MA Voice Pedagogy Alumni Publishes Vocal Health Book
Tuesday 18th April 2023
Voice Study Centre
We're so proud of MA Voice Pedagogy alumni Olivia Sparkhall for the publication of her new book!
A Young Person’s Guide to Vocal Health:
If you want to maintain a good, healthy speaking and singing voice, then it is essential that you keep your voice box in good working order.
Here is a simple guide to help you understand what’s good (and what’s bad!) when looking after your ‘vocal instrument’, and how you can keep your voice in great shape. I
t shows you the best ways to maintain good vocal health and how to avoid or deal with problems like colds and sore throats, shouting in sports halls, overuse, poor diet, hormones, anxiety and, yes, smoking, drinking alcohol and using drugs!
Ideal for singing teachers and choir leaders in engendering good vocal habits in young people.
Congratulations, Olivia!
Please follow this link for more information
Olivia Sparkhall
Olivia Sparkhall is a composer, choral conductor, voice coach and music teacher based on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire, UK. She is a Voice Study Centre (University of Wales...
Recent Posts
Student Interviews
Negotiating Authenticity: Tre Cooper Explores Cross-Genre Singing and Stylistic Decision-Making
Voice Study Centre
Friday 23rd October 2026What does it mean for a singer to sound authentic when performing in a genre outside their usual style? And how can voice teachers help singers develop stylistic versatility without losing their individual artistic identity?
Read More...
After The Session
After The Session: Practical Magic*: The Art & Science of Balancing Voices with SOVTs and VFEs with Melanie Tapson
Voice Study Centre
Thursday 22nd October 2026What makes a vocal exercise effective? Is it the tool itself, the way we use it, or our understanding of what happens when we put it into practice? In Practical Magic: The Art & Science of Balancing Voices with SOVTs and VFEs, voice teacher and professional singer Melanie Tapson explored the science behind two widely used approaches to voice training: Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises (SOVTs) and Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs). Combining scientific explanations with practical demonstrations and interactive activities, the session examined how these techniques can support vocal efficiency, stamina and sustainable voice use. Rather than treating exercises as a one-size-fits-all solution, Melanie encouraged participants to understand what each exercise does, how individual voices respond and how to adapt techniques to achieve meaningful results.
Read More...
After The Session
After The Session: Introduction to Vocal Acoustics for Spoken and Sung Voice with Gökçe Kutsal
Voice Study Centre
Wednesday 21st October 2026How can understanding the science of sound help us become more effective voice teachers, singers and researchers? In our recent two-part course, Introduction to Vocal Acoustics for Spoken and Sung Voice, Gökçe Kutsal explored the fascinating relationship between the physics of sound and the way we produce, hear and understand the human voice.
Read More...