Journeys in Voice and Harmony: Viral vocal explorations with James Rose (GB)

This two-day workshop offers a selection of James’ vocal explorations, written to open new harmonic pathways and experiences to singers of all kinds. Carefully crafted, these warm-ups offer a joyful approach to music-making while working on key elements of musical ear training.

One part of this work explores simple to more complex harmonies and aims to demistify vocal harmony as one of the most powerful building blocks of music. Using the first few bars of a familiar song, various forms of harmony are explored to uncover the broad range of harmonic possibilities within. This process enables singers to sing, arrange and harmonise with greater creative intention and control — often by shifting perspective: discovering new harmonies that propel an arrangement forward, and working backwards to prepare and layer a more foundational harmony.

Collaborative arranging plays a central role throughout. Arrangements are co-created in real time through playful, hands-on collaboration. Guided by clear prompts and frameworks, ideas emerge through experimenting, singing and collective discovery, celebrating arranging as a shared act of creativity and connection.

As a non-binary human, part of James’ journey includes sharing and exploring different, fluid and more neutral understandings of voice parts. These approaches create a sense of freedom and inclusivity and invite singers of all kinds to discover new sounds, roles and forms of belonging through singing.

No prior knowledge required. Course language: EN

JAMES ROSE (they/them) is an international choir facilitator and vocal harmony educator, creating harmonious spaces for humans of all kinds. Alongside directing at A Cappella Academy (LA) and ICMP (London), James recently released their book of choir explorations, ‘Journeys In Voice’, published via Singergy. James is a veteran performer of a cappella, touring with acclaimed internet sensation group ‘Accent’. James is also a contributing arranger for prominent international vocal groups, including The Real Group, Voces8, Take 6 and Naturally 7.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

A delicious vegetarian lunch in the festival lounge on Saturday and Sunday is included in the workshop fee. On both Saturday and Sunday mornings, there will be a joint warm-up session with all workshop participants. An initial get-to-know-each-other meeting with your workshop group will take place on Friday evening shortly before the festival opens; the opening event can be attended directly afterwards.