workshops | Sylka Uhlig

Workshops and Trainings*

1. Workshop: Authentic Singing for Everyone – a-capella singing of rounds in a group setting

This is a 1.5 hour program; 100% experiential.

Authentic Singing is for everyone, singers and non-singers – for anyone who wants to become more comfortable while singing simple songs/rounds without any pressure to perform. The benefits are becoming conscious about the impact of the vocal sounds on others, using the voice in group settings and improvising with words and musical elements. The goal of this workshop is to allow people to sing and improvise freely while being hold in the structure of a round. Singing for themselves and with others can result in a sense of wellness: being involved in our bodies and expanding our range of expression, singing and improvising creates musical pleasure. Personal exploration of natural and musical sounds in collaboration with other voices creates an environment in which people can overcome fear, reduce anxiety, and return to an inherent enjoyment of singing just for the sake of singing.

Singing has been proven to effect relaxation and mood changes and is a valuable instrument for management of stress, anxiety and pain in medical and psychological settings as well as in daily life. Vocal work provides a vibrational massage to the body from inside which renews the natural flow of energy. Physical and emotional blocks, manifested through years of stagnation, can be released, restoring and enhancing flexibility. Singing through emotional states creates a tangible, audible resonance, which then has the potential for movement (change) and creative expression. Research shows that specific neurological areas are stimulated by vocal vibrations, increasing the capacity for concentration, sensory perception, balance, and relaxation. When the entire body is integrated in this process of singing, the vibration can stimulate normal brain functioning, developmental processes, social interaction, emotional balance, and an overall sense of well-being.

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2. Workshop: Singing: Personal and Professional Development for music therapists

This is a 8 hour to 2-3 day, program; 80% experiential.

Singing is a powerful and effective music therapy tool. Through singing, we enter into the integrative process of expression and the interactive process of communication. The experience of singing can be essential for a client’s process and it is also fundamental for the therapist’s professional development. The therapist who sings in therapy sessions needs to be aware about the effect and the impact of the voice. The focus of this workshop is on dialogue, communication, and the nuances of acoustic symbols that are inherent in authentic human sounds.

Participants will experience a sequence of vocal exercises that can promote proficiency, will sing alone and with others to enhance sensitivity to how the voice impacts human relationships on many levels, will develop skill and freedom to use the body and voice in improvisation to communicate effectively with the client. Important for this practice are: developing awareness of the body as an instrument; experiencing the differences between forced and free voices; discovering not-beautiful voices and their effects; listening; practicing client situations through vocal partner work.

The VOICEWORK addresses the personal exploration necessary to expand the range of the voice and to vocalize from the body and the imagination. Body warm-up, vocal exercises, and listening training prepare the therapist to work creatively with the sounds that the client makes. We address important therapeutic issues of creating a safe space, establishing rapport and dealing with issues of intimacy.

The PARTNER WORK engages participants in vocal interaction with peers, developing versatility in hearing acoustic symbols and creating a dialogue spontaneously that is meaningful. The personal dynamics that emerge in this work enhance our ability to dialogue with our clients. Clinical examples are used to support and clarify the use of the dialoguing voice in a therapeutic setting.

The CLINICAL ASPECT of the program offers exposure to any kind of human sounds and musical motifs that are primitive and often universal. Listening to authentic sounds and singing from different sources, we begin to understand the many sounds human beings can make and the symbolic messages they convey. Then we interact with these sounds, building our own repertoire of sounds, and becoming ready to use them in therapy.

The essentials of this voicework practice are:

* Attention to the body as a musical instrument

* Capacity for listening to internal and external vibrations

* Discovery and exploration of vocal sounds and their effects

* Awareness of “forced” and “free” voices – authentic sounds

* Vocal improvisation of personal melodies

* Rehearsal of client situations through partner work

This course will provide opportunities to develop a deeper awareness of the voice in the body as the primary instrument for communication and expression in music therapy. For further personal growth in service of professional development, participants are invited into a process of personal awareness of their own voices and professional discussion about the impact of singing in a variety of (non)clinical settings.

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3. Workshop: Experience of Singing & Transfer – Professional Development

This is a 8 hour to 2-3 day, program; 80% experiential.

Singing as powerful and effective music therapy tool will be addressed as well as the transfer of it while using instruments. The experience of singing can be essential for a client’s process and it is important for the therapist to be able to engage in this. The therapist’s professional development assists him/her to be aware about the effect and the impact of the voice during singing in therapy sessions. The focus of this workshop is on vocal dialogue, communication, and the nuances of acoustic symbols and influences that are inherent in authentic human sounds. Through singing and developed awareness about it, we are able to transfer the integrative process of vocal expression and engage in the interactive process of communication with our clients.

The TRANSFER TO INSTRUMENTS offers awareness on how to use musical motifs on instruments for better engagements with clients. Listening to singing from different client examples, we begin to understand the many sounds human beings can make. We will expose the symbolic messages they convey when interacting with these sounds – vocal and instrumental. While building up awareness, we develop our own repertoire of sounds, and becoming ready to use them in therapy.

This course will provide opportunities to develop a deeper awareness of the voice in the body as well as while playing instruments – for communication and expression in music therapy. For further personal growth in service of professional development, participants are invited into a process of awareness about their own voices as well as during the application of instruments, to improve this impact in a variety of (non)clinical settings.

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4. Training: Voice, Singing & Rap in Music Therapy

This is 8 hour to 2-3 day program; 80% experiential.

This training is for music therapists, learning the application of vocal (rap/singing) interventions for emotion regulation. By following the steps of described vocal interventions for the development of the RapMusicTherapy method, theoretical explanations are getting directly combined with practical exercises. The voicework and partnerwork exercises preparing for the integration of personal experiences of the participants for the professional use of the rap.

The RAPWORK offers space for personal expression, development of song lyrics, learning how to rhyme and to interact during the therapeutic dialogue of rap/singing. The use of technical equipment, recording devices and the search for loops are getting practiced. Best practice experiences of singing and rapping with at-risk children/youth from music therapeutic work is presented. Participants will develop a personal rap song and experience musical group support during this process.

*All workshops & trainings can be performed at your place; please contact: Sylka.Uhlig@gmail.com