Photo: Chaps Choir, London.
Men, we miss you.
Typically 1, 2 or 3 men come to each class I run. The men miss other men. The women miss the men. I don’t know how the non-binary people feel about it.
Singing is core to our humanity. The male template has been repressive to this aspect in some cultures, perhaps British culture.
I know it’s in you. Men, this weekend is for you.
Last time we did it, an epic brotherhood emerged for the weekend. We called it Stag Heart, the feeling of great resourced-ness from being in the healthy company of a group of men.
Many men expressed a sense of vulnerability arriving into a group of men. Is this safe?
They built safety together. I helped, stood back a little more than I normally do.
The voices were Beautiful. There were tears, haka dancing, breakdancing, a solo about a c**k, support, kindness, and a whole lot of magnificent music making.
I’m not expecting it to be like that every time. This is improvisation after all.
But ultimately I would love to cultivate balance in the growing community of CVI (Collaborative Vocal Improvisation) lovers and practitioners; female, male, non-binary, white, black, straight, queer, able bodied, disabled,
So I call to the musical and the poetic in you; to the vocal and vulnerable; to the rhythmic and harmonic; to the journey into embodiment and en-heart-ment, into brotherhood and wholeness, and the place of voice and singing in that.
I lead as a woman, an experienced teacher of CVI, a happily married woman with a fab Dad, a son on the way as I write, and lots of good male friends, a lover of men.
You are welcome. I will help you to sing and to improvise, and I will hold with care whatever comes up on the way.
Recommend for people who can sing in tune and keep a beat.
Earlybird £95
Regular bird £125
I’ve got no money but I want to sing £55 (5 spots)
I’ve got money and I want to support others £155
Limited to 16 places.
Two masters, and two of my teachers, improvising together; Bobby McFerrin and Joey Blake.
The first ever CVI for men weekend group, at the end, Nov 2019. (Then came the pandemic so, now I’m picking it up.)
Students have said:
“I’m discovering a reservoir of power actually, which I suspected was there but I hadn’t actually felt or experienced coming through in the way that it is, both in my voice and in my day to day. 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
“Thank you for a revelatory and transformational weekend Briony! Much has moved in me. 🙏🏻” Mark
“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.” - Xander
“It’s all leadership and listening I reckon, and that’s what you teach. Finding our voice, facing out fears, following our hearts, listening deep within, expressing our love, it’s all what you do 🙂” Dave
“It was deeper than an ayahuasca ceremony, I grew more than in workshops with leading psychologists, and it’s the safest I’ve ever felt in a group.” - Robin
“It was seriously fun, crazy, inspiring, opening and meditative, all at the same time.” - Dave