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. 💕

Testimonials:

“This course has given me SO much confidence, I was so doubtful of myself and unsure about my worth – I didn’t think I could sing, let alone singing in public, and solo too!! And I’ve made friends as well, AND it’s a lot of fun! I’m definitely coming back.”

“It is a safe space where everyone can just be themselves and open their hearts. And we create something together, something that really grows. We are all becoming someone.”

“This course has given me a space where I can express myself truly, and a place to connect with other people doing something I love. This is something I normally struggle with, but here it feels natural. It feels like I belong.”

“It is amazing to learn how to use our voices, we’re definitely learning to sing better – I’ve been part of choirs all my life and I’d never learnt those things! And yet there is no pressure here, everyone is totally relaxed and welcome just as they are, and we still learn. It’s really amazing!”

“Here I have learnt how to relax and feel better in my life – not just in singing, this has given me tools to reduce stress and help me in the rest of life too.”

“I could not sing a single note before this course, and Marie has given me the confidence to sing – even in front of an audience!”

“This course has given me self-confidence, social bonding and tools to lower my anxiety. Thank you!”

“I never thought I had anything to bring to the world, but today was incredible, to see the smiles on people’s faces, and how much they enjoyed our singing. My singing!! I feel so much more worthy, and like I am a good person. Thank you!”

“I struggle to get out of my house due to anxiety – this is the only place I look forward to coming to, knowing that I will be safe, that I will enjoy it, and that I will feel stronger and more confident after the session.”

“Really heart warming course. Lovely songs! I go away singing to myself and feeling happier than when I arrived!”

“This has been such an empowering experience, I never knew I had the power to make other people happy just with a song. I feel like I now have a place in the world.”

“I was SO scared I was shaking, but I did it, I did it! And people loved it, and it felt EASY, and so exhilarating.”

“It’s like we were a tribe, and nothing could harm us, and it brought us so much joy.”

“This is so much more than a course, it has brought me Community in a way I had never experienced before. It’s not just an activity, it is real connection.”

“How do we feel? Empowered! Buzzing! Uplifted! Happy!”

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!