Short Courses & Events / Archive

The Evolving Singing Voice: The Senior Years

Thursday 6th October 2022, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)

This short course draws information from Chapter 6 of Karen’s Book, The Evolving Singing Voice: Changes Across the Life Span – The Senescent Singer.

Vocal changes and their impact on singing sometimes prompt singers in their fifth, sixth, and even seventh decade of life to seek help with their voices.

At this point, a teacher well-equipped with explanations and solutions can be a great help.

Karen has worked with many aging amateur and professional singers one-on-one and within the ensemble setting. She is also an older singer herself.

This course will address the impact of aging factors on “the senescent singer?”

Are there specific exercises that can address changing issues?

What are reasonable healthy expectations for singing?

What causes these changes? What changes in our sensations and why?

At the end of the course, you will have a depth of understanding and many ways to help our beloved senior singers.

Karen Brunssen

Mezzo-soprano, Karen Brunssen is Professor and Co-chair of the Department of Music Performance at Bienen School of Music, Northwestern University. 

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.

Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) for Music Performance Anxiety (MPA) (3-week course)
Monday 6th January 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 13th January 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 20th January 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)

Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) for Music Performance Anxiety (MPA) (3-week course)

Dr David Juncos

In this updated three-part course, you will learn how to detect symptoms of music performance anxiety (MPA) among your students/clients and whether those symptoms are problematic or not. You will also learn about Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), an evidence-based psychotherapy and coaching model that aims to promote mindfulness and acceptance of one’s MPA symptoms, while also enhancing performance skills by increasing actions consistent with a musician’s values.

Hormones and female voices: an overview across life span
Tuesday 7th January 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)

Hormones and female voices: an overview across life span

Filipa M.B. Lã

This seminar provides an overview of how sex steroid hormones affect the morphology and function of the female voice across life span. Special emphasis will be given to menopause and aging and how associated changes may affect respiratory, phonatory and resonatory subsystems of the vocal apparatus and, consequently, voice quality and speech.

The Acting Through Song Toolkit: a 3-part course
Wednesday 8th January 2025
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Wednesday 15th January 2025
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Wednesday 22nd January 2025
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
(London Time)

The Acting Through Song Toolkit: a 3-part course

Louisa Morgan

Do you work with students who struggle to connect their acting skills with their singing skills? Are your students currently auditioning for professional work, drama schools or entering competitions? Perhaps you are a singing teacher needing to work on performance, but you don’t have a background in acting.