The Singer’s Guide

By Tessa Smith

This is the show for ambitious singers who want more than just scales and song practice.

We’ll talk about the things your regular lessons don’t always cover — like ways to practice without w

... more

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FAQs about The Singer’s Guide:

How many episodes does The Singer’s Guide have?

The podcast currently has 7 episodes available.

The Singer’s Guide episodes:

November 11, 2025 Should singers know music theory?
In episode six of The Singer's Guide podcast, Tessa explores the question of whether singers should learn music theory.
She discusses the variability among singers' needs, highlighting that while music theory can be beneficial, it is not essential for everyone.
Tessa explains the practical uses of music theory for reading sheet music, songwriting, and understanding vocal challenges.
She shares personal experiences from her role in a close harmony trio and emphasises how music theory helps her with self-compassion and problem-solving.
Additionally, Tessa introduces her Singer's Practice Hub, which includes music theory elements to support singers' practice.
The episode concludes with Tessa inviting listeners to share what they wish they had learned earlier in their singing careers.
00:00 Welcome to The Singer's Guide Podcast
00:52 Should Singers Know Music Theory?
01:50 The Practical Benefits of Music Theory
02:55 Using Music Theory for Self-Compassion
05:50 The Singer's Practice Hub
06:35 Final Thoughts and Listener Questions

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🤫 THE QUIET PRACTICE TOOLKIT: 3 step-by-step exercises to improve your singing without making a sound
https://subscribepage.io/quiet-practice-toolkit

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🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub:
www.singerspracticehub.com
🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa:
www.thesingersguide.com

🎵 Music by Tessa Smith
🎙 Hosted by Tessa Smith, creator of The Self-Validated Voice and The Singer's Practice Hub.
...more
8min
October 28, 2025 Practise your singing without disturbing the neighbours
In episode five of The Singer's Guide Podcast, Tessa discusses ways to practise singing without disturbing others.

She introduces a Quiet Practice Toolkit, which includes three voiceless practice options complete with worksheets.

The episode covers lyric memorisation and annotation, self-reviewing recordings, and lip-syncing with emotional prompts.

These tools allow singers to continue developing their skills even in environments where they must remain quiet.

Tessa also encourages listeners to share what they wish they had learned earlier in their singing journey for a future podcast episode.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
00:52 The Importance of Practice
02:38 Quiet Practice Toolkit Introduction
04:13 Tool 1: Lyrics-Based Practice
07:00 Tool 2: Listening and Self-Review
10:40 Tool 3: Lip-Syncing with Emotional Prompts
13:27 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

----
🤫 THE QUIET PRACTICE TOOLKIT: 3 step-by-step exercises to improve your singing without making a sound
https://subscribepage.io/quiet-practice-toolkit

----
🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub:
www.singerspracticehub.com
🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa:
www.thesingersguide.com

🎵 Music by Tessa Smith
🎙 Hosted by Tessa Smith, creator of The Self-Validated Voice and The Singer's Practice Hub.
...more
16min
October 14, 2025 Cooling down your voice
In episode four of the Singer's Guide podcast, Tessa discusses the often-overlooked practice of vocal cool downs.

She shares her personal journey of discovering vocal cool downs and references a 2018 academic paper by Kari Ragan that highlights their benefits.

Tessa elaborates on common cool down exercises such as SOVT exercises and vocal fry, and emphasises the subjective nature of evaluating their effectiveness.

She also offers practical tips for remembering to cool down, like setting reminders and using fixed cool down tracks.

Tessa encourages listeners to consider incorporating cool downs into their routine to reduce vocal fatigue and speed up recovery.

The episode concludes with an invitation for listeners to share what singing techniques they wish they had learned earlier in their careers.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:46 The Concept of Vocal Cool Downs
02:33 Benefits and Techniques of Vocal Cool Downs
04:58 Personal Experience with Vocal Cool Downs
07:30 Encouraging Vocal Cool Down Habits
11:09 The Singer's Practice Hub
12:07 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

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🎤 Get the right backing track, in the right key, in less than 5 minutes with this free download:
https://subscribepage.io/righttrackrightkey
----
🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub:
www.singerspracticehub.com
🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa:
www.thesingersguide.com

🎵 Music by Tessa Smith
🎙 Hosted by Tessa Smith, creator of The Self-Validated Voice and The Singer's Practice Hub.
...more
14min
September 30, 2025 10 tips for singers starting university
In episode three of The Singer's Guide podcast, Tessa shares her top ten tips for new university singers, blending her decade-long experience as a singing teacher with her personal university journey.

The ten key tips are:

1. Communication is key
2. Take every opportunity to learn
3. Don't avoid challenge areas,
4. Seek out additional performance opportunities
5. Arrive at singing lessons with a plan and having warmed up
6. Don’t view peers as competition
7. Focus on feedback, not grades
8. Learn how to practice effectively and set goals, and learn about yourself
9. Utilise your tutors' expertise
10. Be mindful of the cost of education

This episode provides invaluable advice for aspiring university singers to maximise their academic and musical experience.

Additionally, Tessa invites listeners to share their thoughts and what they wish they had learned earlier, promising to incorporate these into future episodes.

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🎤 Get the right backing track, in the right key, in less than 5 minutes with this free download:
https://subscribepage.io/righttrackrightkey
----
🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub:
www.singerspracticehub.com
🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa:
www.thesingersguide.com

🎵 Music by Tessa Smith
🎙 Hosted by Tessa Smith, creator of The Self-Validated Voice and The Singer's Practice Hub.
...more
22min
September 16, 2025 Choosing the right key for your songs
In this episode of the Singer's Guide podcast, host Tessa discusses how to choose the right key for your songs.

Tessa explains why and when it’s appropriate to change the key of a song, particularly noting the differences between contemporary music and genres like Western Classical Music and Musical Theatre.

She outlines key considerations such as range, emotional intensity, and practical aspects like working with backing tracks or live musicians.

Tessa also offers a guide for transposing songs and practicing with backing tracks, encouraging singers to experiment to find the most comfortable and effective key for their voice.

The episode concludes with an invitation to listeners to share their singing challenges and wish-list topics for future podcast episodes.
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🎤 Get the right backing track, in the right key, in less than 5 minutes with this free download:
https://subscribepage.io/righttrackrightkey
----
🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub:
www.singerspracticehub.com
🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa:
www.thesingersguide.com

🎵 Music by Tessa Smith
🎙 Hosted by Tessa Smith, creator of The Self-Validated Voice and The Singer's Practice Hub.
...more
13min
September 02, 2025 Let's start at the very beginning: warming up
In this very first episode of The Singer's Guide podcast, Tessa discusses her relationship with vocal warmups, starting from her early singing lessons to her university years.
She shares insights from her research on vocal pedagogy and explains the importance of tailoring warmups to individual needs, limitations, and goals.
Tessa also highlights three key factors to consider before choosing a warmup:
1. Physical and mental state
2. Limitations like time and space
3. Specific requirements based on upcoming performances

She introduces the Singer's Practice Hub, a community with diverse warmup options, and invites listeners to reflect on aspects of singing they wish they had learned earlier.

Join Tessa as she aims to transform warming up from a chore into a vital, engaging practice.
----
🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub:
www.singerspracticehub.com
🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa:
www.thesingersguide.com
🎤 Get the right backing track, in the right key, in less than 5 minutes with this free download:
https://subscribepage.io/righttrackrightkey

🎵 Music by Tessa Smith
🎙 Hosted by Tessa Smith, creator of The Self-Validated Voice and The Singer's Practice Hub.
...more
12min
August 23, 2025 The Singers Guide Podcast - Trailer
'The Singers Guide' podcast is the show for ambitious singers who want more than just scales and song practice.
We’ll talk about the things regular singing lessons don’t always cover.
Because being a singer is about more than just your voice — it’s about confidence, preparation, and all the little skills that make performing seem effortless.
Hosted by Tessa Smith (@tessasmithmusic)
www.thesingersguide.com
...more
1min

FAQs about The Singer’s Guide:

How many episodes does The Singer’s Guide have?

The podcast currently has 7 episodes available.