Marina Gilman holds a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University, Master of Music from Ithaca College, and a Masters of Art in Communication Disorders from Northwestern University. She graduated from the Montreal Feldenkrais Training in 1996. In 2022, she received the Pan American Voice Association’s Recognized Vocologist designation.

Marina is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner, singing teacher, performer, and licensed speech pathologist with specialization in voice. Now retired, she taught voice at Cornell University, Syracuse University, and in the Theater School at DePaul University Chicago, as well as the School at the Steppenwolf Theater Company summer program. In her capacity as a licensed speech pathologist Marina was part of the interdisciplinary teams at The Voice Institute, Loyola Medical Center, the Bastian Voice Institute, and the University of Chicago Voice Center in Chicago, Ill, most recently as part of the interdisciplinary voice team at the Emory Voice Center, Department of Otolaryngology, in Atlanta, Georgia. Her interest in the somatic aspects of voice training began with her personal struggle with body tension. Over the years she has worked to bring the Feldenkrais work into her clinical, academic, and studio teaching. 

Marina presented Feldenkrais workshops for actors, singers and voice therapists, at professional voice and medical conferences including the Voice Foundation Annual Symposium, The Fall Voice Conference and the British Voice Association Conference Choice for Voice. She has published research on voice in peer reviewed medical voice journals and is the author of Body and Voice: Somatic Re-education.

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After The Session

After The Session: Feldenkrais Method® - its application in speech and song! with Marina Gilman

Voice Study Centre
Monday 2nd November 2026

A recap of our session with Marina Gilman, Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, singing teacher, performer and licensed speech pathologist specialising in voice. How do we change vocal habits we don't know we have? That was the question at the heart of our latest session with Marina Gilman, and her answer was equal parts science, storytelling and gentle movement. Rather than lecturing from the front, Marina had the whole room (and everyone watching online) moving, sensing and humming along from their chairs. If you joined us, here is a reminder of what we explored. If you missed it, here is a taste of why this method has so many voice teachers talking.

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Past Short Courses

Feldenkrais Method® - its application in speech and song!
Friday 30th October 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 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!

Demystifying Research: Evaluating the Efficacy of the Feldenkrais Method®
Thursday 8th May 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)

Demystifying Research: Evaluating the Efficacy of the Feldenkrais Method®

Marina Gilman

The Feldenkrais Method® belongs to a class of somatic methods often used in the voice studio to facilitate more efficient use of the body. In this age of ‘evidence-based practice’, it is important for the studio teacher /pedagogue /performer to be able to evaluate research claims. A basic understanding of research methods and biases inherent in the research process is necessary to properly evaluate their conclusions, especially if the research findings influence studio practice. This course will explore some of the central principles of the Feldenkrais Method in terms of the science of the mid-20th century when they were developed as well as their validation based on contemporary advances in our understanding of neuroscience.

Demystifying Research: Evaluating the Efficacy of the Feldenkrais Method®
Thursday 17th October 2024
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)

Demystifying Research: Evaluating the Efficacy of the Feldenkrais Method®

Marina Gilman

This course will explore some of the central principles of the Feldenkrais Method in terms of the science of the mid-20th century when they were developed as well as their validation based on contemporary advances in our understanding of neuroscience.