Chris offers a range of workshops on different themes
"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!"
Workshop themes available
Chris offers the following themed workshops. They are all available as half-day/ one-day workshops,
or as weekend workshops. He can also design a specific workshop to suit
your needs. Click on a workshop title for more information and to listen to sound clips of songs learnt in a single day.
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.
Listen to songs learnt at previous workshops:
Dithotonyana (South Africa)
Bele mama (Cameroon)
Vuma (South Africa)
Folk songs from the British Isles
You don't have to be a 'folkie' to enjoy singing traditional songs in wonderful 4-part harmony!
Learn songs from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Create gorgeous group harmonies to die for.
The British Isles have a rich singing tradition stretching back centuries. Popular songs of the 'folk' have passed
down orally from generation to generation in a range of local dialects and languages. Many of us learnt traditional
songs at school. Songs such as The Skye boat song, The Ash Grove, Widdicombe Fair, Blow the man down and Cockles
and Mussels.
Learn traditional songs from the British Isles, all arranged for voice only in full glorious harmony. Some familiar,
some unexpected; some in English, some not; some in new guises. But all guaranteed to delight and feed your musical soul!
Listen to songs learnt at previous workshops:
Bushes and briars (England)
Calon lan (Wales)
Auld lang syne (Scotland)
Nil sin na (Ireland)
Songs on the Eastern wind
Learn songs from a range of Eastern European cultures and traditions: crunchy harmonies from the Balkans, Romanian lullabies,
Czech gipsy passion, haunting chants from the Russian Orthodox church, gorgeous clashing harmonies from Georgia, mountain hollers
from Macedonia and more.
Listen to songs learnt at previous workshops:
Sampler from Eastern European singing day, July 2014
Ej žito žela (Croatia)
Maliarka (Russian gypsy)
Ustat ću se rano ja (Dalmatia)
Gospodi (Russia)
Oj Savice (Croatia)
All aboard the gospel train
Who doesn't love to sing gospel? You don't have to be religious to enjoy the uplifting, passionate sounds of gospel music.
In this liberating workshop we will sing African-American gospel songs from the 1930s (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 '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
important.
Gospel music is spiritual in nature. It requires expression of feeling, using body, mind and spirit. We will sing the songs
with the greatest respect, but there will be no preaching. Everyone can join in regardless of race, beliefs or ability.
Listen to songs learnt at previous workshops:
There must be a heaven somewhere
No ways tired
Prodigal son
All my trials
Harmony singing retreats
From 2020 I will be offering three harmony singing retreats during the year. Each weekend will be limited to 16
singers. None of the weekends will have sheet music available, all learning will be by ear.
The weekends are separated into three different levels depending on experience. LEVEL 1 is for beginners and takes place
in March each year near St. Neots, Cambridgeshire. LEVEL 2 is intermediate and takes place in November (December in 2020)
each year near Redhill, Surrey. LEVEL 3 is advanced and takes place in July each year near St. Neots, Cambridgeshire
Here is how it works:
harmony singing retreat LEVEL 1: the small group challenge
For those who have experienced harmony singing (probably in a choir) and want to try singing in a smaller group. A chance to
have a go at singing one person to a part (if you want to) and to refine your harmony singing skills. This is a training weekend
and will include work on breath, blend, listening, etc.
ENTRY REQUIREMENT: some experience of harmony singing. No need to read music.
harmony singing retreat LEVEL 2: one voice to a part
For those who have tried singing one person to a part and want to get more practice at it. Plenty of opportunities to hold a
part on your own, plus some training work on vocal blend, etc.
ENTRY REQUIREMENT: some experience of singing one person to a part. No need to read music.
harmony singing retreat LEVEL 3: experienced singers only
For those who have extensive experience of singing one person to a part. You'll need to be a confident singer and be able
to pick parts up quickly. An opportunity to work as a small ensemble learning more complex songs. Also plenty of scope for singing
in trios and quartets with other experienced singers. No training involved, just plenty of singing in small groups.
ENTRY REQUIREMENT: extensive experience of singing one person to a part. No need to read music.
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. 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.
Listen to songs learnt at previous workshops:
Gospodi (Russia)
Mojuba effe fe i ku (Yoruba)
Alleluya (Russia)
Singing Safari
In 2006 Chris built a choir completely from scratch to perform at the
Warwick Folk Festival. In six weekly two-hour sessions, a disparate group of singers came together to learn up to 10 songs in
full four-part harmony. The songs were then performed to an enthusiastic outdoor audience on the weekend of the festival. This was
the first Singing Safari. He went on to create scratch choirs for the next five festivals before moving to Suffolk in 2010
Starting in 2011 Chris has been running Singing Safaris in Ipswich. From 2018 he started to run two Singing Safaris each year:
spring in Woodbridge and autumn in Ipswich.
Chris is able to create beautiful harmony singing from a group of people in a 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 (fewer songs of course!), or over a period of weeks.
Chris creates two Singing Safaris each year in Suffolk: a world music one in Woodbridge each spring, and a pop-up choir in
Ipswich each autumn.
Listen to a medley of songs from 2014's summer Singing Safari:
Listen to songs learnt at at the 2011 Singing Safari in Ipswich:
Haere Mai (New Zealand Maori)
Njetsvoda (Jos Wuytack)
Shosholoza (South Africa)
Sing out!
An exhilarating session 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!
Listen to songs learnt at previous workshops:
You are my sunshine
Hey Yana (native American)
Idonga se Jeriko (South Africa)
Songs from around the world
Over the years Chris has built up an impressive repertoire of over 700 harmony songs from more than 50 separate
countries. This workshop gives a taster of the wide range of styles and moods of music 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.
Learn harmony songs from across Africa. An opportunity to sing and move to infectious African rhythms. As the old proverb from
Zimbabwe says:
