[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]
There is something different and special about a residential learning experience.
A whole day of singing is great, but to spend an entire weekend (or even a week) with a bunch of like-minded people, getting away from the rat race, is just magic.
Here are ten reasons why your next singing workshop should be a residential one.
- social time – make new friends, hang out with like-minded people, “time off” for walks or evenings in the bar, spontaneous sing-a-longs, getting to know fellow singers in more depth, exchanging songs and ideas
- escape and hide – from the busy ‘real’ world into a calm oasis, get away from it all, step aside from the rat race for a few days, return refreshed, re-invigorated and inspired
- focused learning – no distractions, just there to sing, away from everyday demands
- relaxed and informal – a proper ‘chill out’ learning break, plenty of humour, time to truly let go, no need to stand on ceremony
- more time – scope for in-depth study, all about the singing, time to really get inside songs
- have fun – and learn for learning’s sake – no exams or performance, just the pleasure of learning and being part of a singing community, plenty of laughter too!
- reinvent yourself – unfamiliar surroundings, can step outside your personal comfort zone, open to new experiences, chance to reinvent yourself, be the best singer you can possibly be (without your friends/family being around)
- supportive group – everyone on the same page willing you to succeed, all want the same thing, real team work
- great venues – lovely location, often in the country, grand old houses, magic places
- value for money – accommodation compares well with many posh hotels, full-on experience with individual attention from tutor, all meals included plus tea/ coffee breaks (and biscuits!)
and the 11th extra point: chance to visit new places – go to wonderful new places in the UK (and beyond) that you might not have visited before. Discover new parts of the country.
where do I sign up?
It just so happens that I run regular singing weekends in the UK! They do tend to sell out very quickly though (pretty much all the spaces on the five weekends I'm running this year had sold out by March).
If you're interested, you can pop over to my website to see what's on offer: chrisrowbury.com and sign up to my mailing list to get my twice-yearly newsletter (September and January) when I announce weekends for the following year.
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Chris Rowbury
website: chrisrowbury.com
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