The Singing Body: Voice and Vibration Through Georgian Song, with Frank Kane

A full weekend of workshops with internationally renowned vocal practitioner and teacher, Frank Kane.

A full weekend of workshops with internationally renowned vocal practitioner and teacher, Frank Kane, in a small group.

This transformative workshop weekend offers a rare opportunity to explore your voice as an instrument for personal growth and connection. Through simple yet powerful exercises, and using the polyphonic songs of Georgia as a foundation, you’ll learn how vibration deepens the resonance of your voice and opens new possibilities for expression. The workshop also emphasises the profound effects of singing in harmony, allowing you to experience synchronicity and connection on a deep, human level.

This is an incredible opportunity to deepen your singing practice, explore your voice and body, and witness a master practitioner at work.

Places are deliberately limited to 22 participants. A small group means more of Frank’s individual attention, with the option of one-to-one work on your own voice within the group sessions, and plenty of hands-on singing in trios, where you can really hear and feel how three voices lock together.

What to Expect?

This is an exploratory and playful singing workshop. We’ll experiment with opening the body, finding new ways into the voice through vibration, and discovering how singers can tune into each other, lock into harmony, and support one another (particularly in three-part harmony). The emphasis is on experience, curiosity, and learning together. This will mainly be taught through learning a small number of Georgian polyphonic songs. These songs are not taught as repertoire to master, but used as a practical way to explore resonance, connection, and group singing.

Alongside full-group singing, the weekend will include individual coaching from Frank as part of the group process, and small-group trio work, so anyone who wants it, can get direct feedback to help unlock their natural vibration and voice through a deeply embodied process.

No prior experience of Georgian singing or music reading is required. The work is applicable to singers of all backgrounds and traditions. The aim is not to sound Georgian, but to help each person discover more of their own vocal resources and explore how singing with others can become more grounded and connected.

Who is Frank Kane?

Frank Kane is a renowned teacher with over 30 years’ experience in Georgian polyphonic singing, who has developed a unique approach to understanding and teaching Georgian polyphonic singing, which is applicable to singers working in any tradition. The workshops will delve deeply into two key dimensions: exploring vibration in the body, and understanding the effects of connection and synchronicity in group harmony singing.

Frank Kane discovered Georgian singing in 1982. Through his studies with village singers and ethnomusicologists in Georgia, he has sought to understand the techniques and gestures behind Georgian singing which are not usually verbalised. Studies of the Alexander Technique and other body awareness practices helped him to decode the gestures of Georgian singers and to better understand the role of body vibration in singing. Frank founded and directed the Marani and Irinola vocal ensembles in Paris, France. He now devotes himself to teaching through private lessons, public workshops, and private coaching sessions for vocal ensembles singing a wide variety of repertoires.

Program

Friday 26th February 6–8pm

Saturday 27th February 10am–5pm

Sunday 28th February 10am–5pm

The workshops will take place at the tit4tat room in Mivart Studios in Easton, Bristol. There will be a one-hour break for lunch between 1–2pm. You are welcome to bring a packed lunch, or there are a number of places to get food nearby.

Supra

Included in the price is an optional bring-your-own-dish supra feast on the Saturday evening, immediately following the day’s workshop. A supra is a traditional Georgian feast, where toasts and songs are shared around the table between courses. This will be a chance to socialise and bond by singing the songs we’ve learnt in the setting they come from, and enjoying some traditional Georgian food (and drink). This will happen in the Coexist kitchen, also part of Mivart Studios.

Some main dishes such as Georgian breads and stews will be provided for the supra within the ticket price. But if you would like to attend the supra, you are requested to also bring some food to add to the table, along with anything you would like to drink. Food contributions do not necessarily have to be to Georgian recipes, but if you would like to try preparing something Georgian, you can find inspiration here.