A Tonguecentric Pedagogy: Reframing The Conversation About This Important Structure
Thursday 24th February 2022, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
The tongue is the most flexible structure in the vocal tract.
The pharynx, while not a square, does have four “sides” that include the back, two sides and the front.
The back wall is not moveable. The side walls can narrow and release to create high frequency energy (twang).
The front wall, the back of the tongue, is super flexible and can move in myriad ways!
It is the primary shaper of voice quality and can make or break a performer’s production. The fourth “wall” is used to create ring and darkness, and is involved in control of vibrato rate. It shapes vowels and consonants and can fix or cause vocal problems. “Holy Moly,” what doesn’t it do?
I now believe it is the most important structure to learn about in singing and have shifted my pedagogical approach toward a “TongueCentric” one instead of one centered around the vocal folds.
After all, the folds are only a small portion of the overall sound created.
Join us for this “TongueCentric” course.
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 April 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
The Acoustics and Mechanics of Whistle Voice
Dr Ingo Titze
Join Dr Ingo Titze for this 2-hour session, as he dives deep into the physiological and acoustic mysteries of the human "whistle voice"—the highest register of the human vocal range. While often compared to a flute or a lip whistle, recent research suggests the biological reality is far more complex than simple aerodynamics!
Wednesday 15th April 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday 16th April 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Mitigating Music Performance Anxiety (MPA) Within the Teaching Studio: Theories & Practical Strategies
Dr David Juncos
In recent years, an alternative model for treating MPA has shown great promise among practitioners - training music teachers to use interventions from evidence-based coaching models aimed to treat MPA, rather than continually referring students with MPA to receive psychotherapy like CBT.
Thursday 16th April 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Nutrition and Exercise for Singers – The Missing Link in Vocal Health and Longevity
Duncan Rock
Discover the essential role that nutrition and exercise play in enhancing vocal health and ensuring a long-lasting singing career in our upcoming seminar, "Nutrition and Exercise for Singers – The Missing Link in Vocal Health and Longevity."