Short Courses & Events / Archive

Warming Up And Cooling Down: A Guide To Their Use And Impact On Function

Thursday 3rd November 2022, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)

  • There are exercises designed to facilitate a particular change in vocal function – the potential for a given exercise to work is contingent on the intention of the exercise, the instruction provided, and the singer’s understanding and implementation.
  • A teacher should select vocal exercises supported by either quantifiable research or validated by anecdotal practice-based evidence – this is true whether discussing vocal warm-ups or cool-downs.
  • The benefits of cool-down exercises following strenuous exercises have been well established – while voice pedagogy typically emphasizes the use of vocal warm up exercises, the efficacy of cool-down exercises has not been demonstrated.
  • Traditionally, exercise science includes a great deal of research on cooling down exercises after working out the body – cool-down exercises for singers have not yet been thoroughly examined even though vocalizes (warm-ups) for the voice have long been accepted as beneficial.  As a result, there remains varying opinions in the voice community as to the efficacy of cooling down after a period of strenuous singing.

This workshop will present information on strategizing a vocal warm-up and cool-down routine, how and why to choose particular exercises, the difference between a vocal warm-up and vocal exercises focused on function.

The workshop will also include research, supported in part by the 2012 Van L. Lawrence Fellowship, that examined the efficacy of cool-down exercises for the voice at the end of a heavy voice load

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.

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

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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.

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3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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Prosody in conversation – crucial for effective communication?

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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!
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2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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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!