Navigating Vocal Health: Understanding Voice Disorders and Rehabilitation for Singers
Thursday 22nd May 2025, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
Friday 23rd May 2025, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
At some point in every voice teacher’s career, they will most likely encounter a singer facing a vocal health challenge. Every voice teacher and singer can benefit from a deeper understanding of vocal pathologies and how to navigate them. From recognizing the signs of voice disorders to working with a voice care team, gaining knowledge in these areas is crucial for supporting a singer’s vocal health and longevity.
In Part I, this course focuses on key considerations for maintaining vocal health, with a significant portion dedicated to understanding specific voice disorders that singers might encounter. The discussion will cover structural pathologies such as nodules, polyps, cysts, hemorrhage, and scarring, as well as neurologic voice disorders like paresis, paralysis, and singer's dystonia. Additionally, muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) and vocal fatigue will be examined. Participants will learn about the characteristics of these voice pathologies, their impact on the voice, along with an overview of general treatment approaches. Case studies will be presented to offer real-world insights.
In Part II, the course will outline the steps the Singing Voice Specialist (SVS) voice teacher takes in an initial voice history interview and provide an in-depth outline for conducting the critical singing evaluation. Participants will learn what to listen for, and how to interpret findings. This evaluation process will guide the selection and structuring of vocal tasks tailored to support the singer’s vocal health and rehabilitation. A central theme of the course is the collaboration between the singing voice specialist (SVS) and a voice care team, as well as understanding the SVS’s scope of practice.
The course will cover:
- Collaborative roles between the SVS and voice care teams
- Overview of voice disorders that may impact singers
- Characteristics and treatment approaches for nodules, polyps, cysts, granulomas, scarring, paresis, paralysis, muscle tension dysphonia and more
- Case study presentations on real-world vocal pathologies and treatments
- Conducting a thorough voice history interview
- Systematic approach to structuring an initial singing evaluation
- Strategies for selecting and structuring vocal tasks to aid in the rehabilitation process
This course is ideal for singing teachers, voice professionals, SLP/SLTs, and those seeking to enhance their understanding of voice disorders and rehabilitation for singers.
🏷️ Price £50 (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 Kari Ragan
Singer, author, and voice pedagogue Kari Ragan holds degrees from the University of Washington (DMA) and Indiana University (MM, BM). She was the recipient of the prestigious Van L. Lawrence Award (2012), the NATS Foundation Pedagogy Award (2009), and the Wicklund Singing Voice Specialist Certificate (2010), and she was selected as a Master Teacher for the NATS Intern Program in 2021.
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.
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“Jaw tension” is one of many potential problems facing the singer, and can cause a direct negative impact on the performance in both direct and indirect ways. The underlying cause of jaw issues is attributed to numerous factors (technique, posture, strength, range of motion, etc.), making it often difficult to identify common denominators. Join Walt Fritz as he examines the evidence supporting stretching, strengthening, and manual therapy interventions to address jaw-related concerns in vocal performers, taking into account their unique needs.
Thursday 18th December 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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