Teaching: freedom to inspire.
âTeaching is more than imparting knowledge, it is inspiring change. Learning is more than absorbing facts, it is acquiring understanding.â
William Arthur Ward
When it arrives, this kind of synergy brings an exciting dynamic to the relationship between student and mentor. If present, the two elements generously combine to create an unwritten contract of possibility.Â
Where the mentor provides a thought-provoking, boundary-busting structure to learning practices, so the student is encouraged to open themselves up to new ideas and patterns of work.Â
There is co-operative freedom to inspire. Magical when you experience it.
Dartington Hall, near Totnes in South Devon, provides the perfect vibe for such exchanges to happen and with my next residential weekend in March just visible on the horizon, those of us who have already signed up to be there are beginning to feel the buzz of excitement.Â
For solo singers, the Love Your Voice weekend workshop promises...
Three working w...
A 2020 note to self: learn to get uncomfortable. NOTICE.
Singing imperfections and the OK Plateau.
It is Technique Tuesday. 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 questioning about the WHY. Be precise with how they invest their learning time when winkling out precious moments to focus on what they hope to achieve in their learning.
In 2013, I blogged a link to Joshua Foerâs wise words above and thereby also to a fabulous Brain Pickings post, by Maria Popova. It was called:  The Psychology of Getting Unstuck: How to Overcome the âOK Plateauâ of Performance & Personal Growth. In a nutshell, it seemed to set out everything so clearly and I at once recognised my own vocal-learning journey in there, one which I built over the years around â
...Singers: Health as a priority.
So, when during this past week Iâd been suffering from fatigue, and a dull headache was making me slow, not for one minute did think something was brewing. Fine summer months and long sunny days had dispelled any notion of colds and coughs. Â It didnât dawn on me that my health and immune system were being challenged until I woke with that tell-tale scratchy feeling at the back of my throat. You see, I had totally missed those early signs.
Summer has been deliciously busy. Much of August was taken up with preparations for my daughterâs wedding. Well, making the wedding
...Think on this: The function of Art in every day life
The sculptor is here looking, it has been said, at the human form metaphorically: the figure is as much Nature as Woman, with its supporting arm and shoulder â shaped like a blunt unyielding promontoryâ. Moore himself chose the site for the Figure, and his choice caused no little surprise at the time. He wanted it to be looked at against the skyline, in contrast to the common assumption of the time that a piece of sculpture should be discreetly enclosed, whether by building or vegetation.
The Reclining Figure resonates with me every time I stand up there on the high rid
...
Learning how to sing: why community matters.
In March 2017, the Universe neatly delivered the opportunity for me to build an online mentoring group for singers. I had just hosted an initial weekend course at Dartington Hall; called âLove Your Voiceâ. It was nurturing, inclusive, and organic, tempting some of the participants to sing out for the first time in more than 10 years.
We sang all weekend, of course, immersed in solo song, in finding their voice. I built a feeling of trust and safety in the exploration, and emotions began to stir.Â
There was much discussion at the end of sessions, in the tea breaks and in the evening around the table as we all dined together. I listened hard to the vocal wants, needs, and desires of everyone involved and came away charged with the task of creating an online membership, a location-independent community. The experiences of the weekend workshop could be extended, and continued through a central hub.Â
And so, Virtually Vocalise was born.  A notion of something like it had been lurking in ...
Finding your Classical Singing Voice
Finding your Singing Voice
Weâll get to the singing element of this post in just a moment, but first I ask you to bear with me. Itâs breathing new life into an old post. I see the words on the screen and Iâm often timid in making a start,  driven mostly by an irrational doubt in my ability to write a compelling argument that will make a difference to YOU, the person who has stopped by to read what I have to say, and who maybe feels the same way about their SINGING as I do about writing. Stay with me here âŚ. letâs do this together!
Can you empathise?Â
I mean, if I have doubts about whether I have what it takes to pull a convincing article,  you may be fighting the same demons about finding your voice - about singing. But the good news for both of us is that youâre HERE, reading this article because of your singing desires, so letâs put it in context.Â
Just imagine ifâŚ
âŚ.you were asked to prepare a song - say, to record it and put it out there into the world for all to hear,
...Red Shoes, Red Hat
We gave our summer study weekend this affectionate name on account of all the talk in the group about putting on your singing shoes when you stand up to perform. Being brave, learning to fly, to sing from the heart, give it all you have got.
Put on those singing shoes... or maybe a rather wonderful red hat. That would do, for sure.
This week, Virtually Vocalise singers have been excitedly putting last minute preparations together for a wonderful long weekend - singing - by the sea.Â
Weâve booked a lovely house on the Dorset coast, with a beautiful sea view, via Airbnb. Weâre cooking too. Weâve planned a wonderful wellbeing menu, and the grocery delivery is booked. There will be wine, prosecco, and a good time is to be had by all. VV member, soprano Sue Lewey excitedly updated the group (note the avatar) with her travel preparations ... good to see she has her packing priorities straight!
There will be study too, of course. Songs, songs and more songs.
Hereâs the ...
Technique Tuesday Quotables
A new feature for Technique Tuesday, giving a little bit of insight into how students learn to grapple with learning about and perfecting their vocal technique.
This week's 'quotable' is simply stunning; it's the sort of thing that teachers dream about.
In VV (Virtually Vocalise) we had been talking about technically tricky things - the relationship between the tongue, the jaw and the larynx. Easy to dive off down 'rabbit holes' with too much information. Here's how the conversation went:Â
It brought JOY to my heart; I fairly floated off my seat! Teaching singers how to become vocally free has to be my number ONE goal as a vocal coach.Â
Golden. Wonderful stuff; rinse and repeat.
Technique Tuesday: Alexander Technique Directions
Technique Tuesday: âFâacts
In 2018, I led singers who belong to Virtually Vocalise on a light-hearted journey through the alphabet, relating each letter to an aspect of vocal technique. When I originally put the A-Z together in 2013 it was more of a personal teaching challenge, a bit of a brain-teaser, a test of my knowledge and wit. Here, I talked about letter âFâ....
This new infographic shares a beautiful synergy with last weekâs blog post, âEâxpiration and before that âDâiaphragm - and I can divulge that its accompanying teaching video (for VV members) will provide a harmonious segue into whatâs coming NEXT week as we consider letter âGâ. Hold that thought.
Right now, for letter âFâ we, as singers, are thinking about freeing the neck. And by releasing the jaw, lengthening the spine etc., we are also considering some of the principles of Alexander Technique logic.Â
One snippet that continues to hold my affection, is this lovely, simple recipe from Mark Josefsbergabout th
...Technique Tuesday: Vocal Folds
For singers and speakers alike, the vocal folds are quite amazing. And an essential piece of our kit.Â
We are each born with a perfect set, and over a lifetime, we put them through a lot. We expect them to do their thing for us over and over and over - when we are tired, hungry, dehydrated, sad, angry, exhilarated, in fact, any number or combination of situations and experiences, we seldom stop to consider how we may be abusing our little vocal folds.
I canât imagine being robbed of my voice. As I age I am appreciating even more how important it is to stop and understand complete vocal care. I teach students about the 5 Essential Vocal Exercises or fundamental knowledge that any singer or speaker needs to have in...
The Classical Singer's Path
A new Substack series, written from the inside out - glimpses into my own life as a classical singer, and the way I think about the art we share. It is quieter than the bustle of The Voice School, a place for reflection, stories, and ideas that might travel with you into your own singing life.. Itâs free to subscribe, and early support means a lot as I get it going. Youâre warmly invited to join me there.
Repertoire that meets you where you are.
A curated, confidence-building guide for returning, rebuilding, or refining classical singers. Includes expert commentary, a clickable playlist, and clarity on how to choose songs that truly fit. Instant download.
Sing Joyfully '25 - with Mozart at the helm!
On 15â16 November in Chandlerâs Ford, UK, we gather for a weekend devoted to Mozartâs music â full of wit, precision, and heart. Across two days, we will work with solos, ensembles, and stagecraft in Italian, German, and Latin, shaping the sessions to the voices in the room. Come and sing, or come and observe, and be part of a small, connected group where the work has room to breathe.
Featured in Feedspot
Ranked #29 in their Top 60 Singing Blogs â a lovely recognition of our reflective approach to singing.
Stay connected with new events and all updates!
Singing Basics Guide
Getting to grips with or making improvements to your singing and the methods to achieve progress are all far easier and more accessible than you think.Â
