The Singer’s Guide – Details, episodes &amp; analysis

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Let's start at the very beginning: warming up

Season 1 · Episode 1

Tuesday, September 2, 2025 • Duration 11:26

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 warmup:

1. Physical and mental state

2. Limitations like time and space

3. Specific requirements based on upcoming performances

She introduces the Singer's Practice Hub, a community with diverse warmup options, and invites listeners to reflect on aspects of singing they wish they had learned earlier.

Join Tessa as she aims to transform warming up from a chore into a vital, engaging practice.

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🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub:

🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa:

🎤 Get the right backing track, in the right key, in less than 5 minutes with this free download:

🎵 Music by Tessa Smith

🎙 Hosted by Tessa Smith, creator of The Self-Validated Voice and The Singer's Practice Hub.

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Choosing the right key for your songs

Season 1 · Episode 2

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 • Duration 12:27

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 aspects like working with backing tracks or live musicians.

Tessa also offers a guide for transposing songs and practicing with backing tracks, encouraging singers to experiment to find the most comfortable and effective key for their voice.

The episode concludes with an invitation to listeners to share their singing challenges and wish-list topics for future podcast episodes.

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🎤 Get the right backing track, in the right key, in less than 5 minutes with this free download:

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🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub:

🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa:

🎵 Music by Tessa Smith

Cooling down your voice

Season 1 · Episode 4

Tuesday, October 14, 2025 • Duration 13:52

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 their effectiveness. She also offers practical tips for remembering to cool down, like setting reminders and using fixed cool down tracks. Tessa encourages listeners to consider incorporating cool downs into their routine to reduce vocal fatigue and speed up recovery. The episode concludes with an invitation for listeners to share what singing techniques they wish they had learned earlier in their careers. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:46 The Concept of Vocal Cool Downs 02:33 Benefits and Techniques of Vocal Cool Downs 04:58 Personal Experience with Vocal Cool Downs 07:30 Encouraging Vocal Cool Down Habits 11:09 The Singer's Practice Hub 12:07 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

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🎤 Get the right backing track, in the right key, in less than 5 minutes with this free download:

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🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub:

🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa:

🎵 Music by Tessa Smith

🎙 Hosted by Tessa Smith, creator of The Self-Validated Voice and The Singer's Practice Hub.

10 tips for singers starting university

Season 1 · Episode 3

Tuesday, September 30, 2025 • Duration 21:27

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 a plan and having warmed up 6. Don’t view peers as competition 7. Focus on feedback, not grades 8. Learn how to practice effectively and set goals, and learn about yourself 9. Utilise your tutors' expertise 10. Be mindful of the cost of education This episode provides invaluable advice for aspiring university singers to maximise their academic and musical experience. Additionally, Tessa invites listeners to share their thoughts and what they wish they had learned earlier, promising to incorporate these into future episodes.

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🎤 Get the right backing track, in the right key, in less than 5 minutes with this free download:

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🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub:

🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa:

🎵 Music by Tessa Smith

🎙 Hosted by Tessa Smith, creator of The Self-Validated Voice and The Singer's Practice Hub.

Practise your singing without disturbing the neighbours

Season 1 · Episode 5

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 • Duration 15:18

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 developing their skills even in environments where they must remain quiet. Tessa also encourages listeners to share what they wish they had learned earlier in their singing journey for a future podcast episode. 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:52 The Importance of Practice 02:38 Quiet Practice Toolkit Introduction 04:13 Tool 1: Lyrics-Based Practice 07:00 Tool 2: Listening and Self-Review 10:40 Tool 3: Lip-Syncing with Emotional Prompts 13:27 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

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🤫 THE QUIET PRACTICE TOOLKIT: 3 step-by-step exercises to improve your singing without making a sound https://subscribepage.io/quiet-practice-toolkit

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🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub:

🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa:

🎵 Music by Tessa Smith

🎙 Hosted by Tessa Smith, creator of The Self-Validated Voice and The Singer's Practice Hub.

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Singing when feeling unwell - how to navigate illness and fatigue

Season 1 · Episode 9

Tuesday, December 23, 2025 • Duration 13:21

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 02:10 Daily Vocal Care Tips 04:12 Handling Early Signs of Illness 06:34 Singing While Unwell 11:29 Final Thoughts and Listener Engagement

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🤫 THE QUIET PRACTICE TOOLKIT: 3 step-by-step exercises to improve your singing without making a sound https://subscribepage.io/quiet-practice-toolkit

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🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub:

🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa:

🎵 Music by Tessa Smith

🎙 Hosted by Tessa Smith, creator of The Self-Validated Voice and The Singer's Practice Hub.

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But I don't want to..! (How to increase motivation for singing practice)

Season 1 · Episode 8

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 • Duration 17:28

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 accountability, and using rewards as effective external motivators. Additionally, she discusses the benefits of novelty and curiosity in enhancing internal motivation. Tessa also highlights the value of documenting progress and incorporating varied practice activities, including enjoyable forms like singing in a choir or taking breaks. The episode underscores the significance of self-compassion and offers practical tools like the Singer's Practice Hub to help maintain motivation. 00:00 Introduction 01:10 Understanding Motivation 02:32 Types of Motivation: Internal vs External 04:41 External Motivators: Deadlines and Rewards 08:56 Boosting Internal Motivation 12:36 Alternative Practice Methods 15:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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🤫 THE QUIET PRACTICE TOOLKIT: 3 step-by-step exercises to improve your singing without making a sound https://subscribepage.io/quiet-practice-toolkit

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🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub:

🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa:

🎵 Music by Tessa Smith

🎙 Hosted by Tessa Smith, creator of The Self-Validated Voice and The Singer's Practice Hub.

Exploring the Singer's Practice Hub

Season 1 · Episode 7

Tuesday, November 25, 2025 • Duration 18:27

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 the multiple sections of the Hub, including Fundamentals, Warming Up, Mindset Shifts, Singing Snacks, Voiceless Options, Resources, Song Work, Song Studies, and Beyond Singing. Additionally, Tessa introduces the community aspect facilitated through Telegram, allowing for motivation, support, and accountability among members. Throughout the episode, listeners are encouraged to consider the multifaceted elements of singing practice, and Tessa reassures potential members that the Hub is well-organised to prevent overwhelming users. The Singer's Practice Hub is praised as a valuable tool for becoming a confident, independent singer. 00:00 Introduction to The Singer's Guide Podcast 01:46 The Birth of the Singer's Practice Hub 02:31 Research and Insights from Master's Degree Research 04:59 Creating a Practical Resource for Singers 06:25 Exploring the Singer's Practice Hub 06:56 Community and Support within the Hub 08:08 Fundamentals and Main Sections 09:36 Mindset Shifts and Singing Snacks 12:29 Voiceless Options and Additional Resources 14:22 Song Work and Beyond Singing 16:12 Conclusion and Invitation to Join

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🤫 THE QUIET PRACTICE TOOLKIT: 3 step-by-step exercises to improve your singing without making a sound https://subscribepage.io/quiet-practice-toolkit

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🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub:

🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa:

Should singers know music theory?

Season 1 · Episode 6

Tuesday, November 11, 2025 • Duration 07:43

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 personal experiences from her role in a close harmony trio and emphasises how music theory helps her with self-compassion and problem-solving.

Additionally, Tessa introduces her Singer's Practice Hub, which includes music theory elements to support singers' practice.

The episode concludes with Tessa inviting listeners to share what they wish they had learned earlier in their singing careers.

00:00 Welcome to The Singer's Guide Podcast 00:52 Should Singers Know Music Theory? 01:50 The Practical Benefits of Music Theory 02:55 Using Music Theory for Self-Compassion 05:50 The Singer's Practice Hub 06:35 Final Thoughts and Listener Questions

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🤫 THE QUIET PRACTICE TOOLKIT: 3 step-by-step exercises to improve your singing without making a sound https://subscribepage.io/quiet-practice-toolkit

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🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub:

🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa: