Teaching and performing go hand in hand, says Leighton star Joe Ashman

Leighton Buzzard star musical Joe Ashman

Talented young star Joe Ashman is sharing his professional experience in musicals and panto with a new generation of aspiring young singers and actors.

The former Edlesborough School student – who lives in central Leighton Buzzard – has started giving singing lessons, drawing on his own training and background but with a fun element too.

Joe, 22, who played Aladdin in last year’s pantomime at Dunstable’s Grove Theatre, explains: “It’s important that we’re not just doing scales for 30 minutes.

“I always want to hear what sort of music they like, what their favourite Disney movie is etc, then I can teach them technique in the songs they will enjoy, without it getting boring.”

Joe recalls the classes he went to as a child: “They were very poor and I was just another kid – I’m sure the teacher did the same lesson with everyone.

“But it taught me to do the opposite with my students. Teaching and performing go hand-in-hand and in this industry you never stop learning.”

Some of Joe’s pupils are keen to follow a career in performing arts while others sing purely for pleasure.

“I’d never push someone into showbusiness,” he says. “But I’m always happy to nurture someone who expresses an interest.”

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