The Inspiration of Observation in Singing

There’s a moment when we are drawn back towards something we love, where the thought of stepping forward feels just a touch overwhelming. Whether it’s singing, painting, or even revisiting an old hobby after years apart, the idea of diving straight in can be intimidating. And yet, in those moments of hesitation, there is an invaluable tool that often goes unnoticed: observation.

Learning Without the Pressure of Performing

Observing vocal classes isn’t simply about watching others at work. It’s a process of deep learning, offering a chance to step into the experience without the immediate pressure of performing. For those returning to singing after a break, or even for those who have been refining their technique for years, there is something profound about witnessing another singer's journey in real-time. We listen differently, we notice more, and—most importantly—we allow ourselves the space to absorb without expectation.

Why Watching Othe...

Applications for Love Your Voice 2025 Close Saturday 1st February

What better time than now, as the year unfolds, to invest in yourself as a singer? Whether you’re an experienced soloist or someone rekindling a long-held passion, Love Your Voice 2025 offers a space to nurture your technique, spark your creativity, and connect with other singers who truly “get it.”

Love Your Voice is all about learning by doing. It’s about stepping into the room, being heard, and embracing the process of exploration. Over three immersive workshop days in March, we’ll dive into the heart of what it means to be a solo classical singer—not just technically, but emotionally and creatively. These sessions are designed to provide practical tools for real growth, paired with the joy and camaraderie that come from working alongside a small group of like-minded singers.

Here’s what you can expect from each day:

• Day One: Embracing Creativity and Performance
  We’ll set the tone for the weekend with a Meraki

  ...

As the New Year begins, it’s a natural time for introspection and planning—a moment to pause, take stock, and envision the path ahead.

For us as singers, this season of renewal is also a chance to reconnect with the joy and artistry that make our vocal journeys so fulfilling. Singing, after all, is good for the soul. It’s an expression of creativity, a means of connecting with others, and a way to ground ourselves in something deeply personal yet universally shared. And that’s why I’m so excited to invite you to Love Your Voice 2025.

This 3-day workshop event is a cornerstone of my work within The Voice School—where singers come to grow, explore, and refine their craft. It’s not just about technique, though that’s a vital part of what we’ll work on. It’s about nurturing the whole singer: embracing the creativity, individuality, and sheer joy that brought you to music in the first place. This ethos is at the heart of everything I do, from my teaching to the events I create, and Love...

Prepare to Find Your Voice: Voice-works Spring Study Weekend 2025

Dates: January 25–26, 2025
Location: The Jubilee Hall, Winsham, Somerset, UK.

The Spring Study Weekend is your chance to explore repertoire spanning opera, oratorio, and song from 1600–1850 in an inspiring and supportive setting. Whether you’re a seasoned soloist or rediscovering your voice, this event is crafted to help you refine your skills and deepen your curiosity and understanding of classical vocal performance.

What to Expect Over the Weekend

This immersive two-day event will combine individual coaching, group sessions, and opportunities for discussion and collaboration. The focus is on developing your technical foundation, interpretive insight, and confidence as a singer.

You'll bring three prepared pieces that span the genres of opera, oratorio, and song, allowing for a rich and varied exploration of style and technique. Don’t worry about polished perfection – the emphasis is on secure preparation and a wi...

We did it!

Sing Joyfully 2024 was a feel-good success, with Day One dedicated to fundraising for Worldwide Cancer Research, we pretty much sang all day! Rehearsing/preparing during the morning and then in the afternoon, after lunch, we set the clock and for 2+ hours we kept a continuous flow of music going, delivering a total of 24 sung pieces - ensembles, trios, duets, rounds with a few off the cuff solos thrown in! It was a thoroughly enjoyable day - lots of fun and wonderful  well-being endorphins!

Reuniting in Harmony

The day was filled with music for those we’ve loved and lost, those currently fighting, and those who’ve come through their battles. My own parents’ support for my music is never far from my thoughts, and it was inspiring to remember them and other loved ones in this way.

It was a full day of music and connection. There’s something extraordinary about sharing the experience of music in this way, and it created a day full of warmth, laughter, and that unbeatable f...

Sing Joyfully! Join me for a Well-Being-Focused Weekend

Reconnect: The Joy of Singing Together and Well-Being

Are you a singer searching for immersive, joyful vocal experiences that uplift the soul? I warmly invite you to join me for the 2024 "Sing Joyfully!" workshop weekend. This two-day event is designed for singers of all levels who are eager to share in the joy and camaraderie that music brings, creating not only harmony but also a deep sense of well-being.

With over 35 years as a classically trained singer, my mission has always been to help others connect with their voice in a way that goes beyond technique. Singing is more than an art - it’s a form of personal expression that taps into the essence of who we are. We’ll experience the collective vibration of our voices, harmonizing in a way that lifts the spirit and boosts emotional and mental well-being.

The Power of Singing Together

Singing with others brings us into the present moment, raising our vibration and fostering ...

The event programme details for the next academic year are emerging … Voice-works Study weekends return! 

I am delighted to announce the first of three Voice-works Study Weekends for the 2024/2025 academic year, happening from 13-15 September 2024. This exciting event will be an actual/virtual workshop weekend for solo singers, making it accessible to everyone, whether you can join us at the hosting venue or prefer the virtual setup.

The Voice-works Autumn Study Weekend (maximum of 6 singers) will provide a unique opportunity to explore the works of 8 English Greats, prominent composers who shaped the landscape of British music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Charles Villiers Stanford, Edward Elgar, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Frank Bridge, John Ireland, Roger Quilter, Armstrong Gibbs, and Ivor Gurney each brought their distinct style and sensitivity to vocal music.

This vibrant group of composers flourished during a transformative period in British music, roughly spanning...

Singers, are you well, and keeping in fine voice? All in good working order, sounding smooth and wonderful, with no cracking, yodelling or insecurities?

And, how about your range - confident about that? Let's discuss.

Passaggio problems

Passaggio (Italian pronunciation: [pasˈsaddʒo]) is a term used in classical singing to describe the transition area between the vocal registers.

Arguably the most vexing of singer’s issues, the passaggio justifiably earns its hard-to-handle reputation. Let me familiarise you with its workings and how it can be responsible for the limiting beliefs you hold about your vocal range.

What’s it all about?

Well ... what singers must do to avoid those tell-tale wobbly-sounding gear-changing areas in the voice, is to concentrate 100% on body alignment, keeping the throat open, and correctly balancing the airflow from the lungs to the point of contact with the vocal folds, which are brought together with a HIGH degree of sensitivity and control … all...

As a professional classical singer, I write about vocal technique a lot. Of course, I would, as I am also a voice teacher. I've come to where I am now through a very natural journey of my own - study, performance, more study, woven doggedly around my other life happenings.

Always a personal quest (no one was pushing me) - I have felt drawn along, pulled happily by my simple love of communicating through the physicality and marriage of words and music - and the need to do it better. It's an infectious love, that I have for many years sought to share with other like-minded souls, who have their own quest and who are curious too.

Where do you start? 

As a professional musician with a lifetime of technical vocal learning behind me and a trusty ongoing pursuit of future perfection in front of me, I regularly invest in telling my students to be at ease with where they are on their vocal journey. At ease, but not too comfy. To forgive their vocal imperfections BUT also be inquisitive, and...

The Vocal Journey: never forget the basics

The only way to progress your vocal learning healthily is to maintain a consistent gentle warm-up routine, covering basic and essential vocal technique tools such as posture, breathing/airflow, onset, lip trills, and sirening.  The magic 5, learning by repeatedly doing. Neuroplasticity working its magic.

This video-share is #4 in a playlist on my YouTube channel.  It's taken from my singers' mentoring group 2020 teaching archive. Most weeks throughout the year I lead members online in a Saturday Morning Vocal Technique LIVE where we explore exercises and enjoy a lively discussion as we work.

Learning about #vocalnutsandbolts is not a sprint - and we should never assume we’ve reached the journey’s end. Our destination is always there, just on the horizon.

A fascinating journey which still holds my attention after all these years of teaching and learning. 

We classical singers are understandably primarily pre-occupied with the sound th...