The Tongue as a Gateway to Voice, Resonance, Style and Intelligibility
Thursday 11th September 2025, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
The human voice is a remarkable instrument—capable of shifting from the terror of a scream to the beauty of a song in an instant. While the larynx often takes center stage in discussions of phonation, the truth is that nearly every system in the body is involved. 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. Singers, actors, teachers, coaches, therapists, and scientists alike agree on its importance, yet there is a striking lack of literature dedicated solely to the tongue’s acoustical influence and how it can be intentionally shaped for a desired outcome. Simple directives such as “move the tongue forward” or “lift the tip” may be well-meant, but without an understanding of the tongue’s intricate anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics, such instructions can be misguided—and even counterproductive.
In this workshop, participants will gain essential anatomical insight and witness visual demonstrations—supported by ultrasound imaging—that reveal the tongue’s role in shaping sound, influencing resonance, and impacting style and intelligibility. Guided by Angelika Nair’s research and pedagogical approach, attendees will explore how tongue position, flexibility, and muscle balance affect the larynx, breath flow, timbre, and register transitions. The course will address challenges such as breathiness caused by tongue tension, navigating the upper passaggio with ease, and maintaining clarity of diction without sacrificing tone.
Through somatic exercises, imagery, and step-by-step techniques, participants will connect concepts such as posture (“Tensegrity”), breathing, support, and tongue modification into a practical, holistic vocal strategy. Each demonstration will be paired with exercises that replicate real-world challenges faced in both classical and non-classical singing as well as in spoken performance and presentation.
Angelika has kindly created a short promotional video for the session:
🏷️ Price £30 (UK VAT inclusive)
🎥 Recording automatically sent to all who book (even if you cannot attend live)
▶️ Rewatch as many times as you like
📜 Certificate of attendance available
Dr Angelika Nair
Angelika Nair, Ph.D., is a professional singer, Vocologist, voice pedagogue, and owner of Pro Voce LLC, a voice studio providing private vocal instruction...

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.

Monday 29th September 2025
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Tuesday 30th September 2025
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Wednesday 1st October 2025
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Thursday 2nd October 2025
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
(London Time)
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Thursday 2nd October 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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Professor Helena Daffern
In this session, Professor Helena Daffern will explore the fascinating science behind choral sound, offering choir singers and directors valuable insights into achieving a cohesive and expressive ensemble, no matter what their standard. The concept of choral blend will be examined —what it is, how it can be cultivated, and the roles of intonation and vibrato will be analysed. The decisions that have to be made around intonation when tuning thirds or dealing with modulations over the course of an a cappella piece will be explained in the context of existing research and different singing styles such as barbershop singing and solo voice ensembles.


Friday 3rd October 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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This course will span the entirety of singing lives from birth through old age. A deeper understanding of chronological development over the span of a lifetime offers an informed perspective for optimal, strategic, and realistic expectations for vocal production at each and every age.