Voicework and Singing
Clare believes passionately that singing is everyone’s birthright, and much of her work is around her desire to empower people to find and use their voices freely.
She sees singing as a source of deep joy and fulfillment for everyone.
Singing and Voicework
Singing for everyone - accessible singing in groups for choirs, healing voicework and individual coaching
Clare has been a successful community choir leader for over 20 years, running community singing groups and workshops in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. She is an active member of the Natural Voice Network, and runs regular groups that empower people to sing a variety of songs that reflect her love of harmony singing.
Grounded in choral music as a chorister in Cartmel Priory in her youth, Clare returned to singing via folk sessions, and writing her own songs in her late 20s. She discovered the Natural Voice approach to choir singing, and became a choir leader with Hull Community Voices, for 10 years, before moving on to develop her own independent practice firmly rooted in the natural voice approach. Her current regular group meets on Saturday mornings for acapella fun!
The natural voice approach celebrates the voices we are born with, and encouraging people to come together in song. Whilst Clare will encourage people in technique that uses their body, and particularly breath, to support the voice, she does not advocate training the voice to an idea of perfection. Many people have negative experiences of singing where they have been criticized, and made to feel that their voices are poor. Clare strives to create singing group where every voice is welcome and aspires to help people free their voices in a supportive space. The principles of Natural Voice are about accepting our voices, creating non-judgmental groups who come together to sing and build community. All voices are welcome regardless of ability or experience, and there are no auditions. Clare strives to make learning by ear accessible to all members of her groups, to remove barriers of having to read a musical score.
Clare has a particular interest in sound healing and healing voicework, and will often bring this into her group sessions, making connections with her other interests and creating a holistic approach to group harmony singing.
Clare’s established Saturday Sing group meets in Hull on Saturday mornings (usually 7 session per term). The group is welcoming of new members and repertoire is a capella songs from many different cultures, all with a love of harmony at their core. The emphasis is on the joy of singing, and there are occasional performance opportunities for those who wish to take part.
Clare offers workshops on various themes including a capella songs/harmonies from around the world, taught by ear. The focus is always on the joy of group singing, impact of voice on health, well being & personal growth. Her healing voice workshops draw on Clare’s interest in sacred sound, energy work and breathwork.
Clare will occasionally take on clients for basic vocal coaching to gain confidence in voice on a one to one basis.
Contact Clare to join her mailing list for details of all upcoming sessions, or to enquire about individual support with voice.
Visit the Natural Voice Network website for further information about the NVN.
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Songs for choirs
Clare's compositions for group singing
Songs for Choirs and a capella singing groups
Clare is a songwriter and composer and has a number of pieces available for choirs.
A song book is in the pipeline – with scores and learning tracks to support learning and teaching. Please get in touch if you would like to purchase copies of any of Clare’s songs.
Here’s a sample recording of Clare’s improvised layered piece celebrating breath: Breathe
Here's videos of choral pieces created by Clare, sung by members of Hull Freedom Chorus in virtual choir films in 2021:
Isolation: Soul Solution Music and Lyrics by Clare Drury and Em Whitfield Brooks
Freedom Flame virtual choir video Music and Lyrics by Clare Drury
