This week, Alexa is joined by Dr Luciano Simões to explore cross-training as a modern vocal pedagogy through a Latin American lens, unpacking how singers can develop flexibility, resilience, and stylistic authenticity across different genres. Drawing on the rich hybridity of Latin American music Luciano shares how cross-training equips singers to navigate diverse vocal demands with both technical freedom and cultural awareness. This conversation challenges the idea of fixed vocal identities, inviting teachers and singers alike to embrace versatility, curiosity, and the vibrant diversity of global vocal styles.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

2:10 Who is Dr Luciano Simões?

6:42 Understanding Latin American music

21:13 What functional technique is included in cross-training?

27:57 What does a cross-training singing lesson look like?

37:41 Technical conflicts in cross-training

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Jeanie LoVetri

Alexander Technique

Feldenkrais

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.245 Technique Meets Artistry: Working with Contemporary Singers

ABOUT THE GUEST

Dr. Luciano Simões is a baritone, voice pedagogue, conductor, and researcher with over 30 years of teaching experience. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from Michigan State University, alongside advanced degrees in choral conducting and musicology, and has undertaken postdoctoral research on Fado and musical theatre belting. He previously taught at institutions including the Latin American Integration University, where he developed a pioneering cross-training voice programme based on Latin American styles.

Now based in Germany, he runs an independent voice studio and lectures internationally on cross-training and hybrid vocal technique. His work has been presented at major global conferences and published in leading voice journals. As a performer, he has sung across genres from opera to Brazilian jazz and maintains an active profile in both solo and choral music.

SEE FULL BIO HERE

Instagram: @lucianosimoes_dma

🎁 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 explores how to choose repertoire that sits comfortably within developing ‘tween’ voices while still feeling relevant and exciting for young singers today. From musical theatre gems to contemporary chart hits, the episode offers a thoughtfully curated selection of songs alongside practical considerations around vocal range, lyrical appropriateness, and the ever-evolving cultural world of 9–12 year olds—helping teachers feel a little more in touch (and maybe even a little bit cooler) in the process.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST

1:10 Defining ‘tween’

2:24 Considerations for the tween girl

5:35 10+ songs for tween girls

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.223 10 Songs for Child Singers

Vocal Health Education

Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults by Jenevora Williams

Sing Up Foundation

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.181 The Role of Singing in Mental Wellness

musicnotes.com

Sarah Joyce

War Child UK

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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In this episode, Alexa is joined by performer and vocal coach Grace Galloway, fresh from her run in Ride the Cyclone in London. Together they dive into one of the biggest questions for musical theatre performers: how to build a rep folder that actually works in the audition room. Grace shares practical advice on choosing songs you can rely on “come rain or shine,” shaping material to fit different auditions, and finding repertoire that highlights your unique selling points as a performer. From audition stages to song cuts and the myth of the “perfect” choice, this episode is packed with honest insights to help performers create a versatile, confident rep book that can adapt to whatever audition comes next.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

1:07 Grace’s best and worst audition experiences

5:40 The stages of a musical theatre audition

9:20 How important is song choice?

16:05 Should you transpose songs for auditions?

19:25 What is the most common style asked for in an audition at the moment?

24:20 Mindset in the Musical Theatre industry

30:54 The current audition ‘buzz’ song

31:36 What should be in your audition rep folder?

37:31 Making song cuts

42:37 A musical theatre rep book case study

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Danceworks

Debbie O’Brien

Aida

Pineapple

Grace sings ‘The Ballad of Jane Doe’

Harry Blumenau

Dundee Rep Theatre

ABOUT THE GUEST

Grace is originally from Liverpool and trained at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She will be appearing as the title role of Rita in Educating Rita at Dundee Rep Theatre this Spring. Grace is also a qualified vocal coach and holds an Estill Figure Proficiency certificate with Estill Voice International. She is a lecturer in voice, repertoire coach and audition preparation mentor at Mountview and Italia Conti. She currently coaches professionals, those in training or those wanting to pursue vocational training.

Theatre credits include: Jane Doe in Ride the Cyclone (Southwark Playhouse), Astrid Kirchherr/On stage MD in Shake It Up Baby! (Epstein Theatre, Liverpool), Diva 1 in Priscilla The Party! (West End), Marchesa Zuliani & 1st Cover Azzurra in the world premiere of Stiletto (Charing Cross Theatre), Donna Marie/Miss Jones/Alternate Mrs Lyons in Blood Brothers (UK tour), The Amazing Adventures of Pinocchio (UK tour), Di and Viv and Rose (The Hope Street Theatre), Velma Kelly (emergency cover) in Chicago (Pitlochry Festival Theatre). TV credits include: G'wed (ITV), Greggs-Bag Some Jo

🎁 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