This week, Alexa chats with artist, songwriter, choir leader, and vocal coach India Bourne about life beyond the stage. From touring the world with Ben Howard to building a thriving teaching career, India shares how completing the BAST Foundation Course deepened her understanding of the voice, transformed her songwriting, and enriched her work with singers. She also opens up about balancing creativity, teaching, and motherhood, revealing how life as a mum has shaped her artistry, sharpened her instincts, and helped her to continue creating a sustainable, fulfilling career in music.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

1:08 What venues are India’s favourite to play?

3:38 What has India learnt through touring and being a human in the music industry?

6:06 Does teaching ever feel in tension with being an artist?

12:37 India’s experience with BAST

14:50 How has being a classically trained cellist influenced artistry and teaching?

18:10 Songwriting and creative ideas

25:07 Singing and training emotion in music

30:02 Being the creative juggler

33:26 Protecting your own creativity

35:35 India’s new music

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Ben Howard

Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw

Why Doing Nothing Can Change Your Life by Joseph Jebelli

Heidi Moss Erickson

Singing in the Brain: Ep.2: The Spaces in Between - Part1 Rest

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.256 The Neuroscience of Singing: What the Singer’s Brain Needs

Middle Farm Studios

Outside venue

ABOUT THE GUEST

India Bourne is a classically trained musician, songwriter and vocal coach whose voice has travelled the world as a long-time member of Ben Howard's live band. Singing and playing cello, bass and percussion, she has spent years immersed in shared stages and shifting landscapes. Alongside this, she has released music as Tender Central, where electronica and folk intertwine in songs that echo the emotional depth of Massive Attack, Lamb and Joni Mitchell.

Now, India returns to releasing music under her own name. This new collection is shaped by long-standing musical relationships, featuring collaborators Mickey Smith, Nat Wason and Rich Thomas alongside her all-female choir, The Big Skirts. Recorded live to tape at Middle Farm Studios with producer Peter Miles, these are songs of initiation and becoming - of motherhood, grief, nature, and new life - held together by the rare chemistry of old friends playing in the same room.

At the heart of the record is the voice, or rather voices. India writes with her women vocalists in mind, weaving their lines together as a living fabric from which melodies emerge. The result is music that feels both grounded and expansive, rooted in collective breath, resonance and connection.

Website

Instagram

The Big Skirts

🎁 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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What happens when arts education becomes truly accessible? In this inspiring episode, Alexa speaks with Georgina from RABBLE Theatre about breaking down barriers to participation, building confidence through performance, and creating meaningful pathways for young people and adults in the arts. From nurturing performers to supporting wellbeing, creativity, and community engagement, this conversation is packed with insights for singing teachers, drama educators, arts leaders, and anyone passionate about the transformative power of creative education.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

3:25 What is RABBLE Theatre?

5:00 The RABBLE mission

7:27 Education and Youth programmes at RABBLE

12:07 RABBLE is looking for freelance singing teachers!

13:31 The wellbeing benefits of the arts

15:36 Getting financial support from RABBLE

17:22 Nurturing Performers

19:53 Fundraising tips

23:21 Pushback and grants

25:25 Make a donation

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Seamus Allen (Improvisation)

Holiday Activities Fund

Chris Mitchell

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.222 The Rise of AI: What it Means for Singers and Singing Teachers

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.226 The Rise of AI: Practical Tools and Strategies for the Singing Teacher

Arts Council

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.162 Voices of the South West: Building Community with the Southwest Voice Hub

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.224 Your Brain on Art: The Science of Creativity and Healing

ABOUT THE GUEST

RABBLE Theatre is an education charity that tells local stories of national significance. They have a large education department, engaging over 2,000 young people and adults every year, 141 of whom access their work through the RABBLE access fund.

Website

@rabble_theatre on Instagram

@rabbletheatre on Tik Tok

Contact RABBLE to collaborate

🎁 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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Why do performers experience stage fright, even when they love being on stage? In this episode, voice coach and breathwork teacher Laura Dumbleton joins Alexa to unpack performance anxiety, fight-or-flight responses, and practical tools to manage nerves before, during and after singing or public speaking. Expect honest stories, functional techniques, confidence strategies, and advice for singers, performers and vocal coaches navigating stage fright.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

2:39 What is stage fright?

4:17 Why might a singer experience stage fright?

5:55 Why has performing not evolved to become less stress-provoking?

9:40 Symptoms of stage fright to look out for

12:59 Is it true that ‘some nerves can be helpful?’

15:25 The Boiling Pot Analogy

19:20 Stage fright myth busting

21:39 Strategies for stage fright

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.155 Part One: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.156 Part Two: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios

Dave Cottrell: @mindsetbydave

Stress Less: Breath More - Simple Breathing Exercises for Stress Relief

Sarah Joyce: @sarahjoycesings

Jessie J - Watch Me Work Through a Panic on Stage

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.80 Understanding Music Performance Anxiety

ABOUT THE GUEST

Laura Dumbleton is a Stage Fright Coach, Voice Coach and Breathwork Teacher with over fourteen years of experience working with singers and voice teachers. She specialises in why technically prepared singers still struggle under pressure, and what can be done about it. She is passionate about getting rid of “just practice more!” as a solution and instead replacing it with actual tools to address the underlying problem.

Laura works from her studio in Lincolnshire and online with clients worldwide, offering 1:1 coaching, group workshops, and courses covering musical theatre voice, stage fright, and performance confidence. Her Stage Fright workshops bring together the science of performance anxiety, vocal technique, and nervous system regulation, giving singers and teachers practical tools for building genuine confidence that holds up under pressure. Breathwork runs through everything she does, from coherence breathing to conscious connected breathwork, whether as a standalone session or woven into performance coaching.

She holds a Masters of Research from the University of Edinburgh specialising in performance anxiety in singers, alongside being an IVA Advanced Instructor and qualified Breathwork Facilitator and Teacher with Breathing Space.

Website

Instagram

🎁 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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What happens when singing teachers step away from screens and come together in one room? In this episode, Line Hilton shares why BAST is bringing back live, in-person singing teacher training with a special intensive weekend in Manchester, exploring the power of community, CPD, vocal pedagogy, networking, and hands-on learning. Discover who the event is for, what topics will be covered, and why investing in your development as a singing teacher could transform both your confidence and your teaching. Plus, find out how to get your tickets, access an exclusive podcast discount, and join us on 20–21 June.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

1:36 What happens in a room full of singing teachers that can’t happen online?

3:00 What has BAST been cooking up?

7:11 How to get a ticket

8:37 The BAST Intensive schedule

11:17 What might I take away from a weekend intensive event?

14:32 What if I don’t know anyone?

17:15 What is Line the most excited about?

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Line Hilton

Focus On Events

Manchester College

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THE BAST MANCHESTER INTENSIVE 2026 HERE

YOUR SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE: STTINTENSIVESPECIAL

🎁 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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How important is it that the singing teacher can actually demonstrate the sound they are asking of the singer? This week, Line and Alexa are unpacking the hidden realities behind vocal demonstration, and why giving a demo isn’t always that simple. From physiology and hormones to stamina preservation, this conversation might just make you rethink the expectations we place on ourselves as singing teachers, whilst also recognising the very real importance of keeping our own voices ready.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

2:33 How important is it for a singing teacher to demonstrate?

4:32 When should a singing teacher demonstrate?

6:33 Demonstration and physiology

10:49 Demonstration and the opposite sex

15:48 Demonstration and illness

20:55 Demonstration and injury

25:54 Demonstration and the working singer

31:00 Demonstrating and hormones

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Line Hilton

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.254 Lessons Learned in the First Year of Teaching Singing with Mark Lowman

Vocalzone

Vocalzone, Saviours or Destroyers? Article

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.257 Inside the Voice Clinic: Common Vocal Problems & What Happens Next with ENT Mr Nicholas Gibbins

Ejae

Renée Fleming

Singing and The Premenstrual Voice Article

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.102 Understanding Singing and Menopause with Joanna Bozeman

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.201 Working with Hypermobile Singers with Sarah Algoet

🎁 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 dives into the often-misunderstood world of legit musical theatre singing, unpacking what the style really means, why so many performers feel lost when approaching it, and how teachers can guide singers through the journey with confidence. From Golden Age roots to contemporary legit crossovers, she explores key vocal characteristics, common challenges, and practical repertoire suggestions to help singers build versatility without overwhelm.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST

0:42 Defining ‘legit’

4:16 Common technical challenges

5:44 10+ ‘legit’ song ideas

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

musicnotes.com

So You Want To Sing Musical Theatre by Amanda Flynn

NATS

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.133 Mastering Belt in Musical Theatre

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

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What are the most common vocal issues singers actually face, and how can we prevent them without falling into the trap of overthinking every tiny symptom? In this engaging and refreshingly honest chat, ENT voice specialist Nick Gibbins breaks down the patterns he sees in clinic, alongside practical insights on building vocal stamina and injury prevention. The conversation tackles what can actually be detected via laryngostroboscopy, reflux, hypermobility, rehabilitation, and Nick also tackles some questions from you, the listeners. Expect expert knowledge, myth-busting, and plenty of down-to-earth, relatable discussion that every singer and teacher will benefit from hearing.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

5:21 What singers does Nick see in clinic?

8:16 Patterns of challenge and injury in singers

13:06 Reflux

17:38 Preparing for vocal load increase

24:10 What can you actually tell about a singer via laryngostroboscopy?

26:46 Hypermobility

36:25 Surgery and recovery

41:08 Singing teachers and rehabilitation

47:52 Can you feel your vocal folds?

54:22 Vocal hygiene without the hype

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Declan Costello

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.87 87 How to Manage Allergies and Upper Respiratory Infections

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.201 Working with Hypermobile Singers

British Laryngological Association

CEORL-HNS Congress

ABOUT THE GUEST

Mr Nicholas Gibbins is a Consultant Laryngologist and Head & Neck Surgeon at the University Hospital Lewisham. Trained in London and the South-East of England, Nick has built a reputation as an excellent surgeon, teacher and lecturer. Patient outcomes are a key focus for Nick and, along with the whole of the renowned voice team at Lewisham, has built the largest Voice Database in Europe to analyse outcomes.

His key interests in the voice are the diagnosis and treatment of vocal fold scars and sulci, and the care and treatment of the professional voice. More recently he has been sought after to lecture on musculoskeletal problems that can either originate in the larynx causing muscle tension imbalance or that arising distally and effect the biomechanics of the voice. He has built a team that can address all these issues that includes speech therapists, osteopaths, vocal rehabilitation coaches, kinetic chain specialists, gastroenterologists, neurologists and more.

He writes and publishes regularly and is the current Editor of the Chapter on the Larynx for Gray’s Anatomy (43rd Ed). His term of office as President of the British Laryngological Association began in 2025.

🎁 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 | Stay Updated