Why attend the Open Singing Retreat?

In various areas of our lives, many of us are now looking for healthier and more holistic approaches and we are feeling a new sense of responsibility for realms such as nature, food, clean air, clean water, etc.  Until recently, people have taken both their speaking as well as their singing voices for granted, as if they come for free and do not require any nurturing.  The renewing thought which the School of Uncovering the Voice brings is that we need to take care of our voices in different ways than was done in earlier days.  

How can we develop our precious, own instruments according to the needs of our times?  In earlier eras of humanity, the singing voice was a central issue in life.  Now our capacity is shrinking rapidly.  We need caring ways of expressing ourselves through our voices and to realize: Through my voice, I express my whole being and by singing, I affect my overall balance and health.  This can be done by the exercises given by Valborg Werbeck Svardstrom, who shows us easy ways to build up relation to all the basic elements needed for singing and care of the voice.   

In a joyful way, we try to experience the musical world as well as to understand the background of our doing; embracing both practicality and understanding.  Werbeck states that if there would be more singing and more righteous singing in our world, the criminality would decrease.  This thought can be understood as follows: Being with our voice connects us to more pure parts of ourselves and develops that what we may as human beings want to become (our more realized selves).  

The Open Singing Retreat provides a safe, welcoming and deeply renewing space in time to do all of this and more.  It is not only for trained singers, but it is also for people who do not yet have faith in their own capacity as singers and who are open to trying new experiences.

Open Singing Retreat
led by Christiaan Boele 

June 14-June 16^th, 2013

at Mercy Center

535 Sacramento St. Auburn, Ca  95603
mercycenter.org

 

Friday June 14 

8:30 Check In

9:00  Introduction to Approaching the Voice  

10:15   Morning Break 

10:45  Approaching the Voice I: Study of Breath, Sound & Speech
12:00  Lunch
2:00 Movement:  Spacial Dynamics
3:00 Afternoon Break  
3:30   Transitioning to Song
5:15  Dinner 
6:30-8:30  Joyful Exercises and Choir

Saturday June 15
8:00 Breakfast
9:00  Approaching the Voice II: Study of Breath, Sound & Speech
10:15  Morning Break
10:45  Approaching the Voice III:  Study of Breath Sound & Speech
12:00  Lunch
2:00-3:00 Movement:  Eurythmy
3:15-4:00 Conversation
4:15-5:00 Children's Hour: Everyone Welcome
5:15  Dinner
6:30-8:30  Joyful Exercises and Choir

Sunday June 16
8:00  Breakfast
9:00  Approaching the Voice IV: Study of Breath, Sound & Speech
10:15  Break
10:45-12:00 Conclusion  

Tuition Options: 

1.  All inclusive:  -includes lodging Fri. and Sat. nights in a private bedroom and six meals: lunch/dinner Fri., breakfast/lunch/dinner Sat., breakfast Sun.   $450 by May 1st; $480 thereafter

2.  Commuter:  -includes six meals: lunch/dinner Fri., breakfast/lunch/dinner Sat., breakfast Sun.  
$350 by May 1st; $380 thereafter

-Register promptly to secure on-site lodging as rooms are limited.

Early Arrival:  -Is available if you can arrive before 5pm to Mercy Center on Thurs. 2/13.  Includes: Thurs. night lodging plus dinner and Fri. breakfast.  Add $85 to the All Inclusive Rate.

Additional Details on the Schedule:

Spacial Dynamics:  Graceful movements and activities that enhance the healthy, harmonious continuum between the body and surrounding space.  

Eurythmy:   Movements and gestures that reveal to the eye what language and music bring to the ear.  Speak and sing with the human body, making speech and music visible.

Children's Hour:  During this designated time, children of all participants are invited to come to the course for free, accompanied by their parent, to join in a lively, child-friendly singing session.  Grown ups will also be included in the fun!
     
For more information and to register contact Sheryl at: healing.round@gmail.com or call:  530-210-3208

2013 Northern California Summer Calendar

June 1-3   Meadow Vista Private Lessons  
(open to all)

June 5-6   Sebastopol Private Lessons  
(open to all)

June 8-11   5th Singing Training in Sebastopol
(Schedule:  9:00am - 12:30pm each day)

June 12-13 Graduate Class in Sebastopol
(Schedule:  9:30-3:30 each day.  For graduates of the 1-4th Trainings)

 June 14-16  Open Singing Retreat in Auburn at Mercy Center
(everyone invited!)

June 17-21 &  24-28  El Sobrante Private Lessons 
(open to all)

June 23  Choir Day

Interview with Christiaan Boele

Your school is called The School of Uncovering the Voice. What does it mean to “uncover the voice” and how do you do that?

This approach to singing was initiated by Mrs. Valborg Werbeck Svardstrom, a Swedish singer who developed this in cooperation with Rudolf Steiner.  It is based on the belief that every human being has their own unique singing voice.  Through uncovering or unveiling our voices, we can learn to connect more fully to that which wants to speak through our voices:  to our deeper, inner ideals and impulses which we are looking for in our lives.

In the past twenty years there has been an unprecedented increase in the amount of media and electronic music. Is this a threat to the human voice? If so, in what way?

In the moment when we hear music, our instrument, also physically our larynx, responds and moves according to that what it hears.  If it is reproduced music and also the variety of noises in our time (which little children often imitate) it increases the lack of flexibility of our organism and causes damages and problems in different ways.  The voices get lower, lose their higher range and become physically hardened.  That is something which is not only present in the last twenty years but already from the 60’s and 70’s from the last century.

How are children’s voices and their ability and enthusiasm to sing affected by the increase in media?

The media affects the fantasy forces of the children and also gives them too early, too much influx of many kinds of songs and musical impressions than what one would wish for.  For small children, it would be good to stay a long time just with very few, fine lullabies and working songs and to hear the singing voices of the mother, father, brothers and sisters.   Children adapt their own voices towards that which they hear and are imitating the songs of our modern times, media and external noises which cause their voices to become too dominant in many ways.

How can someone begin to “uncover” her voice?

Our schooling is not just for people who already have a good, experienced singing voice.  This is for anyone, for talented singers as well as for someone who has never had the courage to sing; who probably heard as many did in their school time that they didn’t have a voice- that they couldn’t sing.  This is basically untrue.  Often in our singing courses, we may have a trained singer, sitting or standing next to someone who has never had any voice experience; both doing the same exercises and enjoying to do this together.  What we find is that some of the exercises can be done better by the person who is so new to all singing work that they can do it more directly and in a correct way.  The untrained singer has not developed any previous singing habits that need to be overcome.

If someone has never really sung in public and doesn’t really feel confident singing, can she learn to sing?

Yes, but it is an individual matter as to how long this may take.  The time that anyone needs for development of their voice cannot be measured in a certain amount of lessons or a certain amount of months or years.  It is not a question of physical development; it is a question of how one inwardly grows with their voice.

What’s the most important thing that a person can do to protect, strengthen and improve her singing voice?

The most important thing could be to take up one’s own practice of about five to ten minutes a day of singing exercises; always in the morning, and not to look for special results but to the maintenance of the voice and growing a relationship with it. To care for that part is of a growing importance for the future.

Do you have any particular advice for male teachers when singing with younger children?

The very first thing is that one should be thankful for anyone singing with children because it is not so familiar nowadays. For male persons it is not so different as for females, but to take care to have enough lightness in the voice and to not use the voice in too strong of a way.

How often should children sing? Is it important to sing every day?

Yes!  I would say that singing all day is the healthiest way of uttering oneself and also a way of digesting impressions which come from the outer world.  In the moment when a child is in one’s own world through their singing, they show their health and their ability to cope with the surroundings.  If you look at grownups, when they are not singing, it is often a sign of stress and inner tension which hinders them from being harmonious. On the other side, if the children would sing more, every day, it would affect their feelings of balance and harmony and give them strength for their later years.

What is the future of singing?

This is an enormously large subject and I could easily spend a whole evening’s lecture discussing the different aspects.  It is hard to pick out just one detail, but one could say: In singing, you address those forces inside you which you want to become.  To develop those forces is to free your voice and that is one of the most important things for the future.

What’s your summer course like? Do you need to have attended other singing courses?

It is possible to join the Open Singing Course without any previous singing experience.  This course is for everyone, including those who come from stressful environments and want to renew their forces, to let themselves be inspired by music and to approach their voice in a new way.  For people who are hesitant to sing, this gentle approach, singing within the group, helps them to overcome their fears and enjoy singing.  It is especially recommended for people who use their voice alot, both in speaking as well as singing (such as teachers).  The singing work is also enriched and supported with movement through Spatial Dynamics and Eurythmy.

Anything else?

Let’s deepen the experiences with our precious instrument, the singing voice, and find out that it is not only there for fun or for joy but also for gaining depth, protection and health of our whole being.

5th Singing Training Details

The 5th Singing Training in Northern California
begins February 17-19, 2012
in San Francisco, CA

The 5th Training meets over a 3 1/2 year period, for 3 days each February and 5 days each June and includes a total of 17 private lessons.

This advanced course is offered to those with previous study of Uncovering the Voice (such as attendance at an Open Course and/or private lessons with Christiaan). 

In this work, the process of singing is viewed holistically, with the aim of the natural opening and balancing of the voice.  The singer is invited to move with confidence and joy towards discovering his or her own voice within the group and in private lessons.  It is a gentle process and the voice is never pushed, but liberated slowly through engagement and active participation.  A wide range of specific singing exercises will be developed together with a comprehensive study of Werbeck's book.

Singing Training Topics:

Session 1:  Exercises to Forget the Breathing      Feb. 17-19, 2012
Session 2:  Directing the Sound                          June 8-12, 2012
Session 3:  Vowels and Consonants                     Feb. 15-17, 2013
Session 4:  Expansion of the Sound                    June 7-11, 2013
Session 5:  Reflection of the Sound                    Feb. 2014
Session 6:  Reflection of the Word                     June 2014
Session 7:  Summary and Closing                      Feb. 2015

Cost: 

2012 tuition for Sessions 1 and 2:  $990
-includes 2 private lessons in Feb. and 3 in June
2013 tuition for Sessions 3 and 4:  $990
-includes 2 private lesson in Feb. and 3 in June
2014 tuition for Sessions 5 and 6:  $990
-includes 2 private lessons in Feb. and 3 in June
2015 tuition for Session 7:  $375
-includes 2 private lessons in Feb.

To Apply:

Please write a paragraph about why you would like to participate in the Training and email it to Sheryl at: healing.round@gmail.com.  She will then contact you regarding acceptance into the Training, tuition deposit of $160 and further details.  Applicants will be accepted through Dec. 31, 2011, up to a maximum participation of 30 students. 

Teaching Gallery

Testimonials

Christiaan's Open Singing Course is a revolution in the teaching of singing.  These technical exercises gently guide beginning and experienced singers into vocal freedom.  It is an often-emotional experience that leads you back to the joy of singing.
-Dr. Lynne Morrow, Sonoma State University

Christiaan Boele's lectures are a work of art in themselves, unwinding harmoniously, rhythmically and melodically.  
 -Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training

The experience of the Open Singing Course cannot be captured in words.  Moving, replenishing, spiritual, inspiring and lovely are some words that come to mind.  Christiaan is a gentle, masterful teacher who has crafted a training as relevant for experienced singers as for beginners and self-proclaimed nonsingers.  -Dana R.

The quality of your work with us magnifies with every session.  For me, your gift of an elevated understanding of the voice has improved and rejuvenated my work with children and adults alike.  Thank you.  My own voice has been enlivened and is more flexible and pleasurable as well.  -Rusty V.

Christiaan, thank you for sharing this gift of singing with such joy, such humor and such diligence.  I had a great time at the Open Singing Course and I wasn't stressed at all.  (I am very anxious about singing and I almost didn't come.)  -Windsong B.

During my Waldorf teacher training Christiaan taught us Werbeck singing exercises. In the beginning I merely enjoyed doing the exercises. It was an interesting and new approach to singing which made me forget my doubts about not having a beautiful voice. The exercises felt doable. During the years, however, I could experience the transformational power of the exercises. Not only did they make me calmer and more centered, they also helped me to access my creative potential. The exercises felt like a protective blanket wrapped around my body. I also use the exercises to prepare myself before teaching. My voice has improved which inspired me to incorporate more songs into my lessons.-Tosha W.

Thank you!  I have studied singing for many years and appreciate the gentle, soothing, relaxing approach.  Reminded me of  yoga and of labor-opening.  -Beth G.

Just amazing!  Really connected me to my voice in a new, spiritual way.  -Ken S.

Meeting with the School of Uncovering the Voice has brought me closer to a wholesome singing practice and has provided me with a solid anchor on my vocal explorations, a safe and nurturing place for healing the voice and for growing more intimately familiar with it.  In the few years passing since this schooling first reached me, new knowledge has been constantly flowing into my listening and singing, deepening my awareness to space as the habitation of the voice and to the voice's place within it. The Singing Training will allow these understandings to further mature and will serve to continue the cultivation of presence, sensitivity and elasticity that allow the voice to shine through the body.  With the help of this sharpened presence, I hope to be able not only to meet the world with my own stronger, more centered voice, but also to impart this knowledge to others who may benefit from it.  -David K.

This course is very illuminating to me and supports many of my own discoveries during my forty years of teaching guitar.  It has cured my "hopeless" attitude about singing!  -Nan S.

Christiaan, you are a delightfully clear and holistic teacher.   What a joy you are!  -Ann O.

I have appreciated the opportunity to be in the Open Singing Course for these few days.  The spiritual understanding of the human being sets these singing exercises apart from other 'warm up exercises' that are even similar in some ways in other schools of singing.  it is this subtle yet huge difference that gives the therapeutic element an extra dimension that goes so much deeper than most approaches to the human voice.  If one is willing to do the work, these exercises can have a marvelous effect in opening the voice.  In essence, it is the spiritual understanding of the singing process and particularly the larynx which contributes to the uniqueness of this work.  -Joy S.

Wonderful course with depth, feeling and sharing of such knowledge!  -Julie M.


I loved it!  Moved to tears!  Affirmation of my inner needs.  I'm longing for the wholeness.  Want more!   -Jen A.

The small bit of Werbeck singing I have been introduced to has been restorative, energizing and healing and has helped bring practical experience and application to many of the spiritual concepts we study in my studio.  I personally have been through a long journey of vocal issues while being a lifelong performer and music minister.  Werbeck's work has helped me to recover my voice time and time again and continues to assist me in re-training old patterns of strain that I developed in early, less enlightened vocal study.  There is nothing I'd rather do than learn more about this incredible co-creative art in which we have the blessed opportunity to allow living sound presence to take form in the world.  -Kath R.

Thank you for all the sensitivity and strength you bring to the world cloaked in wonder, beauty and love.  Your way in the world brings hope and healing.  -Katherine P. 

Wonderful!  I love the mix of information and exercises!  -Noelle T.

How does one speak of "The School of Uncovering the Voice" without sounding too mythical, opening oneself to suspicion, for this is not an easy thing to speak about.  When I first came to the Open Course, I was told the work would "Meet Me Where I Was."  I silently wondered what that could possibly mean?  I grew up with an Amish grandmother, cousins, aunties, uncles and relatives, who all believed in the power of song.  I did not know this then, I only felt it.  We sang for every occasion; for work, for birth, for death, in four part harmony, without instrumentation.  My first understanding of something sacred came from song.  Perhaps the definition of Christiaan's work I might give is that one will discover that which is sacred in oneself again.  There are things buried in the heart that perhaps only music can stir up again.  -Beth N.

Wow Christiaan, what a gift you have given us.  A new impulse for our time and FUN too!  You have helped me change my life.  -Doug C.

The workshop and private lessons with Christiaan have brought me a deep joy and an awakening that I have been longing for.  I am very moved by the process of genuinely connecting with the power of the voice and the breath; of experiencing the wisdom and effectiveness of not pushing and not trying so hard... My voice transformed within a week and I already feel more connected with it.  Voice exercises from previous teachers used to bore me, but now I actually feel delighted to practice the exercises I learned with Christiaan... I experience these voice exercises as I would a meditation practice.  They bring mindfulness, focus and calm to my busy life.. bringing true healing and peace. -Lena P.

Connection, like the ripples when you toss the smooth stone into the water;  connection to the lion’s wild mane.  Thank you for these lively, living, working moments Christiaan. Joyous,grateful work! 

-Beverly K.

This day helped me gain entrance to a spacious sense of true engagement with my voice that I’ve not experienced before, with a sense that this resistance I’ve had can give way to more openness and participation. - Lily N.

Passage
I no longer linger in the shadows of silencing fear and doubt -
The sun beckons me now, waiting - endlessly, effortlessly
Sounds fly from my throat and heart like doves and swallows
With clear tones sweetly ringing- deftly, solidly, free
Led by the infinite air streaming - everywhere, always
Needing only to slow my furious pace
and quiet my restless mind,
I open to the sounds of grace Divine
And am enveloped by a harmony of song
more beautiful than even dreams' vast skies.

-Pamela B. 

What is The School of Uncovering the Voice?

The School of Uncovering the Voice was founded by Mrs. Valborg Werbeck-Svaerdstroem (1879-1972), in cooperation with Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy. After eleven years of research, Mrs. Werbeck founded her own singing school in Hamburg, Germany. She states that every single human being has a singing voice. Our work is to unveil, take away the hindrances and free the voice. This schooling is not only for particularly gifted singers, but addresses anyone who wants to connect to one's voice.

Mrs. Werbeck wrote her experiences down in her book, 'Uncovering the Voice, The Cleansing Power of Song'.

Contact Information

If you are interested in learning more about 'The School of Uncovering the Voice' and Christiaan Boele's offerings in the US of: Singing Courses, Trainings, Private Lessons, Lectures, and Community Choirs, contact:
Sheryl Adler-Eldridge at: healing.round@gmail.com

Valborg Werbeck-Svaerdstroem

The Swedish singer, Valborg Werbeck-Svaerdstroem (1879 - 1972) laid the basis for a true understanding of the human voice, as well as the training and therapeutic application of it, fitting for our time. Between 1912 and 1924 in collaboration with Rudolf Steiner, she developed a new singing schooling "die Schule der Stimmenthüllung" (Uncovering the Voice) drawing on the insights of spiritual science. Through experiential exercises and careful reasoning, Uncovering the Voice provides a new, spiritually enlivened interpretation of the processes involved in singing. It develops knowledge of the essential nature of song, and summons us to work for the purity and preservation of true singing.

Since V.Werbeck-Svärdström´s death, her work was continued in the artistic, pedagogical and therapeutic spheres under the leadership of Jürgen Schriefer. Jurgen Schriefer is now retired and Christiaan Boele is one of a few teachers who brings the impulse of The School of Uncovering the Voice to North America and many other countries.

Christiaan Boele

Born in 1956 at The Hague in the Netherlands, Christiaan Boele exhibited strong musicianship early in life with a childhood filled with song. He began trumpet studies at the age of 13 and began private voice lessons at the age of 15 with Wim Brunig, his music teacher at the Waldorf school in the Hague. Concurrent with his Waldorf education he began professional trumpet lessons at age 17 at The Hague Conservatory. At age 19 Christiaan enrolled at the Alanus-Hochschule near Bonn,Germany to further his trumpet studies. While at the Alanus-Hochschule Christiaan met Jürgen Schriefer. This first meeting made such an impression on him that he decided that very day to study singing with Mr. Schriefer. Six months later he stopped his trumpet lessons to concentrate solely on singing. He continued his studies at Alanus-Hochschule for three years, during which time he also studied eurythmy for two years to supplement his vocal work.

Christiaan moved to Bochum-Witten in Germany to study privately with Jürgen Schriefer. During this time with him they traveled throughout central Europe carrying the singing work to many countries. Christiaan also studied with Christa Waltjaen in the pursuit of his intensive voice schooling. He performed as a tenor soloist at various concerts, song recitals, and oratorio performances.

In order to verify for himself the quality and comparability of his private voice studies with traditional conservatory training, Christiaan enrolled in the Folkwang-Hochschule in Essen, Germany. There he studied for over two years. During this time he initiated, with others, the formation of a private opera ensemble with whom he performed over sixty performances as Tamino in Mozart´s “The Magic Flute.” In addition he gave various courses as well as other performances in central Europe, Denmark and Finland. As he became more involved in these other projects and concerts, it became clear to Christiaan that he wanted to devote himself to the School of Uncovering the Voice as his main task and as a result decided to forego any further conservatory work.

Christiaan began to offer courses in schooling the voice in Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Finland. Eventually the demand for courses in Finland led to his establishment of a singing school near Lahti at Sylvia-koti, a Camphill Village devoted to therapeutic work, and which was his place of residence for over fifteen years.

Christiaan currently lives in Mendig, Germany and conducts various master classes, courses, and schooling of the voice sessions in Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Canada and in California and Pennsylvania in the United States. Students from over ten countries continue travel to Christiaan to study with him privately, in group coursework, or through various voice schooling sessions. He leads an ensemble of twelve singers with concert tours in these same countries, and continues to perform as a soloist in oratorio and song recitals. Christiaan is also working with The Werbeck Choir of California.

The School of Uncovering the Voice is recognized as the anthroposophical approach to singing, and Christiaan has been invited to teach at various private Waldorf Schools as well as Waldorf Teacher Training Colleges. Most recently he has taught at The Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training, CA, Rudolf Steiner College, CA, Waldorf Teacher Training of Montreal and Snellman Institute in Helsinki, Finland.

Click here to visit the website and hear recordings of Christiaan's ensemble in Europe.