Seven places to find reliable backing tracks for singers
Looking for backing tracks to help your students prepare for auditions or belt out their favourite tunes? Alexa Terry reviews seven platforms that provide backing tracks for singers.
Looking for backing tracks to help your students prepare for auditions or belt out their favourite tunes? Alexa Terry reviews seven platforms that provide backing tracks for singers.
Wiggling is a great way to rid the body of that old singing foe: tension. Here are some movement exercises to help singers loosen up and sing with more freedom.
If you want to learn from some of contemporary singing’s leading vocal pedagogues, grab yourself a copy of So You Want to Sing CCM.
In our latest BAST case study, Alexa Terry looks at strategies for teaching elite singers and explains that even the most polished performer can benefit from singing lessons.
Alexa Terry gives her verdict on a mental health awareness course specifically designed for Arts professionals.
2020 has been bonkers, but the New Year is just around the corner. While we may not be able to welcome it with tight hugs and wet kisses, we can make a start on our 2021 teaching goals.
What is a Vocal Health First Aider (VHFA), and how can you become one? Alexa Terry, a proud VHFA herself, explains.
What happens when a singing teacher and pupil just don’t gel? In the latest in our Difficult Conversations series, ALEXA TERRY looks at what vocal coaches can do if the teacher-student dynamic doesn’t seem to be working.
Teachers often put their own vocal development on the backburner to focus on their students. But vocal coaches can benefit enormously from having singing lessons themselves. We purchase books and journals, attend courses and conferences, and absorb podcasts and blogs,… Read More »Eight reasons why a vocal coach should have singing lessons
Looking for a how-to guide on the Feldenkrais Method and singing? If so, grab yourself a copy of Singing With Your Whole Self: A Singer’s Guide to Feldenkrais Awareness through Movement, writes Alexa Terry. “How does one develop an internal… Read More »Singing With Your Whole Self: a guide to Feldenkrais and singing
BAST’s Alexa Terry takes a closer look at the hyoid bone, otherwise known as ‘the singing bone’. “Clarifying, understanding and organising oneself around the hyoid bone… has amazing and profound effects on many things within the vocal mechanism, but… Read More »The Hyoid Bone
When a student is under the weather or out of sorts, what’s a singing teacher to do? Alexa Terry shares eight tips on providing useful singing lessons – without any singing. Imagine this: Cora Collins, a recent musical theatre graduate,… Read More »How to adapt a singing lesson if a student feels below par
Some vocal coaches and voice scientists claim Vocalzone pastilles do more harm than good. But is there actually any science to back this view up? Alexa Terry, aided by Line Hilton, went looking for answers. Here’s what they found. When… Read More »Vocalzone, saviours or destroyers?
Will the Covid-19 pandemic change singing teaching forever? Alexa Terry weighs up the pros and cons of virtual and face-to-face teaching. Since the outbreak of Covid-19 and the enforcement of lockdown measures, the likes of Zoom and Skype have become… Read More »Teaching singing in person versus online
You suspect a student has a severe vocal problem and needs to see an ENT. How do you break the news? Alexa Terry explores ways to approach difficult conversations with empathy and professionalism. As vocal coaches, there is a first… Read More »How to tell a singer they need to see an ENT
If a singer is experiencing breathiness, how can you help? Alexa Terry shares her tips so get ready for hissing, chopping and tongue twisters. Imagine this: 14-year old Valerie van der Vink arrives at your studio and introduces herself with… Read More »Ways to help a singer fix breathiness
Vocal coach Alexa Terry gives her verdict on Dr Jean Callaghan’s book Singing and Science: Body, Brain & Voice. “When I began teaching singing 35 years ago, I asked myself such questions as ‘What is the accepted body of knowledge… Read More »Review – Singing & Science: Body, Brain & Voice by Jean Callaghan
BAST’s Alexa Terry review’s the latest book from respected laryngologist Dr Reena Gupta. Sam Smith, Adele, Wilma the kindergarten teacher, Caissie Levy, George Salazar, Bob from the local amateur dramatics society, and Natalie Dessay – all voice users of different… Read More »The OHNI Voice Book: Straight Talk with Dr Reena Gupta