LIBERATE YOUR VOICE & SING YOUR SONG!
ONE YEAR SINGING AND SONG-WRITING COURSE
BEGINS SEPT 2024
THIS COURSE IS NOW FULL!
Everyone has songs inside them; words and melody, hopes and dreams, and stories to tell.
This course will guide you to find what you really need to express, to sing, and to share. Singing and Songwriting is one of the most natural, fun, nourishing, profound and exciting ways to connect and communicate more deeply with ourselves, each other, and the world around us. No previous musical experience necessary!
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Course includes:
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Monthly sessions in West London, New Forest, on Zoom, and a Recording Retreat in Dorset
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The final day is a concert providing an opportunity to share your work with an audience of family and friends.
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A three day residential retreat in a professional recording studio in Dorset with a producer and musician.
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A professional quality group CD that features one of your songs.
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Singing naturally: Developing your confidence in singing naturally, freely, and through vocal technique, including group and solo singing.
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Passionate Performing: how to bring aliveness, authenticity & power to performance.
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Intuitive song-writing: explore your innate creativity, experience writing songs with a variety of creative stimulus, on your own, and with others.
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Learning a wide variety of songs from around the world, in different genres and styles, including folk, jazz, musical theatre, gospel, pop, African, Taize, negro-spiritual and more.
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Singing in harmony: Develop your skills in singing in harmony, and learn to harmonise your own songs.
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Movement: We will move and work on breathing during each session.
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Be part of a profound creative singing sharing community.
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This on-going one year group is an opportunity and invitation for those with a strong commitment to explore, expand and develop their natural singing voice and creativity.
This photo is from the very first group I ran (circa 2004)
The course will cover a range of skills and experiences and will focus on developing vocal ability, intuitive and structured song-writing, improvisation, harmony, rhythm, solo singing, group singing, performance skills, recording technique, and singing in different genres of song and style.
The connection and support of the group provides a powerful holding.
Dates
The next year group starts
Sept 2024
Dates & Venues:
2024
Sept 22 St Sophia's, Bayswater
Oct 27 East Stratton Village Hall, Winchester
Nov 17 Zoom Session
Dec 15 Minstead, New Forest
2025
Jan 12 Zoom Session
Feb 16 East Stratton Village Hall
Mar 16 Emery Down
Apr 6 The Grove, Hammersmith
May 8-11 Recording Retreat at Mill Farm Studios in Dorset
June 8 East Stratton Village Hall
July 6 Concert The Grove, Hammersmith
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If I cannot fly, let me sing
- Stephen Sondheim
About the Venues
About the Venues:
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St Sophia's Church, Bayswater is a peaceful venue for our first session, with easy parking and easy access via public transport.
East Stratton Village Hall is a large modern space, with great acoustics for singing, in a beautiful village outside of Winchester.
The Grove Neighbourhood Center is a peaceful and convenient venue in Hammersmith, West London. There is free parking close by.
Emery Down Village Hall is situated in the heart of the New Forest, providing a wholly different experience for our singing and songwriting journey, surrounded by fields, woodlands, free-roaming ponies, and wonderful country pubs for an early post-session supper if desired!
Minstead Study Center is also in the heart of the New Forest, and is a firm favourite for our pre-Christmas session!For the New Forest sessions, the nearest station is Brockenhurst, just 90 mins direct from Waterloo.All sessions will be from 11am til 5.30pm, apart from on Zoom.
Zoom: The Zoom group sessions provide a potent space for creativity and deep sharing within the comfort of your own home.Session time: 10.30am til 5pm.
Mill Farm Studios in Dorset is a fabulous place for our recording retreat. It has a spacious and colourful studio, lots of chill-out spaces, and is surrounded by cottages, fields and wildlife including Alpacas and peacocks. It is a place in which to relax, connect, and create magic.The three people recording on the Thursday ie the first day, will be offered a free night's accommodation on Wednesday if required.Please fill out the online application to register your interest
Fees
Fee: £2250
payable in instalments
Deposit: £375
Plus 11 monthly instalments of £170
Fees include four days at the recording studio, & lunches and suppers at the retreat.
If you would like to do the course but are struggling financially, part-bursary or other payment options may be available - email sarah@lifesong.co.uk to apply
Additional retreat costs not included;
1. musician fee of £100 payable at the retreat
2. your accommodation during the retreat.
The £375 non-returnable deposit is payable when reserving your place
Please note all fees are payable regardless of attendance.
The recording studio: A track being recorded - always exciting! The Recording Retreat is a truly unique and
magical experience!
What previous students say
"It was an amazing experience recording in the studio and having such fabulous, talented, personable musicians creating something magical with our songs. Such an uplifting creative healing joyful experience supported very well by Sarah and others in the group and in a fabulous environment. They draw out what you are capable of. I felt it was a real privilege to bring what we have and it be transformed. It’s like midwifery of the soul!"
- Cathy
"The recording retreat is the highlight and lynchpin of the singing and songwriting course year. It gives everybody in the group a chance to be and feel fully heard and seen and bring their precious song to be recorded to full fruition, in its best possible production. Sarah, the sound engineer and the musician give of themselves so much more than could ever be expected to help the birth of each song recording – it is impossible to leave the studio without feeling deep gratitude, pride in one’s own achievement and abundant joy. To be part of this is a privilege and an utterly life-affirming experience."
- Martina
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Important note about Fees
In accepting a place on a course you are entering into a contract and the full fee becomes payable.
If you would like to do the course but are struggling financially, part-bursary or other payment options may be available - email sarah@lifesong.co.uk to apply
The full fees will still be payable should you withdraw from the course or miss sessions
