The Use of Vibrato in Belt and Legit Styles of Singing in Professional Female Musical Theatre Performers
Tuesday 17th March 2026, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
Shaped by the popular music of its time, musical theatre blends storytelling with an ever-evolving range of vocal styles—from classical legit singing to jazz, hip-hop, and powerhouse belting. Whether it’s the lush, operatic sound of South Pacific, the jazzy bite of Chicago, or the rap-driven score of Hamilton, each musical reflects its musical influences while still drawing from shared vocal techniques. As MT has evolved from the Golden Age to today, performers are now expected to master both legit and belt styles. One of the clearest signals separating these styles is vocal vibrato. However, to what degree vibrato is used for different styles by the same performer has not been well studied. Despite its importance, much of what we understand about vibrato comes from laboratory-based studies that strip singing of its musical, stylistic, and performance context. This raises an important question: how do professional musical theatre performers employ vibrato in various styles?
This course takes vibrato out of the lab and into real-world performance. Drawing on recordings from five well-known professional musical theatre performers, the study examines vibrato use in live performances. By examining authentic performances rather than controlled vocal tasks, this work offers a rare glimpse at how vibrato functions as a stylistic tool in professional musical theatre singing.
This course connects current research with real-world pedagogy, revealing how elite musical theatre performers strategically use vibrato to shape style and storytelling, and showing how these insights can be applied in the voice studio to train stylistic flexibility and control.
Dr. Alyssa Becker
Dr. Alyssa Becker serves on the voice faculty at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she teaches applied voice, vocal pedagogy, and maintains a private voice studio. She is also the artistic director the Drake University Voice Intensive, a high school vocal training program she co-founded. Dr. Becker combines performance, research, and teaching, with a focus on preparing singers to navigate a wide range of vocal styles.
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
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Monday 3rd August 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Tuesday 4th August 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Wednesday 5th August 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Thursday 6th August 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Friday 7th August 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
(London Time)
Level Two Certificate in Accents and Phonetics with Louisa Morgan
Louisa Morgan
Build on your foundational knowledge of accents and phonetics in this week‑long lunchtime course designed specifically for voice teachers. Whether you have completed our Level 1 Certificate or already possess a basic working knowledge of phonetics and accent work, this Level 2 course will help you deepen your skills, sharpen your analytical ear, and expand your practical toolkit for teaching.
Thursday 6th August 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Sex Hormones and Voice: From Puberty to Gender-Affirming Therapy
Dr Silvia Ciancia
How do sex hormones define the human voice? Join Dr Silvia Cianca as she offers a comprehensive exploration of the vocal apparatus as a hormone-sensitive organ, analysing the physiological changes occurring at puberty as well as the changes induced by gender-affirming hormones initiated during adolescence. This session is specifically about the fascinating research on the influence of sex hormones on the voice, and the physical outcomes of gender-affirming care delivered to adolescents; it does not focus on vocal training itself.
Tuesday 11th August 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Redefining Ethical Practice in Voice Teaching!
Dr Justin John Moniz
Join Dr Justin John Moniz as he examines ethical practice in voice teaching through a structured, evidence-informed framework for sustainable, student-centered pedagogy. Although voice teaching operates outside formal licensure models common to allied professions, teachers hold significant responsibility for students’ vocal function, artistic development, and long-term well-being. This course addresses that gap through a five-part paradigm grounded in the NATS Code of Ethics, contemporary research, and applied studio practice.