Motor Learning In Singing: The Importance Of What, How, And When with Heidi Moss
Thursday 16th February 2023, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
When we learn to sing, we are engaging in very specific motor learning processes: we design exercises like scales and arpeggios, train on different vowels, and practice until we have a sense of automation.
However, much of the research in the motor learning field is derived from physical activities very different from singing.
Although the enthusiasm for the ideas is warranted, singers and teachers need to understand the uniqueness of the vocal motor system to best design learning strategies.
This short course will describe how the over 100 muscles are recruited in the brain when we sing. As the most complex behavior in humans, order and process are essential components to the system.
We will explore more efficient strategies for imprinting motor elements that will require less “undoing” and make singers feel progress and ease faster.
Heidi Moss Erickson
Heidi Moss, is a Bay Area performer, educator, and scientist. Noted for her “rich and radiant soprano” (Edward Oriz, Sacramento Bee) has performed on national and international stages...
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 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.
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.
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!