MAKE BEAUTIFUL COLLABORATIVE VOCAL MUSIC SPONTANOUSLY WITH OTHERS
Learn with Briony
Briony Greenhill is “one of the world’s leading proponents of Collaborative Vocal Improvisation (CVI)” - The Guardian.
CVI is the art of co-creating vocal music in the moment. Briony was one of the first teachers of this beautiful art form in the UK and has been teaching internationally for over 12 years.
Briony teaches vocal musicianship from beginner to advanced levels, while also honouring the spiritual, ritual and therapeutic application of CVI.
She is a qualified SomaSource Leader; a “psycho-spiritual educator, artist, activist and healer who has an integrated understanding of how to creatively work in developmentally attuned ways with diverse people throughout life’s cycles.” You can read more about Briony’s teaching values, Vocal Musicianship Trainings, and a history of vocal improvisation in the American tradition here.
Watch this short video to hear more from Briony on what this means to her and her students >>>
From Year-Longs to Modules
I’ve been teaching year-long courses since 2018. Now, I’m breaking up this content into modules.
You can take them one module at a time, or bundle them up into bespoke journeys. 3 Pathways are offered, and you can stick with a pathway for a while, or mix it up.
All courses are taught in South Devon, UK.
Briony offers introductory courses for Newcomers - folks new to her teaching;
Pathways for Journeypeople in the realms of Creativity, Singing the Unseen and Chops for Singers;
A pathway for anyone in the realm of Vocal Transformation which mixes vocal improvisation with IFS therapy to free the voice from psychological constraints
And opportunities for Advanced Students and Alumni.
Which kind of learner are you? …
You’re new to the world of Collaborative Vocal Improvisation (CVI) and / or haven’t taken a class with Briony before.
You’re on a journey with Briony and CVI. You’ve done at least one introductory course, or you’ve been studying with her for some time. Perhaps you’re becoming, or you are, an Advanced Student.
You’ve completed many workshops with Briony and there’s a sense that the teacher-student relationship has reached its end. A new era emerges!
Past Students’ work
Past Student’s Thoughts
“I just want to say thank you for bringing me to a place where I can work to uncover bits of myself that I’m longing for, and that’s what the work does. ”
- Anonymous
“Briony's approach to CVI is a kind of revolution. She presents this vibrant, creative and compelling art with a masterful sensitivity to the needs of her students and their unique singing journeys. With her deep knowledge and practice of earth-based spirituality, CVI becomes more than a singing practice and, rather, a modality for healing and inner transformation.”
- Xander, Artist, Community Leader
“I’ve loved every minute of working with you and I think all instrumental students should do this. In fact I wish every person could experience this way of being.
I have taught music at the conservatory level and at the early childhood level”
— Marcia Daft, Music Education Specialist
“Working with Briony has been such a gift for me. Her expertise in the field of voice work is inspirational and I have felt so supported by her generosity, strength and tenderness. As someone who also works with the voice, I have felt so ignited by her guidance and knowledge. I took part in her Vocal Improvisation Retreat and it gave me so much for my own creative path. I feel so blessed to have worked with Briony and consider her to be a fantastic leader in this field. I will continue to work with Briony as it nourishes my creative path as a musician and as a vocal facilitator.”
— Nessi Gomes, Artist, Teacher, Healer
“I’m discovering a reservoir of power through this work, one which I suspected was there but I hadn’t actually felt or experienced coming through in the way that it is, both in my 'sung' voice and in my day to day vocal expression. It’s very much like something has been stirred and invigorated and given some channel to start moving in the world, and this is really really really exciting, and really beautiful. I’m just absolutely delighted by it.”
— Tom Hirons, Writer and Storyteller
FAQs
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The majority of Briony’s workshops are held at the Moor Imagination Collective in Buckfastleigh, South Devon. Occasionally retreats are held in other venues which are almost always in South Devon too. Check the event’s page for specific information on venues
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The majority of Briony’s workshops and courses are NOT residential so you will need to find local accommodation. We can help with this - please see more information here.
The slight exception of this rule is for retreats, which are residential. Please check each event’s page for specifics on accommodation and whether it is included or not.
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Wear comfortable clothes you can move in; bring layers and slippers or thick socks as it's no shoes indoors.
A water bottle and a closed tea container if you want to bring a hot drink into the workshop area.
A yoga mat and blanket if possible, for the floor-based Resonant Body. If you're coming by train and that's not possible, often local folks can bring extra.
A journal or notebook, and if you wish a recording device.
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Everyone needs to be able to sing in tune, keep a beat, and want an adventure. Otherwise finding a local choir you really like would be a better fit for the time being.
Beginner / Intermediate workshops are for folks who are less experienced singers and might feel quite shy initially being heard and improvising.
If you're a very experienced singer - a performer, choir leader, music graduate, a recording artist - if you're new to my work, please start with an intermediate-advanced intro.
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Please visit this page for more information on pricing.
An Introduction to Collaborative Vocal Improvisation (CVI)
Some participants during Wild Voice, Solid Roots year-long course 2019
This weekend is now fully booked. To put yourself on the mailing list, email info@brionygreenhill.com
Hello dear Singer!
I am offering a weekend introduction to the wonderful art of Collaborative Vocal Improvisation, CVI, for people who can sing in tune, keep a beat, and want an adventure.
CVI is a wonderful artform of improvising vocal music together with others in the moment. It’s thrilling and fun and challenging and can deeply connect us to ourselves, one another, and our surroundings.
If you haven’t worked with me before, let’s start by laying some good ground. We’ll explore forms and approaches to improvising with others, vocally. I’ll provide a safe holding for all that it might bring up for you. We’ll take a deep journey into your resonant body, help you cultivate a healthy loving relationship with your voice, and set it free.
CVI is a thrilling, challenging, beautiful approach to singing. The Bay Area is so full of rich opportunities to do this; from Bobby McFerrin at the Freight & Salvage on Mondays to Dave Worm’s great teaching to all the groups gathering to do this together, and I’m sure there’s more I don’t know.
Each teacher and practitioner has their own style of working; so if you’re new to working with me, I invite you to start at the beginning. Students often end up working with me over many years and these can be long and beautiful relationships into a deeply empowered, free, competent relationship with an available, intuitively and technically capable, healthy voice.
So if you’d like to meet me in January, here I am.
Briony Greenhill is “one of the world’s leading proponents of collaborative vocal improvisation (CVI)” - The Guardian.
CVI is the art of co-creating vocal music in the moment. Here is a short film about Briony’s teaching. Briony is in the lineage of Bobby McFerrin, Rhiannon, Joey Blake and others, and holds the transformational aspects of the art form with skill and care.
Briony is a co-founder of The Well Global Vocal Improvisation Network, and the UK Vocal Improvisation Festival.
She has released 4 entirely improvised albums. Her debut studio album took improvisations and reproduced them adding instrumentation in the studio: Crossing the Ocean featured in The Guardian, Mojo, Radio 3, Woman’s Hour and more.
Briony teaches vocal musicianship from beginner to advanced levels, while also honouring the spiritual, ritual and therapeutic application of CVI. She is a qualified SomaSource Leader; a “psycho-spiritual educator, artist, activist and healer who has an integrated understanding of how to creatively work in developmentally attuned ways with diverse people throughout life’s cycles.” You can read more about Briony’s teaching values, Vocal Musicianship Trainings, and a history of vocal improvisation in the American tradition here.
Students have said:
“One of the most powerful experiences of my life! I feel changed on a cellular level!” (ok it was a 4 day retreat not a weekend…)
“Briony really made us all feel at home – starting off with exercises that didn’t force me outside of my comfort zone, and a no judgement pact, really allowed me to feel comfortable with the group, which then gave me the confidence to try out some solos.”
“It was seriously fun, crazy, inspiring, opening and meditative, all at the same time.”
“Some singing teachers teach you sing with your voice. Briony teaches you to sing with your heart and sing from your soul.”
“You made it feel like a womb. Protected, loved, nourished, warm and holding.”
Timing
Saturday arrive 10am for a 10.15 start.
Sunday arrive 10.45 for an 11am start
Each day, we’ll be done by 4.45pm for a 5pm departure.
Please bring a packed lunch and any snacks you will need. Teas will be provided.
Cost and Registration
Tier 1 $325
Tier 2 $225
Tier 3 $125
We invite you in integrity to select your tier, we don’t assess you. Payment plans are available: email info@brionygreenhill.com to arrange something that works for you.
Please Register Here
and Pay Directly via Venmo or Paypal:
Venmo @Briony-Greenhill
Paypal brionygmusic@gmail.com
If you have any questions, please email info@brionygreenhill.com.
Healing Forms for Experienced Students
Healing forms for experienced practitioners
Some participants connecting in downtime during Singing The Unseen, 2019
This will be a deep, confidential container to explore in-depth healing CVI forms used for self expression and interpersonal support.
We’ll slow down, warm up, and work mostly in small groups to give each person space for expression and support through these delicate beautiful forms.
Most of these forms were developed collaboratively by The Elements featuring Shay Nichols, a Sound Healer, Christopher Kuntzsch, a coach and singer; Green Huse and myself who have done a lot of deep healing work. For all of us, Vocal Improvisation has been one of our primary paths of healing.
You can take these forms into CVI groups where you are building bonds of trust. Your CVI group can become like a women’s group or mens group - but it’s a peoples group. A very special place of community, connection, and interpersonal support. And then you can use this art form to connect to the more than human world, too……
We’ll explore forms such as CVI Sound healing, Call & Response, Integrated Expressive Practice (IEP), Resonant Body, Supported Solo and Supplicant-Messenger.
Led by Briony Greenhill.
This is for folks who are already experienced in Vocal Improvisation. If you’re not sure, please email me to check - info@brionygreenhill.com.
Timing
Saturday arrive 10am for a 10.15 start.
Sunday arrive 10.45 for an 11am start
Each day, we’ll be done by 4.45pm for a 5pm departure.
Cost and Registration
Tier 1 $325
Tier 2 $225
Tier 3 $125
We invite you in integrity to select your tier, we don’t assess you. Payment plans are available: email info@brionygreenhill.com to arrange something that works for you.
Please Register Here:
and Pay Directly:
Venmo @Briony-Greenhill
Paypal brionygmusic@gmail.com
Payment plans are fine. Email info@brionygreenhill.com to agree something that works for you.
Booking 2 weekends? $50 off.
Tier 1 - $600
Tier 2 - $400
Tier 1 - $200
Vocal Transformation Spring 2025
We’ll integrate Collaborative Vocal Improvisation (CVI) with Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) to work with the parts of us that struggle to be heard, constrict the voice, experience performance anxiety, and is beset by inner criticism and inhibition. We’re going to work together to bring your voices out. We’ll improvise, express ourselves, connect to others, self-sooth, and heal.
Vocal Improvisation for Men
A weekend in Devon for men to sing and improvise together, May 31 - June 1 2025, led by highly acclaimed Vocal Improvisation teacher, Briony Greenhill
Healing Forms & Nature Connection
Participants on Singing The Unseen
A 5 day residential deep dive into the use of vocal improvisation for healing, wellness, connection, personal growth and nature connection.
Led by Briony Greenhill at Bala Brook Retreat Center, Devon.
Singing without a song tends to bring up a lot in the inner life that’s ready to heal. Healing can be described as “bringing love to the places that hurt”.
In my years improvising with The Elements quintet, we developed a lot of forms for self expression and mutual support. For hearing, supporting and helping each other in small ensemble format.
In my years of teaching, I’ve found these forms to be very powerful for supporting students with what comes up on the journey, as it has been very supportive and connective for me as a practitioner over the last 15 years.
In this autumn equinox week, we’ll connect, sing sing sing, build our container of trust, and then use these forms to go deep together.
When the weather permits we’ll take our singing outside and deepen our connection with the more-than-human world, to support our healing and growth and also to deepen a healthy vibrant respectful relationship with our non human kin. The improvised voice is a powerful way to connect and relate with nature.
This is for Journey people, Advanced Students and Alumni. This content was formerly part of Singing The Unseen.
Cost
The cost includes 5 nights at Bala Brook, incredibly healthy, partly organic meals, drinks and snacks; all the teaching, and morning practices (yoga, dance).
Tier 1 £1125 (single room)
Tier 2 £895 (shared room)
Tier 3 £675 (shared room)
2 assistant places are available at £225 and there are 2 Name Your Price places.
We invite you in integrity to select your tier, we don’t assess you.
Payment plans are available.
A Beginner - Intermediate Intro to CVI Winter 2025
A class I taught at Dance Camp Northern California, 2015. Photo by Rishio
@ Moor Imagination Collective, Buckfastliegh nr. Totnes, Devon
10am - 5pm each day
Collaborative Vocal Improvisation (CVI) is a thrilling, inspiring, challenging, ancient, and contemporary approach to singing with others. When we sing together without a song, composer or conductor, those roles become shared in the moment with spontaneously created music and emergent shared leadership. It involves deep listening to self, other and the space between us, and an adjustment to improvisation: new for many people, often quite scary, usually also thrilling and hugely nourishing.
This beginner-intermediate introduction is for people with little to no experience of improvisation, who may feel a bit shy to share the voice, but are up for having a go. To access this art-form you need to be able to sing in tune and keep a beat. This work can help cultivate the natural magnificence of your voice, reduce self-judgement and help you love your voice.
Led by Briony Greenhill who is one of the UK’s leading teachers of CVI. She has studied extensively with vocal improvisation pioneers Bobby McFerrin, Rhiannon, David Worm and Joey Blake, as well as improvisation teachers in France, India, and leading piano teachers in California. She continues to pioneer the therapeutic application of CVI, her integration of CVI teaching with her SomaSource therapeutic training with Dr Melissa Michaels, and what unfolds in her teaching.
She is creator of the Resonant Body method for cultivating the magnificence of each unique, natural voice, and vocal and personal healing.
She has released four entirely improvised albums - Listen, Sketches, Voice Unknown and Remembering. Her debut studio album, Crossing the Ocean, was featured in The Guardian, Mojo, Women’s Hour and Radio 3. Briony is a founding member of the new The Well Global Vocal Improvisation Network and the UK Vocal Improvisation Festival.
Her students call her a “master”, her work “life changing.”
To hear about everything as it happens or in advance, subscribe to the mailing list.
Practicalities
Hot drinks will be provided.
It’s best if you don’t drink alcohol on the preceding evenings; CVI asks for and cultivates a high level of presence and sensitisation, and alcohol can blur that somewhat.
Please bring a packed lunch and any snacks you may need.
Please bring a yoga mat and blanket on the Sunday. If you’re coming from further afield by train, local people may be able to bring extra for you.
Cost
£230 Early bird (before 1 September)
£250 Later Bird (2 September onwards)
Limited to 16 places.
Students have said:
“One of the most powerful experiences of my life! I feel changed on a cellular level!” (ok it was a 4 day retreat not a weekend…)
“Briony really made us all feel at home – starting off with exercises that didn’t force me outside of my comfort zone, and a no judgement pact, really allowed me to feel comfortable with the group, which then gave me the confidence to try out some solos.”
“It was seriously fun, crazy, inspiring, opening and meditative, all at the same time.”
“Some singing teachers teach you sing with your voice. Briony teaches you to sing with your heart and sing from your soul.”
“You made it feel like a womb. Protected, loved, nourished, warm and holding.”
Please direct questions to info@brionygreenhill.com.
Assistant Places
Two assistant places are available at half price. If you'd like to be the assistant, please email info@brionygreenhill.com. The assistant arrives an hour before and leaves 30-60 mins after on each day and helps with set up, pack down, tea and kitchen overview and facilitating the group to clean up after lunch. The assistant doesn’t have an assistant role during the singing sessions and is 100% participant in those times.
Sound and Silence
“Mycelium Dreaming” by Autumn Skye Art
Sound and Silence
Vocal Improvisation, meditation, deep rest, and the velvet black: a residential retreat on Dartmoor for those who can sing in tune and want a rest.
Often in CVI (Collaborative Vocal Improvisation), at the end of a practice we are left in a state I call the Velvet Black: a deep and expansive rest state. Singing can be a beautiful route into profound states of meditation.
In my normal classes we don’t linger here, because the point is singing.
This time, the point is also the quiet, the rest.
We’ll do toning, Resonant Body, Sound Healing, napping, meditating. Probably bits of circle singing for bouts of harmony and joy. Then we’ll check in and do it some more, interspersed with long break times, late rising, early to bed, gentle morning body practices (yoga/dance, optional), and very nourishing food. We will be very unambitious musically; rather, using the voice as a companion to a kind of peace.
Quiet.
Exhalation.
Restoration.
The voice is very potent tool for clearing us out and shifting us into the rest-digest-recover state.
We’ll linger and lounge there…….
It’s timed to be a deep, early winter restoration pause to resource and nourish for the winter season ahead.
Bala Brook is our retreat centre, nestled in Dartmoor.
Details
Arrive Friday 5th December 4pm for a 5pm start. Depart by 3pm on Sunday 7th.
Prices:
Tiers relate to the Green Bottle Model below. You select your tier. You will not be investigated.
Tier 1 £575 (single room)
Tier 2 £445 (shared room)
Tier 3 £335 (shared room)
There are 2 assistant places at £195 and 2 name your price places.
Payment plans are available.
How to Book
To book, make a £100 deposit and complete a short registration form. Then we’ll get in touch with you to complete your registration.
If you have any questions please email info@brionygreenhill.com.
CVI Weekend for Experienced Students
Folks performing at Rewilding the Voice Show @ Point Reyes Dance Palace, February 2020
This weekend is now fully booked. To put yourself on the mailing list, email info@brionygreenhill.com
Hello dear ones! O I have SO loved working with you over the past many years.
It’s a huge adventure to return to California now that I’m woven into a 3. But we’re coming.
This is a weekend of creativity for folks who have worked with vocal improvisation a lot already.
We’ll warm up and connect, familiarise ourselves with the folks we don’t know, and then spend the weekend luxuriating in a variety of small and large group forms for swimming in vocal improvisation together. Music, music, music.
Please bring what you need for lunch and snacks;
Teas will be provided.
Timing
Saturday arrive 10am for a 10.15 start.
Sunday arrive 10.45 for an 11am start
Each day, we’ll be done by 4.45pm for a 5pm departure.
Travel Details
Directions:
Follow directions to Arroyo Rd. When Arroyo makes a Y, veer left. After the Y, we are the second driveway on your right. Go up the long drive, we are the first gate on the right.
Opening the gate:
Before you get to the gate, on the opposite/creek side of the driveway (nowhere near the gate) is a black post with a keypad on it. The code is 3211#
Parking:
Feel free to park in our parking area. If that is full, please go back down the long drive and park on Arroyo Rd. Please do NOT park on the long driveway that we share with our neighbors, to keep our neighbors happy!
Arriving to the Ceremony Room:
From the parking area, walk so that the 2 story home is on your right hand side. Go through the fence gate with the wisteria-covered arch. Walk straight down the path, there will be a red building on your left, and a green-tiled roof building to your right. The ceremony room is in the red building, the last door on your left. Come on in!
Cost and Registration
Tier 1 $325
Tier 2 $225
Tier 3 $125
We invite you in integrity to select your tier, we don’t assess you.
Payment plans are available: email info@brionygreenhill.com to arrange something that works for you.
Please Register Here:
and Pay Directly by Venmo or Paypal:
Venmo @Briony-Greenhill
Paypal brionygmusic@gmail.com
Booking 2 weekends? $50 off.
Tier 1 - $600
Tier 2 - $400
Tier 1 - $200
Briony Greenhill is “one of the world’s leading proponents of collaborative vocal improvisation (CVI)” - The Guardian.
CVI is the art of co-creating vocal music in the moment. Here is a short film about Briony’s teaching. Briony is in the lineage of Bobby McFerrin, Rhiannon, Joey Blake and others, and holds the transformational aspects of the art form with skill and care.
Briony is a co-founder of The Well Global Vocal Improvisation Network, and the UK Vocal Improvisation Festival.
She has released 4 entirely improvised albums. Her debut studio album took improvisations and reproduced them adding instrumentation in the studio: Crossing the Ocean featured in The Guardian, Mojo, Radio 3, Woman’s Hour and more.
Briony teaches vocal musicianship from beginner to advanced levels, while also honouring the spiritual, ritual and therapeutic application of CVI. She is a qualified SomaSource Leader; a “psycho-spiritual educator, artist, activist and healer who has an integrated understanding of how to creatively work in developmentally attuned ways with diverse people throughout life’s cycles.” You can read more about Briony’s teaching values, Vocal Musicianship Trainings, and a history of vocal improvisation in the American tradition here.
Students have said:
“One of the most powerful experiences of my life! I feel changed on a cellular level!” (ok it was a 4 day retreat not a weekend…)
“Briony really made us all feel at home – starting off with exercises that didn’t force me outside of my comfort zone, and a no judgement pact, really allowed me to feel comfortable with the group, which then gave me the confidence to try out some solos.”
“It was seriously fun, crazy, inspiring, opening and meditative, all at the same time.”
“Some singing teachers teach you sing with your voice. Briony teaches you to sing with your heart and sing from your soul.”
“You made it feel like a womb. Protected, loved, nourished, warm and holding.”