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.
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.
Wednesday 10th June 2026
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
In Conversation With… Amanda Flynn
Dr Amanda Flynn
Join us for the first event in our new public interview series exploring vocal health and sustainability in musical theatre performance. Free and open to all!
Friday 12th June 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)
Learning together: group singing and choral pedagogy
Dr David Cane
The benefits of group singing are well documented and well known. Singing together can foster a sense of social connection and community as well enhancing wellbeing and mood. However, group singing is not only a shared cultural and artistic experience, but can also be a powerful site of learning. While many of the developments in voice pedagogy have tended to centre around the one-to-one model of teaching, this course with Dr David Cane explores the pedagogical (and potentially the political) potential of teaching and learning to sing collectively.