singing workshops
"You are such a natural teacher. Everybody had told me about how amazing you are and how unmissable your workshops are, but it was even better than that!"
Chris is currently offering the following themed workshops (specific dates here) all available as half-day, one-day, or weekend workshops. He can also design a specific workshop to suit your needs. Click on a workshop title for more information:
ABBACAPPELLA
Amazing to realise, but 2009 will be the 35th anniversary of ABBA winning the
Eurovision Song Contest with their song 'Waterloo'. Celebrate
by joining Chris in a singing workshop where he will teach fun harmony
arrangements of some of ABBA's best-known songs. Dressing up is optional!
Why not book an ABBA workshop for your own
singing group or choir? The runaway success of the Mamma Mia movie will
guarantee a sold-out workshop!
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SING AFRICA!
Learn harmony songs from across Africa. An opportunity to sing and move
to infectious African rhythms. As the old proverb from Zimbabwe says:
"If you can walk then you can dance; if you can talk then you can sing".
Full-bodied harmonies from South Africa; overlapping rhythms from West Africa;
gentle lullabies from East Africa; haunting, exotic melodies from North Africa.
(forthcoming dates here)
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AMERICAN HARMONIES
Since the release of the movies Oh Brother, Where Art Thou and
Cold Mountain, there has been a resurgence of interest in American
'roots' music. America has a long tradition of harmony singing
which has filtered through the folk, pop and soul music of the 1960s to
the present day.
This workshop covers a range of harmony styles from the United States,
including bluegrass, a bit of gospel, some spiritual soul music, country
(and possibly Western), a touch of the Beach Boys, and maybe some Simon
and Garfunkel. All arranged for voice only. No experience necessary as
all songs are taught by ear.
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BEACH BOYS BONANZA
The Beach Boys have been perhaps the most influential of all modern
vocal harmony groups. Formed in 1961, they gained popularity for their
close vocal harmonies and lyrics reflecting a California youth culture
of surfing, girls and cars. Developing the Californian surf sound of Jan
and Dean (a falsetto vocal sung over a doo-wop style backing) by using
'wall of sound' production techniques borrowed from Phil Spector, Brian
Wilson transformed the Beach Boys into an artistically innovative group
that earned critical praise and influenced many later musicians.
With a career that has spanned some four decades, and with a legacy of
Top 10 hits that stretches from "Surfin' U.S.A." (1963) all the way to
"Kokomo" (1988), this workshop is an opportunity to learn a range of
different Beach Boys songs, all arranged especially for voice only.
This workshop is open to anyone - no experience is necessary and all songs
will be taught by ear.
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BEATLES ACAPPELLA
A fabulous singing workshop for Beatles lovers. Learn fun harmony arrangements
of well-loved songs by the Fab Four.
A whole workshop of Beatles classics specially arranged for unaccompanied
harmony singing. Learn favourite hits by the Fab Four from Love Me Do
and Please Please Me, through I Feel Fine and Help!,
to Back in the USSR and beyond.
For over 40 years the world has thrilled to the rhythms and harmonies
of the song writing force that is Lennon & McCartney. Celebrate the
lasting legacy of these ground-breaking musicians by learning some of
their best-known songs. Deceptively simple, Beatles songs are amazingly
effective and rich, and reward the close examination that a workshop allows.
This workshop is open to all whether you just sing in the bath, or perform
in public. All songs have been carefully chosen and arranged for voice only,
and will be taught by ear. No previous experience needed, just bring your
vocal chords and your enthusiasm!
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MOUTH DANCES AND BODY SONGS
A day of voice, body and rhythm exploration for anyone who wants to
investigate the relationship between their voice and body in performance.
Do you like to sing, yell, chant, shout, scream, whisper, drone, holler,
wail, croon, sigh, call, mumble, huff and puff ...
... but you can't stop moving, shaking, dancing, swaying,
jumping, walking, swerving, and running ...
... and you really need to tap, stamp, clap, pat, stomp, slap,
and click?
Then this workshop is for you!
No matter what age we are, we still all have an inner connection to the rhythms of life, although the opportunities for grown-ups to express this creative exuberance are few and far between. Join Chris Rowbury, musical director of acclaimed Coventry choir WorldSong, for a day inspired by vocal and rhythmic traditions from around the world.
This workshop will include body percussion, simple movement, speaking out loud, chorus work, shouting and whispering, singing in harmony, rhythm methods, working as a group, clapping and stamping, playing about, performance skills, and much, much more.
No experience is necessary, just a willingness to experiment and throw yourself into the workshop wholeheartedly. Please wear loose clothing and be prepared to work on the floor. Note this is NOT musical theatre nor is it purely a singing workshop!
Working on the boundary between music and theatre, this singing, movement
and rhythm workshop with a dynamic and engaging teacher will get your
spirits soaring and your bodies moving.
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CLASSIC POP SONGS
They say that the old songs are the best, and that is indeed the case with
many classic pop songs of the 60s and 70s. The workshop will be filled with
the sound of songs from the likes of The Rolling Stones, Motown, The Byrds,
The Who, Cat Stevens and many more – all arranged especially for voice only,
in glorious harmony. The workshop is open to anyone — no experience is
necessary and all songs will be taught by ear. (forthcoming dates here)
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SONGS ON THE EASTERN WIND
Learn songs from a range of Eastern European cultures and traditions:
crunchy harmonies from the Balkans, Romanian lullabies, Czech gypsy passion,
haunting chants from the Russian Orthodox church, gorgeous clashing harmonies
from Georgia, mountain hollers from Macedonia and more. All taught by ear
in the traditional way. No previous experience necessary, just a love of
singing. (forthcoming dates here)
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GOOD-TIME GOSPEL!
Sing it big: sing it hot, strong and loud!
Who doesn't love to sing gospel? You don't have to be religious to
enjoy the uplifting, passionate, exciting sounds of gospel music. In this
liberating workshop we will sing African-American gospel songs from the
1920s (from the city, and from the country); spirituals from the slave
plantations; and gospel songs from South Africa - all in glorious unaccompanied
harmony! Good old-time gospel singing with no backing band, and no modern
R&B flavas.
In the gospel church everyone participates, whether they have a conventionally 'beautiful' voice or not. All parts in the harmony are important, every role is valued, and each person's contribution enriches the whole – expression, not technique, is what is valued. This workshop is open to all, even if you've never 'sung' outside the bathroom before! No experience is necessary and all songs will be taught by ear.
Gospel music is undoubtedly spiritual in nature and requires expression
of feeling, using body, mind and spirit. We will sing the songs with the
greatest respect, but there will be no preaching here, and everyone can
join in regardless of race, beliefs or ability.
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HARMONY SINGING FOR MEN
A rare opportunity for a men-only workshop. A relaxed, informal and
fun day of group harmony singing. No solo singing required, and you don't
even have to read music! We will learn traditional songs from cultures
where men sing together as naturally as walking or talking. Songs have
been specially chosen from the Republic of Georgia, Croatia, Corsica,
South Africa, etc. All songs will be in three and four part harmony, and
taught by ear in the traditional way.
Many different world cultures have songs which are traditionally sung
only by men. For example, the 'haka' in New Zealand Maori society
(demonstrated at All Blacks rugby matches), the weekly Zulu 'mbube'
competitions in Durban and Johannesburg (exemplified by Ladysmith Black
Mambazo), chain gang work songs in the US, work songs such as sea shanties,
American barbershop, the Welsh male voice choirs rooted in mining communities.
In this workshop we will learn songs from a range of cultures and styles,
but all united by their rich and stunning harmonies.
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INDIE POP
Do you know your Coldhead from your Radioplay, or your Ash from your Elbow?
Then this is the workshop for you! It's difficult to define 'indie' these
days, but you'll learn some cracking pop songs that don't usually make
the top 40 mainstream charts, but which have been crying out to be arranged
for voice only. Chris has hand-picked a bunch of songs from the likes of
Radiohead, REM, Sufjan Stevens and Supergrass for your delight and delectation.
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SACRED SONGS TO SOOTHE THE SOUL
Experience the ancient art of unaccompanied sacred singing, used by
people throughout the world to bring joy, healing and inspiration to their
lives. Enliven your spirit with a feast of harmonies and learn songs from
a range of cultures spanning the globe.
Sacred Song encompasses an amazing mix of musical diversity:
from the Black gospel church and the slave plantations of rural Southern
USA, to Jewish Sephardic singing from Spain; from South African protest
songs to New Zealand Maori hymns; from Corsican polyphony to the lush
harmonies of the Russian Orthodox church; from the chants of the Taizé
community to medieval plainsong; from the Georgian church to the Shaker
community; and much more in between.
This workshop is open to people of all faiths and none. No experience
is necessary and all songs will be taught by ear.
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SINGING SAFARI
For the last three years, Chris has built a choir completely from scratch to
perform at the
Warwick Folk Festival. In just six weekly two-hour sessions, a
disparate group of singers have come together to learn up to 10 songs in full
four-part harmony which were then performed to an enthusiastic outdoor audience
on the weekend of the festival.
Chris is able to create beautiful harmony singing from a group of
people in a relatively short time. You can book Chris
to take any set of keen adults on an imaginary safari to collect songs from around the
world and then perform them. This can be done in a single day (less songs of
course!), or over a period of weeks.
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THE PAUL SIMON SONGBOOK
Hard to believe, but 2007 was the 50th anniversary of Paul Simon's first
recorded song Hey Schoolgirl. His song writing career has spanned
six decades and many different genres and in 2006 he released his 10th
solo album Surprise. Paul Simon will be 68 on October 13th 2009!
Forming a partnership with Art Garfunkel in the 1950s as Tom and Jerry,
through the 60s as Simon and Garfunkel, and then beginning his solo
career in the 70s, Paul Simon has been influenced by many styles of music:
the Everly Brothers, folk, gospel, jazz, African harmony singing, Latin
American rhythms and much more.
In this relaxed and informal workshop you will learn a song from each
of Paul Simon's distinct phases of work: from African grooves to gospel
harmony; from funky rhythms to lush, other-worldly choruses. All songs
have been arranged especially for voice only and will be sung in unaccompanied
harmony. The workshop is open to anyone — no experience is necessary
and all songs will be taught by ear.
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SING OUT!
An exhilarating day of harmony singing for anyone who wants to sing —
whether you think you can or not! Enjoy games and warm ups to develop
confidence. Join in with songs from all around the world especially arranged
for voice only, all taught by ear (no need to read music!). No previous
experience needed — just bring yourself and have a go. Whether you've
only ever sung in the shower, or you're already in a choir, there will be
something here for everyone — all in a fun, friendly and relaxed
atmosphere!
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WORLD SONGS
Over the years Chris has built up an impressive repertoire
of almost 600 harmony songs from more than 50 separate countries. This workshop
gives a taster of the wide range of styles and moods of music that can be
found across the globe. The songs come from traditions and cultures where
singing comes as naturally as walking or talking and is a vital part of everyday
life. Many of the songs are from the oral tradition and have been passed on
from generation to generation. All songs are taught by ear in the original
language. (forthcoming dates here)
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