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.
Wednesday 4th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 11th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 18th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 25th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 1st April 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 8th April 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
(London Time)
Learn to Coach RP and SSBE – a Certificate in Accent Coaching
Louisa Morgan
This six-week course is an opportunity to learn about both Received Pronunciation and Standard Southern British English. Rather than a course in learning how to speak RP/SSBE (there are many brilliant available courses for this already), this course is about learning how to coach it.
Thursday 5th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Thursday 12th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
(London Time)
Acting Emotion: Perspectives from the Masters
Louisa Morgan
Stanislavski said, “our artistic emotions are, at first, as shy as wild animals and they hide in the depths of our souls.” Michael Chekhov said, our bodies should be like a “sensitive membrane, a kind of receiver and conveyor of the subtlest images, feelings, emotions and will impulses.” And Meisner said we should be “living truthfully under imaginary circumstances.” Join Louisa Morgan in this 2-part course as she explores a range of well-known acting practitioners to investigate what they believed (or believe) about emotion and how they approached it in their work. She'll compare their work to see where they align and where they diverge.
Tuesday 10th March 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)
Living truthfully in the present moment: An introduction to the Meisner Technique!
Abigail Sugden
Sanford Meisner believed that acting is living truthfully under imaginary circumstances. Rooted in behavioural aspects of acting practice, the Meisner Technique is often associated with encouraging actors to live truthfully in the present moment. Aimed at those working within the field of acting, this 2-hour session with Abigail Sugden will focus on the work of Sanford Meisner, introducing the core principles of his technique and discussing the possible benefits to performers.