This week, Alexa chats with the brilliant Ian Howell to explore how we really hear the singers we work with. From psychoacoustics and functional listening to timbre, bias and intention, Ian unpacks the hidden processes behind vocal perception—and how understanding them can transform the way we teach. A deep, fascinating conversation for any singing teacher wanting sharper ears and smarter tools.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

1:53 What is psychoacoustics?

5:28 How is sound perceived by us?

12:38 What impacts the way we perceive sound?

20:46 Separating function from bias

25:48 Belt scenario

35:36 How do singers hear themselves?

40:59 How to listen and observe with skill

1:05:27 The relationship between intent and perception

1:15:15 Using spectrograms

1:19:57 The way Ian teaches

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Hearing Singing - A Guide to Functional Listening and Voice Perception by Ian Howell

Johan Sundberg

The Acoustics of the Singing Voice by Johan Sundberg

Science of the Singing Voice by Johan Sundberg

Ingo Titze

‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ by Sarah Bareilles

Jeannie LoVetri

Feldenkrais

Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep.63 Developing a Singer’s Self Awareness and Clarifying Intention with Robert Sussuma

Cornelius Reid

Voce Vista

Advice for Young Musicians by Ian Howell

Structure of Singing by Richard Miller

ABOUT THE GUEST

Dr. Ian Howell is the Founder and Chief Educator of the Embodied Music Lab, offering professional development and consulting for musicians and teachers. He is the author of Advice for Young Musicians (2023) and Hearing Singing: A Guide to Functional Listening and Voice Perception (2025). From 2013–2023, Ian served on the voice faculty at the New England Conservatory, directing the graduate voice pedagogy program and leading research in the NEC Voice and Sound Analysis Lab, where he and his students presented widely and contributed vital work during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

SEE FULL BIO HERE

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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In this episode, Becky Morton, Principal of Further Education at ACM and Alexa explore what the FE academic route can offer young singers stepping into today’s music industry. Becky shares curriculum structure with project-based training, and how this helps students to build both industry awareness and artist identity. The pair dig into why early professional habits matter, how the diploma pathway compares to traditional A-levels, and what young performers gain from learning to work with producers, bands and music businesses in a real-world environment. Becky also talks about current vocal trends, the technical demands of pop-rock singing, and how ACM is adapting its teaching to industry changes, including the rise of AI.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

03:50 The role of Principle of FE at the Academy of Contemporary Music

5:00 Benefits and challenges of an academic route into music

10:13 A look at technique for pop-rock

12:50 Defining the pop-rock aesthetic

15:14 Artists to study in this genre

18:16 How important is music theory and sight singing?

22:54 2025 vocal and musical trends

30:56 What Becky wishes every singer understood

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

ACM

UAL

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.231 Evolving Vocal Trends: Training Functional Registration in Contemporary Commercial Music

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.222 The Rise of AI: What it Means for Singers & Teachers with Singing Teachers Talk - Ep,226 The Rise of AI: Practical Tools and Strategies for the Singing Teachers

ISM

Suno

Udio

Follow Becky’s Bands: The Likeness; Two’s Up; The Hooch Toots

ABOUT THE GUEST

Rebecca Morton, Principal of FE at ACM, is a professional musician, vocal coach, and musical director with 20+ years of experience. She has collaborated with artists such as Adrian Smith, Imogen Heap, and Alexander O’Neal, and toured as the solo backing vocalist for Hitomi Yaida across major UK and Japanese arenas. Her work includes recordings with Crispian Mills, Mattafix, cast albums, and dance releases with EMI and Hed Kandi. A vocal coach since 2002, she has supported artists like James Toseland and Marlon Roudette. Holding a Masters in Music Psychology, she champions passion, reliability, and excellence at ACM.

SEE FULL BIO HERE

Instagram: @acm_ldn

🎁 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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In this episode, Alexa shares 10 brilliant songs that sit in the A4–D5 low-belt zone for female singers — a range full of character, energy, and storytelling potential.

From Standard Broadway favourites, 90s pop-rock anthems and modern hits this episode is packed with fresh repertoire ideas, stylistic insight, and creative inspiration for singers and teachers alike.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST

0:38 Why might these songs be helpful?

2:07 10 ‘low belt’ songs for female singers

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

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

Amanda Flynn

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

🎁 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 | Updates | Email Us | Free Group

What if the secret to better singing practice isn’t doing more, but understanding why we avoid it in the first place? Voice educator Tessa Smith Whicker joins Alexa to explore how her master’s research reshaped her view of practice — from battling guilt and distraction to embracing curiosity and compassion.

Discover how to get singers excited about their own practice, how teachers can reframe “you need to practice” into empowering questions, and why small, playful tasks can make all the difference.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

3:16 What do you believe practice actually is?

8:10 Common barriers to practice

10:02 Options to manage the barriers

18:31 Playing devil’s advocate

22:18 Holes in the research

25:18 How to effectively set practice

39:18 The role of the singing teacher and rapport

46:23 Measuring progress

53:00 Tessa’s practice hub and podcast

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.164 Music and the Brain: The Science of Learning and Practice with Dr Molly Gebrian Part One

Jacob Collier

Singing for the Self Conscious by Becky Gilhespie

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.166 Overcoming Self-consciousness in Singing with Becky Gilhespie

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.131 Mastering Research Papers: How to Read with Ease and Extract Knowledge with Kate Cubley

Cheryl Porter

Kim Chandler

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.70 Coaching Contemporary Commercial Music with Kim Chandler

The Singer’s Guide podcast by Tessa Smith

ABOUT THE GUEST

Tessa Smith Whicker holds a BA in Jazz Studies, an MA in Vocal Pedagogy, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her research explores the likes of performance assessment, stylistic awareness, and the decolonisation of Popular Music singing education. She teaches across Higher Education institutions in the North of England and leads choirs and community singing groups. Passionate about developing self-sufficient, self-compassionate singers, Tessa shares tools for effective and enjoyable practice through her social media, podcast The Singer’s Guide, and membership platform The Singer’s Practice Hub.

SEE FULL BIO HERE

Websites: tessasmith.com & thesingersguide.com

🎁 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 | Updates | Email Us | Free Group

In this insightful episode, Alexa chats with Sami Wong, a speech and language pathologist who helps clients navigate communication challenges such as aphasia. Sami shares her personal journey into speech therapy, inspired by her late father’s recovery from a stroke, and explains what aphasia really is, and the role music and singing can play in therapy. We also dive into Sami’s creative side hustle—her successful Etsy shop where she sells educational anatomy prints for SLPs and voice professionals.

Whether you’re a singing teacher, therapist, or simply curious about language, the brain, and communication, this episode will leave you inspired and informed.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

2:36 What is aphasia?

5:18 What is neuroplasticity?

7:46 Can you recover from aphasia?

9:53 Compensatory communication activities for aphasia

11:10 Music & aphasia

13:46 What should singing teachers know about the work of an SLP?

15:06 Setting up a side hustle

21:07 Advice on creating an Etsy shop

23:46 Sami’s gift to you

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Melodic Intonation Therapy

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.211 Learning Vocal Anatomy through Mindful Colouring with Eimear McCarthy Luddy

GET SAMI’S PRINT WITH THIS BAST DISCOUNT CODE: BAST10

ABOUT THE GUEST

Sami Wong is a speech-language pathologist based in the Pacific Northwest, specialising in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and helping clients build confidence, independence, and connection. She recently completed a Ph.D. in Education and Leadership, focusing on return-to-work research for individuals with communication challenges.

Inspired by her father’s experience with aphasia after a stroke, Sami is dedicated to advancing awareness and rehabilitation for communication disorders. Alongside her full-time role, she runs Speech+Language, a small business offering free resources, study aids, and digital prints for SLPs and care partners.

With a background spanning media, fashion, finance, and education, Sami blends creativity with clinical expertise to empower others and advocate for people with aphasia.

SEE FULL BIO HERE

Website

Instagram: @samiwong_

Etsy

🎁 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 | Updates | Email Us | Free Group

Ever wondered how world-class singers keep their voices strong night after night on global tours? In this episode, we go behind the curtain with Mindy Pack — elite vocal coach to stars like Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X, Sabrina Carpenter, and Justin Timberlake — to explore the science, strategy, and stamina behind life on the road. Discover how artists build vocal endurance, plus the secrets behind Mindy’s legendary 'Vocal 911 Kit' From vocal warm-ups and bodywork to tour prep and mental resilience, this conversation is packed with tips for singers, teachers, and music lovers alike.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

2:22 Creating a blueprint for a touring artists

11:35 Teacher-Artist rapport

14:38 Giving demonstration

15:58 Choosing keys and set lists

19:00 Treadmill training

21:57 Working with vocal injury

26:21 Mindy’s ‘Vocal 911’ kit

29:30 The Vocalzone debate

31:20 When is the best time for massage, stretch and warm-up?

33:49 What is it like being a vocal coach on tour?

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.40 Integrated Skills: Teaching Singing to Dancers

Bemer System

BAST Article - Vocalzone, Saviours or Destroyers?

ABOUT THE GUEST

Mindy Pack is a globally respected vocologist, vocal coach, and voice specialist known for her innovative, science-based approach to vocal performance and health. Blending decades of stage experience with deep expertise in voice science and physiology, she helps singers, actors, and speakers achieve peak performance while protecting their vocal longevity.

As co-founder and director of the SVARA Project with Dr. Reena Gupta, Mindy collaborates with leading ENTs, laryngologists, and speech-language pathologists to provide advanced vocal rehabilitation and manual therapy. She works with clients worldwide from her studios in Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, offering one-on-one coaching, biofeedback sessions, and bodywork focused on vocal endurance and optimization.

Her clients include some of the biggest names in entertainment—Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X, Noah Kahan, Brandi Carlile, and The Lumineers—as well as Broadway performers, voice-over artists, and emerging talent. Many credit her signature Vocal Tract Reconditioning method as essential to their success on tours, award shows, and global stages.

Mindy is also the creator of The Voice Straw, a groundbreaking vocal training tool used by performers worldwide. Beyond coaching, she is a passionate educator, frequent conference presenter, and humanitarian dedicated to empowering future leaders.

Driven by a lifelong love of voice and perform

🎁 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 | Updates | Email Us | Free Group

Who decides what’s in when it comes to singing styles — how do voice teachers keep up? In this fun and insightful episode, Alexa chats with April Young about how changing trends in pop, musical theatre, and CCM are reshaping vocal training. From falsetto and belt to the science of registers and resonance, we explore how singers can stay healthy, expressive, and ahead of the curve. Perfect for voice teachers, performers, and anyone curious about the ever-evolving art of singing.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

2:25 What are the current trends in 2025?

6:20 How does one laryngeal register impact the other?

10:46 Visible, audible and sensory clues of TA dominance

12:43 Does imitation have limitation?

15:05 Visible, audible and sensory clues of CT dominance

16:33 The best time to train vocal registers

20:45 Acoustic register shifts and choosing the best vowel

25:58 Training registers alongside trends

45:16 Changing trends in CCM and impacts on the studio

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Journal of Singing

‘Mixed Up and Upside Down - Underdeveloped Registers in Men and Women Due to Vocal Trends in Popular Music: Turning Two Pedagogic Challenges into Opportunities in Today's Voice Studio’ by April Young

William Venard

Singing Teachers Talk Ep.152 ‘Tomato, Tomahto’: Understanding Singing Terminology

Singing Teachers Talk Ep.133 Mastering Belt in Musical Theatre

Singing Teachers Talk Ep.200 The Secret to Powerful Belting and Seamless Mixing

Singing Teachers Talk Ep.146 How to Understand and Apply Vocal Acoustic Pedagogy

Singing Teachers Talk Ep.172 Understanding Acoustic Registers

Shenandoah University

The Systematic Approach to Voice Dr Kari Ragan

The Structure of Singing Richard Miller

Hoberman Sphere

Mary Saunders Barton

Singing Teachers Talk Ep.151 How to Sing with Twang

ABOUT THE GUEST

April Young runs a voice studio in Spokane, WA, where she specializes in classical, music theater and CCM techniques and repertoire. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music (Voice Performance), an MVP (Master of Voice Pedagogy), and has served on the faculty of three area schools. In addition to her teaching, April is a soloist and choral conductor.

Her performance experience spans recital, oratorio, and music theater and her session work includes vocals for a title in the Myst computer game series. A published writer, she has contributed to the Journal of Singing through the National Association of Teachers of Singing, authoring an article on vocal trends in popular music and the evolving opportunities the

🎁 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 | Updates | Email Us | Free Group

Drama school auditions can feel like a mix of excitement, nerves and big dreams. In this episode, Alexa shares her top strategies for surviving and thriving in drama school auditions. From preparation to presence, discover how to bring your best self into the room and make the most of every opportunity. Whether you’re auditioning for the first time or guiding others through the process, this episode will leave you feeling ready to go.

About the presenter, click HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Singing Teachers Talk Ep.214 The Secret to a Portfolio Career: Singing, Teaching and Creating with Rosie Williamson

musicnotes.com

Sheet Music Direct

Scribd

Ep.219 10 Songs for Male Contemporary Musical Theatre Singers with Conor O Hara

ABOUT THE GUEST

Alexa runs a singing tuition practice in the South of England, and is a singing tutor at one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools – Italia Conti, where she also regularly panels auditions and assessments. Alexa is the host of the BAST Training Singing Teachers Talk podcast, mentors for the BAST Training Level 5 qualification, and has presented on topics of Musical Theatre repertoire, authentic Musical Theatre performance, and imposter syndrome for Vocology in Practise and The Sing Space.

SEE FULL BIO HERE (Add link to the podcast website page)

Website

Instagram: @AlexaTerryVocalCoaching

🎁 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 | Updates | Email Us | Free Group