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.
Tuesday 28th July 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
“Too Much, Too Little, Just Right!” - The Balancing Act Model
Robert Edwin
The Balancing Act Model encourages singers to explore the extremes of singing, and from those extremes, establish their most efficient (balanced) voice and performance techniques. Join the renowned singer/actor and author Robert Edwin as he covers many aspects of the singing process including breathing, phonation, resonation, articulation, and attitude. If you’re involved in music theater or opera, you’ll find the Model to be especially helpful in developing character voices for roles such as Nathan and Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. If you’re just looking to find out what your body and voice can do, The Balancing Act Model can provide many answers!
Thursday 30th July 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS | Person-Centred Singing Teaching
William Leigh Knight
Only around 3% of the population fall into the category of amusia while over 17% consider themselves ‘tone-deaf’; and this does not account for non-singers, a wider group sometimes described as ‘tuneless’. So, who are ‘the voiceless’? Join William Leigh-Knight as he unpicks this question and considers the purpose of training a voice, when it is considered such a natural human attribute, and he expands on the principles that drive his own practice, which may be summarised as ‘person-centeredness’
Monday 3rd August 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Tuesday 4th August 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Wednesday 5th August 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Thursday 6th August 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Friday 7th August 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
(London Time)
Level Two Certificate in Accents and Phonetics with Louisa Morgan
Louisa Morgan
Build on your foundational knowledge of accents and phonetics in this week‑long lunchtime course designed specifically for voice teachers. Whether you have completed our Level 1 Certificate or already possess a basic working knowledge of phonetics and accent work, this Level 2 course will help you deepen your skills, sharpen your analytical ear, and expand your practical toolkit for teaching.