Short Courses & Events / Archive

Empowered Singing: Gender-Affirming Singing Voice Training

Thursday 20th March 2025, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)

As a vocal instructor, your ability to support your students in exploring and expressing their authentic voices is at the heart of transformative teaching. This comprehensive workshop is designed specifically for singing teachers who want to deepen their understanding of gender-affirming vocal techniques and create a more inclusive, supportive environment for all singers, regardless of gender identity.

Whether you're working with trans, non-binary, or gender-diverse individuals, or simply seeking to enrich your approach to vocal instruction, this course will equip you with the tools to navigate the complexities of gender-affirming singing voice training.

In this course, we will explore the physiological aspects of the singing voice in the context of gender identity. You’ll learn how to tailor vocal exercises to suit a variety of gender expressions, allowing you to address the unique needs of each student while fostering a sense of empowerment and self-expression.

Through this course, you will:

  • Understand the Science of Gender-Affirming Voice: Gain insight into the physiological changes in the voice and the effects of hormone therapy, voice training, and gender-related vocal shifts.
  • Master Tailored Vocal Techniques: Learn specific exercises that can help students navigate their vocal transitions, whether they are aiming to feminize, masculinize, or find a comfortable and authentic middle ground.
  • Create an Inclusive Teaching Environment: Learn how to cultivate an environment that makes all students feel seen, respected, and heard. Explore effective ways to address challenges like gender dysphoria and voice insecurity in a compassionate, non-judgmental way.
  • Develop Gender-Affirming Teaching Strategies: Discover practical strategies for assessing your students' vocal needs, communicating effectively about vocal goals, and adapting your teaching methods to meet those needs without assuming or imposing any specific gender expression.
  • Address Common Misconceptions: Learn how to break down myths around gender and voice, including concerns about vocal damage, and gain clarity on what vocal changes are possible and sustainable.

If you're ready to elevate your teaching practice and make a lasting, positive impact on your students' vocal journeys, this course will provide you with everything you need to start creating a more inclusive and gender-affirming approach to singing voice training.

🏷️ 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

Emerald Lessley

Emerald Lessley, soprano and voice educator, has a strong background in both performance and research, specializing in transgender voice training.

CPD Course Logo

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

Learn More

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.

Certificate In Applied Neuroscience And Voice with Voice Scientist Heidi Moss
Monday 27th April 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday 28th April 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday 29th April 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 30th April 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday 1st May 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday 5th May 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)

Certificate In Applied Neuroscience And Voice with Voice Scientist Heidi Moss

This six-day course is designed to provide an introduction to the neuroscience of vocalization. It aims to provide a foundation for those who are looking to fuse science with art and understand that the voice is so much more than an instrument.

Music Theory Fundamentals for Voice Pedagogues
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.

Embodied voice research: negotiating the ‘inner’ and outer’
Thursday 7th May 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)

Embodied voice research: negotiating the ‘inner’ and outer’

Marth Munro

The central thrust of the session will be around the employment of Donald Schön’s concept of ‘reflection-in-action’ and ‘reflection-on-action’ to contextualise the potential interface between the inner and the outer in embodied voice research.