Muscle Tension Dysphonia in the Singing Voice!
Friday 27th March 2026, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM (London Time)
A specialist course for singing teachers and voice professionals!
Designed specifically for those working with singers, this in-depth course explores Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD) through the lens of the singing voice - bridging clinical research and studio practice.
Based on a five-year investigative project, the course equips singing teachers with the knowledge and practical tools needed to confidently understand MTD, and support singers experiencing MTD beyond their initial therapeutic input.
What You’ll Gain
- A clear understanding of the physiology and biomechanics underpinning MTD
- Insight into primary MTD, including the patterns associated with 4 types
- Recognition of key symptoms in both spoken and singing voice
- Awareness of common causes and contributing factors (including stress, vocal load, posture, reflux, and anxiety)
- Guidance on general diagnosis pathways and the roles of GP, ENT, and SLT
- Exploration of evidence-informed treatment approaches, including: Accent Method, Estill Voice Training elements, Vocal Function Exercises, SOVT work (including Lax Vox) and tension-release strategies.
Practical, studio-based approaches to support recovery and prevent recurrence with consideration of the psychological impact of MTD will be included, with the aim of empowering singers through rehabilitation.
Why This Course Matters
MTD is increasingly prevalent, yet there remains a significant resource gap for singing teachers. Early recognition and informed support can reduce recurrence, improve rehabilitation outcomes, protect vocal longevity, strengthen collaborative relationships with clinical professionals, Keep the singer confidently at the centre of the process
This course provides both the theoretical framework and practical applications needed to integrate MTD awareness into your everyday teaching.
Whether you are encountering singers with persistent fatigue, range restriction, strain, breathiness, or unexplained vocal change, this training will enhance your support skills and expand your studio toolkit.
🏷️ 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
Dr Claire Thomas
Claire is a singer, singing teacher and voice researcher. She currently lectures in singing on the Musical Theatre programmes at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and runs a private singing studio just outside Edinburgh.
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 May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 12th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 19th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 26th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 2nd June 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 9th June 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Music Theory Fundamentals for Voice Pedagogues
Dr David Cane
Voice pedagogy has advanced significantly in the last decades in relation to knowledge of the vocal apparatus (anatomy and mechanics), acoustics, and performance psychology (to name just a few subfields) – this is a wonderful thing! Nonetheless, musicianship and the foundations of music theory are still relevant to the teaching and coaching of singers and this course aims to empower voice teachers and coaches with skills to support the fundamental musicianship development of their students.
Tuesday 19th May 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Staging A Coup: History meets science for the coup de la glotte!
Kourtney Austin
Historical vocal pedagogy, voice science, voice health, and performance practice come together in this presentation from Kourtney Austin! The session addresses the historical context for teaching the onset as a fundamental skill, along with a review of a recent publication examining the acoustic effects of different types of onset, and practical studio implementation of onset training. The aforementioned publication is the first known research to objectively measure the acoustic implications of the coup de la glotte, and delineate it from the hard glottal attack.
Thursday 21st May 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Letting the Text Live: Reading Aloud with Expression!
Louisa Morgan
This 2-hour interactive session is designed to help you make more deliberate, expressive choices in your speaking of the written word. It will involve plenty of practical exploration and will cover tips and techniques for working with the voice to lift the text off the page. Work with me to refine nuance, precision, and expressive range. We’ll explore a variety of text samples to cover a wide range of real-world situations, so you can get a feel for the different styles and approaches. If you want your spoken text to sound purposeful, engaging, and unmistakably yours, this session will invite you to play with some tools to do just that.