The Pan American Vocology Association (PAVA) is dedicated to advancing the scientific and interdisciplinary study of Vocology. Its core values centre on interdisciplinarity and collaboration, bringing together diverse voice professionals from laryngologists to voice teachers to foster a unified community.
PAVA emphasises professionalism and standards, particularly through the PAVA-Recognized Vocologist (PAVA-RV) designation, which validates a professional's expertise and commitment to a broad, evidence-based understanding of the field. The organization also prioritises ethical practice and public protection, ensuring that consumers can identify qualified practitioners and that the profession adheres to a high standard of conduct.
The Voice Study Centre aligns with PAVA because of this shared value system. The Voice Study Centre's curriculum is built on an interdisciplinary foundation, mirroring PAVA's value of collaboration. Instead of focusing on a single discipline like singing or speech pathology, its courses integrate knowledge from various fields, including voice science, vocal health, and pedagogy. This approach encourages practitioners to understand the voice from multiple perspectives and prepares them to engage with a wide range of professionals in the vocology community. Our education delivery model is similarly collaborative and non-hierarchical, as we consistently strive to present the community to the community to allow for inclusion, growth and development.
We are committed to upholding the professional standards championed by PAVA. Students of the Voice Study Centre all aspire to achieve higher standards by pushing the boundaries of pedagogy and contributing to the vocology landscape as it continues to evolve.
There is currently no industry regulation that governs voice coaches or singing teachers in the UK or the US. PAVA's response to the lack of industry-wide is not to create a governing or regulatory body itself. Instead, it addresses this issue by establishing a professional designation and a set of standards that members can voluntarily meet.
Listen to Ed Reisert discuss the PAVA Recognised Vocologist designation during a guest appearance in our recent Certificate in Foundations of Vocology course:
Recent Posts
After The Session
After The Session: Pop Pedagogy - an Overview with Kim Chandler
Voice Study Centre
Wednesday 28th October 2026A recap of our recent session with Kim Chandler, broadcast live from a recording studio in Marbella, southern Spain. When a session singer, industry vocal coach and academic walks into one room, you get a very particular kind of masterclass. Kim brought all three hats to our latest short course, a two-hour "whistle-stop tour" of the 15 areas she believes a pop-specific vocal pedagogy should cover. Fittingly, she taught it from the very room where the vocals for Kung Fu Fighting in Kung Fu Panda 3 were recorded.
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Student Interviews
Negotiating Authenticity: Tre Cooper Explores Cross-Genre Singing and Stylistic Decision-Making
Voice Study Centre
Friday 23rd October 2026What does it mean for a singer to sound authentic when performing in a genre outside their usual style? And how can voice teachers help singers develop stylistic versatility without losing their individual artistic identity?
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After The Session
After The Session: Practical Magic*: The Art & Science of Balancing Voices with SOVTs and VFEs with Melanie Tapson
Voice Study Centre
Thursday 22nd October 2026What makes a vocal exercise effective? Is it the tool itself, the way we use it, or our understanding of what happens when we put it into practice? In Practical Magic: The Art & Science of Balancing Voices with SOVTs and VFEs, voice teacher and professional singer Melanie Tapson explored the science behind two widely used approaches to voice training: Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises (SOVTs) and Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs). Combining scientific explanations with practical demonstrations and interactive activities, the session examined how these techniques can support vocal efficiency, stamina and sustainable voice use.
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