The Singer’s Guide

In this Singer’s Guide podcast episode, Tessa interviews vocal coach Heather Baker (@thesingingteacher), founder member of the Institute of Vocal Advancement and a master’s-trained vocal pedagogy specialist, about the one thing she wishes singers knew. Heather emphasises experimenting with vocal tract shaping - playing with vowels and adjustable elements like the tongue, larynx, pharynx, jaw and l...

Tessa welcomes listeners to The Singer’s Guide and announces that season two is coming soon.   She explains that season one focused on “what I wish I’d known sooner as a singer,” covering topics like warming up, cooling down, and how to practice.   For season two, she has invited a range of respected singing teachers and peers and will ask each one question: “What’s one thing that you wish singers...

In this final episode of season one of The Singer's Guide Podcast, host Tessa reflects on the journey so far.   She highlights her favourite episodes, the overall approach to diverse topics such as vocal health and practice techniques, and discusses areas for improvement.   Tessa also shares insightful responses from singers on what they wish they had learned earlier in their singing careers.   Lo...

In episode 11 of The Singer's Guide Podcast, host Tessa discusses the broad array of skills necessary to build a successful singing career. Drawing from her experience as a jazz singer, vocal coach, choir leader, and academic researcher, she categorises these skills into three main personas: the artist, the learner, and the professional. Tessa delves into the specifics of vocal technique, musician...

In the 10th episode of the Singer's Guide podcast, host Tessa Smith delves into the topic of goal setting for singers to kick off the first episode of 2026.   The episode focuses on the SMART goals framework - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound - offering practical tips for setting realistic and motivating goals.   Tessa emphasises the importance of aligning smaller goals w...

In the ninth episode of the Singer's Guide podcast, host Tessa offers best practices for maintaining vocal health on a daily basis, and what to do when feeling the onset of illness or fatigue.   Tessa also talks about options when illness sets in and you still have to perform, such as quiet practice, song modifications, and collaborative performance strategies.   00:00 Introduction and Overview  ...

In episode eight of The Singer's Guide Podcast, host Tessa discusses motivation, and how to motivate yourself to practice singing when it's lacking.   Tessa explains the concepts of internal (intrinsic) and external (extrinsic) motivation and shares strategies to harness both types.   She emphasises the importance of avoiding negative motivators and suggests setting deadlines, creating accountabil...

In Episode 7 of The Singer's Guide, hosted by Tessa, the spotlight is on the Singer's Practice Hub; a comprehensive resource designed to improve singers' skills and support their vocal journey.   Tessa explains the origin and development of the Hub, emphasising the practical relevance of the extensive research she conducted during her master's degree in vocal pedagogy.   The episode breaks down th...

In episode six of The Singer's Guide podcast, Tessa explores the question of whether singers should learn music theory. She discusses the variability among singers' needs, highlighting that while music theory can be beneficial, it is not essential for everyone. Tessa explains the practical uses of music theory for reading sheet music, songwriting, and understanding vocal challenges. She shares per...

In episode five of The Singer's Guide Podcast, Tessa discusses ways to practise singing without disturbing others.   She introduces a Quiet Practice Toolkit, which includes three voiceless practice options complete with worksheets.   The episode covers lyric memorisation and annotation, self-reviewing recordings, and lip-syncing with emotional prompts.   These tools allow singers to continue devel...

In episode four of the Singer's Guide podcast, Tessa discusses the often-overlooked practice of vocal cool downs.   She shares her personal journey of discovering vocal cool downs and references a 2018 academic paper by Kari Ragan that highlights their benefits.   Tessa elaborates on common cool down exercises such as SOVT exercises and vocal fry, and emphasises the subjective nature of evaluating...

In episode three of The Singer's Guide podcast, Tessa shares her top ten tips for new university singers, blending her decade-long experience as a singing teacher with her personal university journey.   The ten key tips are:   1. Communication is key 2. Take every opportunity to learn 3. Don't avoid challenge areas, 4. Seek out additional performance opportunities 5. Arrive at singing lessons with...

In this episode of the Singer's Guide podcast, host Tessa discusses how to choose the right key for your songs.   Tessa explains why and when it’s appropriate to change the key of a song, particularly noting the differences between contemporary music and genres like Western Classical Music and Musical Theatre.   She outlines key considerations such as range, emotional intensity, and practical aspe...

In this very first episode of The Singer's Guide podcast, Tessa discusses her relationship with vocal warmups, starting from her early singing lessons to her university years. She shares insights from her research on vocal pedagogy and explains the importance of tailoring warmups to individual needs, limitations, and goals. Tessa also highlights three key factors to consider before choosing a warm...

'The Singers Guide' podcast is the show for ambitious singers who want more than just scales and song practice. We’ll talk about the things regular singing lessons don’t always cover.    Because being a singer is about more than just your voice — it’s about confidence, preparation, and all the little skills that make performing seem effortless. Hosted by Tessa Smith (@tessasmithmusic) www.thesinge...