workshops | Sylka Uhlig

Workshops and Trainings*

1. Workshop: A Time to Sing – for Everyone

This is a 1.5 hour program; 95% experiential.

A Time to Sing is a program for everyone, singers and non-singers – for anyone who uses their voice in their work and/or their life and who wants to become more conscious of the impact the voice can have on others. The goal of this workshop is to allow people to sing for themselves and with others which results in a sense of wellness through being in our bodies and expanding our range of expression. This work is about experiencing the voice more than producing or performing. 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. Voicework 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.

Exploring vocal sounds in a peer environment can promote confidence, awareness, and, ultimately, a more effective use of the voice. The only way to learn more about this instrument, the voice, is to use it – to sing – alone and with others.

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2. Workshop: The Vibrating Voice – Personal Sensitivity

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

Using voice and singing are powerful and effective tools to experience one-selves. While we invest in this integrative process of emotional expression and body support, the impact of the voice will reveal a fundamental experience of personal wellbeing. Developing awareness during (non-verbal) vocalisation and singing, the vibrational responsiveness will open body, soul and spirit. This workshop focuses on the expression of inner sensations and the delicate perception of them. Individual differences in authentic human sounds are inherent on this process and will be expressed by the nuances of their acoustic symbols. These sounds are valuable indications for personal sensitivity as well as for therapeutic apply. Participants are invited to bring one personal song into the workshop. This song will be sung, chanted and grafted into a group/community/therapy environment.

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 bodies on many levels. We will develop skill and freedom to use the body as an instrument in improvisation and to improve the process of awareness. We will experience the differences between forced and free voices; discover not-beautiful sounds and their effects. We will listen and practice every day situations through interacting with vocal partners.

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 participants to work creatively with their own sounds. We address important therapeutic issues for everyone, 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 support spontaneously that is meaningful. The personal dynamics that emerge during the vibrational perception of voices enhance our awareness about abilities for dialogue with our peers. Personal and clinical examples are used to support and clarify the use of the dialoguing voice as a personal, therapeutic apply.

The VIBRATING VOICE offers exposure to our most inner sounds, musical motifs and authentic, universal expressions. Experiencing the vibration of sound and singing, we learn to understand their manifestation in our bodies, personalities and spirits. The sensation of human sounds is related to our being and makes us recognise the symbolic messages they convey. We learn to improve our sensitivity , to interact with these sounds, and to build our own repertoire of sounds. We become ready to use them for our own healing. We engage in the personal song repertoire of every participant, and sustain this process during each individual and group encounter.

This course will provide opportunities to develop a deeper awareness of the voice in the body as the primary instrument for communication and expression. For further growth in service of personal development, participants are invited into a process of personal responsiveness about their own voices, and the impact of voice and singing in a variety of personal encounters.

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3. Workshop: Singing: Personal and Professional Development

This is a 5-8 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 and multicultural influences 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 MULTICULTURAL ASPECT of the program offers exposure to human sounds and musical motifs that are primitive and often universal. Listening to singing from different parts of the world, 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

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

This is 5-8 hour to 2-3 day program; 70% experiential.

This training is for music therapists, learning the application of vocal (rap/singing) interventions for emotion regulation. By following a protocol of described vocal interventions for the development of the RapMusicTherapy (RMT) 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 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 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.

#also with two trainers possible (in cooperation with Benjamin Hoeltje)

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

See workshop schedule: ”resources”