Becky Gilhespie returns to the Singing Teachers Talk podcast to help us overcome our self-consciousness in singing. Becky is an experienced vocal coach working with touring artists, actors, and singers of all levels, having run studios in London and Sydney, and teaching at the Academy of Contemporary Music. Becky is the author of Singing for the Self-Conscious, which we’ll be diving into headfirst in this episode.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Becky Gilhespie recommends several strategies for overcoming self-consciousness in singing: have fun and enjoy the process, sing more throughout the day, journal to address negative self-talk, meditate and focus on breathing, make strange noises and faces to normalise them, video yourself to become comfortable with your appearance, sing for a trusted friend, sing outside to reduce pressure, develop solid vocal technique, express emotions through singing, and use permission slips from her book to take risks.
- Becky’s book, Singing for the Self-Conscious, is a 30-day program designed to help singers overcome self-consciousness, boost confidence, and improve performance. It covers three sections: sense of self, evolving craft, and focusing outward, offering practical advice, exercises, and reflective tasks. Written in an accessible style, the book emphasises technique, personal style, and positive self-awareness, using Gillespie’s experiences to relate to readers and guide them towards growth and increased self-confidence.
- Singing for the Self-Conscious features a 30-day program divided into three sections: Sense of Self, which focuses on personal growth, self-awareness, and confidence; Evolving Craft, which emphasises technique, style, and continuous improvement; and Focusing Outward, which encourages external connections, engaging with the audience, and authentic performance. Each section aims to reduce self-consciousness and boost singing confidence.
BEST MOMENTS
“It’s a book aimed at the singer who finds themselves reeling with self-consciousness, avoiding singing, holding back in their performances, and generally just lacking some self-confidence”
“I’ve come on leaps and bounds and it feels so good. And it feels so good to help other singers with it too”
“Self-consciousness is a heightened sense of self-awareness that can verge towards the negative”
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Booking Link: beckygilhespievocalcoach.as.me
Social Media:
- Instagram: @beckygilhespievocals
Relevant Links & Mentions:
- (Book) Singing for the Self-Conscious by Becky Gilhespie
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.27 The Singing Masterchef with Becky Gilhespie
- Vocology in Practice
- (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.154 Managing Imposter Syndrome, Low Confidence and Overwhelm as Singing Teachers with Alexa Terry
- The work of Dr Valerie Young
- Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM): acm.ac.uk
- Line Hilton: linehilton.com
- The Sing Space: thesingspace.com
ABOUT THE GUEST
Becky is an experienced vocal coach working with touring artists, actors, and singers of all levels. Her experience includes running busy studios in London and Sydney, and teaching at the UK’s Academy of Contemporary Music. She always felt that despite receiving some of the best vocal training available, the biggest hurdle was her crippling sense of self-consciousness.
Becky’s book, ‘Singing for the Self-Conscious’, is an easy to follow practical step programme that combines study of mindset with practices in contemporary vocal training. The book helps singers overcome their mental hurdles to confident singing and performing.
