'Mal canto' and the cultural politics of voice pedagogy: provocations from a critical disability studies (CDS) perspective
Thursday 14th November 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
‘Mal canto’ and the cultural politics of voice pedagogy: provocations from a critical disability studies perspective.
Critical disability studies (CDS) is a growing field of academic enquiry that has gained considerable traction over the past two decades. Encouraging us to think beyond typical medical and legal definitions, CDS analyses disability as a complex cultural, historical, political and relational phenomenon.
In this short course, I apply the insights of CDS to voice pedagogy and the academic discipline of voice studies, more broadly. I suggest that disability is highly relevant to our field in significant (and potentially surprising) ways.
In his book, Shakin’ All Over: Popular Music and Disability (2013), Georgie McKay coins the phrase ‘mal canto’ in opposition to the historico-pedagogical notion of idealised singing, ‘bel canto’ (lit. beautiful singing). In this course, I use McKay’s critical concept as a starting point for identifying and disrupting the potentially ableist norms that are often sustained within the field of voice studies and vocal pedagogy.
Key topics: Critical Disability Studies, access, inclusion, disability justice
🏷️ Price £30 (UK VAT inclusive)
🎥 Recording automatically sent to all who book (even if you cannot attend live)
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📜 Certificate of attendance available
Dr David Cane
David is a lecturer, researcher, singer, singing teacher and choir director. He is a former choral scholar of King’s College, Cambridge where he studied for a degree in Theology and Religious Studies.
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.
Tuesday 18th November 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
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Professor Kathryn Cunningham
Dr Sri Nandamudi
In this short course, Professors Kathryn Cunningham and Srihimaja Nandamudi (CCC-SLP) will introduce accessible ways to integrate acoustic voice analysis into actor voice training. Expanding on their article for Voice and Speech Review, Cunningham and Nandamudi will demonstrate interactive strategies that crossover from the clinical realm to the acting studio.
Thursday 20th November 2025
5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
(London Time)
The Art and Science of Accents and Dialects: Bridging Linguistics and Dialect Coaching
Louisa Morgan
The Voice Study Centre in partnership with the University of Essex are delighted to be hosting a free-to-attend symposium event on the 20th of November 2025: The Art and Science of Accents and Dialects: Bridging Linguistics and Dialect Coaching. The session will include a two-hour online roundtable panel discussion including time for a 30-minute Q&A from the audience at the end.
Tuesday 25th November 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Singing In Regional Accents: Introducing a Strategy!
Jennifer Rhodes
Do you find your students lean towards a particular accent when they sing? Is there a discrepancy between their spoken and sung accent, or have they have been instructed to change their accent when they sing? Changing an accent can change the way a song is sung, and may unearth unforeseen technical vocal challenges. Join Jennifer Rhodes as she unpicks the latest research on this topic!