Working in the Music Industry with Fiona McDougal

Not many vocal coaches get to have a studio in The London Palladium or help Oscar-winning actors like Javier Bardem discover their singing voice — but then, most vocal coaches aren’t Fiona McDougal.

A singing teacher since the age of 18, Fiona now oversees vocals globally for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production company, the Really Useful Group. When she’s not coaching the stars of Broadway and the West End, you can find her on movie sets working with global superstars like Taylor Swift or in TV studios helping the next generation of X Factor hopefuls wow the judges.

But while getting celebrities to access their full potential is exciting, this work also comes with its share of challenges. From managing demanding schedules to advocating for a singer’s vocal health, Fiona finds building a successful career in the music industry requires as much diplomacy as excellent teaching techniques.

Join Fiona as she shares her experiences with Tom and Heather — letting them (and you) know whatreallyhappens behind the scenes of your favorite movies, musicals, and television shows. Think you’d like to break into this industry? You’re about to learn what it takes to be a vocal coach for the stars.   

In this episode, we’ll discover:

1. (7:35) How natural curiosity and a willingness to teach everyone helped Fiona become a vocal coach in her teens.
2. (10:17) How a job singing backing vocals for Jesus Christ Superstar led her to a career in the music industry.
3. (11:28) The challenges of working in television
4. (14:00) Why vocal coaches often become “vocal arrangers” when working on a TV show like The X Factor.
5. (17:31) The types of networks that exist in theater and television, and how to build relationships in each industry.
6. (19:28) The advantages of coaching performers in film vs. coaching them in television
7. (20:35) How much time you have to coach actors in different types of theater productions  
8. (22:51) How to go about advocating for a singer’s vocal health when asked to “fix” their voice  
9. (27:20) The issues of working with a celebrity unaccustomed to performing in a live theater environment.
10. (33:19) Important advice for singers and vocal coaches interested in working in the music industry
11. (35:35) The role of diplomacy when working with a production team
12. (37:44) When working out scheduling and technical issues is more challenging than working with the performer.
13. (44:30) The challenge of juggling a music industry career with motherhood

You can hear Fiona’s work in major motion pictures like “A Complete Unknown” (2024), “Wonka” (2023), and “Being the Ricardos” (2021). Follow her career onInstagram and get in touch with her through herwebsite.

Want to learn more about the music industry and other exciting opportunities in the voice teaching industry? Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to ourYouTube channel to hear from all our guests! 

Do you know of a teacher, performer, or researcher you think would make a great guest on our show? We’d love to hear about them! Email us at[email protected] and let us know!

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