ABOUT THE RETREAT

This March we meet for the first time at HausAnanda in Chorin (Brandenburg), one hour north of Berlin, for an intensive weekend retreat focused on singing improvisation.

This retreat is intended for participants who are already familiar with singing and improvising, for voicers who feel confident working with pitch and rhythm, and for any musician who wishes to explore the deeper aspects of voice improvisation and vocal instant composition.
Over this weekend, we will explore Collaborative Vocal Improvisation in a small group of 6-9 people, balancing technique work with free explorations and ensemble journeys of spontaneous vocal pieces. Each participant will have the opportunity to receive individual coaching, and to experiment with new approaches to find their unique signature.

We will move through a guided group journey, anchored in four main areas:

• Morning journaling and intuitive writing, to access our subconscious imagination and bridge it to our vocal expression

• Contemplative practices of Deep Listening, to expand our consciousness and become present to the nature’s rhythms and melodies all around.

• Somatic voice activation practices, grounding the voice in the bodily experience, reconnecting to the intelligence of breath, vibration, and impulses.

• Collaborative Vocal Improvisation and intuitive singing with Alessio, using frameworks that support the emergence of spontaneous songs, group instant compositions, sound storytelling and collective entrainment.

• Integrative Practices to open and close each session, to soften our inner space of resonance.

ABOUT CVI

Collaborative Vocal Improvisation (CVI) is an art form - inspired by the work of Bobby McFerrin and Rhiannon, among others - in which the music is co-created by the participants in real time through organised melodic/rhythmic patterns, starting from a common sonic vocabulary, a shared set of intentions, a guiding image or an agreed-upon score. For me CVI is - at its core - the art of making choices by responding in a creative, connected, authentic way to the ever-changing flow of the present moment.
It is a contemplative and playful practice of resilience, of surrender to the impulses of imagination, of trust in the connection with others, of allowing a more kaleidoscopic sense of identity through the flow of music.

Some of the practices / singing games we’ll explore during the retreat:
- different ensemble formats (solo, duet, trios, quintets)
- techniques to generate different types of vocal patterns - the basic components of CVI (melodies, rhythms, intuitive harmonisation)
- moving between structured forms and more open, fluid forms
- improvising from language (invented language, somatic language)
- sound storytelling as a lens to develop a collective mind for musical cohesiveness
- image/theme based improvisation
- channelling songs of the moment
- enhancing emerging songs through body engagement

Overall, the exercises will offer a space for each participant to tune in to their music sensitivity, to refine their singing vocabulary and strengthen the trust in their musicianship. We will practice how to be at service of the music, and to be in a gentle dialogue with the judgments or limiting beliefs that impedes our full experience.

FOR WHOM

This weekend Retreat is for you if you wish to celebrate the Winter’s closing in music and nature, and to deep-dive into advanced practices of Collaborative Vocal Improvisation and embodied singing, with the support of an intimate group setting and the quiet surrounding nature.
You do not need to be a professional singer or have any formal training. However for this Retreat it is expected that you:
- have a consistent relationship to pitch
- can keep a steady vocal pulse or rhythm
- feel comfortable improvising with melody and rhythm, alone or in small ensembles
- feel comfortable trying things and taking little risks with the group

If you are in doubt if that’s the right fit, reach out by filling the form below and we can figure it out together.

LOCATION

HAUS ANANDA (CHORIN)
More info www.haus-ananda-brandenburg.de/
(about 1 hour by car or train from Berlin)

FEE

340€ - includes:
- ACCOMMODATION for 2 nights in triple rooms (it is possible to be hosted in a single room for an extra charge), plus use of the facilities.
- INTENSIVE WORKSHOP with Alessio (approx. 16 hours of practice)

FOOD

We will organize and cook the meals together, to keep the costs affordable.

LIMITED SPACE

The retreat is designed for a small group of 6-9 participants, and places will be given on a first come first served basis.
There are currently 4 spots left.

REGISTRATION:

To apply please fill in the form below.
You will receive a reply within a few days (check your spam folder if you don’t see our message).