Improper Singing
for Proper Singers!*
Led by Mary Benefiel
Are you wondering if there is life beyond the Music Rule Book? Would you like to feel the spontaneity and joy of singing again? Are you so tied up in technique you don't know how to sing like yourself anymore? Or are you stuck in a style rut? Maybe you'd like to find out what it is like to solo. Then this event is for you! Singers of all varieties are welcome -- from folk to classical, trained or natural, choir members to yogis. Be ready for anything to happen when we get going. Singing and voicing like you never imagined is waiting for you there!
"I Sing because I'm Happy, I sing because I'm Free..."
The Improper Stuff --
You are more than your technique. This workshop explores 'joined-up' singing - how to reconnect your singing to what is most essential. It's a way to 're-member' your voice -- put back the parts of you that are missing -- physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Then you can sing with all you've got -- going beyond technique to something real!
Ask yourself what matters to you: is it only about getting it "right" or impressing people? Or is there more? It's the more I'm concerned with, and will devote our time to discovering.
Out beyond ideas of right and wrong doing, there is a field, I'll meet you there! Rumi
What's involved in Singing MORE is YOU . . .
*
Moving (and using your whole body)
*
Making a whole range of sounds (instead of working with only the filtered & tidied up bits)
*
Trying new things (chanting, meditation & improvisation)
We will explore all ways for you to be more expressive, more alive and grounded in your singing, and more open to the uniqueness of your life and your music, more willing to allow your voice and your singing to reveal itself to you.
Vocal warriors of any stripe are welcome! Come if you are prepared for more, even if it leads you to strange, unexpected places, outside your comfort zone. But this is not unconventional just for the sake of it! Take your next step -- a leap of faith -- to get you on the road to satisfying, meaningful singing. Why settle for less?
*Previous experience either in singing or with Mary is required.
How to Join In!
Singing by the Sea ...
Fees: The workshop fee is £110. (Food and accommodation not included.)
There is are a few concession places of £95, talk to Mary.We start Friday evening (with a light soup & salad before the session), and go through until Sunday lunchtime.
Accommodation: £25 - £30 per night (shared rooms, on-site)
If you prefer a single room, talk to Caroline at the Phoenix Centre.Please Note! You need to book your accommodation separately.
Food: Shared lunch and for dinner we can gather at the pub in the village. There is also the option to visit the lovely tea-room at the garden centre next door or check out the fish & chips by the beach!
Reconnect with your passion - |
To Apply: Previous experience either in Singing or Mary's Work is required.
This workshop books up quite quickly, so if you are interested, ask to be put on the announcement list!
What to Bring:
Please come prepared with a memorized song that you can sing acapella (without accompaniment). Really know it off by heart.
Pick a song that you love, or feel connected with. It’s fine to pick something you’ve already performed or something new if you want to branch out into untried territory. Or you may want to bring something that "needs work." It doesn't have to be perfect.
Memorization is KEY. (It's important not to wait to the last minute to pick your song!) Don't worry about turning into a 'performer'. The song offers you a way to explore your singing and voicing, and how you engage with the moment.
How to Get There . . .
Aim for The Phoenix Centre,
Bridge Barns,
Dunwich, Saxmundham,
SUFFOLK, IP17 3DZ
By Train: Saxmundham, then Taxi to Dunwich.
By Air: Stansted or Norwich are the closest airports.
By Car: You can find all the details and a map on http://www.phoenixcentre.co.uk/directions.html
The Phoenix Centre is a retreat haven on the Suffolk Heritage Coast created for tranquility, recreation and healing. Surrounded by forest, heath and sea, this is a place where you can unwind in a peaceful atmosphere, surrounded by nature.
Mary's Background
For more than 25 years, Mary has been a fearless student and practitioner of voice. She has boldly engaged with different styles and techniques, always seeking the most authentic voice, and the freedom to create the music of the moment without blinking. She has harnessed her eclectic understanding of music, theatre and life into her singing, performing and teaching. Her enthusiasm for the human voice in all its variety and splendour is infectious and genuine. People from all walks of life, of all ages and nationalities have participated in her classes.
The Vocal Journey (with thanks to all these wonderful teachers)
Mary started her classical singing training while studying theatre, movement/dance, and improvisation at university. From then on she continued to study with inspired singing teachers, and with cutting-edge theatre and voice professionals: The Palace Theatre and l'Ecole du Mime Jacques LeCoq, Roy Hart Theatre (Extended Range Work), and the Pan Theatre (Archetypal Voice and Choreographic Voice). They understood her thirst for a free voice, and helped her discover that this kind of singing/sounding was beyond beautiful. The final piece in the puzzle was found in The Naked Voice work with Choe Goodchild, where the voice of the soul, the true self was released.
Mary has sung all kinds of repertoire: from musical comedies to mantras, from folk songs to opera. She has performed with professional theatres in America and Paris in well-known musicals like West Side Story, and also in world premieres of two folk operas. Mary has created shows in Brussels, getting a reputation for works that were zany and recognisable. Her one-woman show: Of Cakes Men and Angels premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the continent. Since moving to the UK she has been a soloist with Chloe Goodchild and the Global Mantra Choir in London, at the Healing Sounds Festival in Brighton, and at the launch of Peace Direct at Covent Garden. In 2006 Mary initiated a new performance piece: The River of Sound, which is based on the 'Whole World' vocal tradition. Together with three very different singers, she combines improvisation and an eclectic selection of songs to create a series of unique and profound 'one-time-only' events.
Get in touch!
For more information about this workshop contact:
Mary Benefiel on + 44 (0)1473 289 531
or mary@sounds-enchanting.com
For more information about the venue visit: www.phoenixcentre.co.uk
(Photo: Mary with workshop participants)
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