Research interests: Singing for mental health and trauma, chronic pain, respiratory health and multiple sclerosis.
Accepting mentees: Yes (3)
Biography
Emily Foulkes is a practitioner researcher and charity director based in the south west of England. She has worked in music education for more than 20 years, designing and managing national programs and networks. As director of charity Music for Good, Emily has developed research and evidence-based programs, using music to support health and well-being in a range of settings across the life span.
Emily’s Masters in Voice Pedagogy enabled focused research on singing and trauma and mental health, chronic pain, respiratory health and multiple sclerosis.
In 2021, Emily set up the Singing for Health Network, which has members from across the globe. She delivers training and support to practitioners in singing for health and well-being and offers guest lectures and supervision to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Emily was a senior lecturer at the Voice Study Centre for two years and has delivered webinars for institutions and organisations globally. These include Northwestern University, Chicago; Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario; University of Southern Queensland and Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing; British Voice Association; The International Congress on Music and Medicine in Berlin; Falmouth University; Marjon University in Plymouth and many more.
Emily has published in the International Journal for Community Music and in the Nordic Journal for Arts, Culture and Health. She was a guest co-editor for a special edition of Australian Voice dedicated to practitioner research within singing for health. In this edition Emily published a service evaluation of a Singing for Long Covid programme.
Qualifications
MA (Voice Pedagogy) Professional Practice (Distinction) - University of Wales 2020
BA (hons) Degree in Performing Arts (Dance) Middlesex University 2000
Diploma in Trauma-Informed Practice (Distinction) TISUK 2019
Publications
Foulkes, E. (2021). An exploration into online singing and mindfulness during the COVID-19 pandemic for people with anxiety and/or depression. International Journal of Community Music.
Foulkes, E. (2024). Music on prescription – ancient wisdom in modern day medicine. Nordic Journal of Arts, Culture and Health. 6:2. pp. 1-6
Foulkes. E., Baylin, E., & Mann-Daraz, A. (2024). Impacts of the Relax Breathe Harmonise program in Yorkshire, UK. Australian Voice, 25.