished Sounds and Developing Your Voice  

This is your Brain on Food by Dr Uma Naidoo 

Wendy Parr 

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.94 Developing The Singer Into an Artist with Wendy Parr 

Lydia Hart 

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.277 Identity, Self-Worth and Burnout in the Performing Arts with Claire Cannon 

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Mel Toy is an experienced voice and performance coach, voice massage practitioner, and vocal health specialist dedicated to empowering artists and performers to unlock their creative potential. With a holistic approach that integrates tailored technical exercises, artistic development, and rehabilitative techniques, Mel works to help clients overcome both physiological and psychological challenges, fostering their creative freedom and promoting vocal wellbeing. 

In addition to her client-focused work, Mel is a seasoned lecturer in voice and contemporary performance. Since 2018, she has taught at leading institutions, including the British Institute of Modern Music (BIMM Institute London), the Voice Study Centre, and the Eastern Institute of Technology (Hawke's Bay). Through these roles, Mel has guided singers and musicians in developing their vocal technique, performance health, collaborative songwriting, and career strategies. She also supervises undergraduate and Master's theses and serves as a reviewer for the Sages Music and Science Journal. As part of her international teaching experience, Mel has contributed to the European Vocal Camp and joined the team in 2025 for the launch of their Asia-Pacific camp. 

Mel is a certified Vocal Coach through the Institute of Vocal Advancement and Modern Vocal Training, as well as a Vocal Health Habilitation Practitioner with Vocal Health Education. She has also delivered masterclasses on Music Performance Anxiety, Performance Psychology, and Vocal Massage to global audiences, helping vocal coaches, singing teachers, and other support practitioners better assist their clients in managing performance-related stress and anxiety. 

In addition to her vocal techniques education, Mel is a researcher and academic, holding a BA Hons in Creative Musicianship and an MSc Psychology. She is currently undertaking doctoral research through the Department of Culture, Communication, and Media with University College London’s Institute of Education, investigating the ongoing implications of music performance anxiety on the wellbeing of contemporary singers. 

Website 

Social Media: @meltoyvocalcoach 

🎁 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 does it really take to build a sustainable career as a performer? In this episode, Alexa is joined by performer and vocal coach Chris Killik for a warm, funny and refreshingly candid conversation about life in the performing arts. From memorable auditions and unexpected career opportunities to versatility, vocal health and the lessons that only come from experience, Chris shares stories from a career spanning musical theatre, Shakespeare, television and stages across Europe. They also explore how our priorities can shift over time, what it means to truly understand your voice, and why sometimes the most important career moments are the ones you never planned for. 

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?  

0:44 What makes a good audition experience?  

1:44 Auditions gone wrong 

5:49 Chris’ journey into performing arts  

9:29 What did higher education not teach you? 

11:45 What does it mean to be versatile?  

16:28 The vocal crash 

26:57 Performing in the UK Vs Europe  

31:16 Setting up The Educated Voice 

35:30 Performing and being a Dad 

38:20 The remainder of 2026 

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS 

Royal Academy of Music 

Mary Hammond 

Jack Shepherd  

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.112 Helping Musical Theatre Singers Build a Reliable ToolboxPhysio Ed 

Chris Johnson Vocal Coach 

Jeremy Ryan Mossman 

Tom Burke 

Anne Marie Speed 

Maureen Scott  

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.241 Is Your Pelvic Floor Affecting Your Voice? A Deep Dive 

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.263 The Creative Juggler: Singer, Songwriter and Teacher  

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.197 Backing Adele and Beyond: The Art and Craft of Backing Vocals  

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep. Ep.69 Understanding Pregnancy for the Singer and the Self-Employed  

Associated Studios  

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Theatre credits include:Freddie Mercury inFriday Night Fever!(O2 Arena);Wish You Were Dead(National Tour);How to Build a Better Tulipand Return to the Forbidden Planet(Upstairs at the Gatehouse); Redemption Roomand Iconfidant(Online);Andrew Lloyd Webber Gala(European Tour);Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dreamand Much Ado About Nothing(Park Theatre); The Wind in the Willows(Kew Gardens); Private Lives(Playhouse Theatre, Stockholm); Chicago(City Theatre Stockholm);Jesus Christ Superstar(Turku City Theatre, Finland); The Hired Man(Old Laundry Theatre, Windermere); Love Story(Duchess Theatre); Ash(Arcola Theatre);Sail Away(Lost Musicals, Lilian Baylis Theatre, Sadler's Wells); Closer Than Ever(Cheltenham Playhouse); Closer(Helsinki Fringe) and Merrie England(Finborough Theatre). 

Concert credits include:Backing Singer for Elton John's Concert for Diana(Wembley Stadium) and Chess in Concert(Royal Albert Hall). 

Recording credits include:12 Tenors; Love Story(the musical); and his own original music, of which his debut song 'Who Will You Burn For?' reached no. 3 in the iTunes charts. 

Vocal Coaching 

Alongside performing, Christopher is a vocal coach who has studied a wide range of vocal methodologies over the years, weaving together the best of each into a rich, multifaceted approach to teaching singing. He previously founded The Educated Voice, a company that ran five-day intensive courses across Scandinavia, bringing over top West End vocal teachers to deliver cutting-edge training in voice technique to international students. He now runs his own vocal coaching practice from his studio in Walthamstow, London.  

Website 

Instagram: @christopherkillik 

🎁 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’s the story behind one of the best-known vocal products on the market? In this episode, Alexa is joined by Maria and George from Vocalzone to uncover the fascinating history behind the century-old family business, and why its distinctive pastilles have become a backstage staple for performers around the world, including Tom Jones, Katherine Jenkins and Michael Ball.  

They also get into some of the debates that have divided singers and singing teachers over the years- including the ever-contentious question of menthol - tackling myths, misconceptions and strongly held opinions around vocal care. Expect fascinating history, practical insight and plenty of brilliant behind-the-scenes stories along the way. 

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?  

1:55 The history of Vocalzone 

5:37 What’s it like working with family?  

7:45 What are the Vocalzone products?  

11:32 Safety checks 

16:54 What do Vocalzone products actually do?  

23:34 The menthol argument 

28:10 The other ingredients: myrrh tincture & peppermint oil 

31:46 How to properly use the Vocalzone pastilles  

38:07 What should singing teachers understand about Vocalzone?  

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS 

Vocalzone, Saviours or Destroyers?  

Line Hilton  

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Vocalzone is a vocal care brand with a history stretching back more than a century. Originally formulated in 1907 by William Lloyd for legendary Italian tenor Enrico Caruso, Vocalzone’s distinctive throat pastilles first went on sale in 1912 and have since become a familiar part of the toolkit for singers and professional voice users around the world. 

Today, Vocalzone produces a range of pastilles, teas and throat spray designed to support hardworking voices, utilised by everyone from singers and actors to broadcasters, teachers and public speakers. With its roots firmly in the performing arts, the brand continues to combine its remarkable heritage with a focus on the needs of modern voice users. 

Website 

Social Media: @vocalzonehq 

🎁 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 happens when being a singer becomes more than what you do, and starts to define who you are? In this episode, Alexa is joined by vocal coach Claire Cannon to explore the connection between burnout, identity and life in the performing arts. They unpack the idea of identity foreclosure, the pressures of tying self-worth to success, and why burnout is about far more than simply feeling tired. From external validation and industry expectations to the importance of developing a sense of self beyond your work, this conversation offers plenty to reflect on for singers, teachers and anyone whose passion has become their profession. 

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?  

3:04 What is burnout?  

12:29 Burnout and the self-employed  

19:41 Identity foreclosure  

26:01 How long does it take to feel burnt out? 

29:31 Language and identity  

38:15 Burnout and peer pressure 

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS 

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.72 Become a Vocology in Practice Authorised Teacher with Claire Cannon & Kaya Herstad Carney 

Vocology in Practice 

Mental Health UK Burnout Report 2026 

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Claire Cannon is a professional vocal coach, mentor and performer based in Cheshire, UK, working with aspiring and professional singers both in person and online. 

A graduate of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), Claire holds a Diploma in Song and a Degree in Performing Arts (Music). She began her teaching journey with BAST in 2014 and has continued to develop her expertise in vocal pedagogy, achieving a Certification in Contemporary Vocal Coaching, becoming a Vocology in Practice (ViP) Authorized Instructor, Vocal Health First Aider and Mental Health Informed Practitioner. She also holds a Level 2 qualification in counselling and a master’s degree in Vocal Pedagogy, specialising in efficient, evidence-based approaches to vocal health and occupational wellness. 

Alongside her coaching, Claire brings more than two decades of professional experience across live performance and session work. Her professional credits include multiple single releases as lead vocalist and co-writer for electronic dance group ‘Flip & Fill’, as well as recording the female vocals for the Emerald Storm international tour. 

Through her private studio, Claire Cannon Voice, and her work in higher education, she specialises in developing healthy, resilient and authentic voices that can meet the demands of a career in the music industry. Claire has a particular passion for musical theatre and enjoys working with performers on repertoire selection and audition prep. 

Claire’s approach considers the whole performer, combining vocal technique with wellbeing, psychology and artistry. She believes effective coaching should help singers not only develop their voices, but also understand their instrument, build confidence and develop an authentic identity that can support them throughout their careers. 

Website 

Social Media: @clairecannonvoice 

🎁 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’s really happening inside the larynx when we sing? In this fascinating episode, Alexa is joined by laryngologist and singer Dr Jennifer Rodney - aka Singing Surgeon MD - for a rare look inside the voice in action. From vocal registers and tension to vibrato, breathiness, vocal fry and more, Jennifer brings vocal anatomy to life - and even scopes herself live to show us what’s happening in real time. Whether you’re a singer, voice teacher or simply fascinated by how the voice works, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Listen to the full episode, or head over to YouTube to watch the live demonstrations.  

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?  

3:19 Who does Dr Jennifer Rodney see in her clinic?  

5:44 The difference between rigid and flexi laryngoscopy  

7:46 Does flexi laryngoscopy hurt? 

10:51 Live scope! 

42:26 Why can some people sing well when others cannot? 

44:36 Does ‘everyone’ have a laryngeal abnormality? 

46:33 What does Dr Jennifer wish singers knew more about? 

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS 

Sin City Laryngology 

Jennifer’s Laryngeal Karaoke 

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep. With Nick Gibbins 

Vanderbilt University Medical Center 

Baylor Scott & White Health 

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Dr. Rodney grew up in Saint Petersburg, FL, and has sung professionally throughout her life. Her background in music led her to become a laryngologist. Dr. Rodney’s practice welcomes patients with voice, airway, and swallowing disorders. Her areas of expertise include medical and surgical care of disorders that affect the voice, professional voice, benign and malignant laryngeal lesions, and vocal cord paralysis. Dr. Rodney also has expertise in neurolaryngological disorders, such as spasmodic dysphonia. She works collaboratively with speech-language pathologists in The Voice Center to provide multidisciplinary care. She also enjoys training young physicians and has published many articles in the field of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. In her spare time, Dr. Rodney enjoys singing, attending live performances, kayaking, traveling with her husband and spending time with her children. 

Social Media: @singingsurgeonmd 

🎁 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