Are kids just young adults? Paediatric voice disorders, anatomy, and physiology
Thursday 13th March 2025, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
Over one million children in the United States suffer from voice problems. Dysphonia takes a toll on both their psychological well-being and academic performance. Hence early identification and restoration of optical vocal health is critical. But how well do we understand paediatric anatomy and physiology?
Are children simply young adults when it comes to their voice? This short course will dive deep into paediatric voice disorders, exploring the key anatomical and physiological differences between children’s vocal development and that of adults. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment of voice disorders in children, emphasizing the need for age-specific approaches in clinical practice.
We will challenge the idea that children are just “young adults” and break down how their anatomy, acoustics, aerodynamics, and vocal fold vibratory motion differ from adults. We will also cover common voice disorders in children, equipping you with knowledge to choose the best strategies and approaches for working with young voices.
This session will provide insights into how children’s voices mature and how to develop vocal skills tailored to their unique physiological capabilities. Learn to identify the limitations and characteristics of a child’s voice and gain the knowledge needed to choose appropriate vocal training or music that supports their evolving vocal health.
🏷️ Price £30 (UK VAT inclusive)
🎥 Recording automatically sent to all who book (even if you cannot attend live)
▶️ Rewatch as many times as you like
📜 Certificate of attendance available
Dr. Rita Patel
Dr. Rita Patel is a speech language pathologist with specialization in the area of voice. Dr. Patel’s career is a blend of ground-breaking research, clinical expertise, and passionate advocacy for voice health.
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.
Wednesday 29th October 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
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Hilary Davies
In recent years, the music therapy profession has begun to consider the application of the neurodiversity paradigm to music therapy practice, in particular In relation to autism, and an increasing amount of literature embracing this perspective has been published. This lecture, delivered from a lived experience perspective, will provide an explanation of the key concepts around neurodiversity - particular consideration will be given to the use of the voice, both one's own but also to the neurodivergent individual’s particular ways of using language, song and vocal sounds.
Thursday 30th October 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
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Annie Morrison
Most of us have little idea of HOW we speak, or what to do to make speech more muscular. Join Annie Morrison (creator of the 'Morrison Bone Prop') for this two hour session on Creative Articulation, a holistic and haptic approach to the touchings and feelings of the articulators in the dance of speech. Seeing articulation as a purely mechanical skill is detrimental to an actor's process: it is crucial to understand what language is doing on a biological level.
Tuesday 4th November 2025
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
(London Time)
The Belt Voice in R&B/Soul Singing: Vocal Characteristics & Physiology
Dr Matt Allen
The belt’s got soul! This course offers a deep dive into the vocal artistry and biomechanics of R&B/soul singing, with a particular focus on the belt voice—a powerful and expressive vocal technique central to the genre. Drawing from over 80 years of stylistic evolution, the course explores how R&B/soul singing has shaped contemporary commercial music and investigates the unique vocal traits that define its sound.