developed by Alexander Massey MA PGCE MSc (formerly Oxford Singing Lessons)
- Professional singer
- Writer and contributor on voice, teaching & learning (including the British Voice Association [BVA], Natural Voice Network [NVN], Association of Teachers of Singing [AOTOS], and Acoustic Vocal Pedagogy Group)
- Retired singing teacher and voice coach after 40 years – i.e. no longer teaching or taking on students
- learn more about Alexander …
Welcome to my website!
There are lots of blog articles, resources and videos to help you improve your singing. In my 40 years of teaching, students have included professional singers from British opera houses, music theatre & West End, pop, jazz and folk, BBC Singers, Stile Antico, cantors, cathedral lay clerks, choristers, and teachers of singing at music conservatoires.
April 2022 – Please note, I have retired from singing teaching and do not take on students any more. I might be redeveloping this website to continue to share ideas about singing, and how to teach and learn it.
NB Please don’t ask me for names of singing teachers that I could recommend. I get too many of those enquiries. Thanks.
Four Core Areas (brief summary)
These are principle areas that I have worked on for many years. you will find ideas on all of these on the blog pages.
1. Vocal Technique
Developing solid vocal technique, based on good voice science, is the foundation of all our work. We learn first to understand and master our instrument, how to apply the knowledge to songs, how to diagnose and fix your vocal problems, and how to look after our voice.
2. Interpretation & Expression
With solid vocal technique, our voices become flexible, reliable, and responsive. Then we can start on interpretation, and finding true freedom of expression. We work on songs, repertoire, and the artistic questions of how to convey emotion, meaning, story and character as a singer.
3. Performance Skills
Solid vocal technique, and being able to express ourselves freely in song, builds ever greater confidence, and prepares us for the next phase: adding the specific skills needed for performance. We learn how to prepare, to handle nerves, to connect with an audience, to thrive in the performance space, and become stronger and more skilful from all our performance experiences (good and bad).
4. Learning & Psychology
Vocal technique, interpretation, and performance all benefit from a systematic approach that includes a deep understanding of successful learning methods, and the part played by mind and emotions in growing skill and confidence, and communicating successfully with an audience. As a singer and learner, each of us is unique. So while the core principles of vocal technique, interpretation and performance remain the same, the teaching methods must vary according to our personality, learning style, goals, strengths and needs.
For more detail on all of these, go to the Four Core Areas page.