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The Singer’s Guide

Tessa Smith

This is the show for ambitious singers who want more than just scales and song practice.

We’ll talk about the things your regular lessons don’t always cover — like ways to practice without waking the neighbours, the best tools for finding the perfect backing track, and how to turn warming up from a chore into something you actually look forward to.

Because being a singer is about more than just your voice — it’s about confidence, preparation, and all the little skills that make performing effortless.

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  • 24 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 16 min
  • English

Episodes 24

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  • S1 · E3
    Sep 30, 2025 · 21 min

    10 tips for singers starting university

    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. ---- 🎤 Get the right backing track, in the right key, in less than 5 minutes with this free download: https://subscribepage.io/righttrackrightkey ---- 🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub: www.singerspracticehub.com 🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa: www.thesingersguide.com 🎵 Music by Tessa Smith 🎙 Hosted by Tessa Smith, creator of The Self-Validated Voice and The Singer's Practice Hub.

  • S1 · E2
    Sep 16, 2025 · 12 min

    Choosing the right key for your songs

    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. ---- 🎤 Get the right backing track, in the right key, in less than 5 minutes with this free download: https://subscribepage.io/righttrackrightkey ---- 🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub: www.singerspracticehub.com 🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa: www.thesingersguide.com 🎵 Music by Tessa Smith 🎙 Hosted by Tessa Smith, creator of The Self-Validated Voice and The Singer's Practice Hub.

  • S1 · E1
    Sep 2, 2025 · 11 min

    Let's start at the very beginning: warming up

    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. ---- 🤩 Tap here to learn more about the Singer's Practice Hub: www.singerspracticehub.com 🥳 Tap here to work with Tessa: www.thesingersguide.com 🎤 Get the right backing track, in the right key, in less than 5 minutes with this free download: https://subscribepage.io/righttrackrightkey 🎵 Music by Tessa Smith 🎙 Hosted by Tessa Smith, creator of The Self-Validated Voice and The Singer's Practice Hub.

  • Aug 23, 2025 · 55 sec

    The Singers Guide Podcast - Trailer

    '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.thesingersguide.com

Showing 21–24 of 24 episodes