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 Acting Approaches for Singing Teachers
Tuesday 5th August 2025
1:00 PM - 12:00 PM
Tuesday 12th August 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 19th August 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 26th August 2025
1:00 PM - 12:00 PM
Tuesday 2nd September 2025
1:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Tuesday 9th September 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 16th September 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 23rd September 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
(London Time)

Certificate in Acting Approaches for Singing Teachers

Louisa Morgan

Are you a singing teacher looking to elevate your students’ performances? Join our very own Louisa Morgan, as she takes a deeper dive into acting approaches that singing teachers can use to integrate powerful acting techniques into singing lessons. This 8 session course is perfect for those who want to help their singers connect deeply with the story behind the song. Gain practical tools and techniques that you can immediately apply in your teaching! Come along live for an interactive experience, or watch on playback at your leisure.

Choral Pedagogy and the Older Singer: Strategies for Lifelong Singing!
Tuesday 9th September 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)

Choral Pedagogy and the Older Singer: Strategies for Lifelong Singing!

Dr Brenda Smith

There is intrinsic value in lifelong singing. Singing with others is a noble deed that brings immeasurable satisfaction. Singing together involves teamwork and offers myriad rewards. It can enhance personal well-being, develop skill sets, and promote friendship. At any age, singing improves mental agility and calms an agitated mind. It is an activity everyone can include in daily life anywhere and at any time. Singing should have no expiration date. Lifelong singing should not be a lofty ambition, but rather a way of life. Our interactive workshop will involve choral vocal exercises (warmups and cooldowns) as well as skill building strategies for tone quality and range that are age and size appropriate for older singers.

The Tongue as a Gateway to Voice, Resonance, Style and Intelligibility
Thursday 11th September 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)

The Tongue as a Gateway to Voice, Resonance, Style and Intelligibility

Dr Angelika Nair

Healthy vocal production depends on a finely tuned, athletic apparatus—a symphony of muscular interaction engaging the respiratory system, the laryngeal mechanism, and the resonance spaces of the pharyngeal, oral, and nasal cavities. Among these, the tongue stands out as one of the most critical yet least understood contributors to voice production. Join Dr Angelika Nair as she unpicks the essential anatomical insights that reveal the tongue’s role in shaping sound, influencing resonance, and impacting style and intelligibility!