Find Your Voice
226 TUTOR: Adam Meehan-Staines (Marlborough College)
'I'm
tone deaf.' 'My teacher wouldn't let me join the choir.' 'My partner shudders
when I try to sing.' 'I'm not a bit musical.' Have you ever said any of these
things? Would you love to sing with others at a wedding or in the pub? This
course is for the vocally terrified. It will provide an opportunity to find out
the truth about your voice, learn some of the skills involved in singing and
lay to rest some of the ghosts from your past. Above all, you will have fun
using your voice in a reassuring setting.
Were
you one of those children who were not allowed into the school choir, were
asked to mime in the school concert or were teased for singing flat? And ever since you have wondered if there was
any truth in these comments, or whether you could dare to open your mouth and
join in the singing at social occasions.
Learning
to sing is a skill, a bit like reading and writing. However, many people see it as a gift, which
means they think you've either got it or you haven't.
This
course is an opportunity to find out what you can do with your voice. We don't promise to turn you into an opera
star! But we hope you will gain enough
confidence to find your voice and discover the great joy of singing with
others.
During
the week we will practise the skills involved in singing, such as:
- Body
awareness, relaxation, posture
- Breathing
- Listening
skills, aural memory
- Rhythm and
movement
- Vocalising,
warm ups, extending our range
- Learning
simple songs in a variety of styles
- Learning to enjoy
our own voice
We
will work mainly as a group, but individual needs will be addressed where
appropriate.
No
preliminary reading is required. Just
come with an open mind and comfortable clothing.
Adam Meehan-Staines
Marlborough College
About Adam
Adam was born in Bury
St. Edmunds and graduated from the University of Leeds with an Honours Degree
in Music. He specialised in Performance and Analysis, with a keen interest in
early music and choral music.
Prior to attending
university, Adam was awarded a choral scholarship by St. Edmundsbury Cathedral
as a bass, where he also began to learn the organ under the tuition of David
Humphreys.
At University, Adam
held the positions of acting secretary and fundraising and sponsorship
coordinator for the university's music society. In addition to this, he also
conducted the university chamber orchestra and held a choral scholarship at
Leeds Cathedral as a countertenor in his final year. At Leeds Cathedral, Adam was
also invited to conduct the boys' choir on occasion for mass
and vespers. He has sung on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, for HRH The Prince
of Wales; and has also recorded a number of CDs. Whilst at university,
Adam co-directed a small vocal ensemble specialising in early music to win the
University of Leeds Chamber Music Competition in 2013. Adam was also timpanist
for Leeds Baroque, session drummer for the artist Phoebe Katis, vocal
soloist for the Headingley Academy of Operatic Research, he received
freelance opportunities as a harpsichord player, and also composes
(predominantly choral works).