Workshops

RESONATE

Are you curious about exploring your voice but not sure where to start? Have you ever felt like you “can’t sing” but wish you could? Perhaps you already sing and would like to sing more with others? Or maybe you have heard the delicious harmonies of Georgian music and want to get involved? In any of these cases, Resonate could be for you!

In this workshop we will explore the voice through the vibration in our own body, and and the relationship of our voice to the other voices. We will put these ideas into practice through learning some beautiful three part harmony songs. Although we are focusing on music from Georgia, the methods of vibrational connection can be applied to all kinds of singing.

BOOK NOW – WEDNESDAY 22 MARCH

What to bring

Comfortable clothes that you can move in and something warm
Water
An open mind!

Where to go

Open House Hackney is situated a five minute walk from Hackney Wick Overground station. The address is 5 Prince Edward Road, London E9 5LX.

Timings

Please arrive at 7pm for a 7:15 start. The first part of the evening will be interactive exercises, followed by learning songs and singing together as a group, with opportunity for solo and trio singing. We will finish with a short closing circle by 9:45.

What is singing?

Singing is one of the oldest forms of human expression. There is evidence that Upper Paleolithic people used singing as part of early ritual, perhaps around 40,000 years ago. Singing is a body mind activity; it unites the physical, mental and emotional aspects of our being which is one reason why it can feel so satisfying, especially to do in a group.

When we sing we harness the breath to vibrate the vocal folds which reverberate sound in the echo chambers of the body, in particular the bones. Learning to feel our own vibration is a holistic and enjoyable approach to singing; it helps to find the natural power of the voice without pushing or forcing, as well as to remove barriers of fear and self-consciousness. Sharing our vibration with others is the next step, to create heart-opening harmonies and feel a deep sense of connection with our fellow singers.

Why Georgian Folksong?

Folksong is a great way of exploring the voice because it has always been a form that’s available to everyone, and as an oral tradition it is not limited to those with musical training. Georgian folksong is a wonderfully rich tradition; these are songs that were sung as part of life – there are songs for work, healing, marriage, death, hosting and many specific ritual songs. Some date back hundreds of years.

One of the magic things about this music is that it cannot be sung alone – the standard form requires at least three voices. Each part plays a slightly different role and both feeds and is fed by the others. In this way singing can teach us so much more than self-expression – it is about learning interdependence, nurturing and being nurtured, authentic relating, love.

Annalie is a firm believer that singing is for everyone. If you can speak you can sing! And more specifically, if you can hum, you can sing. This workshop is therefore open to all, beginners and professionals. If you have any queries, please get in touch.

Enquiries

Tickets

About Annalie…

Annalie has devoted much of her life to vocal exploration in a variety of ways. She was raised on a healthy mix of folk and jazz, and began working as a professional singer and musician at the West Yorkshire Playhouse whilst still at school. At the age of 15 she composed the musical score for Italian short film Il Lento which received accolades at the Venice Film Festival the same year.

Annalie trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art which later merged with Central School of Speech & Drama, where she encountered various approaches to embodied voice, including Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method and Yoga. She began releasing her own music in 2009 and went on to train with top vocal coach Kim Chandler. In 2013 she first encountered the work of Frank Kane, and through him Georgian folksong and the exploration of vibrational connection that forms the basis of her current vocal practice.

Annalie won the UK national Rock The House competition in 2014 and performed at the Houses of Parliament. She has toured in Poland and Norway, and played at numerous venues in the UK including most recently Green Note in Camden under the alias Luna Bec. She has been singing and studying Georgian folksong since her first encounter in 2013 and is one third of trio Witchebo.

Alongside her work as an actor and musician, Annalie has trained extensively in meditation and yoga, and lived for several years in a Buddhist community. These practices have enriched her artistic endeavours with the cultivation of body awareness, focus, authentic presence and above all, patience.

In 2021 Annalie suffered from a severe case of Covid-19 which affected her voice for many months. Recovering has been a slow and painful process, but the upside is that it gave her the opportunity to learn again from scratch, and it is with this renewed understanding and beginner’s mind that she approaches teaching others.

Annalie Wilson