Would you love to be more free, creative and expressive when you sing?
Imagine the experience of sharing your voice if nerves, inhibitions and self-doubt no longer stood in your way.
It might feel like a distant or impossible dream, but believe us, freeing your voice is possible. We (Lise and Danielle) have witnessed – and experienced in ourselves – how even intense performance nerves can fade. We’ve seen timid and wobbly singers relax into the flow of improvisation, and find the confidence to share more of their unique self-expression with others.
How do you begin this transformation? It’s a process, but it starts with empowering vocal and musical input, some simple yet powerful body–mind tools, and being held within a safe, supportive group. This is what a Free Your Voice vocal improvisation weekend can offer.
Whether you’re a shy, bedroom-based singer who’s scared to be heard, a singer-songwriter seeking the courage to ad lib, or a seasoned Collaborative Vocal Improviser longing to own your solos, we have a course designed for you.
Come join our singers’ circle for a weekend, share in the magic of creating spontaneous a cappella music – and find new ways to set your voice free.
“I loved it so much, I couldn’t ever have guessed how healing it would be. I found so much more confidence to experiment. It was brilliant, musically engaging and such a wonderfully held safe space. You two are absolutely brilliant!” Freya (Free Your Voice 6-week course participant)
Which course is for me?
Free Your Voice – Freedom Foundation
You’re a singer who’d love to feel comfortable improvising in front of other people. But your nerves start to kick in at the very thought of taking the risk to sing out without a plan!
You might be:
- someone who longs to be creative with their voice and music, but has never done any kind of vocal improvisation before
- a shower-singer or car-singer who makes up tunes on the spot when no one else can hear
- a songwriter who struggles with performance anxiety and would love to feel more comfortable taking creative risks in front of an audience
- or someone who has experienced Collaborative Vocal Improvisation before but has found it triggers a lot of nerves
Free Your Voice – The Improvising Soloist
You’re a singer who’s ready to do a deep dive into the art of the improvised solo. This means:
- You’ve already got experience of Collaborative Vocal Improvisation, and you’re comfortable making up and layering musical patterns in a ‘voicestra’
- You’re able to play with rhythm and pitch to bring variation into your patterns
- You can sing in front of others without nerves completely overwhelming you
However, in the moment of stepping up to improvise a solo you still feel underconfident and inhibited. You’d love to be able to vary your solos more, and have more artistic choice over how they sound.
You want to experience yourself as a free, confident and expressive improvising soloist.
Free Your Voice – Freedom Foundation Course
This course will run twice in the first half of 2024:
Option one: 10-11 Feb, 10am-5pm
Option two: 6-7 Apr, 10am-5pm
At Beacon Music Centre, Bristol BS10 5SJ
Unlock your creative voice, overcome your nerves
In Freedom Foundation, you’ll experience a gentle, supported journey into the magic of Collaborative Vocal Improvisation. Through this improv practice, combined with simple yet powerful body–mind tools, you’ll start to expand your comfort zone and gain confidence to share your creative voice.
You’ll be invited to start improvising in the most simple and accessible way, by making up short, repeating musical phrases. You’ll then discover how these simple ideas can be layered up with the ideas of other singers to create music that springs to life in the moment.
“I have accepted my voice in a new and freeing way.” Miranda
What is Collaborative Vocal Improvisation?
Collaborative Vocal improvisation (CVI) is an a cappella (sung with no instrumental accompaniment) art form. It’s often made up of layers of looped musical phrases which create harmony and rhythmic interest, over which one singer can improvise a solo. The forms or ‘ways into’ CVI we teach on Free Your Voice were developed by improvising vocalist Rhiannon and other members of Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra in the US.
Taking part in CVI is not just a magical experience in itself, but will hone your skills for any musical activity – whether you’re dreaming of writing songs, taking part in jams or collaborating with other singers and musicians.
Often people associate vocal improvisation with Jazz or musical theatre, but CVI isn’t about singing in a specific genre. The music we create together can sound like any contemporary music genre, or none. The only way of knowing exactly what our group improvisations will sound like is to come along and experience them for yourself!
“I never thought I could create music and now I think I could even create a song!” Eva (Free Your Voice 6-week course participant)
What exactly will I learn and experience in Freedom Foundation?
At the beginning of the weekend you’ll be warmly welcomed into our singers’ circle. We’ll lead you through a process to settle your body and calm any nerves. Then you’ll be introduced to your fellow singers, and we’ll establish some group agreements to help everyone feel safe.
Next we’ll set off on an exploration of vocal sounds and rhythm. You’ll learn the foundational skills of Collaborative Vocal Improvisation, to set you up for our weekend of making delicious music together.
On both Saturday and Sunday you’ll get to learn and experience:
- a variety of fun and playful ways to make spontaneous music
- powerful tools and reflective exercises to overcome your nerves and build confidence
If during the weekend you feel ready to try out the role of soloist in our group improvisations then you will have the opportunity to do so. However, there will be no pressure on anyone to solo.
By Sunday we’ll be focused on really celebrating our musical creativity and putting our new skills and learnings into practice – to have you leave our singers’ circle on a high!
Beyond gaining improvisation skills, our aim for the Freedom Foundation weekend is to help you experience yourself in a new way: as a more confident, vibrant singer who can share themselves more fully in song.
“I have used the techniques to help to calm nerves not just in musical performance situations. Feeling more positive about performing vocally in front of others.” Becki
“The week after the course I was asked to talk into a microphone for BBC Breakfast. I said cool and calm to the journalist, ‘yeah, I’ll do that for you’. I felt no blushing or anxiety or any of those breaks and blockages. I was as cool as a cucumber. I was so cool within myself afterward, smiling to myself saying, ‘cool Oya, more of that’. That solo role in the circle must have done something to me as I would always avoid talking into a microphone. So here’s a massive shift.” Oya
Free Your Voice – The Improvising Soloist Course
This course will run twice in the first half of 2024:
Option one: 17-18 Feb, 10am-5pm
Option two: 13-14 Apr, 10am-5pm
At Beacon Music Centre, Bristol BS10 5SJ
Improvise solos with greater artistic freedom and confidence
On The Improvising Soloist you’ll learn how to practise and prepare for improvised solos, so you can really own them!
This weekend will give you the rare opportunity to focus on improvising solos, within the context of Collaborative Vocal Improvisation. You’ll get the chance to practise being heard soloing within a safe and supportive group. We’ll use embodiment tools, combined with a gentle, playful approach, to loosen your inhibitions and pave the way for a positive experience of the soloist role.
You’ll develop your awareness of the creative choices you can make during an improv solo, and learn what it takes to structure and develop a great on-the-spot melody.
By the end of this weekend you’ll have a clear, step-by-step process you can use to continue to develop your artistic voice, move beyond your ‘go-to’ sounds and blossom into a free and confident improvising soloist.
“This course has given me more confidence in my ability to solo and to allow myself to take up a bit more space and make my solos longer. I believe those on a voice journey would gain a lot from this course.” Janne
How will The Improvising Soloist weekend flow?
Your weekend will begin with a warm welcome into our singers’ circle. We’ll lead you through a process to settle your body, before introducing you to the other singers who’ll be sharing in this soloist’s journey. We’ll then get some group agreements in place to help everyone feel safe.
Next we’ll warm up your voice and sense of rhythm, feeding in empowering vocal technique. You’ll begin to expand your vocal and musical palette by exploring different ways to create vocal colours and textures.
On both Saturday and Sunday you’ll have the chance to play with a variety of improvisation techniques, and put your new learnings into practice creatively. You’ll focus on developing your individual voice as an improviser within the practice of Collaborative Vocal Improvisation, so you can feel supported by the voices of the whole group.
By Sunday afternoon we’ll be drawing on everything we’ve learned, diving into the magic of different forms of CVI to inspire each soloist to ‘take the stage’ and enjoy their moment to shine!
“Attending the weekend course was a transformative experience in which I felt that I explored new depths. It has also given me the confidence to start being more exploratory with words in my vocal improvisation.” Claire
“Lise and Danielle are two highly experienced and skilled facilitators and musicians who hold space with such love and acceptance and celebration and deep empathy and understanding. All artists have their time of low confidence and self esteem, from beginners to professionals, this is a great way to reconnect and expand what’s possible, reignite passion for singing and trust the unknown creative realms. Also to leave with a toolbox of incredible, simple tools to take away is gold dust.” Bex
Prices
Freedom Foundation weekend: £250 Standard | £200 Concessions*
The Improvising Soloist weekend: £250 Standard | £200 Concessions*
Double weekend deal: Book both Freedom Foundation and The Improvising Soloist weekends at a discounted price of £400 (Standard and Concessions)
*Concessions are available for students and those on a low income.
To pay the concessionary rate or to get the double weekend deal use the coupon code FYV2024 when booking.
“Danielle and Lise are amazing facilitators. Their emotional intelligence is beautiful to connect with. Their teamwork and leadership skills are gifted. Their genuine love of singing and of bringing the best out of people by encouragement is wonderful.” Miranda
Meet your facilitators
Lise is the founder of Sound Your Voice, a Bristol-based vocal studio empowering singers of all levels to develop their individuality and independence as musical artists. A voice teacher with more than 15 years’ experience, Lise has taught everyone from performing artists to stage actors, as well as beginner singers who think they can’t sing!
Since 2019 Lise has trained as a singer and singing teacher with world-class vocal coaches at the Institute for Vocal Advancement (IVA). Her musical background is in Jazz and Contemporary Music. She began her journey as a creative facilitator at Vienna’s University of Music and Performing Arts, where she studied Music and Movement Education/Rhythmics.
Lise performs and records with her Jazz band under the name of Lil Maxine.
“Brilliant, magnificent, sensitive and highly competent in the way Lise brings out the best in me as a singer and performer!“ Jakob Beubler, singer and actor
Danielle is a creative vocalist, vocal improvisation facilitator and coach. Working under the name Bird Flies Free, she helps nervous and inhibited singers to unlock their artist within and sing with true freedom and confidence in front of others.
Danielle dedicated herself to the study and practice of Collaborative Vocal Improvisation after falling in love with this art form six years ago. However, her longing to share her voice creatively was challenged by the intense performance nerves she would experience. The first time Danielle was invited to improvise a solo in front of classmates, the fear kicked in so strongly that she ended up sitting on the floor, half singing, half sobbing.
This challenge became a ‘call to adventure’ that opened up a deep exploration of her voice, her nervous system and her past. After seeking help from many coaches, courses and books, Danielle found ways to overcome her nerves – and she now shares this wisdom on Free Your Voice.
Danielle’s vocal improvisation teachers have been Briony Greenhill, Emma Coleman and Guillermo Rozenthuler. Danielle is a piano-based songwriter who is currently writing songs for her debut album.
“I felt entirely safe and held in Danielle’s workshop and I didn’t ever feel exposed or on the spot. Danielle is a wonderful facilitator who created a space that was fun and playful but also tender and open.” Amy Lawrence, singer, songwriter and performing artist
Cancellation & Refund and Course Policies
To see our cancellation & refund and course policies please click the plus sign below.
When you book your place, you confirm your commitment to the entire weekend intensive course and you will be responsible for payment in full of the price of the course.
As we (Danielle and Lise) are committed to delivering a high standard of service, we put a limit on the number of places available on our courses. Once these places have been filled, we do not allow anyone else to join. For this reason we are not able to offer any refunds in any circumstances aside from:
- your exercising your consumer right to cancel within the 14-day cooling off period; however, this will not apply if you book the course 14 days or fewer before the course start date; or
- in the case that we cancel the course ourselves (see below).
In all other circumstances you remain responsible for the whole price of the weekend intensive course even if you do not complete it, as payment is for the course as a whole.
This policy also reflects the amount of time and energy we dedicate to preparing for Free Your Voice, in order to deliver a high-quality service for our students.
Please also note that the course fee isn’t transferrable.
Cooling Off Period
It’s your legal right as a consumer to cancel and receive a full refund during the ‘cooling off period’ which starts from the date of your booking and ends 14 days later. However, by booking this course 14 days or fewer before the weekend intensive course start date, you are confirming to us that you wish us to start to provide the weekend intensive course within the 14 day cooling off period. At this point your place will be reserved for you only and our Cancellation and Refund policy will apply.
To cancel you should let us know of your decision to cancel by emailing us at vocalimprov@soundyourvoice.uk. We will confirm receipt of your email and make the refund using the same means of payment as for the initial transaction, unless agreed otherwise.
Organisers’ cancellation
We are fully committed to delivering this course, but if for any reason we should have to cancel, we would give you a full refund.
If we cancelled before the course had started you would be eligible for a full refund of the payment you had made for the course.
If we cancelled once the course had started you would be eligible for a refund that reflected the proportion of the course which had already taken place.
If due to events beyond our reasonable control (including illness) one of us was not able to facilitate the course, the course would still run and be taught by the other facilitator.
FAQs
Got questions? Take a look at our FAQs below. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, drop us an email at vocalimprov@soundyourvoice.uk and we’d be happy to help.
Is the Free Your Voice – Freedom Foundation Course suitable for beginner singers?
No, if you’re new to singing, Free Your Voice – Freedom Foundation Course isn’t for you yet. To take part in the Freedom Foundation Course you’ll need to feel comfortable with singing, and be able to sing in tune.
If you are a beginner singer and you’d love to improve your skills, you can book a 60-minute taster session with Lise here. We’d love to have you join us on Free Your Voice in the future.
If you’re unsure whether Free Your Voice – Freedom Foundation Course is suitable for you, please drop us an email at vocalimprov@soundyourvoice.uk and we’ll be very happy to help you.
Am I ready to do Free Your Voice – The Improvising Soloist?
To take part in The Improvising Soloist, you need to have experience of Collaborative Vocal Improvisation and be comfortable creating and layering musical patterns (as we do in a ‘voicestra’).
You should also have the ability to play with rhythm and pitch to bring variation into your patterns. Finally, you should be able to improvise vocally in front of others without being completely overwhelmed by nerves.
If you’re a singer who’s not quite there yet, we recommend you do Free Your Voice – Freedom Foundation first. There is also the option to come to Let’s Singprovise! (if you’re Bristol-based) to develop your vocal, musical and improv skills.
If you’re unsure whether Free Your Voice – Freedom Foundation Course is suitable for you, please drop us an email at vocalimprov@soundyourvoice.uk and we’ll be very happy to help you.
Do I need to know music theory?
You don’t have to have studied music theory or be able to read sheet music to take part in either Free Your Voice Freedom Foundation or The Improvising Soloist, because all skills will be taught in an accessible way.
We teach by ear and by using custom-made visual diagrams. We do sometimes include some musical notation as an extra resource for those who find it helpful.
Are Free Your Voice courses about Jazz improvisation or Musical Theatre?
No, they aren’t about singing in a specific genre – they’re relevant to singers across all genres of contemporary music. The music we’ll create together could sound like any contemporary music genre, or none.
Any other questions?
Please drop us an email at vocalimprov@soundyourvoice.uk and we’ll be very happy to answer them.
Ready to free your voice?
If you’re feeling the call to join us, we can’t wait to meet you and your voice! We’re excited to improvise with you, and to hear the song that only you can sing.