The Belt Voice in R&B/Soul Singing: Vocal Characteristics & Physiology
Tuesday 4th November 2025, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (London Time)
This course offers a deep dive into the vocal artistry and biomechanics of R&B/soul singing, with a particular focus on the belt voice—a powerful and expressive vocal technique central to the genre. Drawing from over 80 years of stylistic evolution, the course explores how R&B/soul singing has shaped contemporary commercial music and investigates the unique vocal traits that define its sound.
Through a blend of artistic analysis and scientific inquiry, this course examines the belt voice as a core characteristic of R&B/soul performance. The course presents findings from a global survey of industry experts and pedagogues who evaluated performances by five pioneering R&B/soul vocalists. These insights reveal that belting is not only a defining feature but also the most technically demanding aspect of the style.
Building on this foundation, perspectives from leading vocal coaches and performers are introduced, highlighting the distinct timbral qualities of R&B/soul belting compared to traditional musical theatre techniques. The final section delves into groundbreaking physiological research, including CT scans of vocalists during belted and comfortable pitches. These scans uncover critical data on vocal fold lengthening, laryngeal positioning, and pharyngeal wall mobility—offering a new understanding of the biomechanical demands of R&B/soul belting.
By integrating expert interviews, acoustic analysis, and advanced imaging, this course provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and teaching R&B/soul singing. It is ideal for vocalists, educators, and researchers seeking to master the belt voice while maintaining vocal health and stylistic authenticity.
🏷️ 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
Dr Matt Allen
Dr Matt Allen is a professional singer active on the Australian music scene, having worked with renowned artists such as Guy Sebastian, Tina Arena, Drapht, and Christine Anu. He has toured nationally and internationally, performing at events like Canadian Music Week, the Americana Festival, and in the UK, New York, and Singapore.
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 20th April 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Tuesday 21st April 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Wednesday 22nd April 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Thursday 23rd April 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
(London Time)
Certificate in Acting Approaches for Singing Teachers
Louisa Morgan
Are you a singing teacher looking to elevate your students’ performance? This 4-part course is perfect for those who want to help their singers connect deeply with the character and the story behind the song. Many singing teachers have lots of brilliant ideas about coaching vocal performance but often don’t have a background in acting. Learning more about acting techniques can build structure into your performance-focused lessons and add depth to the song. Gain practical tools and techniques that you can apply to your teaching.
Tuesday 21st April 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Understanding the How and Why of Vocal Dosimetry in Musical Theatre and Contemporary Singing
Dr Ana Flavia Zuim
Vocal dosimetry has emerged as an important tool for understanding the physiological demands placed on singers in contemporary musical theatre and commercial singing styles. Join Ana Flavia Zuim as she explores the principles behind vocal dosimetry and how objective measurements of vocal use such as time dose, cycle dose, distance dose, and sound pressure level can help quantify the vocal load experienced by performers during rehearsals and performances.
Thursday 23rd April 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Friday 24th April 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Singing and the Brain: A Harmonious Connection!
Dr Patricia Izbicki
Unlock the transformative power of music with our two-part lecture series that delves deep into the fascinating intersection of neuroscience, music education, and music therapy.