Spiracle Music Workshops
Now Offered Year Round!
*You Can Learn How to Sing
*Write a Song from Scratch
*Live Performance & Booking Gigs
*Singing In Tune
*Play Piano in One Day!
*Singaroo
*Understanding the Music Biz
-All workshops facilitated by Vocal Coach and Singer/Songwriter, Carmen Hillary at Spiracle Music Studio in Langford, BC.
-Please bring a notebook and pen/pencil for taking notes.
-Workshops are two hours in length and can be booked at any time.
A minimum of five paid participants are required in order to run a workshop so if you and four or more friends are interested, please contact the studio to book a time.
Cost: $25 per person (taxes & fees included). Except Sing-a-roo which is $15 since it is a shorter workshop (further discounts offered if class location is provided by participants).
Contact info@spiracle.ca or text or call 250-881-4242 to book a workshop.
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You Can Learn How to Sing (Beginner)
Attention brand new beginners, there is something in this introductory workshop that will help everyone! You will sing higher and lower than you ever thought you could, in a matter of minutes!
- Increase your range
- Develop more effective breathing patterns
- Discover solutions to common vocal complaints
- Eliminate ineffective habits
- Improve your vocal tone or sound
- Improve your pitch
- Discover and balance your head voice, chest voice and the ever popular mixed voice
- Sing longer, stronger, and healthier
We will also learn tools to make a soft voice stronger and a loud or "yelling" harsh sounding voice smoother and more connected. Protect your voice for years to come. From Pop to Classical, this workshop is suitable for all styles of music and for all singers.
Improve your singing whether it's just for yourself, for live performances, or in the studio!
Write a Song From Scratch (Beginner/Experienced)
Study with Carmen Hillary, who was recently nominated for Female Songwriter of the Year for the VIMA's! This workshop is for both experienced songwriters and those who would like to know how to write a song. This workshop will cover both compositional and lyrical components. First we will cover the nuts and bolts of how to write a song from scratch. Then we will learn about song structure and how to make a song interesting, dynamic and memorable.
When working with the words or lyrics, I will teach you about writing a song that is universally relatable. Like a painting, a song should evoke certain emotional qualities and you want to make sure that all aspects of your song gel and fit together. I will also teach you how to tell the story of your song in a way that gets it's message across in a clear, concise and creative way.
Demo critiquing is also available. If you are a songwriter and you feel comfortable letting me review your song in front of the group, please bring a recording of it on Cd. We can use your song to help everyone in their learning process. We will also review songs from well known artists to learn about their approaches to songwriting.
Live Performance & Booking Gigs (Beginner/Experienced)
Just started a band? Thinking about performing seriously? Want to know what goes into making a musical performance standout? Want to feel more comfortable on stage and project confidence? I will teach you about effective stage presence, microphone control, rehearsing, soundcheck, onstage monitor mixes, stage etiquette, lighting options, show format and song sequence to deliver an unforgettable and exciting performance!
We will also cover tips for press kits (if you already have a hard copy press kit please bring it if you would like me to review it for you), venue options, booking gigs, etiquette, what to charge for your gigs, promoting your shows, selling merchandise, touring and more!
Singing In Tune (Beginner)
Have you been told that you just can't sing? Do you worry that the wrong sounds are coming out when you try? Afraid even to sing in the shower? Did you know that you can correct this? Did you know that many people that were told they were "tone deaf" can now sing well and many at a professional level?
If a person who has never played a saxophone before produces a wonky note do we say "oh, you're tone deaf"!! No, we say "you need lessons"!! It's the same for the voice. The human voice evolved for the purpose of communication. Singing is basically sustained speech. But in singing we sing higher and lower using specific notes and we sustain notes for longer. There are skills that need to be developed to learn how to sing effectively with ease.
In an accepting and supportive environment, I will teach you what causes people to have pitch problems. As a group, we will review basic singing techniques and work towards overcoming common hurdles. We will do ear training exercises and various confidence building techniques to help you learn to hear and produce the notes properly.
In teaching over the past ten years, I have not had a student yet who was unable to improve their vocal sound. The skills you will learn in this workshop will improve your pitch and voice for the rest of your life!!
Play Piano in One Day! (Beginner)
Play any song in any key quickly!! Are you a singer or songwriter who would like to learn a fast and easy method for accompanying yourself on the piano or keyboard? Or, do you wish you could play piano for other singers or just for yourself for fun? Learn the tricks and tools that jazz, blues, pop and rock musicians have been using for decades!!
In this workshop, I will teach you the basics of reading sheet music as well as how to play chords. You will learn enough in this workshop, to excel on the piano whether it's in your living room, in the studio or live on stage!!
All that's left to do is practice!!
Singaroo ( Group Classes for Families with children 8 and under)
Fun and interactive vocal sounds, songs and stories for the purpose of early childhood voice development. Helping families discover the building blocks of singing together! Visit the Singaroo.com website for more information.
Understanding the Music Biz! (Beginner/Experienced)
So you want a career in music, or you want to help someone else with theirs? In this workshop, we will learn about the inner workings of the music business. How to make connections, how to get ahead, how to promote, connect with and communicate professionally with music industry professionals, find your target audience. This is a great opportunity to learn enough to present yourself to professionals with an experienced understanding of 'how things work' in this biz!!
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REGISTRATION POLICY:
Registration is considered complete once you are both registered with the studio click here to register and upon your written or verbal request to register for a workshop. Fees will be added to your monthly invoice. If your invoice has already been paid for this month, then please bring the fee to the first lesson. There are no refunds for any workshops unless the instructor cancels, at which time all funds will be refunded in full. Alternately, your workshop is transferable to other people, but you must notify the office in advance letting us know who will be coming in your place. If you do not provide notice and we do not here from you, you will forgo your funds.