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A Time to Sing This is a 1.5 hour program; 95% experiential. A Time to Sing is a program for everyone, singers and non-singers - for anyone who uses their voice in their work and/or their life and who wants to become more conscious of the impact the voice can have on others. The goal of this workshop is to allow people to sing for themselves and with others which results in a sense of wellness through being in our bodies and expanding our range of expression. This work is about experiencing the voice more than producing or performing. Personal exploration of natural and musical sounds in collaboration with other voices creates an environment in which people can overcome fear, reduce anxiety, and return to an inherent enjoyment of singing just for the sake of singing. Singing has been proven to effect relaxation and mood changes and is a valuable instrument for management of stress, anxiety and pain in medical and psychological settings as well as in daily life. Voicework provides a vibrational massage to the body from inside which renews the natural flow of energy. Physical and emotional blocks, manifested through years of stagnation, can be released, restoring and enhancing flexibility. Singing through emotional states creates a tangible, audible resonance, which then has the potential for movement (change) and creative expression. Research shows that specific neurological areas are stimulated by vocal vibrations, increasing the capacity for concentration, sensory perception, balance, and relaxation. When the entire body is integrated in this process of singing, the vibration can stimulate normal brain functioning, developmental processes, social interaction, emotional balance, and an overall sense of well-being. Exploring vocal sounds in a peer environment can promote confidence, awareness, and, ultimately, a more effective use of the voice. The only way to learn more about this instrument, the voice, is to use it – to sing – alone and with others. __________________________________ Sing for Yourself: Chanting & Lullabies This workshop runs approximately 1.5 hours and is primarily experiential with time for verbal processing at the end. By nurturing ourselves, we become more available as caregivers. This workshop will address how to create a safe space to “sing for yourself” and in community. Specifically chanting and singing lullabies will be explored as effective and meaningful tools in nurturing ourselves and others via release, self-soothing, and inspiration. Singing is an authentic way to nurture ourselves and others - touching into a natural maternal comforting instinct. In the context of this session, the term ‘chanting’ refers to the repetition of a simple melody within a steady rhythm. A chant can be created from a short phrase of a familiar song, a simple melody without words, a mantra, or poetic verse. As with a lullaby, this simple song form can create a sense of holding internally and externally, personally and socially. The music itself can access our inner resources and support us through a myriad of emotions, ultimately establishing a new balance and a renewed sense of well-being within ourselves and our communities. The essence of this workshop is that participants experience community chanting as an opportunity for individuals in a society to resource one another. Participants will observe the intentional creation of a safe and conducive space for meditation and expression, engage in simple warm-up exercises, explore the basic musical elements of chant, and sing a selection of songs that fit into this category. There will be special emphasis placed on the sensation of tone and rhythm in the body as well as the silence after the singing. The goal is to obtain practical and tangible self-soothing tools that they can take with them into their lives and their clinical work. BIBLIOGRAPHY __________________________________ Singing: A Personal and Professional Need
Singing is a powerful and effective music therapy tool. Through singing, we enter into the integrative process of expression and the interactive process of communication. The experience of singing can be essential for a client’s process and it is also fundamental for the therapist’s professional development. The therapist who sings in therapy sessions needs to be aware about the effect and the impact of the voice. The focus of this workshop is on dialogue, communication, and the nuances of acoustic symbols and multicultural influences that are inherent in authentic human sounds. Participants will experience a sequence of vocal exercises that can promote proficiency, will sing alone and with others to enhance sensitivity to how the voice impacts human relationships on many levels, will develop skill and freedom to use the body and voice in improvisation to communicate effectively with the client. Important for this practice are: developing awareness of the body as an instrument; experiencing the differences between forced and free voices; discovering not-beautiful voices and their effects; listening; practicing client situations through vocal partner work. The VOICEWORK addresses the personal exploration necessary to expand the range of the voice and to vocalize from the body and the imagination. Body warm-up, vocal exercises, and listening training prepare the therapist to work creatively with the sounds that the client makes. We address important therapeutic issues of creating a safe space, establishing rapport and dealing with issues of intimacy. The PARTNER WORK engages participants in vocal interaction with peers, developing versatility in hearing acoustic symbols and creating a dialogue spontaneously that is meaningful. The personal dynamics that emerge in this work enhance our ability to dialogue with our clients. Clinical examples are used to support and clarify the use of the dialoguing voice in a therapeutic setting. The MULTICULTURAL ASPECT of the program offers exposure to human sounds and musical motifs that are primitive and often universal. Listening to singing from different parts of the world, we begin to understand the many sounds human beings can make and the symbolic messages they convey. Then we interact with these sounds, building our own repertoire of sounds, and becoming ready to use them in therapy. The essentials of this voicework practice are: * Attention to the body as a musical instrument * Capacity for listening to internal and external vibrations * Discovery and exploration of
vocal sounds and their effects * Awareness of “forced” and “free” voices * Vocal improvisation of personal melodies * Rehearsal of client situations through partner work This course will provide opportunities to develop a deeper awareness of the voice in the body as the primary instrument for communication and expression in music therapy and to further personal growth in service of professional development. Participants are invited into a process of personal awareness of their own voices and professional discussion about the impact of singing in a variety of clinical settings.
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