Welcome to my website

Here you will gain an insight to what I offer, my approach to music making within the community and the variety of music activities I engage in. When you click on the “projects” button you will be offered a selection of themes to look through which will help you to go quickly to any specific area of interest. Throughout the site you will find links to an array of interesting activities, useful websites, music, and much more. I hope you enjoy your visit!

Over the years I have been involved in a wide range of music related projects. Driven by enthusiasm and inspiration, my innate love for music has enabled me to respond to many requests, and to producing a host of creative community-driven and private projects and events. I have worked with groups and individuals in performance, singing and music projects and events coordination. Listed below are the main areas in which I enjoy working, and read below for a fuller picture on my past projects and experience..

What I can offer you….

• Workshops and Training in: Harmony singing, Song writing and arranging, Leading groups in song, and Team building through musical activities – for all ages. These can be regular or one-off and designed to suit your group and event.
• Support with performance work and/or building your group’s repertoire and vocal sound.
• Support with visualising, organising and managing events and projects
• Fun and frolics with Abdul the Camel (theatrical character)- Interactive Music Workshops, walk around, street theatre, performance.
• Collaborative activities and events
• Choir exchange, activities and events.
• Activities and events aimed at enabling inclusive music engagement for those with mental and physical health challenges.
• Setting up, leadership of Community Choirs
• Family Music Sessions.
• Music sessions for childrens’ and adults parties

Composition Workshops…

• The bringing together of individuals and groups for sharing, support with, and the creation of their own composition work
• The demystifying of song composition and the processes involved in the creation of musical pieces
• Team building
• Supporting individuals to gain greater awareness of vocal group work, and how different roles work in collective sound
• Useful tools for composition
• Self expression

Harmony Singing and Community Music Workshops…

• Building up of confidence/personal development
• Techniques
• Fun and inspiration
• Introduction to a particular genre, style or ‘flavour’ of song
• Building repertoire and developing arrangements
• Learning pieces through a call and response approach, requiring no notation reading skills
• Learning pieces suited for beginners through to the experienced
• Tailor made to suit group/theme etc.
• Relaxed and friendly environment

MA in Community Music

Having more than twenty years hands on experience, in 2013 I decided to dedicate the year to driving up and down to the University of Limerick where I undertook a Master of Arts Degree in Community Music. Not only did I survive the world of academia after all these years, but I came away delighted with being awarded a first class honours. Within this year I placed much focus on the health benefits which musical experiences can bring, including a look at those suffering from dementia. I also looked at vocal health care, and songwriting with groups of all ages.

CV’s, Biogs, Programmes and References etc are all available upon request. Please get in touch. I look forwards to working with you!

A glimpse into my past

My earliest experiences of working with groups began in primary schools in Wales where I assisted in the delivery of a programme of musical activities within the classroom. This soon led to my leading creative projects of my own design within the community, and to my involvement in festival and event management.

As a musician I have inspired, composed for and performed in a number of bands in West Cork, Ireland since 1995. The styles and genres have varied over the years, and include flavours of World, Reggae, Rock, Traditional Irish, Folk, Klezmer and Gypsy, A-capella, Mediterranean influence, and Funk. The roles I have provided have included lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, melodica, and percussion. (I’m the lass in the pink fluffy hat!)

Having a passion and an impeccable ear for harmonies, I have played a prominent role in the creation and setting up of a number of Community Choirs and A-capella groups over the years. I began in 2002 by running regular workshops in harmony singing. Within the year I had initiated my first community choir, ‘Acapellabella’, teaching a combination of World Folk and Contemporary songs. In addition to the weekly sessions, I organise occasional one-off projects and performance work for these groups. I also compose pieces for them, and regularly adapt songs to my own arrangements. In the main part, my singing work  encourages singing as a more inclusive activity, through a friendly and less formal approach than found in many ‘traditional’ choirs.

In 2011 I began to run regular workshops in song writing and composition – sometimes working with groups and choirs to explore and create a collective sound or piece, as well as facilitating individuals with learning techniques for sole composition.Song writing or ‘Song Creation’ – as I feel it – is my big passion!

I love exploring and working with rhythm and often incorporate this into my work – be it through body percussion, vocally or the use of percussion instruments. I have also worked alongside musicians teaching and leading dance in Klezmer and Cajun music.

I have always been stimulated by the visual aspects in performance work, and have often incorporated the use of costumes and props, movement and dance. If you click on the “projects” button and look under “Community Music”, you will find examples of the theatrical approach I have brought in to my work. These include the creation of a U.V. Dance performance at a local community festival, and a “musical-style” amateur theatrical production based around the pantomime camel “Abdul”.

Loved by adults and children alike, Abdul still lives with me in West Cork, and has become as popular character making appearances at a variety of events around Ireland and England. A lovable and versatile character, Abdul is a great addition to festivals, private parties, community parades, and is available for walk around, performance work, and interactive workshops incorporating storytelling, song writing, dance and music making.

Project and Event Management

My organisational and co-ordination skills have enabled me to work both alone and in teams, taking up roles on committees, and running events and projects such as: one-off gigs, festivals, residency work, workshops, parades, collaborations, recording projects, and with the running of on going groups. I have experience in many roles including management, secretarial, publicity, and project coordination. I manage my own Community Music business, Caz Jeffreys Music, which includes organising events with visiting vocal coaches and singing leaders.

Both my daughters have benefited through music being such a large influence at home. I like to support the youth with their music, which has over the years included the organisation of one-off workshops, gigs, and guitar club. I am happy to work with all age groups; in schools or community spaces. I also provide music workshops for the family – usually parents with children between the ages of 4 and 12 years old, bringing in fun activities to introduce and build musical skills which they learn together.

In all my activities, I love working with a theme and am happy to tailor make workshops and events to suit the participants or projects’ needs.