Frankie Armstrong Internationally acclaimed singer and voice teacher - pioneer of workshops based on traditional styles of singing. Tel: 029 2048 0429 45 Cecil Street, Cardiff, S. Wales, CF24 1NW.

Photo by Cynthia Allen

Frankie began running voice workshops in 1975. At that point she had two trades. She worked as a singer in the folk scene and the womens' movement, and she was a trainer in social and youth work. It was her passion for the traditional styles of singing in the British Isles and from around the world that informed the development of her voice and singing workshops. Having been involved with folk and political songs starting in the 50s, she's always been fascinated by the way that voice can enhance the individuals' sense of well being and also develop a sense of community between people. It can link us to the thread of song that comes down to us from our ancestors. Hence she has always been interested in exploring voice and song in its historical, cultural, political and spiritual dimensions. She also sees the voice as a tool to aid our self expression, creativity and confidence. Over the past two decades she has especially focused on the body-voice connection,having worked and trained with a variety of body work and movement teachers.

Whatever the focus of the workshop, she believes in creating a supportive, generous atmosphere where people do not feel judged or under pressure to get things "right". The intention is to help us all find a creative balance between relaxation and energy.

Over the years she has run workshops with almost every kind of group - e g children of all ages and abilities, professional theatre, companies, community and womens' groups, people with disabilities,drama students, therapists, psychiatric patients, folk song students and the elderly. She has worked regularly with the American Actors Summer School at the National Theatre London, and has been a guest tutor at International Voice Conferences in the U K, Australia and North America.

She runs a variety of workshops - If You Can Talk You Can Sing, Singing From the Souls of your Feet, Song Interpretation and Performance Skills, The Joy of Simply Singing Together, The Voices of the Archetypes of Myth.

Together with her partner Darien Pritchard (a teacher of Feldenkrais flexibility and massage) she runs an annual Voice Training and Resources week. For further information on all Frankie's workshops see Events or contact Frankie on 029 2048 0429 or write to her at: 45 Cecil Street, Cardiff, S. Wales, CF24 1NW.

She has made 9 solo albums as well as featuring on numerous shared and themed recordings, contributed chapters to 8 books, has an autobiography and has co-edited "Well Tuned Women" on women and voice with Jenny Pearson. (See below for details).

Photo by Christabelle Baranay

Frankie's Available Recordings

Frankie's most recent recording is 'The Garden of Love', with vocal and instrumental accompaniment by John Kirkpatrick, Joan Mills, Brian Pearson and Leon Rosselson (Fellside Records; FECD 144).
(Enquiries/Mail Order: Paul Adams, Fellside Records. 01900 61556 www.fellside.com).
Her other Fellside recordings are:
'Till the Grass O'ergrew the Corn' (Traditional Ballads), with John Kirkpatrick & Maddy Prior on some tracks (FECD 116).
'Lovely on the Water', a reissue of Frankie's first solo LP, with extra tracks from the 60s & 70s (FECD 151).
And she sings "Banks of Green Willow" on 'Voices ­ English Traditional Song', a Fellside compilation disc (FECD 87);
And "Tam Lin" on 'Ballads' (a Fellside compilation of singers performing traditional ballads ­ FECD 110).
Frankie has two CDs (with Joan Mills) on Harbourtown Records: 'The Fair Moon Rejoices' (with Cardiff musicians ­ HARCD 027); and 'Ways of Seeing' (solo, duo and group apace women's voices ­ HARCD 009). (Enquiries and Mail Order: Gordon Jones, Harbourtown Records, 01229 580 577; www.harbourtownrecords.com).
'I Heard a Woman Singing', a reissue by Rounder Records, USA (CD FF 332) of an early 80s LP of Frankie's, is distributed in Britain by Topic Records. Frankie is on a Topic reissue 'Bird in the Bush ­ An amourous and erotic song collection' with other singers (TSCD 479); and is also featured on a Topic compilation 'Round Cape Horn ­ Traditional Songs of Sailors, Ships and the Sea' (TSCD 499). (Available from main and specialist record shops, or by mail order from Frankie. CDs - £12.00 + 50p each for p+p).

Frankie's Books

Frankie's autobiography 'As Far as The Eye Can Sing', edited by Jenny Pearson, published by Women's Press in 1992 (ISBN 0 7043 4294 4), can be ordered through bookshops.

'Well Tuned Women ­ Growing Strong through Voice Work', the exciting new book that Frankie co-edited with Jenny Pearson, containing essays from leading international women voice trainers and artists, is also published by Women's Press (ISBN 0 7043 4649 4).