Singing and Postnatal Mental Health
Tuesday 30th January 2024, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (London Time)
This session will focus on how singing and songwriting can support postnatal mental health. We will cover four main areas:
- Why postnatal mental health is a public health priority in the UK, and what it feels like to experience illnesses such as postnatal depression
- Why music, and specifically singing, is increasingly used to support wellbeing and why it might be particularly relevant in the postnatal period
- Drawing on studies led by the Royal College of Music, London, we will consider cutting-edge evidence for how group singing can speed up recovery from postnatal depression and how online songwriting can reduce postnatal loneliness
- Finally, participants will be invited to consider how the findings could support their own practice. Ideas will be shared about how the presented research has sparked new singing initiatives around the world, and attention will be given to the challenges as well as the possibilities of such work. Following the presentation, participants will have the opportunity to share their responses and ask questions
The session aims to raise awareness of the potential for singing to support new parents, drawing on robust research evidence with both parents and singing leaders.
Professor Rosie Perkins
Rosie Perkins is Professor of Music, Health and Social Science at the Royal College of Music, London. Rosie is based in the RCM’s Centre for Performance Science, where her research investigates two broad areas: how music and the arts support societal wellbeing and how to enhance artists’ wellbeing and career development.
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.
Tuesday 7th May 2024
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Parallels in learning to talk and sing: Social mechanisms of vocal learning in baby humans and songbirds
Michael Goldstein
To gain a better understanding of the development and evolution of vocal learning, we will examine the processes by which birds learn to sing and human infants learn to talk.
Thursday 9th May 2024
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
On the Nose: Nasality as Percept and Physical Reality
Nicholas Perna
This course will address three perspectives on nasality: distinctions between nasal airflow and audio signal (velopharyngeal opening) and perception; deciphering between the two timbral qualities commonly related to nasality - twang and honk - and which are related to velopharyngeal opening; and the pedagogic usefulness of velopharyngeal opening to reduce laryngeal instabilities near points of registration shifts.
Tuesday 14th May 2024
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Tuvan Overtone Throat Singing
Jerry Walsh
This two-hour class on Tuvan throat singing will be an opportunity to learn five different styles of overtone singing that first originated in Central Asia. Several styles can be learned quite quickly while others are more complex and require deeper study. This class is great for singers of all levels from absolute beginners to professionals.