The content has been developed from the original course written and delivered by Phoene Cave for the British Lung Foundation between 2016 – 2020. For more details of the content, please see below.
This course is for music therapists, singing teachers confident with group work, community choir leaders and musically confident allied health professionals wanting to deliver singing for lung health sessions for people with obstructive and restrictive lung conditions (e.g. COPD / ILD).
Forthcoming training
We are considering running the training again in Autumn 2022.
If you are interested, please fill in the Pre-Course Questionnaire (Word doc, 37KB) and return it to us.
Details of typical course are shown below (subject to update).
Course content
This is what the course will cover each week:
- Week 1 / Module 1: Introduction to Singing for Lung Health
- Week 2 / Module 2: Still & Moving body
- Week 3 / Module 3: Lung health & lung disease
- Week 4 / Module 4: Holistic Breath & Breathing Patterns
- Week 5 / Module 5: The Singing Voice
- Week 6 / Module 6a: Delivery & content part 1
- Week 7 / Module 6b: Delivery & content part 2
- Week 8 / Q&A (1hr 15 mins)
Module details
Module 1: Introduction to Singing for Lung Health
Aim
To give an overview to the context, background, research as well as content and delivery of singing as a tool for people with chronic lung conditions. Welcome to one another and the course modules. What do we bring and what we want to take away?
Outcomes
You will have a clear idea of where and when Singing for Lung Health began, its aims, objectives and outputs along with where it fits into the wider Arts in Health picture, including research and future plans.
Module 2: The Still and Moving Body
“It is fruitless to try to change a breathing pattern until choices become available to a person in the way they stand and move” (Blackaby, P. 2018. Intelligent Yoga. Casita)
Aim
To provide an overview of somatic practice and the relationship between body and breath.
Outcomes
You will gain a greater self-awareness of your movement patterns and how they might impact on breathing patterns. You will understand importance of physical activity and expressive gesture. You will have a choice of activity to support both functional and creative movement. You will learn some creative physical warm-up’s to bring awareness to and promote better breathing.
Module 3: Lung Health and Lung Disease
Aim
To provide information on respiration and breathing mechanics and how these can be impacted by the pathology of a lung disease. To introduce how singing for lung health might support symptoms and management of breathlessness.
Outcomes
You will gain knowledge and understanding of anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system, plus pathology and symptom picture of different chronic lung conditions. An experiential session of Singing for Lung Health will provide and understanding of how singing can support people with different respiratory conditions.
Module 4 : The Holistic Breath
“There is not one correct way to breathe, but there are common ways in which people restrict their breathing” (Farhi, D.1996. The Breathing Book. Holt)
Aim
To provide an overview of the inseparable relationship between body, breath, movement, voice and mind.
Outcomes
You will gain knowledge about whole body breathing, mapping and experiencing your own unique breathing pattern. You will gain knowledge and understanding of dysfunctional breathing patterns including hyperventilation and their relationship to physiology, psychology and pathology.
Module 5: The Singing Voice
Aim
To provide an overview of how the voice works and optimum singing and breathing techniques to support someone with a chronic lung condition.
Outcomes
You will have a basic knowledge and understanding of anatomy and physiology of the vocal mechanism and a practical understanding of the most efficient breathing for singing. You will learn about some of the vocal issues affecting people with lung conditions plus a toolkit to work with ageing voices, people who have been intubated and/or struggle with dysphonia (voice hoarseness).
Module 6: Singing for Lung Health Delivery and Content (2 sessions)
Aim
To workshop in small groups the delivery and content of the Singing for Lung Health programme.
Outcomes
How to work creatively and appropriately through music with physical, vocal and breathing warm-ups, sung repertoire and guided relaxation to support those with chronic lung conditions to manage breathlessness.
NB: This module will run over TWO sessions. Participants will be expected to participate practically and to co-lead sessions in break out rooms trying out different musical content.
Please note
This is not a specific training course for working with people with Long Covid – though we will discuss how the work might be adapted for those with Long Covid, which we are learning about all the time.
Covid is a virus which can impact multiple body systems including respiratory, cardiac, renal, endocrine and neurological. Appropriate rehabilitation for people with Long Covid is being researched – as there are parallels with Myalgic Encephalomyelities/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – and we do not have an evidence base for singing as a recommended intervention, although a randomised control trial is ongoing.
For the latest developments around Covid and singing, see our News and Resources.
Cancellation and refund policy
Numbers will be capped at 20 people per course and a minimum of 14 are required to run course.
- In the unlikely event that a minimum of 14 participants are not booked in for each course, it may be that you are requested to move to another block, or payment will be fully refunded.
- Space is strictly limited to an absolute maximum of 20 participants per course on a first come first serve basis.
- There are no plans to record sessions.
- If for any reason you cancel, refunds will be made depending on the amount of notice given:
- 30+ days notice of cancellation = 80% refund.
- 14- 29 days notice of cancellation = 50% refund
- 0-14 days notice of cancellation = no refund.
