The Singing for Health Network Podcast

Teaching Singing with Dyslexics

Deborah Aloba specialises in teaching singing and music to students with dyslexia and other neurodiverse issues. She tells us how she started doing this work, building up her practice through conversation. research and experimentation. Deborah explains different issues which can arise and her detailed practical strategies for how to deal with them, to support and make singing and music accessible. She is passionate, lively and a fountain of information on the subject.

Practitioner Research

Debbie Winter, Director of the Voice Study Centre, talks about the growing network of singing practitioners who undertake academic research to develop their practice. A must-listen for anyone currently engaged or considering working in singing for health practice.

Natural Voice singing

Singer, voice workshop leader and founder/president of the Natural Voice Network, Frankie Armstrong talks about her journey from social worker and amateur singer to professional performer and voice workshop leader in a career spanning nearly 50 years. Frankie's deep knowledge, compassion and passion shines through, as well as hearing exactly how she introduces singing by stealth to people who do not believe they can sing. 

’Feel Good’ Singing and Occupational Therapy

Lisa Strong is a singer, singing leader, researcher and occupational therapist. In this episode she talks to Ruth about joy and belonging in community choirs, including her own Walton Feel Good Choir; how to measure experience and impact for participants; and the need for a much better connection between health professionals - particularly occupational therapists and social prescribers - and singing groups.

Leading Inclusive Singing

In this final episode of our first series, Ruth Routledge talks to Stephen Deazley, founder and Director of Love Music, about his work as a leader of inclusive singing, balancing the needs of participants, promoting agency amongst singers, 'eye-level' leadership and the importance of challenge. From his 300-strong community choir to his work with Luminate, Scotland's dementia-inclusive network, Stephen's podcast gives a broad and inspiring insight into singing leadership.

Singing for Parkinson’s with Nicola Wydenbach and Rachel Hynes

In this episode Ruth talks with Nicola Wydenbach from Sing to Beat Parkinson's and opera singer and Singing for Health practitioner Rachel Hynes about their journeys from being classical performers into the world of singing for health, their practice and pedagogy with Singing for Parkinson's, the role of research in their work, as well as their go-to exercises for Singing for Parkinson's groups.

Singing and Lung Health with Adam Lewis

Dr Adam Lewis, physiotherapist researcher and Senior Lecturer at Brunel University London, has been at the heart of research trials into singing and lung health conditions. Adam discusses bias and the role of the researcher as "truth seeker", in order to establish what does and doesn't work effectively.

Introduction to the Singing for Health Network with Emily Foulkes and Baz Chapman

Capturing the growth of the Singing for Health movement in the UK and beyond, founder and director Emily Foulkes and Network Manager Baz Chapman describe how the Singing for Health Network came into being in early 2021, what the network aims to achieve and what's on offer.