Short Courses & Events / Archive

Water Resistance Therapy and Semioccluded Devices for Voice Training

Monday 13th October 2025, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)

Several voice devices to perform water resistance therapy (WRT) and some oscillatory positive expiratory pressure devices (OPEP) (e.g. Acapella Choice, Shaker Medic Plus, New Shaker) are now commonly used for both voice training and voice therapy. Moreover, there are videos in social media demonstrating how to train the voice using devices that are not necessarily supported by evidence. Social media users, especially amateur singers, usually repeat the exercises without any control, supervision, or correction made by someone who knows how to use them appropriately. The questions that motivate the present workshop are: Are these devices truly good for voice training? Are these devices the treatment by themselves? and how much evidence currently supports the use of these devices?

The present workshop will be useful: (1) to provide information about all the commonly used commercial voice devices available in the market; (2) to know if there are studies supporting their effect on voice; and (3) to know the necessary technical details to utilize them in voice training. Several videos in social media show voice exercises with some devices in which there appears to be pressed phonation, possibly a high degree of subglottic pressure, and visible and audible phonatory effort. Evidence widely supports the fact that an excessive subglottic pressure causes increased vocal folds impact stress (vocal folds collision), which in turn could possibly trigger phonotraumatic lesions. In the present workshop you will learn how to control the most relevant variables promoting a more efficient and economic voice production with WRT and OPEP exercises and how to avoid most common mistakes when using these voice tools.

🏷️ 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 Marco Guzmán

Dr. Guzman is a voice pathologist with twenty-two years of clinical and academic experience. He received his Ph.D. in Vocology from the Tampere University, Finland. 

CPD Course Logo

Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.

Learn More

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.

Inspired Sound: Unlocking the Science of Choral Acoustics
Tuesday 16th December 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)

Inspired Sound: Unlocking the Science of Choral Acoustics

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.

Unclenching the Jaw: Options from the Physio Lens
Tuesday 16th December 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)

Unclenching the Jaw: Options from the Physio Lens

Walt Fritz

“Jaw tension” is one of many potential problems facing the singer, and can cause a direct negative impact on the performance in both direct and indirect ways. The underlying cause of jaw issues is attributed to numerous factors (technique, posture, strength, range of motion, etc.), making it often difficult to identify common denominators. Join Walt Fritz as he examines the evidence supporting stretching, strengthening, and manual therapy interventions to address jaw-related concerns in vocal performers, taking into account their unique needs.

Improving Lyric Italian Diction for Classical Singers
Thursday 18th December 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)

Improving Lyric Italian Diction for Classical Singers

Professor Conroy Cupido

Join Professor Conroy Cupido as he offers an in-depth exploration of the most frequent pronunciation errors made by classical singers in Italian lyric diction. Designed for both emerging and advanced singers, the course provides a structured and practical approach to mastering Italian pronunciation as used in opera, oratorio, and art song.