in this section:

See the events page for the days and times of the choirs and workshops.

Pop Choir:  A fortnightly group, very enthusiastic and committed, and open to welcoming new members. We sing arrangements of pop songs from the 60s on (a few earlier). Very good for skills-building, and lots of do-it-yourself harmonising. Learn to be a backing singer!  We meet in one anothers' homes.  Contact Yvonne for details.

Voice Howff:   a Fife-based community choir formed in 2002, following the example of Voice House in Edinburgh.  Meets fortnightly in Auchtermuchty Guide Hall (just up from the Square) with members coming from all around the Howe of Fife. Also a welcoming group, open to new members.

Voice House:   large community choir founded in 1990. We have been expanding steadily over the past 5 or 6 years and in particular have been glad to welcome more younger people and men! NO experience or confidence required. Songs range from Scottish and Eastern European traditional through pop and jazz songs to African and spirituals. See the Voice House web site for details.

All Together Now:  this group developed out of the Bring Your Own Harmony Scots Music Group evening class.  Like its predecessor, the focus is on finding our own way towards harmonising - with support and a little bit of guidance from me, and some exercises and walkabout games, but not too much theory.  All Together Now has recently become an affiliated group to Scots Music Group, and is a well-motivated and very enjoyable circle, good at listening to one another as we sing.

Jammies: Founded in 2003, the Jammies are a group of more confident singers (no music reading required).  As the name suggests, we do some jamming and D.I.Y. harmonising (and are sweet and well-blended), and sing some original material by myself and others. We occasionally give concerts in Penicuik, but mainly we sing for the pleasure of it - anything from African to pop. This is the only group that's not generally open to all comers - we accept new members from time to time.

Themed Saturday Workshops: heartfrom 10.30 till 4.30, held in Stockbridge Parish Church Hall - an exciting and beautiful place to sing, with wonderful acoustics.  Sometimes we focus on particular artists (Cat Stevens, the Beatles, Buddy Holly and Paul Simon, so far).  Or on jamming (just making it up, in harmony), or singing in the minor, or some other angle on skills-building.

We also have regular 'Spirituals Days', when I teach my own chants and chorus-style songs, with lots of jamming/improvising, as well as learning parts, and after-lunch "story-telling". These are very peaceful and inspiring days that build a good sense of community between the participants.

 

Three CDs of my material have been recorded by the Spirituals Workshop groups: Light Returning, Hand in Hand and Songs of the Earth and Heart, Volume 1.

 

See the events page for the days and times of the choirs and workshops.