Short Courses & Events / Archive

Inhalation hazards and the performing vocalist

Tuesday 10th December 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)

Vocal production requires inhalation.  But in some performance venues there are chemicals in the air we inhale.   Examples include the glycols, glycerine or mineral oil mists in special effects such as haze, fog and smoke.  There also is combustion smoke and metal fumes from pyrotechnics, bullet hits (squibs), fire bars and cold spark gerbs.  Or there are particles from dust effects, artificial snow, and Holi powders.

While we rarely have to deal with tobacco smoke anymore, there is marijuana and vaping smoke in many locations.  In fact, some new information on the hazards of haze fog and smoke chemicals are from studies of vaping since the same chemicals are used in both.

Then there are air pollutants in the dressing and make up rooms including from hair sprays, from powders including talc, from air brush makeups, solvents from lotions, and more.

Next, there are air pollutants from some of the venues themselves. Old buildings may contain lead paint, asbestos sources, or mould.  New buildings often contain plastic and resin materials and polymer paints that off-gas chemicals.  The ventilation systems in both old and new venues are often less than helpful.

And we can’t ignore the airborne particles that spread infectious diseases which are changing the way we plan events, design ventilation systems, and select air purifiers.

In this course we will look at the respiratory system as a structure that is potentially vulnerable to many types of air pollutants. We will cover the physics needed to understand how particles, gases, and vapours behave in the air. We will review some of the studies of the chemicals encountered in performance venues and view short videos showing typical exposures.  Lastly, we will cover strategies to protect ourselves and our voices both on and off the job.

🏷️ 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

Monona Rossol

Monona Rossol was born into a Vaudeville family, began working as a professional entertainer at age three, and continues to perform occasionally to this day.  She has a BS in Chemistry with a minor in Math, an MS and MFA with majors in art and a minor in music. 

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.

Female Musical Theatre Belting in the 21st Century
Tuesday 1st April 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)

Female Musical Theatre Belting in the 21st Century

Dr. Christianne Roll

In the almost 100 years since the origin of the female musical theatre belt voice, the sound has become almost synonymous with Broadway itself, and has continued to develop and evolve, based on the storytelling needs of the musical theatre artform...

Tongue Tie: The Hidden Limitation Destroying Singers’ Technique, Progress, and Potential
Thursday 3rd April 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday 17th April 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)

Tongue Tie: The Hidden Limitation Destroying Singers’ Technique, Progress, and Potential

Jessica Luffey

It holds true that improving vocal technique creates better sound and vocal freedom. But what if I told you there’s a hidden physical issue preventing some singers from progressing—one that most pedagogues, teachers, and even medical professionals are unaware of…?

 Student-Centred Voice Pedagogy: Working with your Students to Develop Artistry
Tuesday 8th April 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)

Student-Centred Voice Pedagogy: Working with your Students to Develop Artistry

Jeanne Goffi-Fynn

In this seminar, we’ll discuss the five aspects of student-centred pedagogy. Voice instruction is in many ways a personal journey toward artistry and this path involves an intimate and individualized educational experience that occurs between the student and their teacher. This relationship is an integral part of the teaching and learning process.