Testimonials

From David’s recent clients and students

David McLeod’s presentation to our students was amazing on many levels. He is such a personable presenter, so the students were engaged and able to focus. The content is very interesting, informative and the hands-on approach enabled them to experience the outcomes almost immediately, seeing benefits from the outset. David’s manner and production make for a very worthwhile experience for students and staff combined. Highly recommend.

Lucy Bermingham
Head of Music, The McDonald College

We are delighted to have David on our team as NurseWatch Healthcare's social ambassador. Social activities play an important role in improving health outcomes for older persons, and David's company, Big Breath Productions, provides skills and services that fit perfectly into NurseWatch’s needs. David is talented, highly qualified, multi-skilled and, above all else, caring. Clients enjoy his energy and appreciate his understanding and knowledge, and staff grow professionally watching his interactions.

Kate Alexander

Founder and Director, NurseWatch

Huge thank you to Big Breath Productions for leading an incredibly captivating workshop on breathing and performance anxiety. A truly enriching session that enabled the students to walk away with practical knowledge and techniques to deal with anxiety and boost well-being. 

Peter Cousins
Artistic Director, Talent Development Project

&

Anne Fitzgerald
CEO, Talent Development Project

David is a generous and engaging educator.  I have found the techniques David taught to be very helpful personally and in my work as a counsellor.  I work with many clients who have experienced significant trauma and the breathing techniques I have learned from David have been invaluable and empowering for many clients.

Teresa Mars
Counsellor, PACFA Reg. Clinical 24530

David is a knowledgeable, grounding and engaging presenter! He took the time before meeting my team to understand our learning needs and perspectives and presented an entertaining 5-hour workshop that was the perfect mix of theory and practical application. Many of my team sent me private messages afterwards to express their gratitude for the experience.

Kate Broderick
Director, Speech Pathologist & Occupational Therapist, Spot Therapy Hub 

David's workshop on breathing was truly insightful and incredibly implementable. Often when attending educational and professional development workshops, I learn new concepts but not always 'how' to implement them into the realities of daily life - not this one. David's workshop combines theory, scientific concepts and implementable strategies that allow for the knowledge to not only be learned, but to be integrated into the body through practical exercises and strategies. Highly recommended and grateful for the experience.

Dr. Veronica Stewart
Director & Lead Voice Trainer, Sydney Voice Studio

David has for many years made important contributions to learning and teaching at the Australian Institute of Music. His work on breathing and dealing with anxiety has helped to transform the lives of countless students. David has a deep understanding of these areas gained over decades of working in the arts and more formally in his Master of Music and his training as a Buteyko Breathing instructor. We are grateful that he’s proactively shared his wisdom with his vocal students, with the wider student body in lunchtime workshops, and integrated key learnings and practical tools into the curriculum.

Dr Gary Holgate
Head of Learning and Teaching, Australian Institute of Music

David is an unbelievable vocal coach with the magic to take anyone with performance anxiety and turn them into a confident performer in no time. He truly has a magic touch with his students. Recently David worked with our Blue Guitar students who were frightened to go on stage and the manner in which he helped them get through their anxiety was so useful and powerful that the students went back to school and tried to teach their peers what they had learnt. Not to mention they knocked their stage performance out of the park. We are very proud to recommend David as a top-notch vocal coach. 

Recently David gave his time to a group of year 11 and 12 students that were struggling with self-esteem and anxiety issues. His confidence building exercises incorporating participation in music along with breathing and cognitive techniques were delivered in a fun and upbeat way. David had the students engaged and focused.

Roxy Lee
Founder and CEO Blue Guitar Project

Just want to thank you for your advice and coaching with breathing for singers. The mouth taping guidance was really beneficial, and it helps my husband and I with our breathing, blood pressure and his sleep apnea. Whenever we wake up in the morning, we feel more relaxed and calmer. Again, thank you.

Annabelle Borjia 
Graduate Certificate Student, Australian Institute of Music
Proprietor E, Talent Musikacademy

You were truly my rock throughout the four years I was at AIM. Thank you for your wisdom, your guidance and your understanding. I truly mean it when I say I could not have done this without you.

Ben Lueck
Bachelor of Music Graduate, Australian Institute of Music

David McLeod is an experienced and extremely passionate educator and performer. I have watched first-hand the beautifully caring nature that he has towards his students, creating an atmosphere of calm and positive energy. He is superb at guiding his students in overcoming performance anxieties, confidence and negative self-talk issues through his teachings. The workshops are a carefully crafted balance of information, practical techniques, visual artwork, sound, breathing exercises, and meditation – ensuring an all-encompassing experience.

Jason de Wilde
Music Producer, Sound Engineer, Academic Lecturer

I can highly advocate David’s work. David knows his physiology, there is no guesswork. So carefully tailored are his sessions and practice. Worth the leap!

Lauren Neko
Academic Lecturer, DJ, Owner Director Glossy Entertainment

As an international student pursuing a master’s degree in music in Sydney, I was initially exposed to a lot of challenges and sources of stress. The performance and social anxiety that I had been coping with since childhood reappeared because of the big shift out of my comfort zone. The simple yet surprisingly effective methods we learnt in David’s Workshops not only began to improve my mental well-being but were also so easily accessible – Creating a routine has not only come in handy with regard to managing my performance anxiety and vocal health but has significantly improved my mental health and time management.

Shally Pais
International Postgraduate Student, AIM

Thanks for the presentation! I appreciate your passion and all the practical elements you took us through today. Definitely gave me a lot more things to consider about breathing and helped pull together some of my previous knowledge in the area. I have been thinking about using more in my therapy and have been very motivated by your workshop.

Reuben Seah
Senior Occupational Therapist, Spot Therapy Hub

The exercises David gave me to help reduce my reflux & strengthen my diaphragm aligned perfectly with what my doctor in Mexico was asking me to do. David knows his physiology & I felt lucky to have a vocal coach that was also a certified Buteyko practitioner. We also worked with pronunciation & diction which improved my English delivery immensely. Thank you, David, for your care and knowledge.

Paulina Pinete Quintero
International Undergraduate Student, AIM

David’s breathing techniques helped my shallow breathing that I usually live with. It allowed me to avoid going to hospital: when the paramedics were testing me to take me in, I told them I knew how to fix my blood oxygen levels, and they asked me to show them. With the David’s techniques, I raised my oxygen levels from 90 to 96 in just a few breaths. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, David, for improving my sitting breath and keeping me out of hospital.

Elizabeth King
Owner/Proprietor Head Hunters Hair Designs, Bondi Junction

I have known David for many years through teaching at The Australian Institute of Music and found the way David teaches is very thorough and clear. He is also very caring to the students,
whether it's at AIM or at workshops in other places.When I was struggling with my own issues, I asked David for help in doing breathing and mindfulness exercises. He explained them in such a way that made it so much more sense than any other source I've read or talked to previously. I highly recommend David's workshop

Wendy Anggerani
Piano and keyboards - Guy Sebastian, Petula Clarke, Ross Wilson

It was privilege to have David McLeod as our Guest Speaker for Stress and Anxiety. He gave the children wonderful tips and exercises in regard to their needs. David's knowledge in this field is absolutely amazing, not only in a practical point of view, but through a guaranteed scientific perspective. Now before each session, the Youth Group Leaders get the children to do diaphragmatic breathing exercises and this technique has benefited them greatly in school situations and other activities.

Stephanie Boccanfuso
Regina Coeli Youth Group Leader

Running a busy retail store and managing a family has always been rewarding and demanding. Facing the challenge of 2020’s bushfires followed by Covid-19 made me face levels of anxiety and stress that I’ve not previously experienced. After several one on one sessions with David online I was shown Buteyko and other breathing methods that were a total game changer for me. Experiencing first hand results and understanding the science that underpins the exercises have enabled me to diminish my anxiety, restore my sleep patterns and wake up with more energy and optimism to face the day.

Julie Walker
Owner/Proprietor “Bonza Beads”

The breathing is powerful in its calm, I have observed a big impact on the power my daughter has found for herself.I find it a subtle every day space to observe........it wipes out the white noise of life. Special thank you!

Anne Garret

Actually, my energy levels have improved so much, that I think on this hot day I achieved so much and all with a state of calm. When we began to understand the drill, it was such a rush of connection. Getting further into the drill, it was like lightbulbs found a second life and many emotions were sorted into their rightful place. So, from the bottom of my heart, this ex-zombie and very patient mother wish to thank you for allowing us to join you on your Buteyko Breathing journey

Caris Garrett 

David McLeod is leading the way with his Performance Anxiety workshops. Students found David approachable and open to discussing a variety of areas related to Performance Anxiety. Not only is he an utmost professional and talent within his field, he is also a nurturing and caring educator who is dedicated to assisting performers, young and old, develop strategies to overcome their anxieties and strive for excellence

Natalia Belovukovic
Principal - AIM Senior Secondary College

In the 2nd Trimester of my music degree, I developed on-set vocal nodules and had to learn piano, a new instrument from scratch to continue my creative and career aspirations. For the first time in my life, performing and learning music made me nervous, anxious and it all became less enjoyable.

David, out of his own goodwill, reached out to me and demonstrated Buteyko breathing techniques, which acted as the first step to reducing my stage anxiety and a rehabilitation method for my initial injury. After being regularly taken through a program of Buteyko exercises my asthma was also greatly reduced and my concentration and ability to focus improved. I now sleep much better and wake with more energy.

David’s teaching and personality exude the same passion as his art and his music. His holistic approach and genuine care of students is something I will always be grateful for.

Jason Wu
Australian Institute of Music Graduate

I had the pleasure of participating in one of David’s performance anxiety workshops last month. I found it greatly insightful and enjoyable, particularly the breathing techniques. I’ve already begun to adopt them into my work preparation routine and have found them to make a difference in lowering my performance anxiety. David is a wonderful and passionate teacher with huge experience in this area. I would recommend this workshop to anyone who has a performance element in their work - whether that be performing on stage or giving a presentation. Thank you David. 

Ruby Chew
Artist, facilitator and DJ 

Thank you again for an incredible session. Watching you work was very inspiring. I know Cianna and Kaitlyn took so much from it. Afterwards they were simply buzzing!

Asuka
Blue Guitar Project

Praise for The Wolf Suite

David McLeod’s "Wolf Suite” is both masterful and evocative. Using David’s array of skills as musician, artist, breath coach and educator, this magical piece will touch hearts and change lives.

Mim Beim  
Naturopath and Breath coach

Just wanted to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed the “Wolf Suite” on my drives (and in the car before gigs for the guided exercise). It's a beautiful body of work and concept, a beautiful story so well told. I adore the compositions behind the spoken word and especially love the instrumental disc 2. My favourite track “Journey”, is so peaceful and magical!

Bronte O’Neil
Music Educator, composer and recording Artist [Maari]

A valuable resource for these tough times. The narrated breathing exercise is great, the explanation you give is clear and easy to follow and I love how you back it up with some science on the preceding track. The symbolism is really good whether used with the beautiful art work and visualization component or not.

Tracy Jones
Science Teacher, Canterbury Girls High School

David has made diaphragmatic breathing and empowerment for change effortless through this simple yet powerful instructional CD. The music is a wonderful meditation tool; I had the best meditation of my life after the first CD.  Thanks to David for this gift to the world.

Helena Young
Occupational Therapist

David narrates The Parable of the Two Wolves, which is a timeless master lesson of how we can be our best selves and a compass to navigate the bumpy road of our lives. As an easily accessible means to self-improvement at so many levels, David interweaves the parable, with visual and auditory cues and some pithy leading edge science facts whilst taking us effortlessly through the practice of enhanced breathing. Before you know it you are deeply relaxed, all facilitated by David’s soft calming voice and the soothing dreamy music he has composed himself.

Graeme Campbell
Chronic Pain Physiotherapist and Feldenkrais Practitioner

I purchased a copy of David’s “Wolf Suite” CD and it’s fantastic. Informative and very relaxing to listen to. Highly recommend it.

Christopher Truswell
Actor

The experience of the Wolf Suite is tranquil on both the visceral and philosophical level. The vocal performance of the narrator is very relaxing, informative, and peaceful. The piano accompaniment is simply moving and beautiful. It’s very simple to be drawn into the parable of ‘the Two Wolves’ and to understand it’s message. 

As an experienced vocalist, public speaker, and practiced meditator, I can affirm that the guided exercises are both accessible and nerve calming - as scientifically and anecdotally promised! I struggle with sitting still at the best of times and battle with Dark Wolf of narrative and distraction often during meditation: this exercise put the big bad Wolf straight to bed! The artwork creates a memorable visualisation for use in the meditation. I recommend sitting in a sunlit room or space where you can experience the movement of clouds and light around you. 

Lauren Neko
Academic lecturer, DJ, Owner/Director Glossy Entertainment

My secondary school special needs students have been focusing on social/emotional wellbeing at school this year for health. We found the Wolf Suite project added new dimension to the existing program. Students were able to understand and relate to the ‘Story of the two Wolves’. In class I often ask are you good wolfing or bad wolfing? I have a few ideas to take this further.

 The different tracks—the parable, the visualisation and meditation, and the instrumental—all had a positive impact on the class, making a great discussion point as well as it being a valuable practical tool. Thank you this is a great addition to our class resources.

 Frances Wiedersatz
Special Education Teacher Kiama High School

David’s project is designed to enhance your breathing, relax your body and mind through, meditation and visualisation techniques. As a visual artist, I have found David’s music CD creates a peaceful ambience while I paint or draw. The Wolf Suite is an important asset to assist in finding a tranquil haven in today’s chaotic society.

David McLeod writes about Big Breath Productions and The Wolf Suite in March Studio La Primitive ARTS ZINE 2021

Robyn Werkhoven
Artist and Editor of Studio La Primitive

To have found a response to the breath of music, is like an art in itself, in a more playful genre and notation. What a wonderful project.

Eric Werkhoven
Artist and poet

I was blown away by David’s exciting new project “The Wolf Suite”, a beautifully crafted breathing teaching tool with music, art, meditation and soul. In short, it’s David himself! I especially love the parable of the two wolves, a light switch moment for me.

Brook Taberrer

From the beautiful artwork to David’s soothing voice, I was thrilled to be able to experience the relaxing breathing exercise and I love his narration of the Two Wolves story. Running my own retail business is a challenge some days, and when I listen to the recording in the morning, I find a peaceful spot to start my day.

Julie Walker
Owner/Proprietor “Bonza Beads”

Read more about The Wolf Suite