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.


Thursday 9th October 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Navigating Vocal Aging for Singers

Karen Brunssen
As singers approach their senior years, they can benefit greatly from a voice teacher who understands the normal changes involved as they navigate vocal aging. This course will focus on the realities of aging voices for senior singers and what can be done to address vocal production and peripheral issues that can affect the activity of singing.


Friday 10th October 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Monday 13th October 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 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.


Monday 13th October 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Water Resistance Therapy and Semioccluded Devices for Voice Training

Dr Marco Guzmán
Several voice devices to perform water resistance therapy (WRT) and some oscillatory positive expiratory pressure devices (OPEP) (e.g. Acapella Choice, Shaker Medic Plus, New Shaker) are now commonly used for both voice training and voice therapy. Are these devices truly good for voice training? Are these devices the treatment by themselves? and how much evidence currently supports the use of these devices?