Hannah Castlemen- Professional Singer (UK)

Patience Scarles - Amateur Singer (New Zealand)

L. Ðào - Beginner Singer (UK)

Marey Burns - Semi Pro Singer (Germany)

Working with Zara on the VocalFlow programme has been a truly enriching experience.  I found the programme’s unique and holistic methodology to be thoroughly refreshing and effective. I have learned so much throughout the course of my 12 sessions, not just about singing and performing but also about myself and my emotional process. As someone who has struggled with confidence around singing in the past, I feel like I have rediscovered the joy and fun of it again.  The programme’s goal oriented approach was really helpful, enabling me to focus on specific techniques whilst working towards each session with intention and purpose. I have noticed a huge improvement in my vocal technique and gained a wide range of tools to continue developing my singing. I have finished the programme feeling more connected to myself and my voice. It has been a privilege to work together with a professional vocalist as talented and successful as Zara and I am very grateful for the generosity of her expert teaching, support and guidance provided throughout the programme.  For myself the programme has been a transformative experience, and whether you’re an experienced singer or someone who is looking to feel more connected and present with themselves, I couldn’t recommend Singtivate more! 

 Jessie Jayne (Los Angeles)

“The Space to Come hired Zara to run her Singtivate session as part of our leadership development programme, The Re-UP! which is for global majority cultural leaders. We imagined brilliance and the workshop delivered more offering the group a space to play, connect and explore their voice. The room was energised and joyful after the workshop, as one participant said 'just vibes'.

The Singtivate workshop is beautifully structured, taking you on a journey through posture, breath and sound and is expertly facilitated by her in a way that allowed people to feel comfortable to try something that was new to them. Highly, highly recommend.”

I had an incredible time at the Singtivate Experience! Zara is so knowledgeable and encouraging, creating a supportive environment that made learning fun. The techniques I learned have significantly improved my vocal skills, and the sense of community among participants was inspiring. It was an enriching experience that left me more confident in my singing abilities. Highly recommended!

“Zara was a most welcome special guest at our March Monday evening online forum for our third year songwriting BA students at ICMP. It's very special when such an esteemed professional is willing to show up and share so openly, honestly and helpfully about the many ups and downs inherent in forging a career in music today. The students came away clearly inspired, informed and, I'd say most importantly, empowered and encouraged.

Thank you, Zara. It really was a fabulous evening.”

“Zara has led a number of workshops and masterclasses for Tomorrow's Warriors and each one has been inspiring and grounding for our Warriors.

Zara gives her all when teaching and is personally invested in her students. She is an award-winning accomplished vocalist with a passion to share her wonderful wisdom and in-depth knowledge of music education with others. This is always with a smile.”

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Zara led our group in a really wonderful evening’s worth of confidence building singing and singing related exercises. From a starting position of very mixed appetite to singing in public, we ended the night in chorus together and sounding pretty damn good! Would highly recommend the Singtivate workshop and we received lots of positive feedback afterwards from our members. 

"We greatly enjoyed our singing session at the Fulham & Chelsea WI with Zara. She talked us through the "basics of singing", all the while giving us examples in her own beautiful voice and after a fun warm up we all joined in for a jazzy jam session. There was a part for all voices from high to low; those with strong vocals or more of the background "doo wop" kind (me :-). We all felt thoroughly uplifted and left with a smile on our face!" Christina, President, 

‘Overall an extremely enjoyable and engaging session. You didn’t need to be a good singer or have any prior experience to be able to fully participate, so it was very inclusive. Zara was brilliant, very personable and great fun. The room was buzzing. We would be more than happy to welcome her back. Thank you for a great session.’- Sue WI Committee

“Our WI had a wonderful time with Zara as she guided us through the first three steps of her vocal coaching method: stance, support and sound with her Singtivate Session. It was a joyous evening which left us feeling uplifted and empowered. Her passion for her work was clear to see and carried through to the group. The short song she taught us has inspired a few of us to consider forming a choir. Thank you Zara for joining the East Edge Sisters WI for a night. It was a memorable meeting for our members.” - Bethan O'Reilly (Committee Leader)

Korantema - Developing Singer (UK)

I have met several singing teachers over the years. Some encouraging and insightful – others – not so much… And then there was Zara!

I was not in the best place when I attended a taster workshop she ran at Morley College. I had some health issues; had recently quit my career as a teacher and had stopped singing.

To call it an identity crisis was too strong, but I felt I had lost something. I knew from that group workshop that Zara was a person with whom I would feel safe tiptoeing back to singing. I signed up for SelfFlow Programme– the beginner level course.

Zara’s approach to teaching is structured and goal oriented. However, she also manages to be supremely empathetic and inspirational. Gradually over the weeks through a combination of reassurance and manageable, graduated vocal challenges that she set me, I gingerly crept out of my singing comfort zone - before scuttling back again! I would re-emerge, a little further, to try something new in the following class.

With the patience - that I recognise as the hallmark mark of a true teacher, coach and mentor - she got me singing again! She helped me to take the lessons from my singing journey into everyday life. I began to smile, relax and have fun with my singing again.

It is rare, in my experience for someone, who is themselves such a consummate performer, to be so nurturing and effective a teacher. Zara is that singing teacher and that performer. I think the next step for me will be to try to channel some of that performance vibe and brave a jamming session! If and when I do, Zara is the person I will want to guide me through.

I would recommend anyone- at whatever level – to explore the coaching and workshops she offers as well of course as her own amazing performances! This course has been more important and beneficial to me than I could ever have guessed and probably than Zara will ever know.

The VocalFlow Programme at Singtivate with Zara reactivated my love to sing. The holistic approach that shapes the VocalFlow Programme gave me confidence in all aspects of my life, and especially as a performer. I started the programme wanting to build enough confidence to sing in front of a crowd, and to have more faith in my technical skills as a singer. I found that much of our sessions involved learning to trust my intuition and to be disciplined in my creativity as a result. These sessions allowed me to use singing, which has always been so embedded in my life as a soothing and enriching practice, as a form of self-actualisation.

I was fortunate enough to be offered the opportunity to sing with Tomorrow’s Warriors at the Southbank Centre for their Simmerdown daytime performances after having completed the programme, and was struck by how alive and grounded I felt on stage working with a jazz band and spreading joy to an audience. These are opportunities and skills that I simply did not have access to before my time with Zara.

Zara asked me what I was trying to communicate in our repertoire of songs emotionally. I learned how to bring tonality and vitality to vowel sounds to express the feelings I wanted to evoke. I learned how not to strain my voice and be patient in my exploration. I learned to keep going and believe in my ability to save a phrase even when it got away from me — immensely valuable instruction for live performance and working with other musicians.

People in my life noticed a difference in my confidence in my abilities. I reflected on my strengths and qualities that I wanted support with, and feel like I now have singing in my toolkit not just as something that benefits others to listen to and enjoy, but also for myself and my own personal development. Our sessions laid the groundwork for how I connect with myself and people around me — for example, how I was able to feel more competent at work and at home.

We started with breathwork and nervous system regulation in our warm-ups and this helped immensely with managing my anxiety in my daily life.

I had the option to record a demo in a studio and attend a jam session with Zara at the sessions. To me this really made this programme very unique. I truly feel changed after having done it, and have skills that are now lifelong.

Zara I must congratulate you on your excellent session which I and my fellow attendees enjoyed. We covered much in the 2 hours which delivered the adage that 'time flies when you are having fun'. 

I have to say that I was surprised at how much I took away from the session and the effective changes to myself and people around me. 

I feel more energised and find my posture is more upright after your covering this. 

I have found people greeting me in a brighter way that invites conversation rather than a simple hello.

I have made dramatic changes to my hair style exposing myself with a very short style after years of almost hiding behind my shoulder length hair. I find it both liberating and totally out of my comfort zone and have been surprised by the many compliments from both men and women which I was not expecting. 

It has also given me the mindset to 'do it  now' and not procrastinate. I've thought about a holiday break for some time, whilst speaking about it with a friend I just went ahead and booked it there and then. She was amazed that wasn't messing about. I now have a nice break to look forward to, rather than it still being a thought that may not happen as I'm always too busy. 

Singing is fun and not something I do outside my bathroom. Who knew it can help deliver the above positive changes in my life after a couple of hours. Doing the full courses would bring huge benefits in so many ways. 

Zara your programme will build on this and enhance personal goals in a fun and greatly beneficial way. Thank you for this excellent self development programme which offers a great opportunity to invest in your personal wellbeing and other skills especially finding your voice.  - Annette