Demystifying and Utilizing Nasal Resonance in the Voice Studio
Wednesday 12th November 2025, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
Nasal resonance, achieved by lowering the soft palate and allowing sound energy to resonate through the nasal passages, has recently gained attention for its potential benefits to singers. Research by Sundberg suggests that incorporating nasal resonance can improve vocal efficiency and offers more effective mitigation of voice breaks than traditional semi-occluded vocal tract exercises like straw phonation.
Despite common misconceptions, the voice quality often labeled “nasal” by the general public typically refers to a bright, twangy sound unrelated to true nasal resonance or velum lowering. For voice professionals, it is essential to distinguish between these separate acoustic phenomena, even when they are used together artistically. Lowering the soft palate also lowers all formant frequencies, making this technique a powerful strategy for relieving vocal pressure in high-intensity tasks such as belting or pressed phonation.
This presentation explores the science and practical application of nasal resonance, taking participants through a step-by-step process of identification and utilization of nasal resonance in singing and speech. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of when, why, and how to use it effectively in vocal performance and pedagogy.
Dr Melissa Treinkman
Melissa Treinkman, DMA, is an assistant professor of musical theatre vocal performance at the University of Southern California, where she teaches applied voice and vocal pedagogy.
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
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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 30th July 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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Only around 3% of the population fall into the category of amusia while over 17% consider themselves ‘tone-deaf’; and this does not account for non-singers, a wider group sometimes described as ‘tuneless’. So, who are ‘the voiceless’? Join William Leigh-Knight as he unpicks this question and considers the purpose of training a voice, when it is considered such a natural human attribute, and he expands on the principles that drive his own practice, which may be summarised as ‘person-centeredness’
Monday 3rd August 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Tuesday 4th August 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Wednesday 5th August 2026
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1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
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Build on your foundational knowledge of accents and phonetics in this week‑long lunchtime course designed specifically for voice teachers. Whether you have completed our Level 1 Certificate or already possess a basic working knowledge of phonetics and accent work, this Level 2 course will help you deepen your skills, sharpen your analytical ear, and expand your practical toolkit for teaching.
Monday 3rd August 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
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