Location

In the beautiful and peaceful church of St Michael & All Angels, near the Iron Bridge in Exeter

Description

This singing group is offered through the Devon Recovery Learning Community, an NHS Partnership Trust organisation aimed at promoting support for mental health and wellbeing.

Classes are offered to people with experience of mental health difficulties, their family and friends, and the professionals who support them.

Attendance is open to everyone 18+ and is FREE for all.

The ‘Yes You Can Sing!’ group is a safe and fun space for EVERYONE to explore and reclaim singing as YOUR BIRTHRIGHT, and the magic of voices that come together in song.

Whether you are a total beginner or an experienced singer, whether you are confident or curious, dubious or petrified – and especially if you have been told that you can’t sing – this is the group for you!

In a fun and relaxed atmosphere, we sing short songs in simple harmonies from around the world, from folk to gospel, tribal and spiritual – songs that sing of Love, Peace, Compassion – or sometimes just fun songs.

All songs are taught by ear and through the body (no music reading here!) so that everyone can learn easily, incorporating meditation, mindfulness, gentle body work and conscious breathing exercises for confidence and connection to your own true voice.

There is always something you can contribute no matter your level of experience or confidence, and you will definitely have a good time, with lots of shared laughter, mutual support and surprising achievements.

This is about re-discovering that singing is natural and a normal part of being human, and how it reconnects us to our own heart as well as to each other when we sound our voices together. Creating happiness, wellbeing and authentic heart community – singing is a major key to mental, emotional and physical health and it is free!

I also teach fun and simple exercises to help you find, protect and improve your singing voice, so that you understand how singing works and how you can develop your voice for confidence and skill. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced singer, you will find that you naturally make progress with your singing week after week.

But most importantly, this is a friendly, supportive, relaxed and inclusive group, with no pressure and no judgement.

You are welcome whatever your skin colour(s), gender inclination(s), political trend, spiritual belief, neuro-divergence (I am autistic myself), and whether you love or hate Marmite. Even if you are a BSL user, there are many ways in which you can join in, creating singing in your own way. ☀️

The main purpose is that everyone enjoys themselves a lot and leaves each session with a warm fuzzy heart boost.

Classes are offered as courses of 5 sessions during term time, with the final class taking place in a quiet public space to share our songs out in the world (this is optional so no pressure! You are also welcome to just attend the closed sessions). There are also opportunities to sing in public at local events or in mini flash mobs for those who wish (optional too).

Singing is what we ALL share in whatever way that may be, so please DO come and join us!  – we are waiting for you. 💕

Session times

Thursday mornings from 10:20 to 12:30, in courses of 5 sessions during term time.

Enrol through the DRLC website: find this class by clicking on “Courses” and “Course Search” and typing in ‘Yes You Can Sing!’:

Devon Recovery Learning Community – supporting you to learn to live well

Contact the Devon Recovery Learning Community: email: dpn-tr.drlc@nhs.net  or telephone: 01392 677067

To speak with a member of the DRLC staff, please ring between 10am and 2pm Monday – Thursday. No answer? Please leave us a message and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

We also have an active Facebook page where you can also message us, although this is not regularly monitored. We will of course do our best to get back to all enquiries eventually!