Soul-Training: Riffs, Runs, & R&B Singing
Tuesday 2nd September 2025, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
In this interactive workshop, participants will have an opportunity to explore soul singing and R&B vocal styles with deep roots in the African American musical tradition (Rhythm & Blues).
After a brief history detailing how African-American music laid the foundations of soul and R&B vocal techniques, we’ll be focusing on the R&B styles that emerged from the 1960s through early 2000s. Lisa Popeil will share insights gained from her years of study and practice, with singers, voice teachers, and anyone interested, guiding participants through the techniques of this style. And no discussion of Soul-Singing would be complete without exploring the art of “vocal runs, riffs or licks”, which are a core improvisational language within the tradition.
Other vital topics related to singing soulfully regard having a particular relationship to “the beat”, compared to how classically trained singers might consider core beats and rhythms in general. R&B singing exhibits rapid dynamic, adduction, and resonance shifts as well as specific resonator shapes that help produce the most authentic sound.
The movement of the body and how that relates to soulfulness in singing will be explored, so dress comfortably!
Finally, we’ll be studying many great artists and their methods such as Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, James Brown, Luther Vandross, and Aretha Franklin to see what we can learn and model from their individual approaches to this vocal style.
🏷️ 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
Lisa Popeil
Lisa Popeil, MFA in Voice, has studied voice for 60 years and has taught professionally in a variety of styles of singing for over 40 years. Based in Los Angeles, California, Lisa is the creator of the Voiceworks® Method, the Total Singer DVD and the Total Singer Workshop.
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.
Monday 27th April 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday 28th April 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday 29th April 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 30th April 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday 1st May 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday 5th May 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)
Certificate In Applied Neuroscience And Voice with Voice Scientist Heidi Moss
This six-day course is designed to provide an introduction to the neuroscience of vocalization. It aims to provide a foundation for those who are looking to fuse science with art and understand that the voice is so much more than an instrument.
Thursday 30th April 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Friday 1st May 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Introduction to Vocal Acoustics for Spoken and Sung Voice
Gökçe Kutsal
This course is designed to break down the fundamentals of acoustics for both spoken and sung voice in a beginner-friendly, accessible way — so you can easily understand and apply these concepts to your teaching or research.
Tuesday 5th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 12th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 19th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 26th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 2nd June 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 9th June 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Music Theory Fundamentals for Voice Pedagogues
Dr David Cane
Voice pedagogy has advanced significantly in the last decades in relation to knowledge of the vocal apparatus (anatomy and mechanics), acoustics, and performance psychology (to name just a few subfields) – this is a wonderful thing! Nonetheless, musicianship and the foundations of music theory are still relevant to the teaching and coaching of singers and this course aims to empower voice teachers and coaches with skills to support the fundamental musicianship development of their students.