Short Courses & Events / Archive

From Broadway to the West End: Teaching Musical Theatre in a Modern Era

Tuesday 21st January 2025, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)

As the world of musical theatre evolves, voice professionals face the unique challenge of preparing singers for an industry that demands not only vocal excellence but also stylistic versatility and resilience. In this engaging two-hour workshop, Melanie Tapson - a professional performer, interdisciplinary voice specialist and clinical voice therapist - focuses on equipping voice educators with practical tools to help their students thrive at every stage of their career, all the way to Broadway, the West End, and beyond.

Through a voice-centred lens, this workshop will explore:

  • the essential vocal techniques shaping contemporary musical theatre, from belting and pop/rock mixing to strategies for vocal conditioning (and re-conditioning, too)
  • current trends in vocal styles and sound preferences across genres, and what they reveal about industry shifts
  • practical approaches for bridging the gap between classical and contemporary musical theatre training, helping singers build versatility with a priority focus on vocal health

Melanie will blend practical pedagogy with voice science, sharing research-backed insights into anatomy, physiology, and acoustics. You’ll discover:

  • how to teach singers to connect technical choices with emotional storytelling in song analysis and acting through song.
  • how to prepare students for real-world challenges, such as adapting quickly to new material, managing vocal demands during long contracts, and auditioning with confidence.
  • tools you can use to help analyse resonance and optimize vocal production.

Interactive exercises and case-based discussions will guide participants in developing actionable teaching strategies tailored to the needs of today’s performers. Whether you’re helping singers identify their “hit” roles, expand their stylistic range, or sustain vocal excellence under pressure, this workshop will provide the insights and tools to make your teaching more effective and impactful.

Join us for a practical, research-driven exploration of musical theatre pedagogy designed specifically for voice professionals, and leave inspired to help vocalists take centre stage!

🏷️ 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

Melanie Tapson

Melanie Tapson is a professional singer, Singing Voice Specialist, and speech-language pathologist whose practice specializes in voice assessment and therapy...

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 Foundations of Vocology with Adam Roberts
Monday 2nd June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 9th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 16th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 23rd June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 30th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)

Certificate in Foundations of Vocology with Adam Roberts

Adam Roberts

This fifteen week (30-hour) Vocology Cohort Intensive provides a comprehensive overview of basic vocal anatomy, physiology, and theories of voice production & perception, fundamentals of vocal health, pathology, evaluation, performance, and habilitation of the speaking and singing voice, and a survey of research, resources, and professional opportunities.

Advanced Belting Techniques: Coordinating the voice to communicate the human experience!
Thursday 5th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)

Advanced Belting Techniques: Coordinating the voice to communicate the human experience!

Matt Edwards

All voice types can belt, and there’s more than one kind of belting, but in introductory settings, it’s tough to cover every nuance that comes with training both aspiring and experienced belters. Join one of the leading voice teachers for commercial and musical theatre styles in the United States, Matt Edwards, for a dive into advanced belting. Empower your students to use the full range of their belt voice, and to move beyond the stereotype of belting!

Nasality in singing: a needed ingredient, a technical fault, or both?
Tuesday 10th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)

Nasality in singing: a needed ingredient, a technical fault, or both?

Dr Charlene Santoni

Nasality refers to how much sound comes out of your nose when you speak or sing. It is an important concept in resonant singing instruction, and also one that has been privy to long standing debate. Some believe nasality is a needed ingredient in singing, while others consider nasality a technical fault. This presentation will provide three probable explanations for the opposing views, and a way forward. It will also highlight research that explores how a singing technique (voice focus) influences nasality, which may help to refine current rehabilitation strategies for individuals struggling with hyper- or hyponasal speech!