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.
Creativity Deep Dive
“Power and Intimacy” - The Guardian
In this 4 day course, we will slow-cook ourselves in the beautiful stew of Collaborative Vocal Improvisation. We will sing, sing, sing; all together, in small ensemble, in duos, trios, and alone.
We’ll expand into emergent co-creativity, listening together to what human ecologist Gregory Bateson calls the Schismo-genesis - what is created in the space between - and how to surrender together to the music coming through.
We’ll work with singing, movement, language; with poetry - other people’s, our own, and spontaneously improvised, sung and spoken poetry.
We’ll explore using and sharing the holy essence of our voices in their full range of options. Becoming more and more at home in improvisation, and letting the music flow through.
We’ll work with the Resonant Body to cultivate the unique magnificence of your body’s sound. We’ll be witnessed and un-wittnessed, and play.
We’ll journey with what being seen and heard in a state of ease and surrender brings up for us, what stands in our way. We’ll hold caring space for our own and one anothers’ parts, but we won’t centre healing. Nor will we study music theory this time.
We will dive bravely into creativity together and come out braver, fuller vocal artists, more at home in the sacred art of vocal improvisation; able to express and move through a wider landscape in our singing.
The Structure
We’ll work at the Moor Imagination Collective in Buckfastleigh. The cafe there caters for us; local, very healthy, partly organic, vegan food; 3 meals per day are included.
We open 4-6pm on 21st October, then dine together and sing a little that evening.
Morning Dance 8-9am
Breakfast 9am, lunch 1pm, Dinner 6.30pm
Sessions run 10-1 and 2.30 - 6.
There are evening sessions on the Tuesday (until not very late) and Thursday (until quite late).
On the last day 24th October we finish by 3.30pm at the latest.
Accommodation
There 2 initial accommodation options.
The Christian Community - £40pp pn. They’re right across the road from MIC and have 4 very comfortable clean bedrooms and a small self catering kitchen (and a chapel, and a workshop space).
Local air bnb - £50 pp pn, £65 for private en suite room. A lovely shared house with 4 bedrooms / 6 beds, 1 mile away. It’s a 5 min drive or a 30 min country walk.
To book accommodation please email Dan info@brionygreenhill.com. The sooner the better, as we can’t realistically book the local air bnb until a few people want to stay there.
Cost
The cost includes all teaching / space holding, 3 meals per day at the MIC cafe - healthy, vegan, partly organic - and optional morning dance daily at 8am. It does not include accommodation.
Tier 1: £525
Tier 2: £375
Tier 3: £250
There are 2 assistant places at £95 (for alumni) and 2 Name Your Price places for folks for whom Tier 3 is not possible.
We trust you to select your Tier with integrity. You will not be assessed.
Would you like to contribute to The Scholarship Fund? Any amount is very welcome; it’s to help widen access to this work.
Level
If you are a Newcomer to CVI with Briony, please make sure you do an intro course before this one.
This is for Journey-people, Advanced Students and Alumni.