Short Courses & Events / Archive

A Football Player Pirouettes: Principles and Application for Cross-Training

Thursday 27th May 2021, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)

In the past decade, the emerging benefits of cross-training voices have provided insight into developing healthy, efficient, and versatile singers.

Cross-training voice athletes refers to building a balanced vocal mechanism regardless of the anticipated performance genre.

For example, Western classical singers engage in “belting” exercises and CCM singers vocalize in registration and resonance strategies necessary for Western classical repertoire.

Singers must train as complete voice athletes for optimal vocal efficiency, and in the twenty-first century be ready to sing in a variety of styles for optimal employment opportunities.

Both opera houses and music theatre companies are programming innovative seasons to keep patrons engaged.

Singers and the teachers that train them must be ready!

This workshop will include a PowerPoint presentation to highlight some physiologic and acoustic differences between variable high-intensity singing genres and a demonstration with singers for studio application insights.

Dr Kari Ragan

Singer, author, and voice pedagogue Kari Ragan holds degrees from the University of Washington (DMA) and Indiana University (MM, BM). She was the recipient of the prestigious Van L. Lawrence Award (2012), the NATS Foundation Pedagogy Award (2009), and the Wicklund Singing Voice Specialist Certificate (2010), and she was selected as a Master Teacher for the NATS Intern Program in 2021.

Sorry, 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.

Music Theory Fundamentals for Voice Pedagogues
Tuesday 5th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 12th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 19th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 26th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 2nd June 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 9th June 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)

Music Theory Fundamentals for Voice Pedagogues

Dr David Cane

Voice pedagogy has advanced significantly in the last decades in relation to knowledge of the vocal apparatus (anatomy and mechanics), acoustics, and performance psychology (to name just a few subfields) – this is a wonderful thing! Nonetheless, musicianship and the foundations of music theory are still relevant to the teaching and coaching of singers and this course aims to empower voice teachers and coaches with skills to support the fundamental musicianship development of their students.

Prosody in conversation – crucial for effective communication?
Tuesday 12th May 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)

Prosody in conversation – crucial for effective communication?

Beatrice Szczepek Reed

In this course, we will take an introductory look at what prosody is and consider its functions in natural everyday dialogue. Prosody refers to the rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech. It's the musicality of language that helps convey meaning, emotion, and emphasis in conversation!

Feldenkrais Method® - its application in speech and song!
Thursday 14th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)

Feldenkrais Method® - its application in speech and song!

Marina Gilman

The Feldenkrais Method® is a form of somatic education that uses gentle movement and directed attention to improve physical and mental functioning, including singing and speaking. Since we are not always aware of the source of tension or discoordination, it is difficult to make the necessary adjustments to ensure optimal use of the voice!