Gospel Voice Workshop

End of September I flew out to The Netherlands to work with 3 choirs who love gospel singing. It was a blessed weekend filled with lots of laughter and joy.  Here's how the weekend went....

So I arrived at Schipol Airport, Amsterdam on Wednesday to meet up with JNR Robinson. There was a brief moment of indecision about whether I should travel to Eindhoven, down south, or we both meet up in Woerden, towards the North, our final destination. We agreed on Woerden. 

The first day went by in a blur. I had not slept in 24 hrs and was running on adrenilin. As was Junior. We met up in a coffee shop in Woerden town centre, Brownies and Downies  chatted for  about 2 hours, ate Burgers and cake and fell asleep on the comfortable seating waiting for Ches to pick us up.

The second day pretty much was an afternoon of sleeping and lounging,so nothing much to add there. Except for the beautiful 5 bedroom house we were staying in. It had everything from the dainty kettle in the open plan kitchen to the huge Sauna upstairs in the converted roof.  We had a choice of 2 showers, a bath and 2 toilets as well as a gym and an office space at our disposal.     There was a washing machine that 'sang'  to you when you turned it on and played a ditty when it stop washing.  Lights that turned on and off by themselves when you opened or closed a door, outside seating area and wooden flooring throughout.

Based on that house alone, I considered moving to Holland.... but for the spiders that seem to be allowed to freely attach themselves to every tree, gate, post or window without disturbance from their human neighbours. And not tiny spiders, oh no! Big, bulbous arachnids languishing in the centre of their webs without a care in the world.  So Woerden is out then.

Thursday we also took a trip to the church where the workshop would take place, Het Baken ( The Beacon)

1-2-1 Sessions near Utrecht

Saturday it all kicks off!

The workshop day arrives. All the planning and preparation is about to be actualised and everyone is ready.

 The workshops go round like a carousel, moving from one room to another. My class is Gospel Voice  and i teach high belt mix to 15 people at a time. I can tell you 90 mins is NEVER enough time for me to teach. I like to make sure that everyone understands the technique. Plus warm up is a whole scenario of acting and pretending to speak Italian ( you got to come to my one of my workshops to find out) that takes about 30 - 45 mins alone!! 

​Inevitably, my class runs over. Always! *smh* 

Church Service- Its Sunday Morning!

​Friday, we visit the town centre again to have a butchers at what was on offer. The C & A store (remember that shop?) was prominent in the square.I didn't really venture in but did get to look at the other shops there. 

The evening was spent giving a few private 1-2-1's  with a couple of singers and a meal at the local restaurant.

Sunday Service at Het Baken

​Sunday starts with Church at Het Baken. It is in Dutch so Ches is translating but I only catch "Amen". Its the same  in every language, you know :) After service  there's coffee and tea  then straight into the next sessions. I am doing 'Find my Voice'. I have a full class.


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'Find my Voice' is helping people to find their range and answer participants individual questions about vocal issues.  I also use the session  to help people find their correct range. There are quizzical looks as i move people around, especially when moving singers up to soprano, which I'm used to now.  However, the delight on choir members faces when they race to share with me how their voice is not straining anymore or "it felt better singing Soprano" is enough to reassure them the move was a good one.  


Time draws close for the evening concert and we still have one song to learn, Waymaker by Sinach. Its an easy arrangement but time is against us when starting to learn it from scratch at 3pm and the concert is at 7pm!!.  We have less than one hour to learn it before dinner is served. Thankfully, a  bunch of us, Ches, Maaike, Marieke and Junior, sat up till 1pm the night before learning the song. So they were right there to help teach the song parts. 

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Its Concert Time!

Gospel Voice Weekend culminates with a great evening concert. The band is in place and the stage is set for an hour of gospel and praise.  People have arrived and have taken their seats. 

What follows next is an awesome set of songs sang with open and free voices. Everyone is blending (no odd voice sticking out here and there) and knows what they are doing. Unexpectedly, Ches decides to end with,you guessed it, Waymaker.

But it was the best decision he made. With such a beautiful song, it was the only way to end.

​See for yourself. 

​A lov-erly end to an exciting weekend.
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The Weekend Ends on a Monday

The weekends ends on a Sunday (or starts on a Sunday if you want to be pedantic) just like most European countries. My point is with the misleading title is that I was still working and had one final session to attend. Choir Rehearsal.

Yes. After days of non stop singing and intense training, there was still more singing and training. 

Not that I'm complaining. Its what I love to do. Teach and train voice.

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What was significant about Monday's rehearsals was this: everybody could still sing.  Yes, voices were tired ( if people are tired, their voices will  be too) but they were strong. No one complained of losing their voice( believe you me,if people lose their voice during my workshop, they tell me. In fact ,I encourage people to let me know if it is happening so I can assist them in finding a better technique). Rather people shared how surprised they were that they had NO PAIN, as they normally would, after a long bout of chorist-ing.  

For me that is success. That is why i teach voice and support people in finding their singing voice.

Its about  'singing with understanding' as given in 1 Corinthians 14:15.  Its understanding that to be 'skillful' like Kenaniah in 1 Chronicles 15:22, its good to embrace practice and training to develop your vocal craft.

And remember, you do not do it unto Man but unto God. 

 To your Vocal Success

Dionne

If you'd like to to book private lessons or a workshop for your choir get in touch on 07733 5345 29  or send us an email.

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