BUDDING & BLOSSOMING : music for Beltane 2023

28 April – 1 May 2023

BUDDING & BLOSSOMING : music for Beltane

28 April – 1 May 2023 near Falmouth, Cornwall

4 days of celebration & sound, with a joyful mixture of movement, voice & supportive music workshops

We invited folk to come for a day or two, or just an evening drop-in session (Friday gong bath sound journey/ Saturday fireside shared supper & open music session) - or ideally for the whole weekend! And tried out various offers for affordability, help and exchange. In the end it was a small wonderful event with people dropping in and out according to their availability and busy life schedules, with a core group here throughout. And very lovely.....

Here's a few photos from the gathering, and the schedule of the event...

THE MUSIC WORKSHOPS     

Over this long Beltane weekend, we invite you to play with us in a series of creative music sessions.

It doesn’t matter if you see yourself as a ‘Musician’ or not. Bring an instrument if you play one, but we will provide plenty of lovely things for you to use.

We will listen, respond and connect to create new pieces of music – this could be song, soundscapes, or tunes.

Using voice, your own instruments, or some of the beautiful, accessible instruments provided, we will explore turning sound into music .

Working through the basic elements of music composition through workshops and exercises, we will be there to support and play with you.

You can develop your own piece or collaborate with others. You don’t need to be a ‘trained’ musician or have played before – we aim to meet you where you stand, and draw out your creativity. Likewise, all musicians welcome.

There will also be separate improvisation sessions where, in trust and with respect, we will improvise playfully, using voice, percussion, and instruments of our choice.

On Saturday early evening, there is a come-all-ye session for people who can’t make the whole weekend. On Sunday we’ll be playing at the Potager Garden at 2pm  – a short walk over the fields. Join us for food and music.

SHINTAIDO and THE NAKED VOICE

Shintaido is a gentle movement art-form combining solo and group practice, vocal sounds and natural imagery – flowing movement of seaweed, breathing like a tree, stretching and shining out through the stars. Shintaido means ‘new body way’ and was devised in Japan in the 1960s by a dedicated group of expert martial art, yoga and creative arts ‘optimists’, to find forms through which we can learn to hold and express more of our own uniqueness, connected with nature and the flowing cycles of life. Shintaido is a welcome part of the Naked Voice – bringing movement and energy awareness into self-discovery through the voice, with simple empowering exercises and improvisations. In the Naked Voice we play with sound and silence, fun exercises and reflections of listening and non-judgemental observation, as we explore ways to access the mystery and magic of our authentic ‘naked’ soul voice.

The Shintaido & Naked Voice sessions for Budding and Blossoming will work alongside the music sessions to focus on different earth elements at this beautiful time of year. Using our body and our sounds, we’ll playfully explore themes from the workshop, developing your personal ‘tune’ alongside freedom of the voice. Friendly for all - whether you’re an ‘I can’t sing’ kind of person, a vocal pro, a closet-pop-star or any other kind of voice-in-the-making! 

SCHEDULE:

Come for as much or as little as you can – just let us know when booking....

FRIDAY:  Arriving with the Element of AIR

1pm light lunch

2.30 -4.30pm Shintaido and the Naked Voice with Jackie - Beltane in The Cycle of Life (Tenshingoso improvisation)

5-6pm Later afternoon: Trevellan guided nature inspiration session - time to wander and get the Beltane buzz in and of the landscape

6.30pm Supper

8-9.30pm Gong bath sound journey

SATURDAY: Grounding with the Element of EARTH

9 am breakfast

10.30am-12pm EARTH music making session 1

1pm lunch

2.30-4pm AIR music making session 2

4.30-5pm 1:1 music time - work independently / chill out

6.30pm gathering to create a Beltane evening fire

7pm  shared supper

8 pm Open Improv music making session

SUNDAY – The Beltane Element of FIRE

8-9am Early morning meditation /yoga/breathwork

9.30am Late breakfast

10.30am-12pm Shintaido and Naked Voice

12.30pm meander over to Potager 1pm lunch

2pm Potager Greenhouse Café gig - yummy lunch/cake

5-6pm FIRE Music making session 3

6.30pm supper

8pm Evening music improvisation space

MONDAY – Flowing with the Element of WATER

8am Breakfast

9-9.45am Shintaido & Naked Voice Improvisation

10am-11.30pm WATER Music making session 4

11.30-12.15pm Closing nature gratitude walk / quiet space

1pm Lunch & Goodbyes

WHAT TO BRING:Yourself! Open to new ideas and experiences J

You may also like to bring:

·      Water drinking bottle

·      Any special snacks you like

·      Notebook and pen

·      Instruments / percussion that you play/would like to play

·      Torch

·      Walking shoes and a good coat for walking in the woods / over the fields to Potager

            (option to drive...)

·      A pillow and shawl or blanket to get snug for the gong bath

·      Comfy clothes and footwear for easy movement in Shintaido sessions

·      Layers of clothes for Cornwall’s ever-changing weather & sunglasses / umbrella / raincoat / suncream / sunhat...

·      slippers/ socks as our inside spaces are shoe-free

ACCOMMODATION:Please phone Jackie asap on 07816 639534 if you’re interested in accommodation.

There may be:

·      a single, twin or double room in the chalet, sharing shower room with one other room

·      a double bed / sofa beds sharing or private use of the Woodland Yurt

·      a camp-bed in the studio

·      space to put up your own tent or park up your sleep-in vehicle

·      other local options we can suggest

FOOD & DRINKS:

We’ll provide the basics for tea, coffee, herb tea throughout the weekend, with dairy and non-dairy milk, to DIY at break times.

Please let us know when booking if you’d like to have meals (you’re welcome to bring your own / go out) which will have gluten-free & veggie / vegan options. We’ll all need to help with washing up please, and help with some light prep just before meals (eg heating soup / cutting salad) may be welcome. On Sunday we’ll be going to Potager Café for Facing the Ocean’s gig, where you can buy lunch /cake /drinks.

COSTS:

We’d like to think that money doesn’t have to be a barrier, so this is an experiment of please contribute what you can that feels right...think about what you’d spend on a meal if eating out, what the costs of a workshop by three experienced professionals and a van and studio full of amazing instruments might be, and the contribution to the site, loving the land, as well as preparing and packing-down... and think about what you can afford to share to come and hang out with us. If you’re staying over-night and want to bring your own bedding/linen that helps keep our work and costs down and can save you a few pennies...

As a guide, a 3-night, 4-day, full board, professional workshop might easily be upwards of £450, or if you’re coming just for the class sessions anywhere from £10-50 each or £100-150+ a day, meals £10-15 and a whole/shared yurt or chalet @ £80-150/£30-75 a night. But if you’d like to come and only have a few £ then we’d still love you to be here, just as long as we don’t end up too out of pocket please! Volunteering and skills-swaps are also an option.... (help always welcome with gardening, photographs/social media, housekeeping/yurt-care, pre-event cooking, wood-chopping, etc.)

If cash is not a problem and you’d like to support the project/music/tree-planting/provide a workshop-place for someone on a low-income, then we’d love to receive your donation and intention for its use!

All that said, to confirm and hold your place, and so we can plan for numbers, please send a minimum £25 deposit (or £10 for drop-in evening sessions) by paypal to donate@trevellanmagic.space along with your contact info, what sessions/days you’d like to come to, and any special info (eg dietary requests/ instruments you’ll be bringing)

or contact us by email to welcome@trevellanmagic.space 

or phone Jackie on 07816 639534.

And send the balance of your contribution by paypal/BACS/WISE/cash on arrival. Thanks.

Looking forward to Budding and Blossoming with you