Psychological Influences on Voice Production: An Exploration of Emotional and Cognitive Processes
Tuesday 3rd September 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
Voice Production is a complicated balance within the systems of respiration, phonation, resonation, and articulation. What we know about this balance can help create training and rehabilitation strategies in the voice studio and voice clinic. However, beyond these physiological factors, deeper psychological factors influence voice production and without a solid understanding of the psychosocial influences on voice production, even the best training tools can be rendered insufficient.
This workshop will cover the major psychological domains of emotion and cognition and how these domains interact with the physiological systems of voicing and speech.
The workshop will include a brief introduction to the domains of attention, working memory, self-regulation, interoception, effort, threat sensitivity, and reward seeking behaviours, providing solid theoretical foundations of each domain and how these domains interact with the systems of voice and speech.
Following theoretical instruction, the workshop will present how research investigates each domain, how specific research paradigms in the psychological sciences are modified to address the unique neurological underpinnings of motor behaviour in voice and speech, and why modifications are necessary.
Following a discussion on the research into each domain, the workshop will discuss how research findings can be applied to pedagogical and clinical practice.
Lastly, the workshop will discuss how these basic psychological domains contribute to higher level psychological processes such as the sense of self (including impression management), confidence, performance anxiety, and practice behaviours.
This workshop will include didactic presentations and topic directed discussions.
Miriam van Mersbergen
Miriam van Mersbergen is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Memphis where she teaches Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech Mechanism, Voice Disorders, Advanced Clinical Instrumentation for Voice, and Dysphagia.
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
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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.