"We need to take diversions sometimes, to come back and realise what we've got" Becky Gilhespie has had an interesting journey from singing, to teaching to cheffing, and now, as a result of Covid-19 back to teaching singers again. A Masterchef semi finalist, Becky talks about her journey and how her diversion into the world of cheffing and food informs her teaching these days. Recently Becky has taken her experience of being a self conscious singer and written a practical book, “Singing for the Self-Conscious”, to help singing teachers and singers who suffer from the same issue.  (Get Chapter 1 free Download Here ). Other discussions she and Line have are around good food for singers, teaching online (with some very non-techno-babble) and classroom teaching. ABOUT Becky is an experienced vocal coach who specializes in the application of vocal technique in contemporary music. Originally from southern US, Becky  moved to London after university and there carved out a career in music. She undertook an extensive teacher training with some of the industry's best voice teachers and became in demand as a singing teacher herself. As well as founding a successful voice studio in Soho, she taught at The Academy of Contemporary Music where she trained up and coming artists in the music industry. She has worked with Universal, EMI, Mercury Records, and has helped actors win roles in the West End.  Becky now lives in the countryside near Sydney, Australia with her family and continues to teach students around the world, online. When not teaching she loves to cook and was a semi-finalist on BBCs Masterchef. Website: vocals.beckygilhespie.com BAST Training is here to help you gain the knowledge, skills and understanding you require to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are just getting started or have some knowledge gaps to fill. basttraining.com

BAST Training podcast

Ep. 27 The Singing Master Chef With Becky Gilhespie

"Not only do you have to be a good artist, you have to be good at being an artist" During lockdown Nigel has been very busy helping college students to finish off their performance years, online. Having never taught online he discusses the challenges he's encountering and how he's dealing with them. He advises how a teacher can help the student prepare for college auditions. Nigel discusses the vocal and physical challenges he encountered whilst playing the lead role in Phantom of the Opera, travelling and performing, his pet performer peeves and how he deals with the fact he's the least well known Guildhall graduate of his year! Finally Nigel gives his top tips for how a teacher can bring out the best in their student's performances. ABOUT Nigel is a veteran of 8 West End shows, both plays and musicals, including the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera. He has had an eclectic career, from touring the world in Tom Waits The Black Rider to singing Weil at the Royal Opera House, Figaro in Vienna, and as soloist at the John Wilson Orchestra Proms. Since working with Bernstein whilst studying at the Guildhall, Nigel has concentrated on new writing and nurturing young composers, culminating in his solo album, A Shining Truth. He has also been teaching singing, and ‘acting through song’ for over 15 years privately and at many of London’s top Musical Theatre schools. BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to become a great singing teacher. We can help whether you are just getting started or have some knowledge gaps to fill.  basttraining.com

Ep. 26 The secret of authenticity with Nigel Richards

"We have these living creatures inside of us, this mass of different microbes that need to be looked after" Stephanie Moore Nutritionist and author, Stephanie Moore is a powerhouse of nutritional and health information. It's becoming more and more accepted that health and wellbeing starts from the inside. Stephanie and Line discuss how gut health impacts not only the performer's general health but also their brain Â health and function. Do you experience 'brain fog'? Well this could be down to your gut health. Stephanie gives advice on how we can help singers understand the impact of their general health and wellbeing on their voice and performance, useful supplements to boost the immune system, why sleep is important to health and practical nutritional advice. Stephanie also advises how a singing teacher can help a singer who they suspect might have eating issues, and how to counter the often quite sedentary work life a teacher experiences at the piano. ABOUT Stephanie is a clinical nutritionist, author and health coach with a degree in nutritional medicine and a Masters degree in counseling and psychotherapy. She  has worked as a natural health and physical therapist for over 30 years combining her numerous skill sets to help people with all kinds of health issues, both physical and psychological.  Stephanie is head of nutrition at Grayshott Medical Spa where she oversees a radical 7-day digestive health regime that she co-developed 8 years ago and is Lead Nutritionist at a cutting edge medical and sports clinic which opened in July 2019 in Mayfair, London.  Stephanie published her first book in 2017: ‘Why Eating Less & Exercising More Makes You Fat!’, which explains why conventional weight loss advice fails and what to do instead to achieve permanent health and weight loss goals and she has co-authored a new book on SuperFoods with doctor of biochemistry and health campaigner, Dr James DiNicolantonio, to be published in 2020. Stephanie is now researching her new book on learning to love your wrinkles and the psychological and physical cost of trying to reverse the ageing process. Website: health-in-hand.co.uk  BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to become a great singing teacher. We can help whether you are just getting started or have some knowledge gaps to fill.  basttraining.com

Ep. 25 The performer's health starts from the inside with Nutritionist, Stephanie Moore

"Don't take your voice for granted" Natalie Andreou Natalie Andreou's CV includes lead roles in West End and touring shows as varied as Rock Of Ages, Wicked, Mama Mia and Evita. She and Line discuss the various pathways to the West End, the challenges and joys of the job - vocally, mentally and physically. Other topics they discuss include the various vocal qualities required in MT, belt, vocal health, vibrato, dealing with costume and staging challenges. They also discuss Natalie's teaching practice including how she went about increasing her prices, useful teaching MT tools, tips on helping a student prepare for auditions, and how she now helps singers achieve their MT career goals. ABOUT Natalie Andreou is a vocal coach and career mentor for the musical theatre industry. Her 10 year career saw her performing in many shows around the world, including Standby Elphaba in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria, London. This followed a two year run playing the lead role of Sherrie in the original London cast of Rock Of Ages. Her career varies from ensemble dancer to leading lady, so her personal experience is of great benefit for those looking to work within the specialism of musical theatre, from any aspect. Since training with BAST in 2015, Natalie has taught from her private studio in central London. Natalie offers a personalised 1-2-1 service mentoring industry professionals, whether it's to secure agency representation or get through that audition door. She also currently runs online workshops in subjects such as Acting Through Song and Audition Prep. Website: natalieandreouvoice.co.uk BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to become a great singing teacher. We can help whether you are just getting started or have some knowledge gaps to fill.  basttraining.com  

Ep. 24 How Elphaba helped me understand my voice with Natalie Andreou

One of the things that we love about Dr Jenevora Williams is her open, intelligent and enquiring mind. She has contributed to the BAST webinar library and past live training events. In this interview we find out more about what makes Jenevora tick. She talks about her journey which started as a Botany undergrad, to becoming an opera singer, then getting a PhD in voice science. Her research was around male chorister voices as they went through puberty. Naturally this then led her to writing a book, 'Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults', a popular staple in many a singing teacher's bookshelf. Jenevora discusses her research findings, how she works with singers needing vocal rehabilitation, her latest topics of favour - the learning process, motor learning theory, and the work she does helping teachers on UK's only MA Voice Pedagogy degree. There are a lot of handy teaching gems for you to pick up in this podcast, so don't miss this one!   ABOUT Dr Jenevora Williams is a leading exponent in the field of vocal health and singing teaching. After a successful career in Opera, Jenevora turned her attention to investigating healthy and efficient vocal function. The combination of academic study and practical experience has resulted in a unique perception for understanding the human voice. She was the first singing teacher to be awarded a PhD in voice science in the UK, and won the 2010 BVA Van Lawrence Prize for her outstanding contribution to voice research. Her book, Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults, has been enormously popular with singing teachers throughout the world. She is well-known for her imaginative and rigorous training courses for singing teachers in the UK, the US and Europe. As a teacher of singing, she works with professional singers of all ages, as well as working in and training teachers for Vocal Rehabilitation for BAPAM and the NHS. Website: EvolvingVoice.co.uk BAST Training is here to help you gain the knowledge, skills and understanding you require to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are just getting started or have some knowledge gaps to fill.  basttraining.com  

Ep. 23 How research informed my teaching with Dr Jenevora Williams

Dr Meribeth Dayme is a familiar name to many singing teachers. From her detailed but comprehensible books on vocal anatomy, The Performer's Voice and Dynamics of the Singing Voice, to her holistic and energy-based approach to singing and vocal training, CoreSinging®, thousands of singers have benefited from Dr Dayme's passion for voice and treating the singer as a 'whole'. A pioneer in the world of singing pedagogy, Dr Dayme has been instrumental in helping singing teachers understand the role of energy and alternative healing to bring out the authentic performer. ​In, what turns out to be her last interview, Dr Dayme reveals how she went from singing to becoming an anatomy geek and specialist to delving into the unseen world of energy and alternative healing. Sadly Dr Dayme passed away on 28th Oct and before this podcast was published. Her legacy will continue and we, in the singing teaching world, are ever better because of her dedication and passion for singing and teaching. ABOUT Meribeth Dayme PhD, a pioneer in the field of the singing voice, founded CoreSinging® in 2010. Her dream is that singers become channels for healing themselves and the audiences they reach. After years of research, writing and teaching singing she has found a way to honour that dream through CoreSinging®. She has taught singing and vocal pedagogy in university and privately for over 35 years and is recognised internationally for her textbooks on singing and teaching singing, master classes and courses. Website: coresinging.org BAST Training is here to help you gain the knowledge, skills and understanding you require to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are just getting started or have some knowledge gaps to fill.  basttraining.com  

Ep. 22 The pioneering spirit with Dr Meribeth Dayme

Stephen King started his performance career with great promise. On the road to a dance and MT career, Stephen had to take a dramatic turn away from performing after a serious knee injury. With all the physical therapy and medical attention he received Stephen found himself pulled into the world of manual therapy and decided to combine it with singing teaching. Stephen has worked as a vocal coach and MD for 20+ productions as well as being a residential teacher for a variety of colleges and academies. He is deeply committed to learning all he can about the performer’s anatomy and physiology and regularly trains with vocal, medical and physical clinicians to hone his skills even further. With a passion for helping to prevent vocal and physical injuries in performers and singers Stephen is a key player in health promotion in the performing arts world. In this podcast Stephen dives into his rather unconventional journey as a performer turned manual therapist and anatomy geek. He explains the importance of touch, emotionally, mentally and physically. He also talks about how vocal hyperfunction occurs and how it can be treated, how heel height can impact the larynx, his pet peeve, the proton pump inhibitor and his goals for changing the way singers are treated. Website: kingmanualtherapy.com BAST Training is here to help you gain the knowledge, skills and understanding you require to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are just getting started or have some knowledge gaps to fill.  basttraining.com

Ep. 21 From performer to healer, via an injury

In this podcast Line Hilton talks to Laurel Irene and Dr David Harris from VoiceScienceWorks. These two met several years ago on Dr Ingo Titze's Summer Vocology Institute at the National Center for Voice & Speech and have not been apart since!  In the beginning, like many singers and singing teachers, they struggled to translate the science knowledge into practical stratgeies for their voices and the voices of those that they worked with. So they set about to unravel the complexities of voice science into a singer friendly language. They have also been developing practical tools and strategies that work whether or not you understand the science behind it. Laurel and David love sharing their knowledge and understanding of voice science and helping others to understand the power of this knowledge. They work with singers online and in person, and take their educational programme on the road. In this podcast we find out how they got into the science, how it helps them in their work and what's in store for their up and coming VSW European 2019 tour. Website: voicescienceworks.org BAST Training is here to help you gain the knowledge, skills and understanding you require to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are just getting started or have some knowledge gaps to fill.  basttraining.com

Ep. 20 Voice science works - it really does!

Now based in Melbourne, Australia, Lisa Perks started her singing and teaching career in the UK. In this podcast she talks about moving to a new country as a well established singing teacher, and having to completely start over with her teaching practice. One of the ways she built her new business was to put on singing and training events. Lisa shares some of the benefits and the lessons learnt from putting on major events. As with many singing teachers today Lisa has begun to take a more holistic approach to teaching, recently incorporating Meribeth Bunch Dayme's Core Singing strategies. Lisa reveals a mindset break through she experienced after suffering from three voice surgeries and significant damaged voice. She explains how this break through has changed her attitude towards teaching, and is spurning a new teaching service. Line and Lisa discuss the benefits and pitfalls of teacher related Facebook groups and other such teachery stuff.  Website: singwithease.com BAST Training is here to help you gain the knowledge, skills and understanding you require to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are just getting started or have some knowledge gaps to fill.  basttraining.com  

Ep. 19 Starting over again.

This podcast's guest is Manchester-based vocal coach Hannah Smikle. Hannah attended the Brit School and talks about her experience giving advice on how a singing teacher can help prepare a student who wants to, or is attending a performing arts school like this. As a teacher she got thrown into the job, quickly realising she had many gaps. Hannah talks about how she started to fill these teaching gaps including the BAST Singing Teacher Retreat, where felt she, "found her people". As well as the education she received on the retreat she talks about discovering how she had a special skill that could augment her service to give her an edge. In her practice Hannah noticed there were many people who had negative emotions around their voice. She decided to gain skills in counselling and devised a programme to help people create a positive relationship to their voice. She shares some tips on how you can help singers who have this issue. Hannah also helps singers in the studio environment and gives us some great tips for getting the best recording takes from singers. Website: vocalperformancecoaching.com BAST Training is here to help you gain the knowledge, skills and understanding you require to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are just getting started or have some knowledge gaps to fill.  basttraining.com  

Ep. 18 Helping singers create a positive relationship to their voice

If you're a fan of The Naked Vocalist podcast then this guest's voice will be a familiar one to you. Line Hilton chats with Steve Giles who is a vocal coach, member of the board of directors and authorised coach for Vocology in Practice and co-founder and co-host of the world’s leading singing podcast, The Naked Vocalist. Steve was very chatty (caffeine may have been involved!) about a wide range of topics from his thwarted career as a footballer, to his unexpected journey into singing and then teaching. He talks about how football training influenced his approach to teaching, how TNV podcast got started and how it changed his life and work, what he believes singers really want, whether voice science is essential to being a great singing teacher, whether he recommends podcasting as a way to build a teaching business and what he wish he'd understood when first setting out as a business owner. Line and Steve discuss how they deal with the social media trolls/haters. Website: stevegilesuk.com BAST Training is here to help you gain the knowledge, skills and understanding you require to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are just getting started or have some knowledge gaps to fill.  basttraining.com  

Ep. 17 How the Naked Vocalist podcast changed my life

 You may already have seen Ryan in his two-part webinar series breaking down voice science for beginners. One of those multitalented types; Ryan sings, plays the keys, guitar, and a variety of other instruments as well as being a sound engineer and producer. All of this he puts to good use in his teaching practice. In the podcast, we have a fascinating discussion around a variety of topics from how he lost his voice due to poor technique and decided to stop singing for three years, how he fell in love with teaching, how he uses a technique of communication he learnt through couple's therapy to communicate better with his students, how he loves to work with singers who have been told they can't sing and how he helps singers become more accurate with their rhythm and timekeeping. Ryan also talks about what he's learnt from putting regular on concert events for his students. Website: torontovoicelessons.com BAST Training is here to help you gain the knowledge, skills and understanding you require to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are just getting started or have some knowledge gaps to fill.  basttraining.com  

Ep. 16 What I learnt about communication from couples therapy

Not to be confused with singer/songwriter, Cat Stevens, Kat Stephens is a singing teacher and owner of Aspire Arts Academy in Towcester. As with many teachers, Kat is trying to balance home life with business. Her academy enrolls around 100 students a term and along with this and her privates, Kat also runs a choir for hobby singers. Her passion is to help people grow in confidence and attain healthy mental health through singing. Kat talks about her challenges with the business, helping students deal with negative college experiences, how she finds students, advises on the process of putting on a musical show and how she maintains her own professional development. Website: katstephens.com & aspireartsacademy.uk BAST Training is here to help you gain the knowledge, skills and understanding you require to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are just getting started or have some knowledge gaps to fill.  basttraining.com  

Ep. 15 Putting on a student show

In this podcast we hear from singing teacher & Intuitive Confidence Coach, Lilli Badcock. Lilli started performing arts at a dancing school as a child but found herself wanting to sing the song rather than dance to it. Lilli talks about her journey from singer, to choir leader, singing teacher and now confidence coach. After having experienced a considerable amount of anxiety throughout her life Lilli had to do a lot of work to overcome these dark periods. Her new purpose came after one particularly dark episode when she lost her voice for a time, She found herself questioning her identity and purpose. Taking what she discovered on her journey to overcome this crippling condition Lilli now focuses her work to help people realise they "can do it" and to find their purpose through singing. Lilli also talks about how she has found a balance between being a mother to 3, wife, teacher and entrepreneur. Website: lillibadcock.com BAST Training is here to help you gain the knowledge, skills and understanding you require to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are just getting started or have some knowledge gaps to fill.  basttraining.com  

Ep. 14 Helping students find their purpose

Like many singing teachers, Juliet juggles a variety of hats including as a singer/songwriter, a vocal coach, choir director and music festival organiser. As well as running her own practice working with artists, Juliet loves to work with choirs, recently arranging and featuring in the Pamper's tribute to midwives with Paloma Faith on lead vocals. Juliet is a vocal coach on two of the UK’s biggest entertainment shows; ITV’s The Voice and BBC1’s Michael McIntyre’s Big Show. Line and Juliet talk about her random journey into singing and teaching from a very young age. In spite of not having any specific goals in the music industry, she has gone on to coach Grammy, Brit, MTV Europe Music and MOBO award-winning singers. As part of an MA Juliet got involved with the British Lung Foundation to research and develop a singing related tool to improve dysphonia in people with respiratory illnesses. Juliet also talks about how a teacher can prepare singers for TV singing competitions , how she got the gig and what the challenges of that kind of coaching are. Website: julietrussell.com BAST Training is here to help you gain the knowledge, skills and understanding you require to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are just getting started or have some knowledge gaps to fill.  basttraining.com  

Ep. 13 Juggling all those hats

Chatter about singing and teaching singing.

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BAST Training podcast

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