UHLIG
(Germany/The Netherlands)
Saturday and Sunday October 17. and 18.,2009
This course will provide opportunities to develop a deeper awareness of the voice in the body as the primary instrument for communication and expression and to further personal growth in service of professional development. Participants are invited into a process of personal awareness of their own voices and professional discussion about the impact of singing in a variety of settings. Exploring vocal sounds in a peer environment can promote confidence, awareness, and, ultimately, a more effective use of the voice. The only way to learn more about this instrument, the voice, is to use it – to sing – alone and with others.
Singing has been proven to effect relaxation and mood changes and is a valuable instrument for management of stress, anxiety and pain in medical and psychological settings as well as in daily life. Voicework provides a vibrational massage to the body from inside which renews the natural flow of energy. Physical and emotional blocks, manifested through years of stagnation, can be released, restoring and enhancing flexibility. Singing through emotional states creates a tangible, audible resonance, which then has the potential for movement (change) and creative expression. Research shows that specific neurological areas are stimulated by vocal vibrations, increasing the capacity for concentration, sensory perception, balance, and relaxation. When the entire body is integrated in this process of singing, the vibration can stimulate normal brain functioning, developmental processes, social interaction, emotional balance, and an overall sense of well-being.
Day one: A Time to Sing
A Time to Sing is a program for everyone, singers and non-singers - for anyone who uses their voice in their work and/or their life and who wants to become more conscious of the impact the voice can have on others. The goal of this workshop is to allow people to sing for themselves and with others which results in a sense of wellness through being in our bodies and expanding our range of expression. This work is about experiencing the voice more than producing or performing. Personal exploration of natural and musical sounds in collaboration with other voices creates an environment in which people can overcome fear, reduce anxiety, and return to an inherent enjoyment of singing just for the sake of singing.
Day two: Singing, A Personal and Professional Need
Singing is a powerful and effective tool in music therapy, but also valuable for other professions like teachers, psychologists, actors, singers and everyone interested in the voice. Through singing, we enter into the integrative process of expression and the interactive process of communication. The experience of singing can be essential for singer’s process and it is also fundamental for the professional development. The therapist who sings in therapy sessions needs to be aware about the effect and the impact of the voice. The same is truth for other profession: the voice of the teacher or psychologist. The focus of this workshop is on dialogue, communication, and the nuances of acoustic symbols and multicultural influences that are inherent in authentic human sounds.
Participants will experience a sequence of vocal exercises that can promote proficiency, will sing alone and with others to enhance sensitivity to how the voice impacts human relationships on many levels, will develop skill and freedom to use the body and voice in improvisation to communicate effectively with the others. Important for this practice are: developing awareness of the body as an instrument; experiencing the differences between forced and free voices; discovering not-beautiful voices and their effects; listening; practicing various situations through vocal partner work.
General focus:
The VOICEWORK addresses the personal exploration necessary to expand the range of the voice and to vocalize from the body and the imagination. Body warm-up, vocal exercises, and listening training prepare to work creatively with the sounds that the singers are making. We address therapeutic issues of creating a safe space, establishing rapport, dealing with issues of intimacy and encouraging free expression.
The PARTNER WORK engages participants in vocal interaction with peers, developing versatility in hearing acoustic symbols and creating a dialogue spontaneously that is meaningful. The personal dynamics that emerge in this work enhance our ability to dialogue with our partners. Clinical examples are used to support and clarify the use of the dialoguing voice in a therapeutic setting.
The MULTICULTURAL ASPECT of the program offers exposure to human sounds and musical motifs that are primitive and often universal. Listening to singing from different parts of the world, we begin to understand the many sounds human beings can make and the symbolic messages they convey. Then we interact with these sounds, building our own repertoire of sounds, and becoming ready to use them in daily life.
Click HERE for more informations about the Sylka Uhlig.
The workshop will take place in Komunikační prostor, Školská street number 28, both days from 10:00 do 17.30 with a lunch break. The fee is 1850,- / 1700 for students, pensionners and persons on parental leave. The workshop will be held in English and translated into Czech language. You can download the application HERE.