The Effect of Body Alignment on Voice Production
Thursday 2nd May 2024, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM (London Time)
Voice production involves not just the respiratory and laryngeal mechanisms, but all of the structures of the body. It is therefore key to use a wide lens when assessing the origin of vocal challenges and optimising vocal performance as they may not be local to the vocal or respiratory apparatus. Due to the interconnected nature of the musculoskeletal and fascial systems, the voice can be affected by alignment issues that originate anywhere from the feet to the head.
In this session, we will explore the interconnected pathways of the body’s postural systems in the context of respiratory and vocal mechanics, and offer strategies for both assessing and addressing alignment issues with respect to voice. Topics will include:
- An exploration of the anatomy of voice production from foot to head
- Specific conditions, such as scoliosis, and how they affect voice production
- The role of the head-neck-jaw relationship in postural control
- Understanding the concept of proprioception for optimal postural balance
- How to do a postural assessment for a vocalist
- Practical strategies to address imbalances in alignment and therefore optimise vocal production
This session will deepen your understanding of the role of whole body mechanics in voice production and give you practical tools and strategies to assess and address issues of body alignment for yourself and your students.
Jennie Morton
After a long performing career as a Ballet dancer, West End Musical Theatre performer, and lead singer of a London-based Big Band, Jennie is now an Osteopath specializing in Performing Arts Medicine. Now based in Los Angeles...
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 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.
Tuesday 19th May 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Staging A Coup: History meets science for the coup de la glotte!
Kourtney Austin
Historical vocal pedagogy, voice science, voice health, and performance practice come together in this presentation from Kourtney Austin! The session addresses the historical context for teaching the onset as a fundamental skill, along with a review of a recent publication examining the acoustic effects of different types of onset, and practical studio implementation of onset training. The aforementioned publication is the first known research to objectively measure the acoustic implications of the coup de la glotte, and delineate it from the hard glottal attack.
Thursday 21st May 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Letting the Text Live: Reading Aloud with Expression!
Louisa Morgan
This 2-hour interactive session is designed to help you make more deliberate, expressive choices in your speaking of the written word. It will involve plenty of practical exploration and will cover tips and techniques for working with the voice to lift the text off the page. Work with me to refine nuance, precision, and expressive range. We’ll explore a variety of text samples to cover a wide range of real-world situations, so you can get a feel for the different styles and approaches. If you want your spoken text to sound purposeful, engaging, and unmistakably yours, this session will invite you to play with some tools to do just that.