Classes 2023

A CAPPELLA CHOIR
Two Sessions Daily

We'll focus mainly on traditional black gospel, with a foray or two into Renaissance polyphony, rock & soul, with some room for improvisation.

TONY BACKHOUSE (NZ) Composer, vocal arranger and singer, BA, BMus, and one of the leaders in the Australasian a cappella movement. For 21 years he directed the Sydney choir Café of the Gate of Salvation, and founded the Honeybees and the Heavenly Light Quartet. Tony has researched the Black gospel tradition at Memphis State University, and since 1988 has regularly visited the USA befriending and singing with choirs, quartets and congregations in New York, Chicago, Memphis and New Orleans. He has led nine gospel tours to the USA to participate in the African American church tradition, and has run over 2000 vocal workshops throughout Australia, New Zealand, UK, France, Italy, Canada, Fiji and Samoa. He is the author of the Black gospel songbooks A cappella • Rehearsing For Heaven and Move On Up, and a book on directing vocal groups Freeing the Song. Tony works with the passionate and exciting African-American repertoire, focusing on spirituals, gospel songs old and new, and choral and quartet styles, and embracing South African church songs, R&B and pop. The emphasis is on harmony, collective improvisation and freedom of expression. No music-reading skills are  required, and you may record the sessions. www.tonybackhouse.com

ABBIE CARDWELL (AUS) Abbie's notoriety as an artist has been well established, with the likes of Kasey Chambers touting her as one of her “Favourite, most memorable artists”. As past winner of Triple J Unearthed, BMI USA Songwriting, Oz Music Award and ‘The Voice’ competitor, as well as festival appearances at Bluesfest, Womadelaide and more. With guitar, banjo, harmonica and ukulele in hand, Abbies international sojourn has included performances with Tony Joe White, Steve Earle, Martha Davis and The Waifs to name a few. Notably her international collaborations with Mexico City band Twin Tones resulted in a feature film documentary and multiple albums sung in English and Spanish. Abbie’s love for the craft of songwriting has led her to study at Berklee College of Music, teaching lyric writing at Brisbane's JMC Music Academy as well as having her own business My Private Songwriting Workshop. Abbie lives by the old adage “the more you learn, the more you find there is to learn” so it is with this frame of mind she loves to share her wealth of over 28 years experience in the music industry writing, recording, performing, touring, the highs, the lows, the writing blocks and all the way through to the other side to continue creating music from the heart. www.abbiecardwell.com

LYRIC TOOLSHED

Lets have a look at the craft of songwriting. Learn to cultivate a regular practice that nurtures longevity, defines your unique voice and generates unlimited ideas that will grab your audience by the heart and connect! Learn how to mine for gold from your creative writing, build a solid song structure and empower your songcraft with the ‘power tools’ to support your songs message. 

BAND LAB

Playing simultaneously is not the same as playing together. There's something special about playing or singing with other musicians, when it just 'clicks'.  Whatever the lineup, there are fundamentals that apply. Do you ‘hear’ band arrangements of songs in your head, but have never had the opportunity to try them out?  Well, this is it!  The aim of this workshop is to develop the skills necessary to make great music as part of a band, as opposed to just jamming or playing solo. In this workshop you'll develop your ability to play as part of a unit, and to communicate more effectively with other musicians. Develop rhythmic, harmonic and spacial listening skills, create arrangements, find your part, trust, band lead and learn simple charts. In this hands on workshop, we will develop participants’ original songs (probably one per day) into band arrangements, exploring structure, feel, dynamics, space, harmony, rhythm, tension/release, key, etc.

SHELLY'S MUSICAL COCKTAIL  &  HOME RECORDING

Ok, so this year, clean slate - let’s do something different. We’re gonna gather, in a million dollar recording studio, With a home recording set up- ready to go. Ironic, I know. Instruments, mics, comfy seats. We’re gonna play some songwriting games, hug some trees, feel the breeze, dig deep in your heart. We’ll share ideas, and gather upon a chorus, or a verse. And then, maybe names out of a hat or a heart filled democracy, we’ll record a section, you there- play some keys, you on the bike! Get on the mic! Hey you in the hat, you should play a two note groove on a bass with your bass face, yeah!!  ​We’ll build it further: what does it need?? The wonders of digital recording, arrangement, decisive producing. I’m pretty sure it’ll need harmonies. I think we’ll all need to put some harmonies on.  The focus is ‘How to Do Home Recording’. But it’s not about the product - it’s about the journey. Time is a vortex in a studio. It will be my aim to run a fun tight ship. X

THE CREATIVE PLAYGROUND

“Play is the highest form of research” Albert Einstein. Plug into your most creative self via PLAY! Learn fun techniques, writing games and music exercises that will have you creating song ideas, lyrics and music in new ways prolifically. Learn how to nurture your creativity, generate strong song ideas consistently, explore beyond your comfort zone, strengthen your weakest songwriting links, reduce fear/writers block, see the world with new eyes and loosen the grip of your harshest judge - your inner critic.

KARL FARREN (AUS) Having cut his musical teeth in Dublin's music scene, he later joined bands in London, playing music ranging from Steely Dan covers to self-styled ‘Pimp Rock’. Since moving to Australia, he found a new voice performing originals. His song, ‘Firstborn’, featured on the ‘Fatherhood’ compilation album, alongside Paul Kelly, John Butler, Archie Roach and Tex Perkins. With a Dolphin Award (NCEIA) nomination for ‘Saddle Road’ and ‘The Fixer’, he took the Folk category award for ‘Pilgrim Song’.  ‘The Fixer’ was nomination a finalist in the Folk category National MusicOz Awards. He received 4 Dolphin Award nominations, including one for the prestigious ‘Album Of The Year’, his debut album, ‘Repentance Creek’. Also nominated in the ‘Production/Engineering’ category with ‘No-One Ever’ in the ‘Country’ category and ‘The Fixer’ in ‘Folk’. Both as a solo artist, and as one half of folk/blues duo Mulberry Bend (with American singer-songwriter Susanna Carman), he has performed some of Australia’s top festivals, including The Mullum Music Festival, Nannup Music Festival in Western Australia and the world-famous Woodford Folk Festival. In recent years, his passion has been teaching, where he draws on more than forty years experience, as both teacher and musician, to provide a personalised, student-centred music learning experience. reverbnation.com/karlfarren

INTERMEDIATE GUITAR

Learn how to play cool-sounding and beautiful chords, anywhere on the fretboard. If barre chords scare you, but you want to venture beyond the first three frets, this workshop is for you! We’ll focus on the really juicy notes in any chord, and we’ll explore ‘small chords’, triads and ‘shell’ voicings to open up the fretboard. This will transform your playing and your understanding of how chords work.

SHELLY BROWN (AUS) Vocalist, Songwriter, Vocal Coach, based in Lennox Head, NSW. She has been a passionate singing teacher for over 25 years, whilst also writing and recording independent albums along the way. In the last 10 years Shelly has brought her vocal coaching techniques to group and choir singing practices. Creating the safe place to help people entwine their sound with their emotional heart space and educate about vocal technique to help build self-confidence and self-belief. Utilising movement, harmony, rhythm, groove, dynamics, expression, relaxation and a serious dose of silliness. Shelly brings her unique, playful vocal groups to music camps and retreats in Lennox Head, Ballina, Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads, Murwillumbah, Magnetic Island, and more. Shelly leads the vocal and song writing workshops at the Byron Bay Campus of SAE, as well as regular vocal session work for independent projects. She is currently leading “Brunch Choir” at The Lennox Head Surf Club and recording her new album, while Singing Lessons for No One Podcast Just hit over 50K Listens! www.shelly.com.au

VOCAL TECHNIQUE

A stunning vocal intensive will develop your personal sound and strengthen you to express your own voice. In a calm, encouraging group of courageous, warm hearted people, you will take the steps towards finding your honest, open vocal tone. Leave your fear at the door. We'll improvise, with a basis of gentle music theory. Create a repertoire of songs you feel strong when you sing, find your “go to” vocal sound and lean on it with relaxed ease. Most of all, you’ll worry less and smile more, while you hold space for your art.