EPISODE · Feb 13, 2026 · 58 MIN
#15 Musical Theatre Mastery and Mindset with Rebecca Southard
from Curious Vocalists · host Grace Hancock Music
Need help navigating the technical and nerve-wracking world of Musical Theatre singing? In this episode, powerhouse vocalist, Rebecca Southard who won 2nd place in her vocal category in the New York IMTA contest 2023, talks about the vast landscape of the Musical Theatre sound—from the bell-like clarity of Julie Andrews to the more modern emotive belt. They clear up the distinction between twang and nasality, give practical exercises for vocal stamina, strengthening your head voice and ways to combat tension for optimal vocal performance. Rebecca gives tips on how to approach those dreaded auditions and reminds us that singing in character requires a surrendering to the role and a trade-in of anxiety for overt self-belief. It’s an invitation to stop competing and start trusting, ensuring your craft is driven by a love for the music rather than the weight of comparison. Takeaways There are a variety of vocal styles to explore within Musical Theatre The Legit musical theatre sound is the classic, bell-like quality like Julie Andrews Twang and nasality are two different things Belting is a style, not a register Vocal stamina starts with a mindset shift Balancing head and chest voice can lead to natural development of mix voice Singing in character requires an element of self trust and surrender to the character Audition anxiety can be combatted with overt self-belief Singers should assess what drives them - the love of it or the culture of competition and comparison Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Rebecca Southard 04:07 The Legit Musical Theatre Sound 08:57 The Belt Box for Muffling Loud Rehearsals 11:01 The Difference Between Twang and Nasal 13:47 Vocal Longevity For Regular Belting 18:16 The Importance of Strengthening the Head Voice 20:29 The Art of The Mix Voice 22:54 Character Development in Musical Theatre 26:20 Override Nerves With Belief 29:28 What Do You Do Onstage When NOT Singing?? 36:11 Relieving Tongue Tension for Optimal Singing 41:36 The Importance of Self-Observation in Performance 47:44 Tips for Music Theatre Auditions 50:25 Finding Joy and Perspective in Performance 53:25 Where To Hear Rebecca's Work 54:53 QuickFire Round 57:14 Outro Rebecca’s Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rjsouthard/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SecondNature-s7o8c Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7G1JAoODQoiPyoB5kFEbT8?si=uwzybX9MS7G2I6KxSEdWhw Website: https://www.rebeccasouthard.co.uk/ Mentions: Belt Box: https://beltyafaceoff.com/ Curious Vocalists episode on vocal tone including mentions of difference between nasal and twang: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-b58qn-1a18f99 About the Host Grace is a seasoned singer-pianist, vocal coach and composer. Over the past decade she has dedicated her life to music and creativity, performing aboard luxury cruise ships across the world and composing for theatre and short films. Her original compositions have been recognised by festivals such as the Paris Film Awards and Only the Best International Film Awards. She strives now to determine how to cultivate authentic expression in music and the importance of it for mental health and human connection. Contact Method [email protected] www.gracehancockmusic.com Instagram: @gracehancockmusic Facebook: @gracehancockmusician #musicaltheatre #vocaltechniques #singing #characterdevelopment #auditions #performanceanxiety #belting #headvoice #chestvoice #twang #nasality
What this episode covers
Need help navigating the technical and nerve-wracking world of Musical Theatre singing? In this episode, powerhouse vocalist, Rebecca Southard who won 2nd place in her vocal category in the New York IMTA contest 2023, talks about the vast landscape of the Musical Theatre sound—from the bell-like clarity of Julie Andrews to the more modern emotive belt. They clear up the distinction between twang and nasality, give practical exercises for vocal stamina, strengthening your head voice and ways to combat tension for optimal vocal performance. Rebecca gives tips on how to approach those dreaded auditions and reminds us that singing in character requires a surrendering to the role and a trade-in of anxiety for overt self-belief. It’s an invitation to stop competing and start trusting, ensuring your craft is driven by a love for the music rather than the weight of comparison. Takeaways There are a variety of vocal styles to explore within Musical Theatre The Legit musical theatre sound is the classic, bell-like quality like Julie Andrews Twang and nasality are two different things Belting is a style, not a register Vocal stamina starts with a mindset shift Balancing head and chest voice can lead to natural development of mix voice Singing in character requires an element of self trust and surrender to the character Audition anxiety can be combatted with overt self-belief Singers should assess what drives them - the love of it or the culture of competition and comparison Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Rebecca Southard 04:07 The Legit Musical Theatre Sound 08:57 The Belt Box for Muffling Loud Rehearsals 11:01 The Difference Between Twang and Nasal 13:47 Vocal Longevity For Regular Belting 18:16 The Importance of Strengthening the Head Voice 20:29 The Art of The Mix Voice 22:54 Character Development in Musical Theatre 26:20 Override Nerves With Belief 29:28 What Do You Do Onstage When NOT Singing?? 36:11 Relieving Tongue Tension for Optimal Singing 41:36 The Importance of Self-Observation in Performance 47:44 Tips for Music Theatre Auditions 50:25 Finding Joy and Perspective in Performance 53:25 Where To Hear Rebecca's Work 54:53 QuickFire Round 57:14 Outro Rebecca’s Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rjsouthard/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SecondNature-s7o8c Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7G1JAoODQoiPyoB5kFEbT8?si=uwzybX9MS7G2I6KxSEdWhw Website: https://www.rebeccasouthard.co.uk/ Mentions: Belt Box: https://beltyafaceoff.com/ Curious Vocalists episode on vocal tone including mentions of difference between nasal and twang: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-b58qn-1a18f99 About the Host Grace is a seasoned singer-pianist, vocal coach and composer. Over the past decade she has dedicated her life to music and creativity, performing aboard luxury cruise ships across the world and composing for theatre and short films. Her original compositions have been recognised by festivals such as the Paris Film Awards and Only the Best International Film Awards. She strives now to determine how to cultivate authentic expression in music and the importance of it for mental health and human connection. Contact Method [email protected] www.gracehancockmusic.com Instagram: @gracehancockmusic Facebook: @gracehancockmusician #musicaltheatre #vocaltechniques #singing #characterdevelopment #auditions #performanceanxiety #belting #headvoice #chestvoice #twang #nasality
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#15 Musical Theatre Mastery and Mindset with Rebecca Southard
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