Alexander Technique Overview: Foundational Principles, Current Research, and Significance in Voice Training
Wednesday 7th May 2025, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (London Time)
The Alexander Technique is a re-educative process embracing the connection between mind and body. For over a hundred years, the principles advocated by F.M. Alexander have been taught to alter injurious habits, reduce chronic tension, identify more efficient movement patterns, improve vocal timbre, and minimize performance anxiety. This introductory course will identify and discuss core principles of the Alexander Technique, its potential benefits to voice users, as well as practical applications beyond better posture.
There is evidence in voice pedagogy literature to suggest that many singing and acting teachers believe that lessons in the Alexander Technique benefit the voice. Postural improvement is the most commonly cited reason for studying the Technique, however, many Alexander teachers contend that this view represents a limited understanding of the Technique.
This overview will be presented in lecture format, with interspersed workshop elements, to encourage exploration of the how over the what. At the conclusion of the course, participants will have a preliminary understanding of the Technique’s precepts, and how the Technique may benefit those who wish to improve their singing or speaking. Existing Alexander Technique/voice research will also be discussed.
Michele Capalbo
Michele Capalbo is a performer, adjudicator, lecturer, teacher and researcher. A Canadian singer with over two decades of international performance experience in opera and concert, her specialty is the music of Verdi and Puccini.
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, 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.
Tuesday 5th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 12th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 19th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 26th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 2nd June 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 9th June 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Music Theory Fundamentals for Voice Pedagogues
Dr David Cane
Voice pedagogy has advanced significantly in the last decades in relation to knowledge of the vocal apparatus (anatomy and mechanics), acoustics, and performance psychology (to name just a few subfields) – this is a wonderful thing! Nonetheless, musicianship and the foundations of music theory are still relevant to the teaching and coaching of singers and this course aims to empower voice teachers and coaches with skills to support the fundamental musicianship development of their students.
Tuesday 19th May 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Staging A Coup: History meets science for the coup de la glotte!
Kourtney Austin
Historical vocal pedagogy, voice science, voice health, and performance practice come together in this presentation from Kourtney Austin! The session addresses the historical context for teaching the onset as a fundamental skill, along with a review of a recent publication examining the acoustic effects of different types of onset, and practical studio implementation of onset training. The aforementioned publication is the first known research to objectively measure the acoustic implications of the coup de la glotte, and delineate it from the hard glottal attack.
Thursday 21st May 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Letting the Text Live: Reading Aloud with Expression!
Louisa Morgan
This 2-hour interactive session is designed to help you make more deliberate, expressive choices in your speaking of the written word. It will involve plenty of practical exploration and will cover tips and techniques for working with the voice to lift the text off the page. Work with me to refine nuance, precision, and expressive range. We’ll explore a variety of text samples to cover a wide range of real-world situations, so you can get a feel for the different styles and approaches. If you want your spoken text to sound purposeful, engaging, and unmistakably yours, this session will invite you to play with some tools to do just that.