Short Courses & Events / Archive

Inside, Outside, Side-to-Side: Cultivating Presence through Movement in Trauma-Informed Voice Care

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

When working with singers/clients that present with heightened emotional and physical reactivity, it is critical to have scope-of-practice appropriate tools that can cultivate presence for co-learning and connection. This workshop will briefly review the six principles of trauma-informed care and their relationship with movement as a present-moment anchor. We will define the concepts of interception, exteroception, and dual awareness and explore playful somatic practices that can be incorporated into clinical sessions or voice lessons.


Singing is a highly interoceptive event. We frequently cue singers to track the internal sensations of breath, vibration, and emotion. Although interoception is a critical skill, for individuals who have experienced chronic or traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression, the question “how does this feel” may lead to more overwhelm. Conversely, when locked in patterns of exteroceptive hyper vigilance, it can become difficult to explore outside surroundings. External safety scanning can manifest as a “deer in headlights” or high activation freeze state.


For singers living in constant hyper or hypo-arousal, paying constant attention to internal sensation may feel confusing, obsessive, or disconnecting. In these moments, it may be helpful to mindfully pivot between internal noticing (breath moving in the nose/the torso; vibration, emotions, etc.) and external noticing (moving the feet, legs, or hands; listening to sounds; fixing our gaze on a particular spot, etc). Can we become aware of two things happening at one time?


This process of dual awareness, or pendulation, not only provides present-moment orientation, but teaches us that we are capable of creating multiple possibilities. Pivoting between outside and inside creates opportunities for individuals to notice internal and external awareness without becoming overwhelmed in either perception, allowing individuals to build capacity for sensory awareness at their own pace.


In addition to this “inside-outside” inquiry, one of the most impactful and innate ways to connect with our internal and external environment is movement. Bi-lateral and side-to-side movements have demonstrated particular efficacy in unifying both hemispheres of the brain and creating a sense of grounding— especially for bodies impacted by debilitating levels of stress.


Connection is the bedrock of creativity. When we contextualize somatic practices like movement and dual awareness through a trauma-informed lens, we create space for complexity, honour dignity, and co learn with our clients from a place of curiosity rather than assumption.

🏷️ 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

Megan Durham

Megan Durham (she/her), serves on the voice faculty at the University of Louisville and works as a singing voice specialist.

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Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.

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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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Certificate in Foundations of Vocology with Adam Roberts

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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.

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(London Time)

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

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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!

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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!