Short Courses & Events / Archive

Respiratory Aging and Its Effects on the Voice: Mechanisms and Training Approaches

Tuesday 17th December 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)

As the larynx undergoes physiological changes with aging, vocal performance is often affected. Older adults may for example notice shifts in the quality of their voice or experience increased effort when speaking or singing. Additionally, age-related or disease-related changes in the lower respiratory system can reduce the amount of airflow and pressure needed for voicing, further compounding the vocal challenges faced by older speakers and singers.

With aging, some individuals may therefore benefit from approaches directly targeting the respiratory system – as a complement to more traditional vocal exercises – to enhance their voice quality and voice-related quality of life. In order to identify the most effective respiratory approaches, it is important to first understand how respiratory function impacts voice production in aging, and the mechanisms of action through which targeted respiratory exercises may improve voicing.

During this course, we will (1) describe the principal respiratory changes occurring with aging and their effects on voice production; (2) explain the different mechanisms by which some respiratory exercises may impact voice outcomes, with an emphasis on those that are particularly relevant in aging; and (3) provide a concrete example of a respiratory exercise that can be used to improve respiratory and voice outcomes, inspiratory muscle strength training.

By the end of this course, you will have a deeper understanding of the intricate interactions between the respiratory system and the larynx, and how these interactions can be enhanced to help mitigate some of the effects of aging on the voice.

🏷️ 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

Maude Desjardins

Maude Desjardins is an assistant professor at University Laval and researcher at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Rehabilitation and Social Inclusion (Quebec, Canada).

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Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.

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Sorry, 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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5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
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Join Dr Dann Mitton for this two hour workshop where he explores the Development, Techniques, and Repertoire favoured for Low Male Voices (LMVs). Typically labelled as 'Bass' and 'Baritone', these classifications are used in classical music, choral settings, and vocal pedagogy to help determine suitable repertoire and vocal roles. In contemporary music, the distinctions are less rigid but still useful for understanding vocal range and timbre.

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Thursday 11th December 2025
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
(London Time)

Picking Up Good Vibrations: Pedagogical and Clinical Voice Analysis!

Dr Calvin Baker

Voice teachers and clinicians strongly rely on auditory perceptual modes of voice evaluation. These are considered the gold standard for assessing voice quality and training effects (e.g., a singer’s progress from lesson to lesson or across voice therapy). Join Dr Calvin Baker as he explores techniques for instrumentally analysing the singing voice. Specific considerations for the challenges of obtaining reliable, robust, and comparable data will be presented, and practical recommendations for recording and analysing the singing voice in pedagogical and clinical contexts will be made.

The Pedagogy of Vibrato: Integrating Science and Studio Practice
Thursday 11th December 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)

The Pedagogy of Vibrato: Integrating Science and Studio Practice

Dr Justin John Moniz

Vibrato is more than just a shimmer in the sound—it’s one of the voice’s most powerful tools for artistry and expression. In this dynamic course, Justin John Moniz—Associate Director of Vocal Performance and Coordinator of Vocal Pedagogy at NYU Steinhardt, and Associate Editor of the Journal of Singing—pulls back the curtain on vibrato, blending history, science, and studio know-how into an engaging exploration for singers and teachers alike.