Short Courses & Events / Archive

A Voice Teacher’s Guide to Temporomandibular Disorders

Tuesday 4th February 2025, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)

Have you or your singing students ever experienced jaw pain or tension during or after singing? This class is for you!

Temporomandibular Disorders are characterized by pain and functional limitations affecting the temporomandibular joints and surrounding structures. While this group of disorders is prevalent, conversations with voice teachers, voice pedagogy literature, and social media all suggest an incomplete understanding of TMDs among voice teachers and singers.

The purpose of this class is to outline a practical, science-based guide to Temporomandibular Disorders that would be relevant to singing and applicable for the voice teaching studio.

The class will begin with an overview of the anatomy and pathophysiology of the TMJ from the perspective of the biopsychosocial medical model and a summary of the literature describing the relationship between TMDs and the voice. How do TMDs affect the voice? What causes TMDs in singers? Does singing make TMDs worse? How can the singer mitigate the impact of TMDs?

We will then continue the discussion from the perspective of what to do as a voice teacher if you suspect your student may have a TMD. Topics include how to screen for a TMD, the voice teacher's role in diagnosis and management of TMDs, considerations for voice teacher response, and recommendations for adaptations in the voice studio.

The lecture portion of the class will conclude with a summary of major takeaways for voice teachers and a discussion of possible areas for future research.

There will also be a hands-on portion of the class, during which we will learn and practice an array of possible functional and vocal exercises that the voice teacher may offer for management of TMDs in singing. 10 minutes at the end of class will be reserved for question and answer.

Dr. Jane Clukey

Dr. Jane Clukey, mezzo soprano, is an active performer and teacher of classical and commercial singing styles from Maine, USA. She appears frequently throughout Maine as a presenter, adjudicator, lecturer, music director, and workshop facilitator.

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Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.

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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.

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Tuesday 2nd September 2025
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(London Time)

Certificate in Acting Approaches for Singing Teachers

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Are you a singing teacher looking to elevate your students’ performances? Join our very own Louisa Morgan, as she takes a deeper dive into acting approaches that singing teachers can use to integrate powerful acting techniques into singing lessons. This 8 session course is perfect for those who want to help their singers connect deeply with the story behind the song. Gain practical tools and techniques that you can immediately apply in your teaching! Come along live for an interactive experience, or watch on playback at your leisure.

The Cannabis Question: What Voice Practitioners Need to Know!
Thursday 18th September 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)

The Cannabis Question: What Voice Practitioners Need to Know!

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As cannabis use has become more common, socially accepted, and legalized, voice professionals are increasingly fielding questions about its effects. This two-hour session with Dr Dann Mitton offers a clear, research-informed overview of what we currently know about cannabis and the singing voice. The session is built around real-world questions voice teachers and singers are asking: Does smoking cannabis dry out the vocal folds? Is vaping safer than smoking? What should I know if my student uses cannabis for anxiety or pain? Could some voice types be more at risk than others?

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Tuesday 23rd September 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)

How to Put the Perceptible Breath at a Singer's Disposal

Tanya Aspelmeier

Join the renowned Tanya Aspelmeier in this breath-related workshop specifically designed for the singer and singing teachers. Participants will learn exercises based on Professor Ilse Middendorf's therapeutic breathing method "The Perceptible Breath". This somatic discipline trains a person’s skills of perception to learn about their individual breath, body and nervous system and how they can regulate it by harnessing their own mental powers.