The Diaphragm in Voice: A Touch-Based Approach
Thursday 6th July 2023, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
The importance of the diaphragm as an integral component of voice production is frequently discussed.
In this short, 2-hour course, we will look at options that the voice coach and other professionals can leverage to increase awareness and efficiency of that region. We will review the evidence for the effectiveness of manual therapy with issues relating to the diaphragm region, including breathing, GERD, and performance/pain.
As many do not include touch-based interventions in their approach, we will explore options through client-applied methods. When discussing diaphragm-related interventions, health professionals often infer that they can isolate and selectively impact the diaphragm for treatment (through strengthening or manual therapy). Within this class, we will challenge this notion as we can only access the whole person.
Short of accessing the diaphragm with a scalpel, one cannot narrow the scope of any activity to be diaphragm-specific. In this class, I'll discuss the rationale for such an oppositional viewpoint and then explore intervention strategies for improving awareness, flexibility, and functional abilities (strength).
Walt Fritz
Walt Fritz, PT, has evolved traditionally taught tissue-based approaches into a unique interpretation of manual therapy. This approach advances views of causation and impact from historical tissue-specific models into a multifactorial narrative, leaning heavily on biopsychosocial influences.
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.
Tuesday 27th October 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Pop Pedagogy - an Overview
Kim Chandler
Some successful pop stars are celebrating career lengths of over sixty years, having been around since the 1950s when pop music emerged and diversified from jazz, so pop singing has been in existence sufficiently long now that, for teaching purposes, we can observe and analyse what type of approach serves it best.
Friday 30th October 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)
Feldenkrais Method® - its application in speech and song!
Marina Gilman
The Feldenkrais Method® is a form of somatic education that uses gentle movement and directed attention to improve physical and mental functioning, including singing and speaking. Since we are not always aware of the source of tension or discoordination, it is difficult to make the necessary adjustments to ensure optimal use of the voice!
Monday 2nd November 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday 3rd November 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
The Vocal Health Challenges for Actors and Singers!
Leda Scearce
Two part course! Vocal health principles are inextricably and symbiotically linked with singing and acting voice pedagogy: Good vocal health allows the singer and actor to more easily and effectively achieve their technical and artistic goals, and good teaching reinforces vocal technique that diminishes the risk of vocal injury. We now also recognize the necessity for singers and actors to understand how their instruments work, how to take care of their voices, and what to do when something goes wrong. Singing and acting teachers are indeed on the front lines of vocal health!