Catherine Kay Brown is an adjunct voice instructor at Immaculata University and a private voice teacher.
Her article, “Effects of an 8-week mindfulness course in people with voice disorders,” is in press in Journal of Voice. She has presented a workshop on mindfulness and voice at the Pan-American Vocology Association (PAVA) Symposium with Julia Gerhard, DMA, CCC-SLP (University of Miami). Together with Dr. Gerhard, she has presented their original research, “Effects of a 6-Week Mindfulness Course in Student Singers” and “A Survey of the State of Mindfulness Knowledge and Practice Among Voice Practitioners,” at the Voice Foundation’s Annual Symposium. Ms. Brown runs ongoing 8-week mindfulness courses for people with voice disorders.
Her private voice students have been accepted to top performing arts colleges including Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Manhattan School of Music, Marymount Manhattan College, New York University, Pace University, and Point Park University. A PAVA-Recognized Vocologist, Ms. Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts in music and German from St. Olaf College and a Graduate Certificate in applied mindfulness from West Chester University.
Upcoming Short Courses
Thursday 22nd January 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)
Mindfulness Coaching within the Voice Studio
Catherine Brown
Emerging research indicates that mindfulness can have far-reaching benefits for singers, including improvements in lessons, performances, focus and attention, body (somatic) awareness, socio-collaborative relationships, performance anxiety, and expressivity and enjoyment during performances. Meanwhile, studies show that young people are experiencing increasingly high levels of mental and emotional distress. In this short course, join Catherine Brown as she explores ways that voice teachers can harness the power of mindfulness coaching within the voice studio.
Past Short Courses
Tuesday 6th May 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)
Mindfulness and Voice: Exploring the Intersection through Peer-Reviewed Literature
Catherine Brown
Despite strong interest, only a handful of peer-reviewed studies have examined the relationship between mindfulness and voice. Emerging research indicates that mindfulness can help voice users learn to respond to stress more effectively and may help them manage performance anxiety. In this course, we will examine several types of peer-reviewed literature: a) mindfulness studies that indirectly relate to voice work. b) We will review research that examines mindfulness as it relates to voice-adjacent fields (e.g., music performance anxiety and stammering/stuttering). c) We will look at the few published studies that have directly investigated the relationship between mindfulness and voice and d) we will examine directions for future qualitative and quantitative research.