4- Part Course - Singing For Health: An Introduction To Quantitative Methods
Wednesday 1st February 2023, 10:00 AM - Wednesday 22nd February 2023 12:00 PM (London Time)
This event is part of our fundraising series for the Singing for Health Network.
A Singing For Health Network membership is required to attend this course.
This course will introduce central concepts in research design, measurement, sampling, and statistical analysis underpinning quantitative methods in research on singing for health.
We will consider examples of survey methods, observational pre-post studies and controlled trials on singing and health, and the approaches adopted in data gathering and analysis.
Students will be supported in undertaking critical assessments of selected quantitative research studies on singing and health.
We will also work through exercises in the statistical treatment of quantitative data to answer research questions and test hypotheses.
Session 1
The nature of singing and a suggested logic model of singing for health. The need critical appraisal of research studies and the role of evidence reviews. Survey methods in singing for health research. An introduction to random sampling and statistical inference. Primary and secondary qualities. Levels of measurement and the analysis of categorical data using the chi-squared test.
Session 2
Singing for mental health. Examination of primary qualitative and quantitative studies. Systematic reviews of research on singing and mental wellbeing. Observational pre-test post-test studies. Use of standardized measures that give ordinal data on mental wellbeing and mental distress. Analysis of ordinal data using non-parametric statistical tests.
Session 3
Singing for better breathing. Examination of primary qualitative and quantitative studies. Systematic and Cochrane reviews of research on singing and lung disease. Use of objective measures of lung function that give interval/ratio data. Analysis of objective measurements using parametric tests.
Session 4
Randomised controlled trials on singing and health. Critical appraisal of examples singing for health trials. Issues in the standardization of singing programmes and the nature of control groups. Use of the CONSORT statement and registration of trials. Statistical analysis and interpretation of trial data. Value of embedded qualitative studies within controlled trials.
Professor Stephen Clift
Stephen Clift is Professor Emeritus, Canterbury Christ Church University, and former Director of the Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health...
Singing For Health Network
The Singing for Health Network is a UK-based membership network for anyone interested or involved in Singing for Health, including singing practitioners, researchers...
Sorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.


Thursday 9th October 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Navigating Vocal Aging for Singers

Karen Brunssen
As singers approach their senior years, they can benefit greatly from a voice teacher who understands the normal changes involved as they navigate vocal aging. This course will focus on the realities of aging voices for senior singers and what can be done to address vocal production and peripheral issues that can affect the activity of singing.


Friday 10th October 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Monday 13th October 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)
Introduction to Vocal Acoustics for Spoken and Sung Voice

Gökçe Kutsal
This course is designed to break down the fundamentals of acoustics for both spoken and sung voice in a beginner-friendly, accessible way — so you can easily understand and apply these concepts to your teaching or research.


Monday 13th October 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Water Resistance Therapy and Semioccluded Devices for Voice Training

Dr Marco Guzmán
Several voice devices to perform water resistance therapy (WRT) and some oscillatory positive expiratory pressure devices (OPEP) (e.g. Acapella Choice, Shaker Medic Plus, New Shaker) are now commonly used for both voice training and voice therapy. Are these devices truly good for voice training? Are these devices the treatment by themselves? and how much evidence currently supports the use of these devices?