Publication For Voice Workshop Director
Thursday 5th November 2020
Voice Study Centre
We are happy to announce that the Director of Voice Study Centre, Debbie Winter, has been published in the Voice and Speech Review journal, VASTA’s official publication!
Her peer-reviewed article, ‘Voicing a Practitioner Research Methodology: Further Framing the Conversation’ was published online today by Routledge.
Abstract:
This article responds to call for a Practice as Research (PaR) methodology and places the debate within a broader discussion of rigor and relevance. Drawing on the field of management studies, this article suggests ways to bridge the divide with voice studies, culminating in an exploration of practitioner research. The article examines the implications of a distinct PaR paradigm in terms of both assessment and methodological development, and it explores the tensions created by the need to develop practitioner-researchers and advises further methodological developments. It proposes possible theoretical frameworks suitable for voice studies students.
Debbie Winter
Debbie Winter (LLB Hons, MA) lectured in Law and sang professionally on the jazz scene before deciding to change careers and become a vocal coach. She noticed a...
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...