Vocal Freedom Podcast vocalfreedom

My guest this week is Pamela Bezzina, a Speech and Language Pathologist, Singer and Vocal Coach (Founder of Vocal Booth Studios) from the beautiful island of Malta.  Join us as we discuss her journey into the world of voice, helping others connect with their voices and how training and access to training has changed since we were younger. 
Pamela continues to enjoy a heart-felt connection to music and expressing herself through her voice.  We also chat through her involvement with the Eurovision Song Contest as a performer, backing singer and vocal coach for many appearing artists as well as the valuable lessons she has learned from her experience so far. 
Check show notes below for a walk-through and for relevant links.
0.00 Welcome and Introduction
1:45  Singing from very very young! 
2:00 Stevie Wonder (I wish), Mariah Carey (I'll be there), Celine Dion (Think Twice) from age 6-7
3:15 Experimenting with my voice was fun!
4:00 Meeting my Classical voice teacher from Bulgaria, big voice at age 70!
5:00 Moving from being a performer
5:30 How did you get into the Eurovision content journey?
6:45 As a performer I am not really into competitions
8:30 Don’t let a competition result define your self-worth
9:15 The value of your experience, what is most important
10:30 I still look for teachers, it’s important to keep learning
10:45 Believe in yourself and love what you have!
11:30 The more you gain, the more obstacles sometimes
12:30 If you have this love in you (for music) nothing and no one can stop you from doing it.
13:10 I get lightbulb moments every week with my students
14:25 It feels like we do magic! It’s true!
14:50 A lightbulb for me was exploring the idea of ‘mix’ voice
16:20 Share your own strengths and weaknesses
16:35 Rehearsal riffs (Pamela breaks down Yebba Riff)
17:15 A singer should know their voice
17:45 Helping singers getting to know their voices
18:30 Taking responsibility for the care of your voice
19:15 Keeping a journal to monitor your vocal lifestyle
20:10 What we do (as coaches) can really make a difference
21:15 Trading lessons with different style voice teachers!
22:55 Who do you love to listen to?
Bobby McFerrin (from me to you live) - Jacob Collier live - Tori Kelly (Coffee, live) - Alicia Keys (Underdog) Yebba (My Mind)
25:00 What does your voice mean to you?
25:00 Total vocal rest for 3 weeks
26:15 Realising I’m human as well!
27:25 Leighs mouldy voice story!
29:30 Everything we pass through, event worst times, are there for us to learn
30:50 Whats it like being Pamela singing on stage?
32:00 We are fragile artists, this is what I believe
32:45 Balancing the technique and heart in your expression
34:00 Whats coming up?
34:30 What I learned and explored during the pandemic
35:00 Vocal Troupes (Hold the line) directed by Pamela and Pamela singing live
36:30 I love singing and sharing music with others, this is the ultimate, the highest grade you can get! 
 
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Thank you for listening! 
 

This week I am joined by Singing Teacher, Dance Facilitator and Researcher Elizabeth Drwal who is based in gorgeous Ireland.  It was a joy to hear how it all started around Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers! I used to watch those old movies with my lovely Mum when I was a little girl too!
All the links shared here are in essence educational and could benefit you or someone else you know who uses their voice (or is aiming to become a voice professional), or who has any health issues with their voice.  Please help by sharing anything you find useful x
Show notes and links (timings are approx)
0:00 Intro and welcome Elizabeth's Website (about)
1:30 How would you describe the journey with your voice?
2:30 Packed off to Music School in Coventry
3:00 Vocal Suppression led me to run away to the theatre!
4.00 Classical arias didn’t really help me find my soul
5:00 The difference between strict traditional approach and more playful expression
5:36 Finding the love of singing English Art Song
6:40 What’s in your ear helps.
7:00 Next steps in the journey, voice coaching for actors.
8:10 The Golden Age of Musical Theatre!
9:15 The use of imagery and using visualisation and imagination
13:00 "I wanted to walk down the avenue with my cane and top hat!"
13:55 "I remember President Kennedy’s assassination and how it upset the TV Schedule!"
14:45 What singers you love and who could you never tire of listening to?
15:07 The Story of Marni Nixon (short). Plus Shall we Dance from the King and I
16:40 Feeling robbed at The Greatest Showman
17:10 Les Mis movie, do we feel robbed there?
18:10 What do you know now you wish you had learned sooner?
18:55 "Your breath and your body are so connected"
19:16 A little Reset & Manifest course feedback
20:50 "The importance of really taking time to really let go"
21:35 Working our teaching magic!
22:39 Teachers can be so empathetic
23:20 Becoming a more reflexive teacher
23:50 "Lesson plans can be debilitating to some degree!"
24:30 What do you find most valuable in caring for your voice?
25:00 Related: Dr Vox Products for Vocal Rehabilitation and Health and Dr Vox Product Video Shorts 
26:15 Shocking statement about an old teacher! 
27:20 "A lot to be said for mindful, caring empathetic teaching"
28:15 "What I didn’t know back in the day..."
29:45 "We all development at different stages and we have to let go of comparing"
30:15 What does your voice mean to you?
30:30 "I wanted to speak with Received Pronunciation" 
31:50 I’m beginning to enjoy singing for myself!
32:00 Petula Clark singing Downtown (in an interesting jacket? is that PVC?)
33:00 The songs from Heartbeat, from my childhood, "more innocent times" (in the charts)
34:45 "I am much more open to listening to contemporary music now"
35:45 "Synchronicity of movement and sound is so beautiful"
37:00 "Actors are so open I found it so liberating working with them!"
38:00 Passing on our excitement to our students!
38:42 What is Vocal Freedom to you?
39:45 Just Singing and not being bothered!  
40:35 Workshop story and what cropped up the next morning
41:10 The Mental Post-It note tit-bit
41:50 It works! I shut that voice straight up! 
42:30 Farewells and do come back soon! 
To learn more and join our growing community of voice and wellbeing practitioners and supporters of the podcast visit our home page or facebook page for  episode updates and useful shares.
To communicate with me regarding the podcast or any of the vocal freedom coaching services please email me directly at lmt@vocalfreedomcoach.info
Leigh xx

My guest this week is Singing & Music Theory Specialist and Music Consultant Joanna Wilson.    Joanna started her musical career playing violin as a child and was fortunate to tour with Manchester Youth Orchestra before moving to London to start her professional training at 18. 
As you’ll discover, Joanna had to move on from the Violin and it is here she moved into her singing training, from which she went on to work as a professional Opera Singer, living the 8-shows-as-week lifestyle, before branching into teaching others from 2009. 
It has not always been easy to manage but I find it helpful to hear about the struggles as well as the successes and note the value in all we experience.  Even the toughest of times, that might have felt heart-breaking at the time, can steer us onto our true path and become a valuable part of our story.  
Approx times
00:00 - 1.25. Introduction to Joanna and her background
1:25 - How would you describe the journey with your voice?
2:25 - Music gave me opportunities and this early start fuelled the passion
2:50 - Moving to London at 18! Feeling like a small fish in a very big sea!
3.50 - Amazing teacher Elizabeth (Libby) Hawes and how singing allowed me to stay a musician
6:25 - Winning the leavers prize the Singing Faculty Award.
8:00 - Life took over for a bit then professional work followed
8:35 - Living my best life - costumes, make up, wigs!
9:00 - The stress of trying to generate the next job
10:20 - Becoming a Creative Arts teacher with young children
10:45 - Teaching became my day job “Miss Joanna’s Music Box”
11:45 - Working with a rapper!
12:45 - Underpinning with solid technique, starts with the breath
14:00 - Singing is everything to me! My Voice is my job!
14:25 - Special memories from touring in Italy
17:14 - Realising I want to stand up there in front of the Orchestra
18:15 -Visit Gallery on Joanna's website to see some lovely costumes!
18:26 - Is there anything you know now you wish you had known sooner?
18:35 - Personal growth and how it has helped
20:45 - The inner critic verses the inner coach
21:55 - Deepak Chopra 21 day challenge
22:15 - Holistic approach to improving lifestyle and noticing old programming that holds us back
23:00 - Ambitious as a child and early manifestations!
25:00 - Music elevated me out, I was able to mix in a whole new way
26:45 - Musical instruments in schools these days?
27:15 - Expression and Music with young children
29:00 - Instilling a love of music and how it brings a rounded education
30:55 - Your body is your instrument
32:00 - When you do what you love it doesn’t feel like work!
32:55 - What voices inspire you?
Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Billie Holliday, Sarah Vaughan, Glenn Mller Orchestra
Elvis Presley, Bill haley and the comets
34:00 - When I saw Ella Fitzgerald headlining at the Royal Albert Hall!
Barbra Streisand Donna Summer - No More Tears
36:00 - The journey into Opera
37:55 - The best voice ever - this is the one - my true love - Jessye Norman
41:30 - What does your voice mean to you?
42:20 - People pleasing and how life can send us turns in the road we weren’t expecting
43:55 - I’m so much better at saying No!
44:30 - We just want to give give give but we have to remember to keep ourselves healthy first
46:00 - Choice of song is so important, building rep based on what you relate to
49:25 - All about Joanna’s services
52:00 - Adapting and creating through adversity
Stay informed as we add new episodes by joining our email list at www.colchestervoiceacademy.com/podcast
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My guest this week is voice and piano teacher and choral director Sarah Burston, who I invited onto the podcast to ask about her journey into music and to discover more about the world of beautiful, traditional choral singing.  Sarah directs many young voice choral groups at the Royal College of Music (Junior Dept) and leads the choristers at Peterborough Cathedral as well as teaching in schools and having Assistant MD roles in several choral societies.  I have to confess, although I am not experienced singing it myself, I completely appreciate the beauty of this music and love listening to it, especially live in a church or cathedral.   The acoustics seem to allow the harmonics of the singers to do magic in the space and the feeling this arouses is peaceful and heavenly.
I enjoyed chatting with Sarah about her ideas for developing a special sight reading app for singers and about her research for her MA in Professional Practice in Vocal Pedagogy.   Watch this space as we will definitely be speaking with Sarah about this more in the future!  Links and notes below.  Happy Friday Peeps!
0:00 - 1.55 - Introduction about Sarah and welcome!
1:55 - How would you describe the journey with your voice?
3:00 - Appreciating the beautiful acoustics of cathedral and church choirs
4:20 - A swift last minute change of direction for Uni
6:00 - How Sarah started conducting choirs
7:00 - Scary time for Peri singing teachers when work stopped March 2020
8:45 - What inspired the development of your sight-singing teaching?
10:30 - The importance of sight-singing skills
12:50 - Is there anything you know now, you wish you had learned sooner?
13:30  - How much we can do with the voice
16:00 - Lifestyle choice and the dedication needed by choristers
and how Music allows us to express ourselves and connect with others
17:40 - Would you ever say ‘you can’t join the choir?’
18:45 - Isn’t it exhausting teaching groups of children?
20:20 - lightbulb moment, the upside of lockdown! Online learning!
21:00 - Has all this lockdown time 'not singing' locked down the kids' voices?
25:00 - Using my voice to share my passion!
27:00 - Snakes and Ladders style
29:00 - Whose voices inspire you? Goosebump music?
30:25 - Bring Us, O Lord God - William Harris - Beautiful Voices - click to listen
31:25 - The feeling is palpable!
32:00  - Group cohesion, sharing the love of music
35:50 - Most ‘Unexpected Song’?
36:40 - The Influential teacher who helped Sarah shift to her Music Degree
38:00 - We will keep you all posted about the app!
To contact Sarah, please visit her website.  
To keep informed about future episodes as they are released, join the Vocal Freedom podcast community list here.  
 

My guest this week is Singer, Entertainer and Reiki Master Ian Geast, who I have to share is one of my very favourite human beings.  Ian has been an entertainer for many decades.  He’s what I would call an all rounder because he can do his magic anywhere, clubs, bars, private parties, restaurants, festivals, corporate events etc and he communicates creatively in the swing/crooner style.   Ian loves his 50’s, 60’s, 70’s music, some country music and he performs a tribute to the music of Cliff Richard.  
Today we cover a variety of topics around voice, what it is to sing and entertain others and how we can enjoy being in the moment together.  Ian has a wonderful view of life and helping others see things from different perspectives to help nurture love and a positive mindset, so you too can believe you CAN achieve whatever you want to.   Raise your vibrations and you can change the outcome of your day.
 
0.00 - Intro
1.22 - Is this the start of a series of Ian episodes?
1.40 - Working one to one
2.12 - Learning from our mistakes
4.20 - Life is like a see-saw
4.40 - How we met and learning about Reiki
5.15 - Is being an entertainer a need to be loved?
6.00 - First taste for the stage and connecting with an audience
8.20 - The Ink-spots and other influences
11.00 - Ian about singing lessons
13.00 - Ian about his Reiki experience
16.25 - Ego can get in the way
16:55 - My kinesiology experience and Ian's view
20.30 - Sometimes we are not ready...
21.30 - You have to let go...
23.00 - Growing Resilience through 'bad' experiences
23.45 - How Ian met his wife at a gig
28.00  - The diary is starting to fill up again!
28.40 - What is Vocal Freedom to Ian and the T-Junction analogy
31.00 - Come back to yourself first
33.00 - Why concern ourselves with material things?
35.00 - Spinning lots of plates
37.25 - Having a positive mindset and not battling trying to swim upstream
39.20 - What does your voice mean to you? Ian’s nodules story
45.00 - The minute you’re gone song
47.20 - Leave your ego in the wings
49.40 - PERFORM the performance
52.00 - Fun stage story and ice breaker tips for nerves

My guest this week is Clinical Voice Disorder Expert, Speech and Language Therapist Sue Jones, who I am thrilled to connect with at a pivotal moment in her life as only last month, after enjoying a very fulfilling career, she has now fully retired after a whopping 38 years service at Wythenshawe Hospital.  Throughout her career, Sue has been instrumental in developing voice clinic services, as well as developing standards of competency at all professional levels - from student to expert practitioner.  She is used to leading teams of voice specialists who perform, interpret and teach laryngeal endoscopy - otherwise known as taking a good look inside people’s throats with specialist cameras and equipment, to assist with understanding and diagnosing a whole variety of speech, voice and swallowing disorders. 
Sue has lectured nationally and internationally and has been an integral cog in bridging the divide between the ENT, the SLT, the voice teacher and patient which has led to the gradual development of more multi-disciplinary voice clinics, suitable for voice professionals as well as others.
Times and Topics
0:00 -  Introduction and welcome
2:20 - Loving retirement so far and what’s next
3:35 - Reflecting back how much has changed
4:00 - The beginning of the journey
6:15 - More voice clinics and early laryngeal examinations
8:00 - Sue’s musical background
10:45 - How voice disorders can affect your emotions
12:20 - How habits can be damaging
13:20 - Managing the professional singer through voice recovery
15:45 - How things developed into the multi-disciplinary voice clinic
17:30 - What music do you love and connect with?
Carrie Underwood - Don't forget to remember me
ABBA - Waterloo
Ultravox - Vienna
Rhiannon Giddons with Francesco Turrisi - Met Live
19:00 - Sue on ‘not feeling your age’
19:30 - Occupational Hazard and Perceptual Studies
21:00 - What is most valuable thing in caring for your voice
23:00 - Favourite scoping tools and the importance of accurate interpretation
25:15 - A snap shot in time and another lightbulb moment
28:00 - Lightbulb moment concerning laryngeal movement, working with Kim Chandler
31:00 - Using Estill Voice Training as a Speech and Language Therapist
33:00 - the trap of disconnection through over thinking it
34:00 - DYT Choir
35:45 - Defying Gravity live link
36:00 - goosebump moments in the theatre
38:00 - Do you thing choir - youtube seasons of love and proud,  This is me from the greatest showman
40:00  - future plans - New edition of Sue’s Book is coming soon!! We will keep you all posted!