Thinking about taking your teaching to the next level, diving deeper into your specialist interests, or even writing a degree of your own? In this episode of Singing Teachers Talk, Alexa is joined by educator, performer, and MA creator Kaya Herstad-Carney, who pulls back the curtain on what a master’s degree in the performing arts really offers. From choosing the right pathway and understanding learning outcomes to balancing study with real life, Kaya shares how her own master’s shaped her career, the unexpected opportunities it opened, and what she’s learned from writing not one but two MA programmes. Whether you’re a singing teacher, performer, or creative professional considering postgraduate study, this conversation is packed with insight, encouragement, and the honest realities behind levelling up your education.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

2:27 Why did Kaya do a masters degree?

5:37 What is the advantage of studying for an MA?

10:10 How to choose an MA course

19:19 Juggling a part time MA

21:46 What If I’m not very academic?

26:11 Writing an MA degree

34:22 Marking degree assessments

39:07 Common errors in MA submissions

41:13 Making your MA decision

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

WaterBear The College of Music

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Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.226 The Rise of AI: Practical Tools and Strategies for the Singing Teacher with Rachael Drury

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.56 Taking the Academic Route with Debbie Winter

Voice Study Centre

Arts Council

ABOUT THE GUEST

Kaya Herstad-Carney is a higher education leader, vocal pedagogue, and award-winning creative artist. From September 2025 she becomes Head of Education (Online) at WaterBear College of Music, overseeing MA and BA programmes in songwriting, performance, and music education. A specialist in student-centred learning and vocal habilitation within CCM, she holds an MA from LIPA/Hope and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Kaya has taught across leading institutions including ACM, LIPA, University of Liverpool, and BAST Training, and serves on the Advisory Board for Vocology in Practice. Her research interests span performance anxiety, singing for wellbeing, voice science, and sustainable creative careers. Alongside academia, she is an award-winning singer-songwriter whose work has appeared on stage, TV, and film, performing internationally and alongside ar

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