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.
Monday 15th June 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Tuesday 16th June 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Wednesday 17th June 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Thursday 18th June 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Friday 19th June 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
(London Time)
Introduction to Postgraduate Academic Skills - Summer Bootcamp - Join Live!
Debbie Winter
Hosted by our very own Director of Studies (Debbie Winter), join our comprehensive Introduction to Academic Skills course, designed to equip you with essential tools and strategies for success in higher education. Perfect for bridging the gap between undergraduate and postgraduate study, this course offers a pathway to our full MA for students without an existing degree. We offer both live, interactive sessions and standalone, pre-recorded content.
Thursday 18th June 2026
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM
(London Time)
Body wisdom for vocal performers and educators: What the heart and lungs can teach us about sustainable and joyful vocal practice!
Dr Mark Seton
Join Dr Mark Seton as he discusses his recent research with creatives (260 participants) on how many are seeking to be more empowered in their personal and professional lives, as well as more embodied and enduring in the midst of rapidly changing life and work. This foundational and interactive workshop takes us on an embodied journey into how the actual heart functions and its crucial partnership with our lungs. In this course we’ll learn from their collective wisdom how to remain healthily ‘opened’ and ‘closed’ at the same time, to breath in and breath out, allowing time for both refreshment and recovery between each beat of our hearts, and each drawing of breath.
Friday 19th June 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Singing for Lung Health: The Basics
Dr Rachel B. Goldenberg
According to a 2016 study, nearly 1 in 5 people living in the UK have received a diagnosis of lung disease, making it highly likely that clinicians and voice teachers will encounter a singer living with a lung disease. Join Dr. Rachel B. Goldenberg, a singing teacher and speech-language pathologist, as she introduces the foundational concepts of Singing for Lung Health (SLH) and discusses the evolution of the field and its practical applications for respiratory health. While there was little research 15 years ago, SLH is now described as an "exploding field" that bridges the healthcare and music worlds!