Singing Tuition with Amy Bottriell-Nye

06/09/2026

If you’re having voice tuition, don’t be afraid to ask your teacher:
“Why are we doing this?”

Why this warm-up?�Why this particular exercise?�What are we trying to achieve?�What should I be feeling or listening for?�How does this relate to my singing?�Why do I need to practise it?�
After more than two decades of teaching singing, I believe that understanding why you’re doing something is just as important as being told what to do.
A vocal exercise shouldn’t be something you simply do because your teacher told you to. There should be a purpose behind it. Maybe we’re working on breath coordination, resonance, articulation, releasing unnecessary tension, or preparing the voice for a particular vocal quality.

Whatever the reason, you deserve to understand it. It doesn’t mean you’re disrespectful. And it certainly doesn’t mean you’re challenging your teacher’s authority. You’re learning.

You need space to explore, experiment, play and develop your voice and performance skills — including characterisation. That kind of play is an important part of learning.
In fact, I LOVE students who ask “why?”
Because my job isn’t to create a singer who can only produce a particular sound or performance when their teacher is standing in front of them saying exactly what to do.
The goal is to develop an informed, curious and increasingly independent performer who understands their own voice, can explore creatively, and can make good decisions about their performance. That’s vocal autonomy.

So keep asking questions.
Don’t just learn the exercise.�Learn the reason behind it.
And don’t be afraid to experiment, play and explore. Your voice belongs to you.
Ask why. Stay curious. Keep learning.

03/09/2026

It’s a great time to join our adult singing group! You don’t need to be a great singer as we can help develop your natural voice. We just want enthusiastic people to come and give it a go! 🎤

Book a trial here https://fusion-arts-academy.class4kids.co.uk (register as both the child and the parent!)

We are based locally at Osborne Stable Block - as part of Fusion Arts Academy.

Sessions are £10 payable half termly following your booked trial. 💙

03/09/2026

I am so incredibly proud of Jake, who has just passed their ABRSM Grade 5 Singing with a brilliant Distinction!

And if that wasn’t enough… what a summer they’ve had! Jake appeared in THREE musical theatre productions — Sister Act, Grease and Footloose — and absolutely threw themselves into every single one. Curtain Call Creative

But it was in Footloose that Jake really shone, taking on the lead role of Ren and giving an amazing performance. They were charismatic, compelling and completely owned that stage. It was such a joy to watch them flourish in the role.

Jake has worked so incredibly hard on their voice, and that hard work is really showing. Their progress has been huge, consistent and genuinely exciting to see - a Distinction at Grade 5, three productions in one summer, a leading role, and SO much growth as a singer and performer and now off to study Theatre for VIth form.

Jake, you should be incredibly proud of yourself. I certainly am! Here’s to everything that comes next — I have a feeling there’s a lot more to come.

01/09/2026

Looking forward to watching Simon Apsey and other friends in this little gem of a show 💙💛

The award-winning musical. A true story. One incredible night out in a stunning amphitheatre!

26/08/2026

25/08/2026

If you’re preparing for a musical theatre or classical audition, knowing how to prepare your cut is just as important as choosing the right song!

WHY?
Audition panels have limited time, so they may ask for a specific section of your song. A good cut allows you to show your voice, musicality, storytelling, character and technique without having to perform the whole piece.
If you are having an in-person audition, it also helps you and your accompanist collaborate quickly and confidently together, as long as the score is annotated accordingly.

WHAT?
Your cut should show you at your best and give the panel a clear idea of what you can do.
Not sure which section to choose? Ask your singing teacher or vocal coach. We can help you find a section that suits your voice and works well for the audition. You may also be asked for a specific length, such as 32 bars or around 1 minute, so always check the audition requirements carefully.

HOW?
🎼 Add the Details
If your cut starts mid-song, write the song title, show name, time signature and tempo at the top of the page.

🎼 Mark Your Start & End
Draw bold brackets or lines across the grand staff and clearly mark START and END/FINISH.

🎼 Highlight Important Cues
Use a bright highlighter to mark your starting point, final stopping bar line and any important tempo or key changes.

🎼 Cross Out Skips
Use a large, neat X or diagonal lines through bars you’re skipping. Keep it clear and easy for your accompanist to read.

🎼 Remove Extra Pages
Take out pages from your rep folder (or digitally remove them) that sit completely outside your cut — but keep them nearby, just in case!

Finally…
Try to keep in mind that your audition cut is a communication tool between you, your accompanist and the panel.
The clearer your music is, the less time you’ll spend worrying about logistics — and the more time you can spend showing your voice and your artistry.

17/08/2026

After 6 incredible days of learning an entire score, script and choreography, Curtain Call Creative ‘s amazing workshop kids are taking to the stage with FOOTLOOSE!
I can’t wait to sit back and watch my own students, alongside all of these incredibly talented young performers, absolutely own that stage. I’m so proud of the hard work, energy and enthusiasm they’ve all put into this show.

And today is extra special because my son is performing too — his very first Curtain Call show! Seeing him up there alongside so many of my students is going to be such a proud moment for me.

Go out there, enjoy every second and give it everything you’ve got. I’ll be watching from the audience with the biggest smile and an even bigger cheer!

So incredibly proud of you all. ❤️

16/08/2026

"We all have a soft-spot for the T-Birds – played both cool and silly in equal measure." Jake is bringing back the role of Doody this summer at Robin Hill, ready to serenade our audiences!

Join the T-Birds in the Woodland Amphitheatre for two exclusive performances NEXT WEEKEND!

🪩 Saturday 22nd August
🎤 Sunday 23rd August SING ALONG

🎟️ Tickets available now at curtaincallcreative.co.uk

16/08/2026

✈NOW BOARDING: Simon Apsey as Bob

We're delighted to welcome Simon Apsey aboard our Come From Away company.

Simon is playing Bob who is one of the passengers stranded in Gander, finding himself thousands of miles from home and navigating an experience he could never have expected.

🎟️ Book now: shorelineproductions.co.uk

📍 Robin Hill Amphitheatre
📅 3–6 September 2026

13/08/2026

Summer is upon us which means: shows, rehearsals, intensives, workshops & LOTS of singing! But your voice needs recovery too. Be proactive — don’t wait for your MD or Creative to remind you!

🎶 WARM UP GENTLY
Use easy SOVT exercises to begin: sirens, straw phonation & lip trills. Gradually build into your singing — don’t jump straight into big demands physically or vocally.

🌿 COOL DOWN
Don’t just stop! Again utilise SOVT’s - these can help your voice transition back to rest. Keep it easy — a cool-down shouldn’t become another workout. (Check out my previous post about this)

💧 HYDRATE
Keep drinking water regularly throughout the day rather than trying to catch up all at once. And remember there’s both systemic hydration (drinking enough fluids) and direct hydration methods such as steam or a nebuliser, which I feel are an ESSENTIAL part of your vocal care routine.

🤫 REST YOUR VOICE
Build in periods without singing — and ideally less talking too. Talking loudly over background noise can be surprisingly demanding!

👂 LISTEN TO YOUR VOICE
Tired, rough, strained or unusually effortful? Pay attention. More singing isn’t always the answer. Sometimes the most professional choice is to stop and rest.

Small, consistent habits matter. Do it for YOU. You will thank yourself later!