Habilitation for the Aging Avocational Singer
Tuesday 6th August 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
As our population ages, the demand for voice teachers who can adeptly support the unique needs of aging singers is steadily increasing. This course, based on my paper “Habilitation for the Aging Avocational Singer” (Journal of Singing, January/February 2022 Volume 78, No. 3, pp. 347–354) explores voice pedagogy principles tailored specifically to the aging population. It equips voice teachers with the knowledge and tools to address challenges and maximize the potential of their aging singer clientele.
Course Objectives:
- Understanding Aging and Its Impact on the Voice:
- Examine physiological changes and their effects on the singing voice.
- Discuss challenges like loss of range, intonation issues, slower vibrato, and vocal fatigue.
- Pedagogical Interventions:
- Learn strategies for addressing challenges faced by aging singers: onset, power, intonation, vibrato, noise, and vowel production.
- Engage with exercises designed to strengthen and stabilize the aging voice, drawing from traditional methods and recent therapeutic advances.
- Accommodating Diverse Needs:
- Address the specific needs of various aging singer profiles, including avocational singers, retired professionals, and true adult beginners.
- Consider gender and age-related changes, with a focus on recent research concerning female singers and those navigating menopause.
- Promoting Lifelong Vocal Health:
- Emphasize the importance of daily vocal exercise, proper nutrition, hydration, and an active lifestyle in maintaining vocal health.
- Encourage a positive and proactive approach to aging, celebrating the unique advantages and experiences that older singers bring to their performances.
Course Features:
- Case Studies and Peer Feedback: Analyze your real-world scenarios and benefit from the collective experience of fellow participants.
- Resource Compilation: Receive curated resources, including recommended readings, exercise protocols, and referral guidelines for healthcare professionals.
Join us to enhance your skills as a voice teacher and make a meaningful impact on the lives of aging singers. Equip yourself with the expertise to support their vocal journey and ensure they continue to enjoy singing with confidence and joy.
This course is ideal for voice teachers, choir directors, and vocal coaches looking to deepen their understanding of the aging voice and expand their pedagogical toolkit.
🏷️ 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
Dr Dann Mitton
Independent voice teacher and researcher Dann Mitton earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance (Voice) degree with a specialization in voice pedagogy...
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, 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.
Wednesday 4th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 11th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 18th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 25th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 1st April 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 8th April 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
(London Time)
Learn to Coach RP and SSBE – a Certificate in Accent Coaching
Louisa Morgan
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.
Tuesday 17th March 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
The Use of Vibrato in Belt and Legit Styles of Singing in Professional Female Musical Theatre Performers
Dr. Alyssa Becker
Shaped by the popular music of its time, musical theatre blends storytelling with an ever-evolving range of vocal styles—from classical legit singing to jazz, hip-hop, and powerhouse belting. Despite its importance, much of what we understand about vibrato comes from laboratory-based studies that strip singing of its musical, stylistic, and performance context. Join Dr Alyssa Becker as she connects current research with real-world pedagogy, revealing how elite musical theatre performers strategically use vibrato to shape style and storytelling, and showing how these insights can be applied in the voice studio to train stylistic flexibility and control!
Wednesday 18th March 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Facilitating Jaw Release Through Improved Habits of Stance and Alignment
Ruth Williams Hennessy
Are you a singer or speaker struggling with stubborn jaw tension that just won't quit? Even with elite training, the "stuck" jaw is often a symptom of a surprising culprit: your feet! Join Ruth Hennessy in this interactive workshop where she bridges the gap between podiatry and phonation, moving beyond "temporary fixes" to address the physical misalignments that bottleneck your performance.