MA Voice Pedagogy - Specialising in Singing for Health and Wellbeing

Singing for Health has become a significant area of research and interest in the past two decades in the UK.

This course provides an academic pathway to facilitate the study and research of Singing for Health.

Students will be at the forefront of innovation in this programme, with an opportunity to engage in Masters level practitioner research focused on Singing for Health and Well-being, culminating in a Voice Pedagogy MA.

Students on this pathway have examined the impact of singing on blood pressure, strategies for working with lung health groups, working with stroke, chronic pain, mental health, postnatal depression and Parkinson’s disease.

Tara Leiper has generously shared her examination presentation on the health and wellbeing benefits of online singing groups during Covid 19.

Tara’s paper is due to be published by the Voice and Speech Review later this year.

This course will equip learners with knowledge of the history and development of the singing for health movement and provide up-to-date summaries of research to help inform future studies. You will be supported in your individual interests as well as benefit from group learning sessions and from external specialists.

We encourage students to sign up to the Singing for Health Network (SHN), which will also provide invaluable resources and opportunities to connect with other practitioners, researchers and those working in healthcare. There may be opportunities to platform your research via the SHN alongside conferences and events. Previous MA students with a specialism in Singing for Health have presented their research at the BVA, Spheres of Singing conference, for the MARCH Network, Parkinson’s UK conference and for the Centre for Child Mental Health.

Students have also had work published in peer-reviewed journals, such as the Internal Journal for Community Music, and have independently published resources which are available via Amazon and Waterstones.

Research in Singing for Health has led to previous students securing support and funding from the NHS as well as charitable trusts and foundations.

You will have access to a range of video content and library material, in addition to the extensive Voice Pedagogy resources, including the following listed below.

You will be free to explore areas that suit your practice.

• Introduction to Singing for Health – history, research, policy, current landscape, including Social Prescribing
• Research overviews of key topics within Singing for Health (for example, Respiratory conditions, Postnatal Depression and Trauma & Mental Health)
• A library of research papers, covering a range of health conditions and topics within Singing for Health research

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 vast majority of our students completing the MA.

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 can provide advanced support where necessary, and eligible students with registered disabilities receive additional one-to-one support from the university.

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 counselling services.

You will be able to access a tutor five days a week, between the hours of 9:00am-9:00pm UK time.

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.

Applications

Our MA programme is 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 the 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 must have a degree qualification, if you are not educated to degree level, you may wish to undertake our Foundation Course.

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).

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:

"Big thank you to the Voice Study Centre, as I am setting up singing provisions with the council for young people and adults with special needs.

The course has really helped with building up my business to do this!"

- Stella Watson