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.

Pop Pedagogy - an Overview
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.

Feldenkrais Method® - its application in speech and song!
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!

The Vocal Health Challenges for Actors and Singers!
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!