Singing for Health and Trauma 5 Week Course
Wednesday 13th January 2021, 5:00 PM - Wednesday 10th February 2021 7:00 PM (London Time)
A course which combines research, theory and practice to equip Singing and Voice practitioners with knowledge and practical skills to understand how Singing can promote Mental Health and Well-being.
This course, taken as a standalone does not provide certification or a qualification but aims to give a solid understanding of trauma and mental health in order to enhance practice and skills.
It does not replace other courses such as Counselling or Psychotherapy qualifications. It may be pursued further in the form of an accredited PGCert/MA Professional Practice (Voice Pedagogy).
This is targeted at Singing and Voice practitioners as an introduction to understanding Trauma and how Mental Health can be supported through singing.
Sessions will be a combination of tutor led presentations and practical activity as well as student discussions and sharing in break out rooms.
This programme’s workshops will be interactive and involve break out rooms, so we would encourage you to attend live. These sessions will be recorded but due to the break out rooms the recordings will be edited. If you cannot attend live, you will still be able to access a recording of the workshop, but it will be a shorter recording and it may not give you the full experience of the workshop.
Session One – Exploring the Research
Wednesday 13th January 2021, 5pm-7pm (UK time)
- About Mental Health and Mental Illness – definitions and understanding (including the impact of the pandemic)
- Singing and Mental Health – research overview and case studies
Session Two – The Neuroscience of Trauma
Wednesday 20th January 2021, 5pm-7pm (UK time)
- The ACEs study and impact of Trauma on brain and body
- Understanding primal emotions and links with voice
- The Window of Tolerance and Polyvagal Theory
Session Three – Principles
Wednesday 27th January 2021, 5pm-7pm (UK time)
- Research and evidence-based principles and approaches for trauma informed Voice and Singing practice
- Practical exploration of some of these principles through practise, discussion and exploration in more detail. What do these principles look like in the studio, class or setting?
Session Four – Practicalities
Wednesday 3rd February 2021, 5pm-7pm (UK time)
- What are the key skills and attributes for practitioners?
- Developing and honing empathy skills – how to not ‘fix’ problems
- Adapting to environments (e.g., face to face, online, different settings, individual and groups)
- Practitioner well-being. How can we best protect and look after ourselves and our own mental health as practitioners? Exploration of ‘compassion fatigue’ and the impacts of burn out.
Session Five – Consolidation & Reflection
Wednesday 10th February 2021, 5pm-7pm (UK time)
- Reviewing and reflecting on the learning and steps to putting it into practice
- Reflective practice – what does it mean and how do we do it?
- Practising and sharing techniques and concepts and reflecting on our own experiences
All sessions are recorded and will be sent out to all registered participants.
Emily Foulkes
Emily gained a Distinction in her Master’s in Voice Pedagogy, specialising in Singing for Mental Health, Pain Management, and Trauma-Informed Practice...
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 5th August 2025
1:00 PM - 12:00 PM
Tuesday 12th August 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 19th August 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 26th August 2025
1:00 PM - 12:00 PM
Tuesday 2nd September 2025
1:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Tuesday 9th September 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 16th September 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 23rd September 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
(London Time)
Certificate in Acting Approaches for Singing Teachers

Louisa Morgan
Are you a singing teacher looking to elevate your students’ performances? Join our very own Louisa Morgan, as she takes a deeper dive into acting approaches that singing teachers can use to integrate powerful acting techniques into singing lessons. This 8 session course is perfect for those who want to help their singers connect deeply with the story behind the song. Gain practical tools and techniques that you can immediately apply in your teaching! Come along live for an interactive experience, or watch on playback at your leisure.


Tuesday 2nd September 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Soul-Training: Riffs, Runs, & R&B Singing

Lisa Popeil
In this interactive workshop, participants will have an opportunity to explore an extremely popular vocal style known as soul singing or R&B (Rhythm & Blues). Lisa Popeil will share with singers, voice teachers, and anyone interested in this powerful vocal style some little-known techniques in producing this rich, emotional, and satisfying sound!


Thursday 4th September 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Unpacking the Mind-Voice Connection in Occupational Voice Users!

Dr Cantor Cutiva
Join Dr. Cantor-Cutiva as she explores the Mind-Voice Connection, a holistic framework that considers how psychological traits, stress levels, and sleep quality interact with vocal health, particularly in occupational voice users. Through a multidisciplinary lens, we will examine how personality dimensions such as extraversion, neuroticism, and conscientiousness influence not only vocal behaviour but also the perception and reporting of vocal fatigue.