Short Courses & Events / Archive

The Nature Of Empathy And Its Relevance For Voice Work

Thursday 10th June 2021, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)

How do we sense, understand, and respond to other people’s feelings? What neurobiological, situational, and sociopolitical influences modify these reactions? In the pandemic era, how have online interactions and social distance modified our capacities for empathy? Can empathy be trained; can it go too far; and does it always lead to helpful action? This presentation will combine research from animal studies, neurology, and social psychology, plus real-life examples, leading to suggestions for effective teaching and impactful artistry.

DEFINITIONS: WHAT IS EMPATHY?

Terminological problems

Three recognized components: Somatic; Cognitive; Action-oriented

SOMATIC OR EMBODIED EMPATHY

Neurobiological mirroring of others’ feeling-state

  • Influence of sensitivity to own feeling-state
  • Influence of kinship and close social bonds
  • Relevance of boundaries: whose feelings are whose?

COGNITIVE EMPATHY

Thinking about, imagining, or mentally assuming how someone else feels

  • Influence of group affiliation, moral judgment, and cognitive bias
  • Importance of active listening and verbal confirmation

COMPASSIONATE ACTION

The choice to relieve others’ distress, or to withdraw

  • The difference between caring and making a difference
  • How the arts may inspire action—or not

THE TRAINABILITY OF EMPATHY

  • Subjective, experiential training
  • Objective, formal training
  • How compassionate action can feed-back into feelings
  • How screens (virtual world) help or hurt

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ARTS AND ARTS TEACHERS

  • Empathy enhances learning
  • Empathy touches audiences
  • The importance of self-care
  • The importance of community
  • Life after lockdown: empathy at home, in classrooms, and in the wider world

Joanna Cazden

Joanna Cazden, MFA, MS-CCC is a speech pathologist specializing in vocal arts rehabilitation, now in private practice after 18 years as senior voice clinician...

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.

Certificate in Acting Approaches for Singing Teachers
Tuesday 5th August 2025
1:00 PM - 12:00 PM
Tuesday 12th August 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 19th August 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 26th August 2025
1:00 PM - 12:00 PM
Tuesday 2nd September 2025
1:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Tuesday 9th September 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 16th September 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 23rd September 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
(London Time)

Certificate in Acting Approaches for Singing Teachers

Louisa Morgan

Are you a singing teacher looking to elevate your students’ performances? Join our very own Louisa Morgan, as she takes a deeper dive into acting approaches that singing teachers can use to integrate powerful acting techniques into singing lessons. This 8 session course is perfect for those who want to help their singers connect deeply with the story behind the song. Gain practical tools and techniques that you can immediately apply in your teaching! Come along live for an interactive experience, or watch on playback at your leisure.

The Tongue as a Gateway to Voice, Resonance, Style and Intelligibility
Thursday 11th September 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)

The Tongue as a Gateway to Voice, Resonance, Style and Intelligibility

Dr Angelika Nair

Healthy vocal production depends on a finely tuned, athletic apparatus—a symphony of muscular interaction engaging the respiratory system, the laryngeal mechanism, and the resonance spaces of the pharyngeal, oral, and nasal cavities. Among these, the tongue stands out as one of the most critical yet least understood contributors to voice production. Join Dr Angelika Nair as she unpicks the essential anatomical insights that reveal the tongue’s role in shaping sound, influencing resonance, and impacting style and intelligibility!

The Science Underlying Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises (SOVT)
Tuesday 16th September 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)

The Science Underlying Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises (SOVT)

Dr Ingo Titze
Karin Titze Cox

Semi-occluded vocal tract exercises have a long history. Humans and animals have discovered that aerodynamic and acoustic pressures above the larynx can position the vocal folds for better self-sustained oscillation. Join Dr Ingo Titze and Karin Titze Cox as they unpick this fascinating topic!