Community music

Next BIG SING! event for Clonakilty Wellness Week Saturday May 7th

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Emmet Square will be the location of the next BIG SING! event on Saturday 7th May between 3-5pm.

The West Cork BIG SING!(1)

We will be running an ‘open’ workshop as part of the Wellness Week programme on the Wednesday evening to which all are invited to come along to learn some of the songs which we will be singing on the day. Times and venue tbc. Watch this space!!

For another opportunity to learn the songs you are welcome to come along to the “Little Singing Session” which takes place at the Friday Club in the Town Hall, Skibbereen from 10.30-11.30am on the second Friday of every month. Come along and meet and sing with others over a cup of tea or coffee. This event is FREE!

If you would like a workshop to be brought to your group then get in touch!

“Little Singing Sessions” at the Friday Club, Skibbereen Town Hall

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I am delighted that the West Cork Mental Health Services have invited me to host monthly “Little Singing Sessions” as part of the Friday Club activities in Skibbereen Town Hall starting this coming FRIDAY 12TH FEB! I will be there on the second Friday of every month between 10.30-11.30am. As part of this easy and relaxed session I will be sharing the West Cork BIG SING! collection of songs. This group is for everyone so please do come along and join us…..should be lots of fun!! There is no fee to attend and you will be welcomed with a cup of tea or coffee! What a nice way to start the day and to meet other people!!
Little Singing Sessions poster

Training for Leading Groups in Song March 2016

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This year I aim to bring focus to passing on the skills I have gained from all these years of leading groups in singing through the delivery of training, support and mentoring packages to those who are new to this work, and also to singing groups and community choirs who would benefit from my experience.

This first Training Day is designed as an introduction to leading groups in singing and would be useful for anyone who would like to gain some basic skills with groups of any age or ability.  This training is not just for the keen singer or new Community Choir facilitator, but also for school teachers, youth workers, carers and anyone who may like to bring singing into groups. Bringing music into groups can be rewarding and fun. We will work together through a relaxed yet focused approach.

You don’t need to be some kind of ‘music maestro’ to take part although you must be a confident singer who can hold a harmony line on your own. Feel free to get in touch to find out more or to discuss whether this Training Day will be suitable for you. A more intensive Training Programme will be on offer in the autumn 2016. Bookings by 1st March please to: cazjeffreys@gmail.com

Leading Groups in Song

 

 

The first “Little BIG SING!” event Feb. 2016

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Really looking forwards to this day of Social day of Singing! which will be co-facilitated by myself and Jane Goss. Here is an opportunity for the growing West Cork BIG SING! community to come together and share the songs we have been learning, learn a few more and simply get some time together to get to know one another a little more. We will be looking at a new set of songs which we are preparing for the next BIG SING! event due to take place in Clonakilty in May as part of the Clonakilty Wellness Week. People new to the project are also very welcome to come along.

The event will be held in the Bantry Christian Fellowship Hall on Saturday 13th February from 11am-4.30pm. Please bring food to share for lunch. Hot drinks will be provided. The cost is just €20. The West Cork BIG SING! aims to keep it’s activities as accessible as possible. Although the hall is upstairs there is a lift in this building, so please let me know if you will be needing to use it and I will check that it is functioning! Spaces are limited so you need to get in touch and book your place in advance so as not to be disappointed.

Hope to see you there!!

A Little BIG SING! 13_02_16(2)

 

Next Singing Workshop in Bantry

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Happy New Year to ye all! The next West Cork BIG SING! projects singing workshop will be held in Bantry at the Christian Fellowship Hall (behind Cinemax) on Saturday 30th January from 3-5pm. It will be lovely to meet up again and to start working with more songs in preparation for the next BIG SING! event scheduled for Clonakilty in May. Please share this poster around and encourage your friends to come along. All are very welcome….no previous experience needed…just the desire to sing with others. Hope to see you there!

Bantry Singing Workshop Sat. 30th Jan '16(1)

 

 

Next Bantry Singing session with West Cork BIG SING!

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The next singing session will take place on Saturday 21st November from 3-5pm in the Christian Fellowship Hall. Alongside learning the new set of West Cork BIG SING! songs, we will be singing some Christmas songs….a little different from the more usual collection, including Gospel and Ukranian folk. All are welcome to come along and join us and no experience is necessary.We sing because it makes us feel good!!

We are looking forwards to meeting up with other groups for our first ‘Little BIG SING!’ event in the new year and here is a great opportunity to meet others who enjoy singing in your area and find out more about the BIG SING! project. Cost €5-€10 self selected. To find out more contact Caz on 083 1425599 or by email at cazjeffreys@gmail.com  Come and join the West Cork BIG SING! community at: https://www.facebook.com/West-Cork-BIG-SING-895356410540154/?ref=bookmarks

West Cork BIG SING! takes on a life of it’s own!!

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Three local groups have now emerged from the West Cork BIG SING! held on Bantry Square for World Mental Health Day. More groups are hoped to be started in the Spring with the project moving across towards the Clonakilty area. Anyone interested in helping to start up a BIG SING! group in their area should get in touch. A training package is currently being developed to train facilitators in leading the groups.

Bantry Square on World Mental Health Day
Bantry Square on World Mental Health Day

https://www.facebook.com/West-Cork-BIG-SING-895356410540154/

Come and join the West Cork BIG SING! Community

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The West Cork BIG SING! event on Saturday 10th October for Mental Health Day  was a huge success and is now forming localised groups…..we are creating a BIG SING! Community! The new BIG SING! Bantry Group are meeting this coming Saturday 17th October 3-5pm in the Christian Fellowship Hall behind Cinemax. This will be a monthly group for the time being. Two more weekly groups are starting, one in Castletown Bere on Sunday 25th October 2.30-4pm in the Sarah Walker Gallery, and the other in Dunmanway from the Family Resource Centre on Monday 2nd November 7.30-9pm. Please help to spread the word……Come along and join the West Cork BIG SING! Community!!

Sat 17th Oct. poster

‘Sharing the Music’ – Residential workshop with Susie Ro Prater

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Last weekend I traveled over to the UK to attend a workshop with the focus on training for leading group singing. What a beautiful place and group of people to spend that time with! My personal interest lay more in simply putting myself totally ‘in the zone’ so to speak, as I participated and explored my thoughts around what our facilitator Susie Ro Prater was bringing into this course, with a view on expanding on my own training course I am currently developing.

Susie is a lovely facilitator and a truly gifted musician…the song just oozed through her and her teaching style was very inspiring and relaxing to work with. We shared many songs during those few days. The room was full of enthusiastic individuals wishing to hone their own skills and start sharing and leading others in song….a very exciting energy to be in.

Sharing the Music GroupNow I more fully realise the potential of what I have to offer with regards to offering my own skills as not only a facilitator, but also as a trainer….to pass what I have learned over the past 12 years on to others and provide continued support where needed. And how nice for me to enjoy the experience without being in a leadership role!!

This coming winter will find me harvesting and gathering, then emerging in the spring ready to enter the world of training others to do the work which I have loved for so long……enabling and supporting others to enjoy singing with others.

Holycome thru orchard