Short Courses & Events / Archive

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).

🏷️ 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

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.

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Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.

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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.

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Tuesday 28th October 2025
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
(London Time)

Do you practice what you preach? Strategies for optimal practice

Professor John Nix

“Best practices.” “Practice makes perfect.” “Practice what you preach.” There are many popular phrases about practice that people toss about in conversation – but what is practice anyway, how does it work, and what is the relationship between practicing, learning, and performance? This course will examine current evidence from motor learning research on how we learn motor skills like singing. We’ll define practice, learning, and performance, and the importance of distinguishing learning from performance in how we practice.

A neurodiversity-affirmative approach to the voice!
Wednesday 29th October 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)

A neurodiversity-affirmative approach to the voice!

Hilary Davies

In recent years, the music therapy profession has begun to consider the application of the neurodiversity paradigm to music therapy practice, in particular In relation to autism, and an increasing amount of literature embracing this perspective has been published. This lecture, delivered from a lived experience perspective, will provide an explanation of the key concepts around neurodiversity - particular consideration will be given to the use of the voice, both one's own but also to the neurodivergent individual’s particular ways of using language, song and vocal sounds.

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Thursday 30th October 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday 6th November 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 13th November 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 20th November 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 27th November 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)

Certificate in Gender-Affirming Voice & Communication with Gillie Stoneham

Gillie Stoneham

In this five-part course, join Gillie for a deep dive into coaching transgender voices, drawing on her specialist knowledge to deliver introductory and orientation material right through to professional competence and vocal coaching implications – and everything in between!