Join us on May 29th and July 24th from 7:30-9:30 pm in M2 for an exciting vocal workshop with composer Theresa Wong! These workshops will be a great opportunity to connect to healthy singing during the summer. We will begin with vocal techniques, including a refresher on diaphragmatic breathing, vocal registers, and healthy singing. After a short break Theresa will lead the workshop as outlined below.
As this workshop is not a part of our regular programming there will be a fee of $20 per participant per day (you can pay here or at the door). This workshop is open to the public; please bring a friend!
Cubberly Center Room M2
4000 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(map)
Introduction to Singing in Just Intonation
This workshop will provide a basic introduction to the theory and practice of singing in ‘Just Intonation’, a tuning system based on the harmonic series, a set of pitches that naturally occur as overtones of any resonating frequency. This tuning system differs from the 12-tone equal temperament of the piano and most Western cultural music, but is found in many other musical traditions of the world as well as in modern experimental practices. With harmonic relationships that are based on whole-number integer relationships, a sparkling and infinitely vast harmonic world opens up.
Sculpting Air Improvisation and Movement Workshop
The Sculpting Air vocal workshop will explore the limitless possibilities of the voice through connecting sound making with kinetic awareness and movement of the physical body as well as tapping into each individual’s creativity through improvisation. We will examine a variety of topics including: the fundamental importance of the breath, singing long tones, awareness of body tension, the location of vibrating frequencies in the body, and using the voice to map an architectural space. The emphasis will not be on ‘having a good voice’, but rather on each individual’s use of their own voice in an embodied and personal way. Utilizing simple games of conducting with movement gestures, we will play in the realm of vocalizing with textures, melodies, text, and noises to allow the voice to take flight into its infinite expressive qualities. Through giving attention and intention towards the ‘sentience of sound’, we will examine how vibrations are at the core of the way we connect to ourselves, to each other, and to the world around us.