This week is Mental Health Awareness Week.
Established by the Mental Health Foundation, this year's theme is Anxiety; "Focusing on anxiety for this year's Mental Health Awareness Week will increase people's awareness and understanding of anxiety by providing information on the things that can help prevent it from becoming a problem. At the same time, we will keep up the pressure to demand change - making sure that improving mental health is a key priority for the government and society as a whole."
"Singing involves focused concentration, which blocks preoccupation with sources of worry. Singing is therefore a source of distraction from ongoing concerns, and participants commonly referred to being able to forget any troubles they had, at least for a short time, while singing." (Clift et al,. 2010)
To learn more, please visit mentalhealth.org.uk
Clift, S., Hancox, G., Morrison, I., Hess, B., Kreutz, G. and Stewart, D., 2010. Choral singing and psychological wellbeing: Quantitative and qualitative findings from English choirs in a cross-national survey. Journal of Applied Arts & Health, 1(1), pp.19-34.
Recent Posts
Student Interviews
Could a Harmonica Have a Place in the Voice Studio?
Voice Study Centre
Tuesday 8th September 2026What does a harmonica have to do with the human voice? For harmonica performer and music educator Shima Melvin, this question became the starting point for her postgraduate research with the Voice Study Centre. While developing her approach to teaching harmonica, Shima found herself struggling to explain exactly what was happening inside the instrument when she played. The mechanics of the harmonica were, in a sense, invisible.
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After The Session
After the Session: Common Medical Diagnoses and Treatments in Voice Patients
Voice Study Centre
Friday 4th September 2026Voice care extends far beyond opera stars! A voice professional includes anyone whose livelihood depends on an effective and pleasing voice - teachers, solicitors, sports coaches, secretaries, and sales personnel. Yesterday, we welcomed back Dr. Robert Sataloff MD, DMA, FACS, for a short course into the diagnosis, medical care, and surgical management of voice patients. Robert is the Director of Otolaryngology at the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Voice, professional singer, and a conductor.. Read on for the key insights and takeaways every vocal professional, pedagogue, and performer should know!
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After The Session
After the Session: Acoustic Physics, Resonance and the Vocal Tract!
Voice Study Centre
Thursday 27th August 2026Last night, the Voice Study Centre had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Brad Story (University of Arizona) for a fascinating short course entitled "The Vocal Tract and Singing: A Research Overview". Drawing from his unique background in physics, mathematics, and computational acoustics - including early engineering work on vehicle exhaust systems(!) - Dr. Story provided a deep dive on how the geometry of the human vocal tract shapes source sound into voice, speech, and song. Read on to find our what we learned!
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