Inspired Sound: Unlocking the Science of Choral Acoustics
Tuesday 16th December 2025, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (London Time)
This session will explore the fascinating science behind choral sound, offering choir singers and directors valuable insights into achieving a cohesive and expressive ensemble, no matter what their standard. The concept of choral blend will be examined —what it is, how it can be cultivated, and the roles of intonation and vibrato will be analysed. The decisions that have to be made around intonation when tuning thirds or dealing with modulations over the course of an a cappella piece will be explained in the context of existing research and different singing styles such as barbershop singing and solo voice ensembles.
The session will consider timbre and loudness and how different vocal qualities influence overall ensemble colour, gaining practical strategies to enhance sound quality. The session will also address the importance of synchronization between singers, how it has been measured in recent research at different levels (from onsets and consonants to heart rate variability) including techniques for aligning vowel shapes, entrances, and dynamic gestures.
Additionally, the influence of room acoustics and spacing will be examined, demonstrating how physical environment and positioning can amplify or diminish choir balance and clarity. This course will deepen your understanding of choir acoustics, empowering participants to refine their individual and collective practice for a more resonant, expressive, and confident ensemble performance!
🏷️ Price £30 (UK VAT inclusive)
🎥 Recording automatically sent to all who book (even if you cannot attend live)
▶️ Rewatch as many times as you like
📜 Certificate of attendance available
Professor Helena Daffern
Helena is currently a Professor in Music Technology in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology. She completed her PhD in Music Technology in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology at the University of York in 2008 and obtained a Masters degree in singing performance from the University of York before training as a postgraduate at Trinity College of Music.
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
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3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday 25th August 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday 1st September 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday 22nd September 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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Musical Theatre Vocal Pedagogy Certificate
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Join Kevin Wilson for this six-part certificated course, offering an in‑depth, practical exploration of contemporary voice teaching for musical theatre. Across six focused classes, participants develop a systematic approach to vocal technique, diagnosis, and repertoire selection that reflects the stylistic, physical, and emotional demands of the genre. The curriculum integrates vocal science, embodied voice work, registration theory, and stylistic awareness across the five major sub‑genres of musical theatre.
Tuesday 22nd September 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Doubles and Stacks, Reverbs and Effects: Teaching Vocal Production Skills
Kelly Hoppenjans
Vocal production, or the process of recording a voice, is a multifaceted practice requiring a diverse set of skills. It has traditionally been considered the role of the producer in a recording studio, and vocalists can often feel intimidated by learning complex technical skills or prohibited by the cost of recording equipment. This course is aimed at voice coaches and vocalists who want to learn to record and shape their vocal tracks, as well as how to teach these skills to voice students. No matter your technical experience or setup, you can record great-sounding vocals!
Monday 28th September 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Tuesday 29th September 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Wednesday 30th September 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Thursday 1st October 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Friday 2nd October 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
(London Time)
Certificate in Executive Voice Coaching and Communication
Louisa Morgan
This five-day course is designed for professional coaches who want to extend their practice into executive coaching, leadership communication, and professional corporate voice work.