In this episode, Alexa is joined by Becky Morton, Principal of Further Education at ACM, to explore what the FE academic route can offer young singers stepping into today’s music industry. Becky shares how the curriculum is structured with project-based training, and how this helps students to build both industry awareness and artistic identity from the age of sixteen. The pair dig into why early professional habits matter, how the diploma pathway compares to traditional A-levels, and what young performers gain from learning to work with producers, bands and music businesses in a real-world environment. Becky also talks about current vocal trends, the technical demands of pop-rock singing, and how ACM is adapting its teaching to industry changes, including the rise of AI. You better press play, then.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

0:44 Becky’s desert island song

03:50 The role of Principle of FE at the Academy of Contemporary Music

5:00 Benefits and challenges of an academic route into music

10:13 A look at technique for pop-rock

12:50 Defining the pop-rock aesthetic

15:14 Artists to study in this genre

18:16 How important is music theory and sight singing?

22:54 2025 vocal and musical trends

30:56 What Becky wishes every singer understood

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

ACM

UAL

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.231 Evolving Vocal Trends: Training Functional Registration in Contemporary Commercial Music with April Young

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.222 The Rise of AI: What it Means for Singers & Teachers with Singing Teachers Talk - Ep,226 The Rise of AI: Practical Tools and Strategies for the Singing Teachers with Rachael Drury

ISM

Suno

Udio

Follow Becky’s Bands: The Likeness; Two’s Up; The Hooch Toots

ABOUT THE GUEST

Rebecca Morton, Principal of FE at ACM, is a seasoned professional musician, vocal coach and musical director with more than two decades of industry experience. Her career includes performances and collaborations with Adrian Smith, Imogen Heap, Alexander O’Neal, and tours as the solo backing vocalist for Hitomi Yaida across major UK and Japanese arenas. She has recorded with artists such as Crispian Mills and Mattafix, appeared on multiple cast albums, and worked across a wide range of dance music projects, including releases with EMI and Hed Kandi. As a vocal coach since 2002, she has supported artists including James Toseland and Marlon Roudette. Alongside her Masters i

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 like you turn passion into purpose — building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach successfully without feeling like an imposter. You don’t have to figure it out alone.

“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

Join other singers becoming confident teachers at basttraining.com

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In this episode, Alexa shares 10 brilliant songs that sit in the A4–D5 low-belt zone for female singers — a range full of character, energy, and storytelling potential.

From Standard Broadway favourites, 90s pop-rock anthems and modern hits this episode is packed with fresh repertoire ideas, stylistic insight, and creative inspiration for singers and teachers alike.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST

0:38 Why might these songs be helpful?

2:07 10 ‘low belt’ songs for female singers

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.205 10 Songs to Inspire Your Singing Lessons

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.210 10 Songs to Celebrate Pride in Your Studio

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.212 10 Songs to Find Your Pop Style

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.219 10 Songs for Male Contemporary Musical Theatre Singers

Amanda Flynn

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 like you turn passion into purpose — building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach successfully without feeling like an imposter. You don’t have to figure it out alone.

“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

Join other singers becoming confident teachers at basttraining.com

Start with the foundations >>> ENROL NOW

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What if the secret to better singing practice isn’t doing more, but understanding why we avoid it in the first place? Voice educator Tessa Smith Whicker joins Alexa to explore how her master’s research reshaped her view of practice — from battling guilt and distraction to embracing curiosity and compassion.

Discover how to get singers excited about their own practice, how teachers can reframe “you need to practice” into empowering questions, and why small, playful tasks can make all the difference.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

3:16 What do you believe practice actually is?

8:10 Common barriers to practice

10:02 Options to manage the barriers

18:31 Playing devil’s advocate

22:18 Holes in the research

25:18 How to effectively set practice

39:18 The role of the singing teacher and rapport

46:23 Measuring progress

53:00 Tessa’s practice hub and podcast

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.164 Music and the Brain: The Science of Learning and Practice with Dr Molly Gebrian Part One

Jacob Collier

Singing for the Self Conscious by Becky Gilhespie

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.166 Overcoming Self-consciousness in Singing with Becky Gilhespie

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.131 Mastering Research Papers: How to Read with Ease and Extract Knowledge with Kate Cubley

Cheryl Porter

Kim Chandler

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.70 Coaching Contemporary Commercial Music with Kim Chandler

The Singer’s Guide podcast by Tessa Smith

ABOUT THE GUEST

Tessa Smith Whicker holds a BA in Jazz Studies, an MA in Vocal Pedagogy, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her research explores the likes of performance assessment, stylistic awareness, and the decolonisation of Popular Music singing education. She teaches across Higher Education institutions in the North of England and leads choirs and community singing groups. Passionate about developing self-sufficient, self-compassionate singers, Tessa shares tools for effective and enjoyable practice through her social media, podcast The Singer’s Guide, and membership platform The Singer’s Practice Hub.

SEE FULL BIO HERE

Websites: tessasmith.com & thesingersguide.com

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 like you turn passion into purpose — building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach successfully without feeling like an imposter. You don’t have to figure it out alone.

“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

Join other singers becoming confident teachers at basttraining.com

basttraining.com | Updates | Email Us | Free Group