Singing for Health and Trauma 5 Week Course
Wednesday 13th January 2021, 5:00 PM - Wednesday 10th February 2021 7:00 PM (London Time)
A course which combines research, theory and practice to equip Singing and Voice practitioners with knowledge and practical skills to understand how Singing can promote Mental Health and Well-being.
This course, taken as a standalone does not provide certification or a qualification but aims to give a solid understanding of trauma and mental health in order to enhance practice and skills.
It does not replace other courses such as Counselling or Psychotherapy qualifications. It may be pursued further in the form of an accredited PGCert/MA Professional Practice (Voice Pedagogy).
This is targeted at Singing and Voice practitioners as an introduction to understanding Trauma and how Mental Health can be supported through singing.
Sessions will be a combination of tutor led presentations and practical activity as well as student discussions and sharing in break out rooms.
This programme’s workshops will be interactive and involve break out rooms, so we would encourage you to attend live. These sessions will be recorded but due to the break out rooms the recordings will be edited. If you cannot attend live, you will still be able to access a recording of the workshop, but it will be a shorter recording and it may not give you the full experience of the workshop.
Session One – Exploring the Research
Wednesday 13th January 2021, 5pm-7pm (UK time)
- About Mental Health and Mental Illness – definitions and understanding (including the impact of the pandemic)
- Singing and Mental Health – research overview and case studies
Session Two – The Neuroscience of Trauma
Wednesday 20th January 2021, 5pm-7pm (UK time)
- The ACEs study and impact of Trauma on brain and body
- Understanding primal emotions and links with voice
- The Window of Tolerance and Polyvagal Theory
Session Three – Principles
Wednesday 27th January 2021, 5pm-7pm (UK time)
- Research and evidence-based principles and approaches for trauma informed Voice and Singing practice
- Practical exploration of some of these principles through practise, discussion and exploration in more detail. What do these principles look like in the studio, class or setting?
Session Four – Practicalities
Wednesday 3rd February 2021, 5pm-7pm (UK time)
- What are the key skills and attributes for practitioners?
- Developing and honing empathy skills – how to not ‘fix’ problems
- Adapting to environments (e.g., face to face, online, different settings, individual and groups)
- Practitioner well-being. How can we best protect and look after ourselves and our own mental health as practitioners? Exploration of ‘compassion fatigue’ and the impacts of burn out.
Session Five – Consolidation & Reflection
Wednesday 10th February 2021, 5pm-7pm (UK time)
- Reviewing and reflecting on the learning and steps to putting it into practice
- Reflective practice – what does it mean and how do we do it?
- Practising and sharing techniques and concepts and reflecting on our own experiences
All sessions are recorded and will be sent out to all registered participants.
Emily Foulkes
Emily gained a Distinction in her Master’s in Voice Pedagogy, specialising in Singing for Mental Health, Pain Management, and Trauma-Informed Practice...
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.

Monday 7th July 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 8th July 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday 9th July 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Friday 11th July 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Monday 14th July 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 15th July 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday 16th July 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Friday 18th July 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Introduction to statistics and working with quantitative data for Voice Professionals: 8-Session Online Bootcamp

Dr David Cane
This certificated statistics course is ideal for individuals interested in laying a solid foundation in quantitative research methods. By focusing on essential statistical principles, you will be equipped with the tools to understand and apply quantitative research techniques effectively. Statistics is a crucial component of quantitative research; mastering it will enable you to grasp quantitative methods more confidently and precisely.


Tuesday 15th July 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Exploring the roots of the tongue: Ideas for performance

Walt Fritz
As a relative outsider looking into the voice and performance world, I witness the bell curve of thoughts and actions on how the tongue contributes to voice problems and how best to tame that tension. Traditional ways of taming tongue tension seem adequate (or would seem so, based on feedback), so what is different and new? In this short course for the Voice Study Centre, Walt Fritz will introduce the learner to variations on self-applied tongue stretches and exercises.


Wednesday 16th July 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Emotion and Performing Accents and Dialects: why does Emotion Get in the Way?

Louisa Morgan
At points of heightened emotion, it is common for actors working in an accent to default to their natural speech. How do we help performers to avoid this issue and provide them and their directors with the confidence they need regardless of the emotional demands of the piece? What can we learn from research in vocal expression of emotion to help actors to embody the emotion and keep control of their voice and accent? Our very own Louisa Morgan will guide participants through the latest research and offer practical suggestions for working with performers needing to navigate this challenge.