Natural Voice Practitioners' Network
Welcome to our online home. We are a network of people who work with voice and song, and who believe that singing is everyone’s birthright, regardless of musical experience or ability.
If you want to sing, you can search for a natural voice choir or workshop in your area. If you are already a singing leader or are interested in becoming one, you can find support, training and resources here.
What is Natural Voice?
Natural Voice is about celebrating the voice you were born with, rather than trying to train it to an ideal of perfection. It's about building accepting, non-judgmental communities that sing together. It's about welcoming all voices into a group without audition and working from there to make a group sound. It's about making learning by ear accessible to the whole group so that nobody needs to be able to read music.
Why Join NVPN?
The NVPN offers a wide range of support for those working with voice and song: from practical benefits including public liability insurance, a personal web page and ongoing advertising opportunities, to a professional development network, which can provide ongoing support and training. You can keep in touch with other practitioners through our web services, and also meet them in person at our Annual Gathering at Wortley Hall near Sheffield every January.
Free Monthly Email
Sign up for our free monthly email of upcoming singing events, workshops and new resources available from Network members.
For Members
For members' events and resources, including research on singing, sample choir constitutions, the NVPN logo and the NVPN members' survey; for copies of the NVPN newsletter or committee minutes; for information on local networks; or to add details of yourself or your choirs or workshops to the website listings, please visit the members' area.
Annual Street Choirs Festival - Aberystwyth
The 30th Street Choirs Festival takes place from 19th to 21st July 2013 in Aberystwyth, hosted by local choir Cor Gobaith. Choirs from all over the UK will take part in a massed sing, followed by individual choirs busking throughout the town. In the evening there will be a concert showcasing all the choirs.
The festival was first held in Sheffield in 1983, and brought together musicians whose main thrust was playing in the signature marches and protests of a turbulent political decade. The overarching aim has always been to promote a world free of oppression, exploitation, exclusion and violence through music and song.
Sing For Water
Since 2002, and inspired by NVPN member Helen Chadwick, choirs and singers all over the country have been joining together to Sing for Water and raise money for WaterAid.
Every September hundreds of people take part in the original Sing For Water event in London. If you'd like to be part of an event have a look for details on the WaterAid website.
Upcoming events
They Who Sing Pray Twice
22 May 13, Whirlow Grange Christian Spirituality Centre, off Whirlow Grange Drive, Sheffield S11 9RX (for sat nav)
We learn simple rounds and chants in four-part harmony: sacred songs ...
Song & Silence
23 May 13, Sheffield Cathedral
Three lunchtimes singing in gentle harmony and sitting in silence. All ...
Slovenia Singing week
23 May 13, Zrece, Bled, Bohinj and Ljubljana in Slovenia
Join a performance project & cultural exchange in Sedbergh's twin town ...
Sing Sure Community Choirs and Dover Singing for Breathing Spring Performance
23 May 13, Sheerness East Working Men's Club, 47 Queenborough Road, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 3BZ
A fun, social evening of combined choir singing interspersed with individual ...
The Healing Power of Vocal Sound
24 May 13, The Holy Isle, Samye Ling Centre, off Aran Island
James will draw upon the following various categories of soundwork for ...
Choirs
Want to find a natural voice choir in your area? Go to our Choirs page and look at the listing.
NVPN Philosophy
Find out the philosophy behind the NVPN and the principles its members work by.
Facebook and Twitter
Like us on Facebook! Keep up-to-date with NVPN news by visiting our new page.
And follow us on Twitter: NVPN @NatVoicePrac
Sing for Water North
Sing for Water North takes place in Manchester on Sunday 12th June. 28 choirs have registered to take part, along with many individual singers, who will all participate in a massed sing in Albert Square after the Manchester Day parade.
The Sing for Water choir will have a large stage and the Mayor will make a speech. There will also be guest artists The Lovenotes.
The choir has a license to collect for WaterAid, possibly by having a big bath tub in the square for people to throw money into.
Song of the Month
The Cotelands Croydon Lullaby
The words and tune for this song were written by the young mums (age 14-16yrs) as part of CRISP's Positive Activities for Young People project with teenage mums and mums-to-be.
Teenage mums get a bad reputation in the UK but this wonderful specialist Pupil Referral Unit has places for 40 babies, and most mums become responsible mothers, retaining care of their infants and going on to achieve well educationally.
For more info please contact CRISP Co-ordinator Catherine Pestano: catherine@naturalvoice.net
Voice Workshop Leaders' Training
If you're looking for training in leading natural voice workshops, then this course is for you! Run by Frankie Armstrong, one of the founders of the NVPN, it offers a unique opportunity to attend an intensive residential training week on natural voice.
Places are limited to 12 people, so if you think this is for you, please click on the link to register your interest.
Sharing our Knowledge
NVPN is a "Community of Practice" offering formal and informal connections to help you develop your skills and knowledge. Courses, events, resources, tips and ideas, etc., are available to members - click below to log in and select "Community of Practice" from the menu.
Get Our Songbook!
This inspiring compilation of warm-up songs written by NVPN members all over the UK comes as a book with 3 CDs of the separate parts for 65 songs. There are songs to suit all groups, and they pay tribute to the hugely rich diversity of our expanding Network. You can find more details of To Grace The Earth on our Resources page.
Looking After Your Voice
Preparing your body and therefore your voice for singing are a big part of the NVPN ethos. Drinking plenty of water every day is one of the best things you can do for your voice. For more tips on looking after your voice go to our About page.