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.

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Learn to Coach RP and SSBE – a Certificate in Accent Coaching

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This six-week course is an opportunity to learn about both Received Pronunciation and Standard Southern British English. Rather than a course in learning how to speak RP/SSBE (there are many brilliant available courses for this already), this course is about learning how to coach it.

Acting Emotion: Perspectives from the Masters
Thursday 5th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Thursday 12th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
(London Time)

Acting Emotion: Perspectives from the Masters

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Stanislavski said, “our artistic emotions are, at first, as shy as wild animals and they hide in the depths of our souls.” Michael Chekhov said, our bodies should be like a “sensitive membrane, a kind of receiver and conveyor of the subtlest images, feelings, emotions and will impulses.” And Meisner said we should be “living truthfully under imaginary circumstances.” Join Louisa Morgan in this 2-part course as she explores a range of well-known acting practitioners to investigate what they believed (or believe) about emotion and how they approached it in their work. She'll compare their work to see where they align and where they diverge.

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Tuesday 10th March 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)

Living truthfully in the present moment: An introduction to the Meisner Technique!

Abigail Sugden

Sanford Meisner believed that acting is living truthfully under imaginary circumstances. Rooted in behavioural aspects of acting practice, the Meisner Technique is often associated with encouraging actors to live truthfully in the present moment. Aimed at those working within the field of acting, this 2-hour session with Abigail Sugden will focus on the work of Sanford Meisner, introducing the core principles of his technique and discussing the possible benefits to performers.