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.
Dr. Ragan works in close affiliation as an SVS with the University of Washington Laryngology program, where she helps singers recover from vocal injury or pathology. She has maintained a thriving independent voice studio for over forty years and served for eleven years on the voice faculty at the University of Washington, teaching Applied Voice, Voice Pedagogy, and related courses.
She served as Chair of the NATS Advancement Committee (2017–2024) and has been the moderator of NATS Chats, a national monthly webinar since 2010. She is the co-founder and organizer of Northwest Voice: The Art and Science of the Performing Voice Conference, a multidisciplinary annual meeting held in Seattle. Dr. Ragan also serves as Program Chair for the next International Congress of Voice Teachers, which will convene in Toronto in August 2025.
Her book, A Systematic Approach to Voice: The Art of Studio Application, was published by Plural Publishing in 2020. Additional publications and information can be found at KariRagan.com.
Featured Posts
Director & Team News
VSC Lecturer Presents at Northwest Voice Conference in Seattle
Voice Study Centre
Thursday 18th May 2023Kerrie Obert, VSC senior faculty member, was a keynote speaker at the 2023 Northwest Voice: The Art and Science of the Performing Voice Conference in Seattle, Washington.
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Dr Kari Ragan Becomes Voice Study Centre Ambassador
Voice Study Centre
Tuesday 19th July 2022We would like to wish a warm welcome to Dr Kari Ragan, who has joined Voice Study Centre’s Ambassador team!
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Dr Kari Ragan’s Workshop Was A Huge Success!
Voice Study Centre
Tuesday 29th September 2020Last Thursday’s online short course with Dr Kari Ragan allowed participants a close insight into her fantastic work and knowledge within the Voice Pedagogy field.
Read More...Upcoming Short Courses
Friday 11th July 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Nasal Resistance Technique: Applications in Clinical and Performance Voice
Dr Kari Ragan
Dr Nandhu Radhakrishnan
Join Dr Kari Ragan and Dr Nandhu Radhakrishnan for this fascinating session on the Nasal Resistance (NR) Technique that combines semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) benefits with kinesthetic resonance awareness. The NR Technique promotes efficient glottal closure, resonance clarity, and smoother transitions across vocal registers. Its versatility makes it an essential tool for optimizing vocal efficiency in healthy, injured, and singing voices!
Past Short Courses
Thursday 22nd May 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Friday 23rd May 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Navigating Vocal Health: Understanding Voice Disorders and Rehabilitation for Singers
Dr Kari Ragan
Every voice teacher and singer can benefit from a deeper understanding of vocal pathologies and how to navigate them. From recognizing the signs of voice disorders to working with a voice care team, gaining knowledge in these areas is crucial for supporting a singer’s vocal health and longevity. This course focuses on key considerations for maintaining vocal health, with a significant portion dedicated to understanding specific voice disorders that singers might encounter. The discussion will cover structural pathologies such as nodules, polyps, cysts, hemorrhage, and scarring, as well as neurologic voice disorders like paresis, paralysis, and singer's dystonia.
Monday 23rd October 2023
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Voice Teacher Practicum Certificate with Dr Kari Ragan (6 week course)
Dr Kari Ragan
In the specialised field of teaching singing, the tradition of a supervised practical application is, unfortunately, not the norm. This important aspect of teacher training to become an effective voice teacher is crucial. This course provides just that - it’s for voice teachers wanting real-time feedback in diagnosing vocal challenges and strategising solutions through a systematic approach.
Thursday 1st June 2023
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Towards an Evidence Based Pedagogy Framework
Dr Kari Ragan
EBVP is a framework that acknowledges the importance of both scientific and anecdotal evidence, along with consideration of the experience acquired by a teacher, and the importance of individual student needs