An Introduction to Vocal Massage
16th-17th January 2027
2-day Intensive (10:00-16:00) | Leipzig | €395pp
Only 10 places available | Taught in English
What It Is
This is a two-day introduction to vocal massage for singers and voice teachers: the fundamentals of the practice, taught hands-on, in a small group. It isn’t a full vocal massage therapy qualification, and it doesn’t train or insure you to treat external clients with vocal massage. If you finish the two days wanting to go further, there are full training routes available, and I’m happy to tell you which ones I know and what they involve. I’m also running more short courses later in 2027, which will build on this one and eventually contribute to a full training pathway.
Who It’s For
It’s for working singers and voice teachers who want to understand what vocal massage is, what it feels like, how it sits alongside singing and teaching, and how to tell when something needs a different kind of help. You don’t need any bodywork background, but you do need to be comfortable with hands-on work, because you’ll be practising on other people in the room and having it done to you. If you have a current voice, neck and dental problem, tell me when you book so we can talk it through beforehand.
What You’ll Learn
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The first day covers the principles of safe manual work. We begin with the biopsychosocial approach to care, which treats a voice problem as part of a person’s whole situation and not only as a fault in the larynx. We then cover trauma awareness and consent in relational vocal massage, and why “no pain, no gain” has no place in manual therapy.
The practical work starts with the a fascial stretch of the sternum. You will then learn to palpate and work with the sternocleidomastoids and the transverse processes of the cervical spine, in seated and supine positions. Participants practise on one another under supervision.
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The second day begins with the digastric, which links the jaw and neck to the hyoid bone. We then return briefly to consent and trauma awareness before moving to the larynx, the most sensitive region covered. You will learn to palpate and work with the sternothyroid, sternohyoid, hyoid, cricothyroid and thyrohyoid membrane, again practising on one another with individual feedback.
The course closes by reviewing how these structures relate, when to refer a client to another professional, and how the material applies to singing and teaching.
Practical Details
The course runs from 10:00 to 16:00 on both days in Leipzig Zentrum (Address TBC), and it’s delivered entirely in English. Wear clothes you can move in comfortably, with a top that gives easy access to your neck and shoulders. Tea, coffee & snacks are provided, however you will need to supply your own lunch. Spaces are capped at 10 people so that everyone gets proper hands-on time and individual feedback.
About Your Tutor
I’m Owen Butcher, the founder of The Working Voice Practice, where I work with professional singers on functional voice coaching and vocal massage. I’m also a professional singer, and current member of the Grammy award-winning vocal group The Swingle Singers. I trained in vocal massage under Stephen R. King at the Voice Care Centre and am a qualified Voice Habilitation Practitioner through Vocal Health England. I now see clients in East London and Leipzig. I teach this course the way I’d want to be taught it myself, with plenty of hands-on time and a clear view of what the work can and can’t do.
Booking & Payments
The course costs €395. To book, email me at owen@theworkingvoicepractice.com with your name and whether you’re booking as an individual or a business, and I’ll send you an invoice and the bank details. Your place is held once your €100 deposit has arrived, and the remaining €295 is due four weeks before the course starts.
Cancellations and refunds
The €100 deposit is non-refundable. If you cancel up to 14 days before the course, the remaining €295 balance is refunded in full. Inside 14 days it isn’t, unless your place is resold. You can transfer your place to someone else at any time, free of charge, just tell me their name and email.