MA/PG Cert Professional Practice
Voice Pedagogy
Now Taking Applications for October 2021

Overview

Overview

  • Our fully online certificate in MA Professional Practice Voice Pedagogy enables singing teachers to apply theory to practice within the broad field of Voice Pedagogy (Vocal Pedagogy)
  • This innovative postgraduate pathway facilitates the research of new areas of learning. The modules allow for the design and implementation of new initiatives that contribute to an individual’s practice, organisation, and professional network.
  • The course exposes students to a vast range of academic and practitioner resources through pre-recorded and real-time online content.
  • Assigned tutors mentor you to design an individualised programme relevant to your practice needs. It consists of six micro-projects that allow for the application of theory to practice.
  • Tutors are readily available between 9:00 am – 5:00 pm throughout the week
  • This online pathway is for both International and UK students, and the next available start date is October 2021.
  • The qualification is fully accredited and is a collaborative partnership between the Welsh Academy for Professional Practice (Trinity St David) and Voice Study Centre (formerly Voice Workshop).

It is ideal for those working as vocal coaches/singing teachers or those from a music background who wish to gain a firmer understanding of vocal pedagogy.

For a sample of the online content, please contact info@voicestudycentre.com

Eligibility

The pre-requisite for the MA is a Degree or degree level equivalent. We do accept Trinity and ABRSM higher-level Diplomas providing there is an academic component to them. We will accept level 5 qualifications in some cases, and we do accept level 6 transcriptions where a degree level qualification has not been completed.

Please do enquire as to your qualification status.

Students without the requisite qualifications can undertake the foundation course at no extra cost and forms part of our inclusivity policy.

Structure & Content

This course is highly flexible and self-determined, and this freedom is appealing to practitioners. That said, carving an independent pathway can be daunting. We, therefore, offer a blended learning approach combining taught lectures with independent research. The classes are diverse and act as a stimulus rather than a rigid syllabus. They provide a framework, sparking areas of interest and exploration.

Pre-recorded lectures

  • Online Welcome and Introductory Session
  • Evolution of Singing
  • Human Anatomy and Singing Overview
  • Vocal Anatomy and Singing Overview
  • Research Overview and Synopsis: Breathing Methodology, Posture and Alignment, Motor Learning and SOVT, Aging Voice and Developing Voices
  • Acoustics – Introduction, Overview and Application, Intro to Voce Vista
  • CCM Pedagogy
  • Psychology of the Performer incorporating Acceptance and Commitment Training and Music Performance Anxiety
  • Mindfulness
  • Neuroscience and Pedagogy
  • Voice and Emotion
  • Transgender Voices
  • Accent Coaching
  • Coaching and Mentoring Theory
  • Singing for Health

Lecturers include Dr. Declan Costello, Kerrie Obert, Debbie Winter, Dr. David Juncos, Heidi Moss, Ken Bozeman, Dr. Rockford Sansom, Mel Toy, Teresa Shaw, Dr. Anne-Marie Czajkowski, Dr. Patricia Rooney, Kate Cubley, and Emily Foulkes.

Real-time lectures

We offer a series of real-time lectures that can be viewed ‘live’ or after the event. These include our leading practitioners: Heidi Moss, Ken Bozeman, Christina Shewell, Joanna Cazden, Jeannie Lovetri, Triniece Robinson, Dann Mitton, Chadley Ballantyne, Leda Scearce, Dr. Dave Juncos, Dr. Michel Belyk.

There will be a rolling programme of events to attend every week. All sessions are recorded for later viewing.

The online videos will provide you with a core understanding upon which you can build and garner research ideas to apply to your practice.  This course facilitates the exploration of a diverse and often conflicting field. 

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The course consists of one non-assessed assignment and six micro-projects, allowing you to explore different aspects of your practice.

You will also receive step-by-step guidance on how to complete the assignments and engage in research.

Formative Assignment Open choice
Module 1: Introductory Module – 4,500 words This module facilitates the exploration of theory in part 1 with direct application to practice in part 2
Module 2: Research Methods – 4,500 words Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods
Module 3: Work-Based Research Report – 9,000 words Open Choice: Choose an area of your practice to investigate. You can develop strategies for implementation and then test them out. Or you can deepen understanding by examining and analysing existing methods.
Independent Study – 9,000 words Open Choice: This is an opportunity to carry out a detailed literature review to strengthen your practice. Evidence of practice application can take the form of a curriculum, strategy design, tools, workbooks, etc.
Independent Study – 9,000 words As above
Final dissertation – 15,000 words The final piece will consist of primary research in an area of your choice.
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Will I be able to fit it into my working commitments and family life?

The course is designed specifically for practitioners who combine a busy working life and family life. The course is designed to study one module at a time. The deadlines are set and students work in tandem with one another. The deadlines give a generous time allocation as your working life is factored into the calculation. Our retention rate is very high with the majority of our students continuing onto the MA.

Tutor Support

Tutorial support is pivotal to your development throughout the course. You will be offered contact via Zoom, and you can book in for sessions as you need them. We do recommend a minimum and maximum but readily provide advanced support where necessary.

It is beneficial to discuss project ideas and to re-shape projects as they progress. We also offer group sessions on Zoom to ease isolation and share ideas with other students. We try to provide these at a time that suits everyone, although time differences and work commitments may make this problematic, and for this reason, we will record the sessions for you to access the content at a later date.

With regards to other support, you will have access to the UWTSD online library, as well as their support structures. These include learning support, disability advice, and counseling services.

Meet our Tutors

Teresa Shaw

Teresa Shaw graduated as an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, an award conferred for artistic excellence. She went on to work as a soloist for the English National Opera in works including The Marriage of Figaro, Orfeo, and King Priam. Her solo performances extend to the London Symphony Orchestra, The London Sinfonietta, The Berlin Symphony Orchestra, and the Monteverdi Choir.

She gained a Distinction in her Voice Pedagogy Masters, and she is pioneering in her work with singers and Music Performance Anxiety. Her paper Piloting a New Model for Treating Music Performance Anxiety: Training a Singing Teacher to Use Acceptance and Commitment Coaching With a Student was published in Frontiers of Psychology. She presented at the Voice Foundation Symposium and was an invited speaker at the AOTOS conference in 2020.

Kate Cubley

Kate Cubley (BA (Hons), MA) is an advanced level Voice Coach, Singing Teacher, singer and researcher working predominantly from her private studio in Cheshire. Kate has a particular interest in encouraging singing for fun, whilst incorporating her specialist knowledge in voice pedagogy, vocal health, body alignment, phonetics, emotion and performance skills. 

Continually committed to teacher training and personal development through practical education, Kate completed the Voice Workshop and UWTSD MA in Professional Practice and Voice Pedagogy in 2019 with Distinction. Her body alignment research was shortlisted as a finalist for the Van Lawrence Prize in 2016 and her poster gained 1st Place at Teaching Singing in Higher Education – Core Competencies. 

Kate has a BA (Hons) from the University of Sheffield in English Language and Linguistics and is a qualified Level 7 coach and mentor. She is a certified CoreSinging® Teacher, has attended Estill teacher Training Courses, a selection of Vocal Process Singing Teacher Retreats. She is an active member of the British Voice Association, AOTOS, The Musicians Union and The European Voice Teachers Association. 

Emily Foulkes

Emily gained a Distinction in her Master’s in Voice Pedagogy, specialising in Singing for Mental Health, Pain Management, and Trauma-Informed Practice. Her pioneering work within this field led her to establish the Signing for Health Network, attracting National funding to sustain and build the initiative. With a clear mission statement to bridge the gap between theory and practice, Emily has drawn together leading academics and practitioners to engage in knowledge dissemination and research.

Emily has presented at several conferences and events, including the BVA, Voice Geek conference, the MARCH Network, and the Spheres of Singing conference. She was also invited to peer review for the World Health Organisation (WHO). Emily’s recent research Exploring Online singing and Mindfulness for Mental Health is published in the peer-reviewed International Journal for Community Music.

She is a trainer for Trauma-Informed Schools UK and is the Director of Music for Good, a music for well-being charity based in Cornwall. In her work in Cornwall, Emily is a practitioner for the Music Education Hub, Primary Healthcare (Social Prescribing), and local hospital.

She has delivered training/workshops for Cornwall Music Education Hub, Arts & Health South West, Sing for Pleasure, Voice Workshop, ArtsLink (West Midlands), Trinity Laban (London), NYMAZ (for Music Education Hub leads in Yorkshire), Sing Space and for the Centre for Child Mental Health (London).

Applications

Voice Workshop programmes of study are moderated and accredited by our academic partner, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Applicants will therefore go through a two-stage application process, with the first tier of application through Voice Study Centre (formerly Voice Workshop) and the second tier of application through the University.

As part of the application process, you will meet with a Course Tutor for an interview. This is an excellent way for you to find out more about the programme and discuss your background and interests with one of our tutors. During this interview, a Course Tutor will assess your suitability for the programme and be able to answer any questions you may have.

Applicants will be asked to provide the following:

  • Two references (one of these must be academic) available upon request.
  • A personal statement detailing your reasons for wishing to undertake this postgraduate programme of study. This should be between 500-1000 words and include your professional and academic experience, your interests, your motivation for undertaking this programme of study, and what you hope to gain for your career path and continuing professional development.
  • Copies of your highest qualification (degree certificate and transcript).
  • Evidence of your English language proficiency.

During the formal University enrolment process, International students will be asked to provide a Personal Statement, ID, qualification certificates/transcripts, academic references and proof of English language level to UWTSD. This is in line with UK Government regulations for higher education institutions. Voice Study Centre (formerly Voice Workshop) will be supporting applicants and on hand to provide advice and guidance through this second tier of their application process with the University.

International Applicants

If an applicant has:

  • Successfully completed a recognised undergraduate or postgraduate qualification, at a recognised institution based in one of the above majority English speaking countries (certificates, transcripts and/or other documents stating language of delivery and assessment may be required by the University prior to an offer being made).
  • Successfully completed within the last five years a recognised undergraduate or postgraduate qualification at a recognised institution that has been certified as being taught in the medium of English (certificates, transcripts and / or other documents stating language of delivery and assessment may be required by the University prior to an offer being made).
  • A UKVI recognised Secure English Language Test awarded within 2 years of applying for entry to the University.
  • One of the following English Language Test documents awarded within 2 years of applying for entry to the University:
NAME OF QUALIFICATION LEVEL / SCORE REQUIRED
IELTS (Academic) Minimum overall score of 6.0 with no lower than 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Listening or Speaking.
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE). Minimum score of 169 or above with no lower than 162 in Reading, Writing, Listening or Speaking.
Cambridge English: Business Vantage
(BEC Vantage)
– for Business courses only.		 Minimum score of 75 or above.
Cambridge English: Business Higher
(BEC Higher)
– for Business courses only		 Minimum score of 60 or above
BULATS: Business Language Testing Service (online certificated version taken with certifying BULATS agents) – for Business courses only Minimum score of 65 or above.
Cambridge English: Financial (ICFE)
– for Business courses only.		 Minimum score of 60 or above.
Cambridge English: Legal (ILEC)
– for Business courses only		 Minimum score of 60 or above.
Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) C1
Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) Benchmark Score of 56 with a Minimum Score of 51 in Communicative Skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking). Scores may fall below the Benchmark Score in the Communicative Skills by no more than the specified Minimum Score and in no more than two Communicative Skills.
University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Wales Academic Language Test Minimum overall score of 6.0 with no lower than 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) ll Distinction in each component
Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) lll Pass or above overall, with Passes or above in each component
International Baccalaureate Higher Level 5 or Standard Level 5 Language A or Higher Level 5 or Standard Level 5 Language B
Cambridge IGCSE Minimum Grade C (grade 4) in IGCSE in English as a first language, Grade C (grade 4) in IGCSE in English as a Second Language satisfy the English language proficiency requirements for undergraduate study

Fees & Timescale

Programme of study Credits Length of course
PG Certificate 60 15 months
Remainder of the MA 120 18 months

OR

Programme of study Credits Length of course
Full MA 180 33 months

The MA consists of 180 credits in total. There is an opportunity to exit with just 60 credits and a PGCert.

An MA is a lengthy commitment, spanning 33 months of intensive work, which needs to be combined with a demanding professional life and family commitments. For this reason, we advise you to enrol on the PGCert and then continue on the MA pathway.

Please be aware that the PGCert is part of the MA as it forms the first 60 credits; it is NOT a separate course.

Is it possible to enrol onto the MA rather than the PGCert?

It is possible to enrol onto the MA from the outset, allowing an application for a student loan to take place. For UK students, this is an important consideration.

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Programme of study Students in Europe Students outside of Europe
PG Certificate £2,995 £2,995

OR

Programme of study Students in Europe Students outside of Europe
Full MA £8,995  £8,995 

The SLC will provide up to £10,000 of your tuition fees, which will be paid in instalments. Please note that once you enrol onto the MA, you are contractually bound even if you do not complete it. Also, be aware that our instalment programme may not match the Student Loan Company, and temporary borrowing may be necessary.

2021 Course Fee Details

For UK based MA students, do be aware that student finance instalments may not align with the tuition fee schedule. In this case, you will still have to abide by the tuition fee deadlines. This is due to differences in student loan schedules that individual applicants receive and it is not possible to facilitate differing agreements. We would advise you to make sure that you are able to financially commit to this before your application.

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Applications will close on Thursday 30th September 2021.

October 2021 Payment Schedules

MA Course fees

Course fees are all non-refundable (apart from the initial £1,000 which has the refundable 14-day cooling off period) and must be paid in accordance with the instalment schedule below:

  • To reserve a place on the course, you will need to pay a first instalment of £1,000 payable to Voice Study Centre (formerly Voice Workshop).
  • The second instalment of £1,308 is directly payable to Voice Study Centre (formerly Voice Workshop) by 1st November 2021.
  • The third instalment of £2,308 is directly payable to Voice Study Centre (formerly Voice Workshop) by 1st November 2022.
  • The final instalment that is made payable to Voice Study Centre (formerly Voice Workshop) of £2,309 is to be paid by 1st November 2023.
  • There is a registration fee of £2,070 which is directly payable to University of Wales Trinity St David once enrolment has taken place. This can be paid in instalments.
  • In the unlikely event that the course does not run, all fees will be refunded to you.
  • While we try to accommodate for Student Loan Company instalments, we cannot guarantee the dates will coincide with your instalments as these are individual to each student. We will still require the payment to be paid on the dates set.
  • Please be aware that you will also have to pay fees to UWTSD and the Student Loan Company instalment programme will not match those requests for payment. You may need to borrow in the interim to pay the instalments by the due date.

PGCert Course fees

Course fees are all non-refundable (apart from the initial £698 which has the refundable 14-day cooling off period) and must be paid in accordance with the instalment schedule below:

  • To reserve a place on the course, you will need to pay a first instalment of £698 payable to Voice Workshop Ltd.
  • The second instalment of £698 is directly payable to Voice Study Centre (formerly Voice Workshop) by 31st December 2021.
  • The third instalment of £699 is directly payable to Voice Study Centre (formerly Voice Workshop). by 28th February 2022.
  • There is a course cost fee of £900 which is directly payable to University of Wales Trinity St David once enrolment has taken place.
  • In the unlikely event that the course does not run, all fees will be refunded to you.

Please note, we are only able to accept students from Northern Ireland who are self-funding or privately funding their studies.

We are unable to accept students funding their studies through Northern Ireland student finance.

ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

Testimonials

Ian Hiscock

Having retired from teaching in music in secondary schools I little thought that I would be embarking on an MA course.  However I found the time invaluable in supporting my work as a freelance musician and instrumental teacher.  Through the course I was encouraged to question my own assumptions and to develop understanding of the problems faced by adult learners and how I might beset meet their needs. Initially this was focused on choral conducting and rehearsal techniques. However I found I was able to develop my studies to include postural and health issues for the pianist and how playing techniques could be adapted to aid pianists with hand osteoarthritis.  The clear layout of the course and the help with research I found invaluable and I have found this personally enriching.

 

As well as researching my own particular interests and developing my professional practice I have learnt a considerable amount from my colleagues about learning styles, teaching, coaching and helping people with performance anxiety. This is a beautifully flexible course where you can make contacts and grow as a learner and practitioner.

Avril Crawford

Studying the MA Professional Practice (Voice Pedagogy) with Voice Workshop was a fantastic experience. Undertaking research and academic writing at postgraduate level was something I found daunting at first, but the way the course is structured, and the support provided by Debbie and her team allowed me to gradually develop my skills and find the right pathway to inform my professional practice.

My research on adolescent voices has enabled me to structure a teaching framework for the young CCM singers that I work with and I am currently working on a syllabus for 15–18-year-old performing arts students, that incorporates best practice for CCM and MT singers of this age.

I can’t thank Voice Workshop enough for the skills I have gained and the wonderful people I have met along the way. The course promotes a culture of inclusion, providing an excellent platform for emerging researchers in the world of voice pedagogy. I feel so lucky to have met so many inspiring fellow voice professionals who are leading the way in contemporary voice research.

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What opportunities will the course give me?

Until recently, all of our students have been based in the UK and the opportunities created are therefore relevant to their locality.

We have recently seen the completion of our first MA and from this cohort of 20:

  • 3 have been accepted to present at EuroVox 2020.
  • 3 have been accepted to present at the Society of Music Education in Ireland.
  • 1 has been asked to present at Mental Health Network conference specialising in Singing and Health.
  • 1 presented her research at the British Voice Association – Vocal Health Forum in 2019.
  • 3 have moved into teaching at University level on the basis of their qualification.
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 Alumni & Student Achievements

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Interested?

If you want to learn more about the course and see a sample of the content, then please email info@voicestudycentre.com or complete the form below

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