events

Online Lectures: August 2020

One-hour sessions (45 minute sessions + 15 minutes Q&A).

Presented online via Zoom

Professor Martin Ashley
7:00pm, Wednesday 5th August 2020

The First Choirs Standing

Choral singing resumed fairly quickly in several of the countries that imposed early lock-downs. What risks did their choirs take and how did they manage them? This talk will examine case studies of choirs in Norway, Germany, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand that have provided data on their risk management strategies.

A key factor in the phased return of normality to choral singing is the infection rate, sometimes reported as 'R number', in different countries. Some countries experienced the peak of the pandemic earlier than the UK. There is evidence that some imposed lock-downs decisively early on in that pandemic. Some of them experienced lower infection and death rates than countries such as the UK, US and Sweden that adopted more liberal approaches. Choral singing resumed fairly quickly in several of the countries that imposed early lock-downs. This talk will examine case studies of choirs in Norway, Germany, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand that have provided data on their risk management strategies. In general, all the choirs adopted a precautionary approach with comprehensive sets of control measures and significant levels of risk mitigation. The pattern that has emerged shows characteristics in common with strategies proposed by the UK government. We, in the UK, are literally following in the wake of countries ahead of us in the progress of the pandemic. However, there are significant uncertainties and potential flaws in the risk management process itself, given the current state of scientific knowledge. None of the first choirs standing reported any infections associated with their return to singing, but none yet has resumed full normality and all function under quite high levels of restraint and caution.

Find out more about Professor Martin Ashley

Paul John McKenna
7:00pm, Thursday 13th August 2020

Neuro-Linguistic Programming and the Voice

Supercharge your mental and physiological state with Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to develop vocal performance excellence.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a powerful toolkit used in therapy, business, sports, coaching, and many other disciplines. It is based on the study of real people achieving exceptional results in their real lives, and is applicable to any area where people want to achieve better results for themselves and others. The emotions and physical sensations we experience in different environments and situations can sometimes seem out of our control. Many people experience feelings of anxiety and stress that lead to their vocal performances not being optimal in the moment when it means the most. It can be incredibly frustrating when a live performance or audition doesn’t to plan, especially when we know we can perform so well at other times. NLP offers techniques to help us to gain consistency in our behaviours and performances by taking control of our emotions and physical states. It can help us to let go of negative emotions that may be holding us back, and enables us to set up resourceful and powerful positive states that instead will serve us moving forward. These are skills that we can all benefit from as we navigate through the challenges life throws our way. Join this masterclass and learn some practical NLP techniques that you can apply to your daily life, singing and performing to get better results consistently, starting today.

Find out more about Paul John McKenna

Christella Antoni
7:00pm, Tuesday 18th August 2020

Working with Transgender Voice

Aspects of gender identity and enhancing cultural competence for professionals working with the transgender and gender diverse community.

This presentation will outline aspects of gender identity and enhancing cultural competence for professionals working with the transgender and gender diverse community. Overview (for website): An overview of medical and social transition pathways will be included, including endocrinological and surgical management. Specific aspects of voice and communication work will form a significant part of the presentation including resonance, pitch and intonation and vocal tract voice and speech configurations. The presentation will also include a recommended treatment model. ENT surgical interventions will also be discussed including speech and language therapy involvement. Psycho-social aspects will be discussed together with an exploration of progressing clients through the challenges of voice modification work.

Find out more about Christella Antoni

Mark De-Lisser
7:00pm, Monday 24th August 2020

The story sings the song

A focused workshop on how your personal interpretation of a song shapes your singing performance. How true are you to your story? Will the audience believe you?

Find out more about mark De-Lisser

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