Music and the Sound Mind
Thursday 15th February 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
Making sense of sound is one of the sophisticated jobs we ask our brains to do.
Dr Nina Kraus, Northwestern University professor, director of the Brainvolts Lab, and author of the book Of Sound Mind: How Our Brain Constructs a Meaningful Sonic World examines the partnership of sound and brain, showing that the processing of sound drives many of the brain’s core functions and leaves a fundamental imprint on who we are as human beings.
Our hearing brain interacts with what we know, with our emotions, with how we think, with our movements, and with our other senses. Dr Kraus explores the power of music for healing as well as the destructive power of noise on the nervous system.
She describes why musicians—defined here as anyone who has played an instrument regularly at any point in their lives—have measurably better sound minds for decades. The sounds of our lives shape our brains, for better and for worse, and help us build the sonic world we live in.
Dr Nina Kraus
Dr Nina Kraus is Hugh Knowles Professor of Communication Sciences, Neurobiology and Otolaryngology at Northwestern University. As a biologist and amateur musician, she thinks about sound and brain health.
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.
Wednesday 15th April 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday 16th April 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Mitigating Music Performance Anxiety (MPA) Within the Teaching Studio: Theories & Practical Strategies
Dr David Juncos
In recent years, an alternative model for treating MPA has shown great promise among practitioners - training music teachers to use interventions from evidence-based coaching models aimed to treat MPA, rather than continually referring students with MPA to receive psychotherapy like CBT.
Thursday 16th April 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Nutrition and Exercise for Singers – The Missing Link in Vocal Health and Longevity
Duncan Rock
Discover the essential role that nutrition and exercise play in enhancing vocal health and ensuring a long-lasting singing career in our upcoming seminar, "Nutrition and Exercise for Singers – The Missing Link in Vocal Health and Longevity."
Monday 20th April 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Tuesday 21st April 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Wednesday 22nd April 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Thursday 23rd April 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
(London Time)
Certificate in Acting Approaches for Singing Teachers
Louisa Morgan
Are you a singing teacher looking to elevate your students’ performance? This 4-part course is perfect for those who want to help their singers connect deeply with the character and the story behind the song. Many singing teachers have lots of brilliant ideas about coaching vocal performance but often don’t have a background in acting. Learning more about acting techniques can build structure into your performance-focused lessons and add depth to the song. Gain practical tools and techniques that you can apply to your teaching.