Vocal River Masterclass with Rhiannon
Join us for a very special Downbeat, facilitated by one of the original pioneers of collaborative vocal improvisation, Rhiannon. This is a special ticketed event, which we expect to sell out — secure yours early!
Rhiannon is a vocal artist with a vision of music as a vehicle for innovation, healing, transformation, and social change. A vibrant, gifted singer, performance artist, composer, and master teacher, Rhiannon has been bringing her unique and potent blend of jazz, world music, improvisation and storytelling to audiences for over five decades.
As a member of Voicestra (Bobby McFerrin’s CircleSongs ensemble) Rhiannon became interested in the exploration of “leaderless” improvised group music. She eventually formed the first collaborative vocal improvisation trio, WeBe3, with Dave Worm and Joey Blake. She has since been a pioneer of the form, developing her body of work, Vocal River, as a guide for other singers and educators who want to explore this art form.
~~~ 🕕 Time
Please arrive between 6-6:15 pm for tea and socializing, we'll sing from 6:30-8:30, then wind down and chat until we clear out at 9.
~~~ 💸 Tickets
This is a special ticketed event, sliding scale $40-50. You must purchase a ticket in order to attend and we expect to sell out!
~~~ ❔ What is The Downbeat?
The Downbeat is a collaborative vocal improv community in the Bay Area that meets every Monday in the East Bay to sing. Membership is open - anyone can join - but we ask that all members read our orientation guide before joining their first jam (and refresh themselves on it occasionally!) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ch2jdYQR_QKG7idLl__ZuwmuAC6hjr9xHwnzIgtqXp4/edit#heading=h.da4x39w1kj0g
~~~ 🎶 What’s collaborative vocal improv (CVI)?
At its core, collaborative vocal improv (CVI) is when an attuned group of people makes spontaneous music together with their voices and bodies. Listening, responding, and playing; music just happens! A CVI jam can vary from highly structured games to completely spontaneous music emerging from the group.