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Singing is about much more than just opening one's mouth and making beautiful sounds. As any experienced performer knows, it takes courage and sacrifice to turn notes on a page into something convincing and moving to the audience.
Singing From the Soul is an experiential course designed and taught by voice instructor Rebekkah Hilgraves and psychologist Marthaan Fenton, Ph.D., with hands-on exercises and weekly "homework"; it includes some technical aspects of singing, such as maintaining physical equilibrium in the face of emotionally demanding roles. The bulk of the course revolves around courage, trust and the spiritual demands of vocal expression and how to "draw out" the best potential a singer has. Each week's session will begin with a guided meditation, will proceed into discussions and exercises, and will conclude with practical tools to bring into the next week's daily life. WEEKLY SESSIONS: 1. Building Trust.
This first unit addresses trust issues and leads students through taking the first steps toward trusting each other and making the six-week course a "Safe" environment to grow in their art and personal experience.
2. The History of Human Vocal Expression.
This unit offers a brief survey of vocal expression, beginning with primates and moving through historical and geographical styles into the present day; following the listening segment, students will be guided through a series of vocal exercises designed to reach into deeper archetypal emotions.
3. All Experience Serves: a deeper examination of personal experience.
This unit guides students through the process of tapping into deep personal resources, facing one's fears and becoming aware of how personal experience affects one's art.
4. Integration and Synthesis: how to make your personal history work for you.
In this unit, students will explore idiosyncrasies of personal character ("quirks" and "blind spots") and how to harness them in positive ways to make a complete and convincing performance. Technical aspects of tension vs. stress are discussed as well.
5. Balance of Life and Art.
This unit delves deeply into the fine line between "genius" and "madness" and methods for renewing our personal resources - physical and spiritual - while studying, researching and performing taxing roles. Students will also discuss (and take to heart) the distinction between judgment and critical review.
6. The Master Class.
In the final session, students present arias for performance in class, and are led through the areas of struggle and trouble, as well as possible courses of action for easing the struggle. COURAGE, TRUST AND SACRIFICE
Singing From the Soul offers students a chance to explore the emotional and spiritual demands of singing, and the effects those demands have on technique. Tools are offered and reinforced throughout the course which aid the student in personal development, with the ultimate goal of making the singer a more "awake" and convincing performer. COST OF THE COURSE
The six-week course costs $1200 per student. Each session lasts two hours, and light refreshments are offered (lodging is not provided at this time, but we are exploring a group rate at a nearby retreat center). Provided course materials include an exercise book and a personal journal. Space is extremely limited, so call now to reserve your place in the next session! Enrollment is extremely limited, and the
entry deadline for the Autumn 2008 course is Monday, August 25, 2008. The autumn 2008 session begins Monday October 6, 2008. Please call 1-800-343-7179 now or contact us for information about the next session. |
