This week's guest is specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Lydia Hart. Lydia specialises in the field of Voice and Upper Airway and also works for the NHS and in the Joint Voice Clinic at Wexham Park Hospital. She joins Alexa on Singing Teacher’s Talk to talk about the work she does as an SLT and how that can help you as a singing teacher. 

KEY MOMENTS

‘The longer I’ve worked in this field… I’m realising that we overpathologize so much’ 

‘If I hear a voice that sounds a bit unusual then I might do a mental GRBAS of it’

‘If you know your own body then you’ll know if you’re getting reflux’ 

RELEVANT LINKS & MENTIONS

• Voice Care Centre: voicecarecentre.co.uk
• Vocal Health Education: vocalhealtlh.co.uk
• Declan Costello: www.voicedoctor.co.uk
• University of Reading: http://www.reading.ac.uk/
• GRBAS Scale
• PPI = Proton Pump Inhibitor
• Stephen King
• Singing Teacher’s Talk Podcast; Episode 32 - The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King
• NeilMed Saline Nasal Rinse
• Tor Spence: voicefituk.co.uk; @voicefituk

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Lydia Hart is a specialist Speech and Language Therapist, working in the field of Voice and Upper Airway. This means she can help people who are experiencing difficulties with their speaking or singing voice, or other throat symptoms. Lydia is known for being vibrant, caring and sensitive, taking time to create and hold a space for clients to work on their voice in a holistic way.

Alongside her work at Voice Care Centre, Lydia works for the NHS and works in the Joint Voice Clinic at Wexham Park Hospital, with leading laryngologist Declan Costello. This involves assessment and management of a range of voice disorders, from muscle tension dysphonia to vocal cord paralysis, and her clinical expertise is constantly expanding.

Lydia is passionate about health and wellbeing, in both her personal and professional life. She enjoys yoga and breath work, as well as weightlifting and rock climbing. Lydia is a singer herself, and voice therapy – which ultimately means working with a person, not a diagnosis – is a true vocation for her.

EPISODE RESOURCES 

BAST Training

Guest Website:

• www.lydiahartvoice.com

Social Media:

• @lydiahartvoice

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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Vox Yoga is a holistic approach to voice training, considering the voice as a whole instrument. Rosie Secker works in exploring the connection between body, breath, mind and voice, allowing a singer to embody their performance and sing in a healthy and expressive way. She joins Alexa on Singing Teachers Talk to discuss the connection between voice and body. Rosie will also be a guest speaker at the next Focus On event, The Body and The Singer, on June 27, 2022

KEY MOMENTS
It can change you having a regular practice
Just getting moving is fantastic
Connecting to the breath helps us move more efficiency
You don’t need anything to become a beginner

RELEVANT LINKS & MENTIONS

• Focus On The Body & The Singer Event
• Yoga for Singers by Linda Lister 
• Vocal Yoga Teacher Certification with Heather Lyle
• Vocal Yoga: The Joy of Breathing, Singing and Sounding by Heather Lyle 
• Yoga and Singing by Judith E Carman
• Vocal Health Education
• BAST Training
• Thomas Myers: Myofascial Release 
• Vox Yoga Youtube Channel

ABOUT THE GUEST
Rosie trained with the vocal department at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, graduating with a First Class BMus (Hons). She went on to pursue a Master of Arts at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and since graduating has led a successful portfolio career as a singing teacher, holistic voice teacher and performer.
As a singing teacher, Rosie has worked in a variety of contexts with different colleges, ensembles, age groups and abilities. She currently teaches at Bird College (Conservatoire of Dance & Musical Theatre) on the Degree and Diploma courses, and teaches singing at Lewes Old Grammar School, also running three choirs. Rosie has completed Estill Levels 1&2, is a Certified Vocal Health First Aider and is hoping to become a Vocal Rehabilitation Professional. Rosie is also a Certified 500hr Yoga Teacher, Certified Vocal Yoga Teacher and runs her own Vox Yoga workshops for organisations and individuals.
Rosie works with singers to find their own unique voice, and sing with ease and confidence. Vox Yoga is a holistic approach to voice training, considering the voice as a whole instrument. Exploring the connection between body, breath, mind and voice, allows a singer to embody their performance and sing in a healthy and expressive way.

EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training
Guest Website
voxyoga.co.uk
www.rosiesecker.co.uk

Social Media
@voxyogawithrosie

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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Debbie Winter is the director of the Voice Study Centre and creator of popular Facebook group Voice Geek. Debbie has three published peer reviewed articles and she’s partnered with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David to form a training pathway in vocal pedagogy. Hear her discussion with Alexa on taking the academic route on this week's Singing Teachers Talk.

KEY MOMENTS

‘A lot of foundation students go on to do some publishable work’ 

‘We give 5 times more support than your average academic degree’ 

‘You can’t be a lone wolf in the academic field’ 

EPISODE RESOURCES 

BAST Training

Guest Website:

• voicestudycentre.com

Social Media:

• @voicestudycentre

RELEVANT LINKS & MENTIONS

• Voice Geek Facebook Group
• Cardiff Metropolitan University
• University of Wales Trinity St David
• Estill
• Juliet Russell
• Emily Foulkes
• Dr David Juncos
• Sophie Garner
• Chadley Ballantyne
• Jeanie LoVetri Somatic Voicework
• Dr Trineice Robinson-Martin
• Line Hilton:com
• Respiratory Function in Speech & Song by Thomas J Hixon
• Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA)
• The Voice and Speech Review (VASTA)
• Rockford Sansom
• Journal of Voice
• Journal of Interdisciplinary Voice Studies
• National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)
• Journal of Singing (NATS)
• Christian Herbst (Vocal Registers Research)
• British Voice Association
• Association of Teachers of Singing (AOTOS)
• British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM)
• Debbie Winter: [email protected]

ABOUT THE GUEST

Debbie Winter (LLB Hons, MA) lectured in Law and sang professionally on the jazz scene before deciding to change careers and become a vocal coach. Debbie worked in partnership with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) and leading pedagogues to develop a unique training MA pathway in Vocal Pedagogy.

She is the Director of The Voice Study Centre and is responsible for all aspects of provision ranging from academic content, staffing, recruitment

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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Vocal coach and mental health first aider, Cat Ogden joins Bronwyn this week on Singing Teachers Talk to discuss the topics of well being and mental health. Cat’s studio specialises in singing for mental health and wellbeing and she is also studying for a masters where her research work focuses on adolescent mental health. 

KEY MOMENTS

‘Absolutely everyone should practice self care’

‘I can’t ever imagine a point in my life where I’m not learning about the voice’ 

‘The BAST course is the best thing I’ve ever done, it’s given me so many opportunities’ 

RELEVANT LINKS & MENTIONS

• Adverse Childhood Experiences

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Cat Ogden trained at UCLan in Music Theatre and is currently studying for a Master’s in Voice Pedagogy with the Voice Study Centre. She specialises in teaching children and young adults, and in singing for mental health and well-being. Cat has a certificate in mental health first aid, vocal health first aid and has completed the BAST 20 hour course. She lives in Cheshire.

EPISODE RESOURCES 

BAST Training 

Guest Website:

• https://catogdensinging.com/

Social Media: 

• @catogdensinging

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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Aliki Katriou is a metal singer and vocal coach who teaches across many different styles. She studied with New York Vocal Coaching and is now involved in helping train their coaches in extreme vocals, as well as delivering masterclasses on distortion for music schools across the US and UK. She joins Alexa on this week's Singing Teachers Talk to discuss exploring extreme vocals. 

KEY MOMENTS

‘I felt like the higher I went in my range, the more comfortable and effortless everything was’ 

‘I like students to have examples’ 

‘The fear of extreme vocals is only enforced by authority figures’ 

EPISODE RESOURCES 

BAST Training

Guest Website:

• aliki.katriou.com

Social Media: 

• @aliki.katriou_vocals

RELEVANT LINKS & MENTIONS

• New York Vocal Coaching
• Artist Examples: Earth Song by Michael Jackson; Fit For An Autopsy; Cattle Decapitation; Opeth; Bring Me The Horizon; Slipknot; Bryan Adams; Britney Spears; In This Moment; Leave a Light On by Tom Walker; Arch Enemy; Beetlejuice the Musical; Kurt Cobain; Beyonce; Kristen Chenoweth; Nirvana; Soundgarden
• Mongolian Throat Singing research (for death metal growling)
• Vocal Health Education
• Descartes' Error by Antonio Damasio
• Aliki Katriou Youtube Channel

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Aliki loves singing in all its varieties, especially extreme vocals. A soprano, she started classical singing lessons at age 16, which she continues to this day. Realising early on that classical technique couldn't produce some tones that interested her, Aliki took contemporary singing lessons in a variety of styles and eventually trained as a singing teacher. She has an extensive knowledge of classical technique, contemporary styles and extreme vocals. Since 2013, she has been teaching voice to students from around the globe in many different genres. 

Aliki is known as the vocalist in the critically acclaimed Greek metal project Desolate Plains, the lyricist and female voice for Tattered Pages - an international project hailing from Birmingham - and the lyricist and vocalist for her own band; Eight Lives Down.

As a graduate from one of the world's leading vocal studios, New York Vocal Coaching, Aliki continues on as a consultant by training their vocal coaches on vocal distortions, and is also the guest speaker Distortion Specialist at their Teacher Training courses. She continues to study as an advanced voice teacher with world-renowned authors Dr. Gillyanne Kayes and Jeremy Fisher of Vocal Process and has been asked to teach Master Classes on distortion at music schools in the US and the UK.

Constantly expanding her knowledge on voice, Aliki has completed the first two tiers of the vocal health course with Dr Jenevora Williams and the team from Vocal Health Education. She is in the process of completing the full three tiers.

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’s it like to turn your back on the corporate world and become your own boss? 18 months ago David Valks quit his career in recruitment and started his own vocal coaching business. David joins Bronwyn this week on Singing Teachers Talk to chat about how he got into singing teaching and what BAST has done for him.  

KEY MOMENTS

‘You always remember the singing teachers you had when you were younger and that inspires you’ 

‘It gave me a foundation and all the fundamentals I needed to start as a singing teacher’ 

‘Some people want a strict formal teacher, that’s not me, I want to have fun’

‘You learn from the student too’ 

RELEVANT LINKS & MENTIONS

ArtsEd School

D'Oyly Carte Opera Company

ABOUT THE GUEST 

David is a singing teacher, podcaster, and founder of the David Valks Singing School on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.  

He started singing at a young age and was lucky to be trained by an amazing singing teacher in Scotland. He still uses the tools and techniques that he learned back then to this day.  The impact that this teacher was one of the reasons he went on to become a teacher himself.

David studied Musical Theatre for three years at Arts Educational in London. After graduating, he performed in the West End, with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, toured the UK many times (Joseph, Pirates of Penzance, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and A Christmas Carol) and travelled the world as a lead vocalist for a cruise line. 

He completed the BAST programme for singing teachers before starting his singing studio.

EPISODE RESOURCES 

BAST Training 

Guest Website

www.dvss.com.au

Social Media:

Facebook: DavidValksSingingSchool

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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Bass-baritone Chadley Ballantyne is Assistant Professor of Music, Voice at Stetson University. Dr Ballantyne is a frequent guest speaker on the topic of applying vocal acoustic pedagogy for both classical and CCM techniques. He joins Alexa this week on Singing Teachers Talk to discuss acoustics, formants, and resonances. Think of this episode as your guide to getting to grips with vocal acoustics. 

KEY MOMENTS

‘If I can move a formant I can do something with it and get better at it’

‘You use language everyday so you use formants all day long’

‘We don’t even realise our body is reacting to that oncoming change’ 

‘This R that I’ve been given so much grief about in my classical singing is actually so cool’

RELEVANT LINKS & MENTIONS

• Pan-American Vocology Association Symposium
• NATs (National Association of Teachers of Singing)
• Vocology in Practice
• The Evolving Singing Voice: Changes Across the Lifespan by Karen Brunssen
• Ken Bozeman
• Justin Stoney & New York Vocal Coaching
• Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 48 Getting Started as A Teacher, Creating Content & Vocal Versatility with Justin Stoney 
• Overtone Singing
• Ian Howell
• Voce Vista & Bodo Maas
• Practical Vocal Acoustics & Kinesthetic Vocal Pedagogy by Ken Bozeman 
• The work of Donald Gray Miller 

ABOUT THE GUEST 

 Bass-baritone Chadley Ballantyne is Assistant Professor of Music, Voice at Stetson University. Dr. Ballantyne is a frequent guest speaker on the topic of applying vocal acoustic pedagogy for both classical and CCM techniques. He has presented his work at the 2017 Pan-American Vocology Association Symposium in Toronto, Canada, the 2017 West Central and Central Regional NATS Conferences, the 55th NATS National Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, the VASTA/PAVA 2018 Joint Conference in Seattle, Washington, the 2020 National Opera Association Southeastern Regional Conference, and at the 56th NATS National Virtual Conference. He is a co-instructor at the Acoustic Vocal Pedagogy Summer Workshop held at the New England Conservatory of Music. Chadley is a contributing author to The Evolving Singing Voice: Changes Across the Lifespan, by Prof. Karen Brunssen.

EPISODE RESOURCES
BAST Training 

Guest Website

• https://www.chadleyballantyne.com/
• https://www.stetson.edu/other/faculty/chadley-ballantyne.php

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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Hannah Smikle is a professional voice coach and vocalist, working for over 15 years in the music industry. She has extensive experience both in live performance as a gigging musician and backing vocalist, and in the studio as a session singer and recording artist. She joins Alexa this week on Singing Teachers’ Talk to discuss how you can boost a singer's self confidence. 

KEY MOMENTS

‘I never thought that I’d anticipate the sweet spray of a lip trill from someone else quite as much’

‘We need to understand the difference between being a listener and being a counsellor’ 

‘Make that performance a positive experience’ 

‘We have a choice of how we can react’

RELEVANT LINKS & MENTIONS

‘Empowering The Vocalist’ Event (2nd April 2022; Manchester): 

Line Hilton

Accent Method

BAPAM (British Association for Performing Arts Medicine)

CBT Therapy (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Hannah Smikle is a professional voice coach and vocalist, working for over 15 years in the music industry. She has extensive experience both in live performance as a gigging musician and backing vocalist, and in the studio as a session singer and recording artist. 

Hannah has an impressive multi-disciplinary approach to vocal training – using her advanced technical knowledge alongside her industry experience, she is passionate about equipping a singer for optimum performance, be that on stage or in the studio. Hannah frequently works with vocalists to engineer and coach a recording session, enabling the singer to capture their best, most authentic vocal delivery. She has a holistic approach to working with performers, highly regarding whole-person wellbeing in the coaching process. 

Hannah is dedicated to continuing her professional development; she regularly attends specialist courses, is a qualified Vocal Health First Aider, has a level 3 certificate in Counselling Skills, and is currently training as a Vocal Health Practitioner with Vocal Health England. She is a recommended Sing Space Coach, and a member of the Musician’s Union.

EPISODE RESOURCES 

BAST Training 

Guest Website:

vocalperformancecoaching.com

Social Media: 

@vocalperformancecoaching

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

Amelia, AKA 'Curly Coach' is a specialist musical theatre vocal coach who has been delivering coaching to children and young people in theatre, film and television for 20 years. Amelia joins Alexa this week on Singing Teachers Talk to chat about her vast career, getting young people excited about non-contemporary singing, teaching legit, the importance of quiet singing, and most of all how to deal with pushy parents. 

KEY MOMENTS

‘I always wanted to play Rizzo but always ended up a Sandy’ 

‘To sing big, you’ve got to be able to sing small’

‘Each time period has its own evolving sound’ 

‘In the industry at the moment, people are needing to be as diverse as possible’ 

RELEVANT LINKS & MENTIONS

• Mentioned Musicals: Hamilton; Dear Evan Hansen; Grease; Rent; Carousel; Oklahoma!; The Sound of Music; Frozen; Heathers; The King & I; Sweet Charity; Gypsy; Easter Parade; On the Town; Wicked; The Bridges of Madison County; Singing in the Rain; Company; Matilda; Les Miserables
• Mentioned Artists: Rodgers & Hammerstein; Cole Porter; Jason Robert Brown; Adele; Carrie Hope Fletcher; Kelli O’Hara; Louise Dearman; Cynthia Erivo; Steven Pasquale
• Jai Ramage 
• Kim Chandler 
• The Vocalscope Book club
• Nadine Cox

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Amelia, AKA 'Curly Coach' is a specialist musical theatre vocal coach who has worked in the professional industry and has been delivering coaching to children and young people who work professionally in theatre, film and television for 20 years. Amelia's experience of performing, coaching and having run a 380-strong performing arts school, coupled with a passion for coaching professional performers, inspires her work, bringing an understanding of the complexities faced by young performers training for and working in the industry.

Amelia has worked at many UK training schools and colleges, and currently enjoys teaching some of the many talented performers at Laine theatre arts as well as at her private London practice and her Online Singing School Associate programme. 

Her studies have involved a multi-disciplinary research project for helping professional children in musical theatre experiencing performance anxiety. Amelia received a distinction for her MA research project and is now teaching these helpful strategies to teachers and performers of all ages across the UK. 

EPISODE RESOURCES 

BAST Training 

Guest Website

www.ameliacarrvoice.com

Social Media:

@AmeliaCarrVocalCoach

#curlycoach

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 her former life, Tommy Ludgate performed with Paloma Faith, Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller; now she helps people fulfil their creative and professional goals. Tommy joins Bronwyn Bidwell on Singing Teachers Talk this week to share her story of going from singing to coaching, they discuss overcoming challenges and how you can unlock your creative potential. 

KEY MOMENTS

‘There’s a feeling of hitting the same wall over and over again’ 

‘Fear is always going to be part of that, so invite it along anyway’ 

‘Seek conversation and ask for other people’s input’

RELEVANT LINKS & MENTIONS

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

The Practice by Seth Godin

Magic Lessons podcast

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Tommy Ludgate is a certified coach who helps creatives achieve professional and personal success. She has more than a decade’s experience in coaching singers, songwriters and performers, and is an expert in nurturing people and bringing their talents to the main stage.

In her former life, Tommy performed with Paloma Faith, Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller and worked as vocal coach at the BIMM Institute in London.

EPISODE RESOURCES 

BAST Training 

Guest Website:

brightlyimagine.com

Social Media:

Instagram @tommyludgatecoach 

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