Showing posts with label Singing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Singing. Show all posts

Tuesday, 24 May 2011

Looking for Basses and Tenors and a £50 voucher for you!


The Choral Evensong Weekend, 4-6 November 2011 is already two-thirds full. However, we need more voices to complete our counterpoint!

In particular, we are seeking Basses and Tenors to bring our choir into balance. If you have a friend, partner or acquaintance who sings in these registers, please could you persuade them to join us in November? Then your Cotswold’s weekend will be perfectly pitched.

As a token of our appreciation for introducing a new bass or tenor singer to the course, we are very pleased to offer a £50 gift voucher to use towards an event at Farncombe in 2012. (Usual Terms and Conditions Apply.) To find out more please call 033 3456 8580.

Sunday, 12 December 2010

Voice Workshops with Dan Evans 2011

Dan Evans was told as a child that he couldn't sing and was made to mime in the school choir. Later, in adult life he attended a number of voice workshops which transformed his musical career. He now performs professionally in the UK and USA singing with dulcimer and guitar. "Dan has a rare talent for getting the very best out of people" "Dan - the Voice Whisperer"

This voice workshop will help your to find your voice and project it with ease and confidence. You may feel you can't sing or you may be an established singer of any level, style or genre. No former musical knowledge is required. You will be shown how to listen carefully, in order to sing in tune. You will learn how to breathe effectively to sustain notes and you will be taught the powerful open-throated calling technique to project your voice. You will experiment with arrangements to make songs come to life and you will be shown how to sing from the heart, moving others with your song. Through a carefully balanced mixture of relaxation, laughter, breathing, listening, best practice vocal technique and lots of confidence development, participants frequently progress more than they thought possible and are sometimes moved. Everyone can sing and it's great fun.

"Everyone Can Sing - A Voice Workshop" will be taking place at Farncombe Estate on 5 dates in 2011 - click here to enquire about the Voice Workshops with Dan Evans .

Wednesday, 1 December 2010

Voice of America: A VERY SPECIAL DEAL FOR TENORS !

Voice of America: A Choral Weekend at Farncombe with Jeremy Jackman, 11 to 13 February 2011

A VERY SPECIAL DEAL FOR TENORS: We have a strong group booked for the weekend with plenty of sopranos, altos and basses but we need tenors to make this weekend the success it should be. If you are a tenor who can join us as a non-resident, you will be welcome at a special fee for the weekend, tuition, food, refreshments etc, Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime, £70 (reduced from £163).

This is your chance to join in the recent explosion of interest in American choral music. Jeremy Jackman - no stranger to American vocal repertoire - will lead the course through music with and without accompaniment by Morten Lauridsen, Eric Whittaker (his part-song 'Sleep' is to die for), Aaron Copland and Randall Thompson. We will also sing Agnus Dei by Samuel Barber, the composer's own arrangement of his famous 'Adagio'. Don't miss this opportunity to explore some of America's loveliest and liveliest music under the direction of one of Britain's liveliest (but not loveliest) choral directors.

Jeremy Jackman is a leading figure in English choral music and has inspired many thousands of music-lovers throughout the world. As a much sought-after choral director, he is able to draw on his experience as a chorister, lay clerk and free lance soloist as well as 10 exciting years with the King's Singers when he performed in all the major concert venues around the world. He is musical director of the English Baroque Choir, the Cecilian Singers (Leicester) and chorus master of OSJ Voices. Jeremy is frequently invited to give workshops and masterclasses with established choirs both in the UK and abroad. He is a noted composer and arranger and his music has been performed from Twickenham to Taipei. He directs workshops and rehearsals for The Really Big Chorus. He hopes that participants will leave Farncombe feeling refuelled and eager to put new ideas and techniques into practice.

For more information about Farncombe go to http://www.farncombeestate.co.uk/ or ring 033 3456 8580.

Voice of America: Choral Weekend - Singing Courses

Friday, 12 November 2010

Sounds of Simon and Garfunkel 11-13 November

Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel met at primary school; starting their musical journey together in the imaginatively named 'Tom and Jerry' band in the mid 1950's before becoming one of the most influential musical duos of the Greenwich Village folk rock scene in the 1960s. In a tempestuous creative relationship that lasted 5 years, they produced 5 albums of memorable songs and the soundtrack to the iconic film The Graduate. Known for their close vocal harmonies, finely-crafted melodies and evocative writing about New York, there are many treasures to discover as we join experienced vocalist Jo Sercombe for a weekend of fun, relaxation and great songs as we sing our way through Simon & Garfunkel old favourites and lesser known tracks. Suitable for male and female voices, some harmony singing experience is advisable but you don't need to be able to read music notation.

Book well in advance for this weekend course at Farncombe with Jo Sercombe - 11-13 November 2011 - call 033 3456 8580 or email enquiries@farncombeestate.co.uk

Sounds of Simon and Garfunkel - Singing Courses

Sunday, 24 October 2010

Start your New Year in New Voice - Everyone Can Sing - A Voice Workshop for All !

This ever-popular course with Dan Evans will help your to find your voice and project it with ease and confidence. You may feel you can't sing or you may be an established singer of any level, style or genre. No former musical knowledge is required. You will be shown how to listen carefully, in order to sing in tune. You will learn how to breathe effectively to sustain notes and you will be taught the powerful open-throated calling technique to project your voice. You will experiment with arrangements to make songs come to life and you will be shown how to sing from the heart, moving others with your song. Through a carefully balanced mixture of relaxation, laughter, breathing, listening, best practice vocal technique and lots of confidence development, participants frequently progress more than they thought possible and are sometimes moved. Everyone can sing and it's great fun.

Course takes place 7-9 January 2011 - call 033 3456 8580 or book online :
Everyone Can Sing - A Voice Workshop - Singing Courses

Monday, 18 October 2010

Start your New Year with a bang - Go Gospel! with Jo Sercombe

Start your New Year with a bang by joining a gospel choir for the weekend! Experienced gospel choir director Jo Sercombe will take you through a variety of gospel repertoire from early spirituals to contemporary American gospel; helping you to free your voice and create that special gospel vocal sound. We're gonna be singing, we're gonna be swaying, we're gonna be clapping - and by the time Jo's finished with you, you'll be energised and ready to conquer the year ahead! No previous singing experience or ability to read music notation required, just a desire to make a joyful noise!

For more details of Go Gospel and other courses with Jo Sercombe visit Jo Sercombe's page on the Farncombe Estate website or call 033 3456 8580.

Tuesday, 12 October 2010

An Introduction to West Gallery Music - June 2011 at Farncombe Estate

Following a thirty year teaching career Francis Roads has devoted himself to researching, editing and performing West Gallery music. In 1997 he founded London Gallery Quire, which performs West Gallery services and concerts throughout the London area. Francis has been in demand for many workshops and similar events throughout England, the USA and France. Francis brings a new weekend course to Farncombe in 2011 -"An Introduction to West Gallery Music".

Francis Roads

Wednesday, 29 September 2010

Start Songwriting - One Day Workshop with Jo Sercombe

Ever wanted to write a song but not known where to start? Just as (apparently) we all have at least one novel inside us, anyone can have a go at writing songs. Spend a day with Jo demystifying the process of song-writing. Learn how to begin by exploring sources of inspiration, ways of selecting and structuring material and discover how to develop ideas. No previous experience necessary, just a big imagination (we supply the felt tip pens!) and by the end of the day, you'll have be taking your first song home with you!

Participants should bring electronic keyboards, guitars & other instruments they use for songwriting. Please make sure you bring headphones and an extension lead for electronic instruments. A Dictaphone or mp3 recorder may also be useful for documenting your work

This one day course takes place at Farncombe Estate 5th February 2011 - book online here Start Songwriting - Singing Courses or call 033 3456 8580.

Monday, 2 August 2010

Everyone Can Sing - Give It A Try! Tickets £5 for a limited period only !

Dan's weekend workshops are consistently popular at Farncombe. Join him at our Open Day on Sunday 12 September to discover posture & breathing, experiment with different vocal sounds, chanting & listening, and end by singing a song together. He'll prove that Everyone Can Sing !

Open Day Workshop: 11.00pm Everyone Can Sing - Give It A Try! - Singing Courses

Friday, 30 July 2010

Three Choirs Festival 7-15 August

The Three Choirs Festival, held each year since the early eighteenth century, and rotating between the three great cathedral cities of Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford is one of the world’s oldest classical choral music festivals. This heritage has long established the Festival as a firm fixture in the British music calendar and a must-visit for lovers of the great choral works from across Britain, Europe, America and Australasia.

The festival returns to Gloucester this August with an excellent line up. Each festival provides an attached Festival Club, traditionally run by the “Friends” of the home festival, which provides a central social venue for audience and performers alike, as well as food and drink in a welcoming and hospitable atmosphere.

For more details see http://www.3choirs.org/

Sunday, 11 July 2010

Whether you sing in the bath or perform in public (or both!?)...

Songs on the Eastern Wind is a fantastic song workshop tutored by the ever popular Chris Rowbury.

Taking place 24-26 September at Farncombe Estate, all songs will be taught by ear in the traditional way. No previous experience is necessary, just a love of singing. This will be a relaxed, informal and fun weekend of group harmony singing. You will be surprised and delighted by the rich and stunning harmonies we will produce in a relatively short time.

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 unaccompanied voice.

We've uploaded some song samples to our website - listen to them here
http://www.farncombeestate.co.uk/coursedetail.asp?course=1935

Wednesday, 7 July 2010

Chris Rowbury - Woven Chords


Chris Rowbury has been leading the Stamford-based community choir Woven Chords for the last 10 years. To celebrate his 10 years with the choir (and 15 years since they were formed), Woven Chords have just released a brand new live CD. The CD contains 27 tracks from concerts over the last five years ranging across 21 different countries! Singing in unaccompanied harmony, and always in the original language, Woven Chords’ joyful performances swell the spirit and touch the soul. You can buy the CD from their website: http://www.wovenchords.com/ where you can also hear sound clips.

Monday, 5 July 2010

City Chorus Commission Competition

City Chorus (London, England) is celebrating its 90th birthday season in 2010-2011: the culmination of our anniversary year will be a concert in July 2011, which will feature a newly commissioned 20-minute work for chorus. Composers from around the world are invited to apply for this GBP2000 commission. City Chorus is an adult mixed choir, open to all without audition, and our 'ideal' composer will be able to write music that is original and exciting, yet within the capability of our amateur singers. Deadline: 3 December 2010.

for full details, please visit:

http://www.citychorus.info/
and click on "competition"

or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to:
City Chorus Commission Competition
Woodfall House
53 Carpenters Wood Drive
Chorleywood
Hertfordshire
WD3 5RP
England

Tuesday, 11 May 2010

Farncombe Estate tutor Dan Evans visits Kentucky in June 2010

Farncombe tutor, Dan Evans, is traveling to the USA this June to teach and perform at one of America’s biggest dulcimer festivals, Kentucky Music Week, in historic Bardstown, Kentucky. This will be the third time Dan has worked at this festival and his tenth music trip to the USA overall. As the leading UK exponent on the dulcimer, Dan will work with twenty five other leading players, all teaching their own style and technique of playing at this friendly week-long festival.

On this occasion he has been asked to lead three daily dulcimer classes to teach his precise finger-style playing as well as a daily voice class, based on his popular and confidence-building Everyone Can Sing weekend, which he leads at Farncombe Estate. Students of Dan’s voice workshop will doubtless have seen his dulcimer. There are often a few spare minutes before a break and Dan will invite the class to join him in singing a popular song, using the sweet sound of the dulcimer as accompaniment.

Dan enjoys all his US trips but this festival in Kentucky is especially rewarding. In Kentucky in the summer of 2000 Dan met and worked with legendary figures in the American folk world like Jean Ritchie and Bill Staines. In 2005 a group of Dan’s students performed a dulcimer arrangement of the Skye Boat Song in concert, thanks to Dan’s encouraging teaching style. This year Dan will meet some new players and there will doubtless be new adventures and stories to tell.

read about Dan’s first trip to Kentucky Music Week in 2000 http://www.english-dulcimer.com/adventures-in-Kentucky-2000.asp

learn more about Dan’s dulcimer music http://www.english-dulcimer.com/default.asp

find out about Dan’s popular Everyone Can Sing Voice workshop at Farncombe Estate http://www.farncombeestate.co.uk/tutordetails.asp?tutor=34

Tuesday, 27 April 2010

Team building and community development though learning to sing

Tutor Dan Evans writes:

Doubtless many choirs and singing groups bring people together and help to form friendships and communities. Singing is enjoyable, good for you and sociable in all sorts of ways. Everyone Can Sing voice workshop however goes further than this – as well as the sociable aspects of singing, my workshop actively builds teams and communities. Confidence is key in singing and my coaching process was designed to develop confidence. A by-product of this process is highly effective team building and community development.

Confidence is key in singing – weather it’s singing powerfully, hitting high notes or presenting moving songs – it’s important to feel confident in order to sing well. My Everyone Can Sing voice workshop deploys my ‘engine’, which develops confidence through the reinforcement of existing (and developing) strengths. Participants grow in confidence by receiving positive feedback from myself as the tutor but also, importantly, from the other participants.
In giving positive feedback, participants show each other respect, differences are celebrated and competitiveness vanishes – everyone encourages everyone else to succeed. This creates a motivating and exciting ambience, in which I can gently challenge limiting beliefs and help participants to achieve their full potential at that time. Participants frequently progress more than they would have thought possible and are often moved by the experience, which is memorable for them. Participants not only feel more confident but they also they also develop a more optimistic and positive outlook.

In showing respect, celebrating differences, removing competitiveness and working in a positive, motivating and exciting ambience, barriers come down, friendships are formed, teams are built and communities develop.

Saturday, 3 April 2010

Everyone Can Sing?! Singing course at Farncombe leads student to a recording opportunity!

19-year old Andrea Ebrey attended Dan Evans' voice workshop at Farncombe Estate this February, not really knowing if she had a voice, or not. She took an active part in the exercises but it was not until the Saturday evening that Andrea showed her true potential. After class, the group were singing informally in the bar and suddenly Andrea’s voice filled the room and stopped everyone in their tracks - it was quite moving. Dan invited her down to his hometown of Olney to meet popular songwriter and producer Barnaby Pinny.

As a result of that meeting, Andrea has put down a couple of tracks. Dan feels that her voice is strong and true and she clearly has a career as a singer.

To read more about Dan and his workshops at Farncombe visit www.FarncombeEstate.co.uk/DanEvans

Monday, 22 February 2010

Langlais Festival choral course, Brittany

"I am delighted to announce details of this year's Langlais Festival choral course, which will take place on 25th - 29th July, 2010 in la Fontenelle, Brittany and will be directed once again by Malcolm Archer, ably assisted by David Bednall (organ).

This year we have a wonderful addition to the course - the services of vocal coach, Hilary Jones. Hilary will certainly be able to improve the quality of our singing and she will also be available to give private lessons during the week.

You will find full information about the course, travel and accommodation at www.brittanymusicworkshops.co.uk which can also be accessed via a link through www.jeanlanglais.eu. We also attach a pdf poster



We are still recruiting in all sections, and I'd be very grateful if you could pass on the word to all your singing friends. I look forward to hearing from you and to welcoming you to la Fontenelle in July.



Brenda Dean

President of the Association "Les Amis de Jean Langlais"

Tuesday, 16 February 2010

Bring a friend to sing at Farncombe and save up to £75!

Bring a friend, relative or colleague and enjoy a glorious weekend of song and fun at Farncombe Estate in the Cotswolds. Bring a friend to sing at Farncombe and save up to £75!

Tuesday, 2 February 2010

London Alternative Fringe Festival

The London Alternative Fringe Festival is a celebration of all things Cabaret, Circus, Vaudeville and Burlesque. A showcase of the capitals alternative nightlife running throughout August. In 2010 we’ll be running the festival as part of the London Festival Fringe – a brand new fringe festival for London. If you are involved in London’s alternative nightlife scene in any way, then we want to hear from you!

For more information about the festival and how to get involved please visit - http://www.alternativefringe.com

Contact: Alexander Parsonage info@alternativefringe.com

Sunday, 17 January 2010

Sing the Motown Music of Stevie Wonder !

Calling all Stevie fans ...! The fabulous Jo Sercombe has been teaching and singing at Farncombe this weekend. Her next course in March is a sell out - but we do still have some places for her Stevie course 14-16 May . Don't miss out !

Sing the Motown Music of Stevie Wonder - Singing Courses

Farncombe Estate Centre's Fan Box

Where to find us and what we do

Farncombe Estate is situated just outside the Cotswold village of Broadway. We are approximately 50 minutes from Oxford, Birmingham and Bristol and easily located from the M5, M40 and M42.

There is a direct rail service from London Paddington to Moreton in Marsh which is our nearest rail station. To help rail travellers we offer a return taxi collection service from the station.

For a location map and further directions please visit our website.