David Eskenazy and Gaël Aubrit, both passionate about vocal improvisation, circlesinging and pedagogy, will join once again for this one-week workshop on creating and leading circlesongs, for the first time in English!
In Southern France in the middle of nature, offer yourself one week of deep work, immerse into music, fill yourself with inspiration, discover new tools, new angles, improve your skills as a leader, as a singer and as an improviser.
You can either register to this workshop as a “chorist” or as a “MC”.
MCs will be coached individually on leading circlesongs, on specific angles/exercices, in half-group equally divided between Gaël and David.
CHORISTS will basically hold the circle and support the music created by the MCs. They will also be coached collectively on the deep sound/harmonic/rhythmic connection. They will occasionally have space for soloing, and they will be included as much as possible in the understanding of the musical concepts proposed by David and Gaël, so they can benefit from the coachings and re-invest the tools in their further practice.
A typical workday will include:
– Two and a half hours in half group with Gaël and David (5 hours total)
– One hour of pure music in full group at the end of each day will erase the distinction between chorists and MCs. Everyone can then lead and co-lead!
This workshop is for experienced singers only. We request applications that include recordings, as we aim for a cohesive group and a high quality of musical work. More information below!
PRACTICAL INFORMATIONS
• Venue: NOGARET, 34650 Roqueredonde, France
Nogaret is a very beautiful place, full of charm, led by a friendly and fun community. Meals are delicious and surrounding nature is gorgeous. However it might not be as comfortable as some people may expect. For instance there is no internet, electricity is limited and only accessible during lunch break, bedroom walls are very thin, there might be bugs … We choose to give our workshop there this year so we can offer a more accessible price.
• Dates 2024: from September 21st at 6pm to September 28th at noon
• Language: We will be speaking only English (so we hope to see many people from abroad!)
• Prices for chorists:
– 478€ (food included, you sleep in your own tent or van)
– 520€ (food included, 2-4 people room)
– 590€ (food included, private room)
• Prices for MCs:
– 858€ (food included, you sleep in your own tent or van)
– 900€ (food included, 2-4 people room)
– 970€ (food included, private room)
• AFDAS funding: see with David
• Number of participants: 20-28 (10 MCs + 10-18 chorists)
CHORIST APPLICATIONS
Prerequisites:
– Good vocal technique
– Strong ear and intonation
– Rhythmic ease and solidity
– Mature and fluent musicality in general
Application elements:
• CV / resume detailing your background regarding singing, music and improvisation,
• 2 recordings (audio ou video) of you singing (original, cover, circlesong, solo improv, your call) that can help us appreciate your vocal and musical qualities (technique, groove, feeling, etc),
• If you live in France, please send a 180€ check (not cashed, not refundable unless your application is declined) to Gaël Aubrit, 814 route du Mont Verdun, La Barollière, 69760 Limonest. For people living in other countries, we will look at the money transfer options together.
We will consider your application only when we have received all the elements above.
Please send applications and messages about this workshop to both of us: circlesongsdesk@gmail.com, gael.aubrit@gmail.com
All applications sent before January 15th will receive an answer during the week of January 29th.
MC APPLICATIONS
Prerequisites:
– Good vocal technique
– Strong ear and intonation
– Rhythmic ease and solidity
– Mature and fluent musicality in general
– Strong experience in vocal improvisation and circlesongs leading
– Strong experience in music theory and practice, or very good ear
Application elements:
• CV / resume detailing your background regarding singing, music and improvisation,
• 1 recording (audio or video) of you improvising a circlesong, if possible with a real group of people, if not then on a looper. This recording must include the whole creation process and must be fully improvised (do not sing or prepare the parts before you start recording),
• 1 other recording of you singing (original, cover, circlesong, solo improv, it’s up to you) that can help us appreciate your vocal and musical qualities (technique, groove, feeling, etc),
• If you live in France, please send a 300€ check (not cashed, not refundable unless your application is declined) to Gaël Aubrit, 814 route du Mont Verdun, La Barollière, 69760 Limonest. For people living in other countries, we will look at the money transfer options together.
We will consider your application only when we have received all the elements above.
Please send applications and messages about this workshop to both of us: circlesongsdesk@gmail.com, gael.aubrit@gmail.com
All applications sent before January 15th will receive an answer during the week of January 29th.
DAVID ESKENAZY
I’m a curious and cross-over singer, improviser, composer and multi-instrumentalist.
My musical background is based on the study with musical masters in real life in jazz, groove and classical music, plus a very deep and rigourous formal study of rhythm, classical and jazz harmony, classical writing and multiple master transcriptions.
My artistic projects as a composer are attempts to mix and hybrid afro-brazilian music, jazz, contemporain and classical, and many other (urban music, hip-hop, funk etc).
From this vivid musical melting-pot I’ve been developing a structured and comprehensive method for singers to approach and master the intrications of the musical language, in the rhythmic, harmonic and formal dimensions. I’ve been designing and facilitating hundreds of Circlesongs Workshops since 2 000, using this amazing ritual form to work on those very aspects of Music and voice. In France but also abroad (Belgium, UK, Germany, Czech Republic, US and also in a lot of festivals, music schools, conservatories).
In July 2022 I created MelodEar, the app for jazz improvisation/melodic modes, that was revered by the Berklee College of Music, and is now used by thousands of people.
I try to always refine a both sensitive and structured approach, with precise and solid tools, in a multi-colored musical universe.
GAËL AUBRIT
I completely fell in love with vocal improvisation and circlesinging when I met Bobby McFerrin in 2010. I stepped away from my previous activities such as songwriting and teaching vocal technique, so I could entirely focus on this new art form. In the past twelve years, I had the privilege of training thousands of singers, music teachers and facilitators, collaborating with numerous music schools and various organizations in France and abroad.
In 2012 I initiated the Chant Pour Tous project, inspiring the birth of numerous collaborative, free and open vocal improvisation circles in France, Belgium and Italy. This vision of a simple, accessible and popular practice always cohabited with a strong desire of developing and refining the artistic aspect of circlesongs and co-improvisation. From 2013 to 2019 I led a 3 years training in co-improvisation called Improvie. Then in 2019 and 2022 I had the honor of joining the faculty of Bobby McFerrin’s Circlesong School in the USA!
I believe in the value of approaching vocal improv from very different angles, like from a technical, musical, social, spiritual, healing or entertaining perspective. I am connected to many people, community leaders and structures all over the world, working on what I consider today as my main goal in life: helping to spread and develop a cappella vocal improvisation.
