REVIEWS & NEWS
SINGING WORKSHOPS
Creating Harmony within your establishment
S I N G I N G W O R K S H O PS and T E A M B U I L D I N G
Maria's gregarious and infectious personality puts people of all ages at ease immediately, making them feel inspired and bringing out the best in them. Your group will create a memorable experience together which in return will be rewarding to your establishment.
Ideal for: International and National *Corporate, *Theatre Groups *Uniting Communities *Educational Establishments. A BIG VOICE provides motivational and stimulating workshops, which have repeatedly proven to improve communications, co-operation, confidence, creativity and connections within. Based in beautiful Buckinghamshire, A BIG VOICE can host your workshop anywhere in the UK or abroad.
* R E V I E W S *
*ASDA - Corporate Team Building Event
Hi Marie, Thanks for being part of our team building exercise on 20/04/15 hosted at the Holiday Inn. You really managed to bring the team together taking them out of their comfort zone showing them, through music, how working as a team is essential for success. Let's hope we can work together again in the future. Kind Regards Sarah Watson
People Trading Manager
ASDA High Wycombe
*COVIDIEN/Medronic Global Health Care Products - Team Building Weekend hosted at Peckforton Castle, Cheshire.
"WOW! Thank you so much Maria"-Eleana
*ARLA FOODS INTERNATIONAL - Team Building Event 2013
Corporate Team Building - "Absolutely amazing experience" - Soeren Vonsild
We are a group of about 50 engineers/project managers, and I was quite anxious about the idea of us all singing together. However the catching energy and well rehearsed performance of Maria drew us all in, and before we knew what happened we were all doing voice and breathing exercises, and within the hour she had us all singing full belt, completely dis-inhibited and with broad grins on our faces. Well done :-) The kindest regards
(Mr Soeren Vonsild-Head of Group Engineering)
ARLA FOODS INTERNATIONAL - Singing Workshop
Corporate Team Building - "Surpassed All Our Expectations" - John Pinder
Thanks for your enthusiasm, professionalism and your ability to join in the "banter" - you out one or two in their place. Excellent fun with what could have been a very tricky audience - well done. We did run over somewhat - thanks again for your extra time & patience. Good luck for the future and we will keep you in mind for future events. (John Pinder - Regional Finance Manager)
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL*-Singing Flash Mob & Workshops
Vocal Coach, Maria Scobey, from A BIG VOICE.co.uk joined forces with Buckinghamshire County Council and their social marketing agency, ICE CREATES, to choreograph and perform a SINGING FLASH MOB in Buckinghamshire. Members of the Aylesbury group 'Sing with A BIG VOICE' linked up with other singers across the county to sing a Bill Withers song: 'Lean On Me' which in itself, spread the message to the unsuspecting public, to help each other more.
Maria coached the singers, of varying abilities, by teaching the song, splitting the singers into different harmony groups and increased their confidence to perform three times in different shopping centres. (Two Flash Mobs were performed in Aylesbury’s Friars Square shopping centre and the third in High Wycombe’s Eden centre).
Maria performed in the Singing FLASH MOB and was one of the main characters. The reason for the Flash Mob was to raise awareness about a new service called Prevention Matters, which is aimed at giving people that little bit of help to stay independent, active and socially connected. The service is a partnership programme with Buckinghamshire County Council, the NHS, statutory and voluntary organisations and the community sector right across the county.
The events were not only fun, the shoppers were very responsive to our message and clearly enjoyed the distraction. We are very grateful to all the singers for helping us to make this campaign successful, but our thanks go particularly to Maria for organising the Flash Mobbers superbly and performing so brilliantly. I am already talking enthusiastically to others in my communications network for future possibilities of using Maria’s skills in the future.
Beverley Frost -Communications Officer
Buckinghamshire County Council
NHS AylesburyTeam Building Workshop 2014
Thanks so much for the session you did with us. The feedback from the day was overwhelmingly positive. Mrs J.Jeanetta (RNU)
NHS Oxford Singing Workshop 2013
Maria facilitated a singing workshop for the family carers at the end of our Oxford NHS Mental Health Networking day. Maria brought a breath of fresh air – she had us on our feet, breathing deeply and stretching our vocal cords. It did not take long for us all to shake off our lethargy and feel energised by our singing activities. The workshop ended with some very enjoyable and beautiful group singing.
The feedback from the group was overwhelmingly positive and our one regret was that it had not been longer. Thank You Maria for ending our day in such a refreshing and uplifting manner.
Joy Gannett RNU
Carer Support Manager
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
CHESHAM MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY-Singing Workshop
Producer- Liz Glover: 2008
Maria provided us with great 'group vocal tuition', as part of a wider theatre company workshop, ahead of our 2008 show, 'Magical Musical Movies'. Our company members had fun going through her various vocal techniques and broke down the component parts of “Tonight” from “West Side Story”. The end of the workshop resulted in a sing-through by all of company members, who by then, all had confidence to sing in front of each other! As a result of the singing workshop, we discovered some new talent and some of our chorus members took their very first solo parts in this show, then moved on to lead roles in shows such as “Guys and Dolls” and “Sweet Charity”. Maria’s positive, vibrant, inclusive attitude made our workshop fun, fulfilling and gave us all a real confidence boost, thank you!
(Theatre Director-Liz Glover).
7.) *BARNARDO'S*-Robyn Roberts - 'Sing & Learn Summer Workshops'
Dear Marie, Thank you for coming and singing with us at Little summer breaks. Both staff and children really enjoyed the sessions.
As a service which caters exclusively for children with Additional Needs and disabilities it can be difficult to find entertainers who are inclusive and meet the needs of our children, but having talked to the staff they felt that your session was very inclusive and the children really engaged with the content.
Thank you for following our under the sea theme, it really enhanced our session.
I highly recommend you to parents and other professionals in the future.Warm Regards, Robyn
Little Breaks Co-ordinator for Barnardos.
TRING ARTS EDUCATION For Performing Arts- Head of Music-Liz Hewett:
On a regular basis during 2007 – 2008, Maria from A BIG VOICE covered a weekly singing and performance workshops for our Tring Park School Associates. She was recommended to the school by Helen Reynolds (a past Deputy Director of Music) with whom she had worked at the John Colet School, Wendover. Her role during these classes was to prepare repertoire for in-house performances, and cover some drama and singing techniques to help pupils maximise their potential. We were very grateful to Maria for her enthusiasm and expertise and also for stepping in at the last minute on a couple of occasions, when our regular teacher had professional performing commitments, to run extra classes for us. Thank you so much Maria.
Elizabeth Hewett B Mus (Hons) PGCE ALCM
Director of Music
Tring Park School for the Performing Arts
T +44 (0) 1442 821669
www.tringpark.com/disclaimer
*TRING COURT THEATRE - 'SWEET CHARITY' - Shows Vocal Coach June 2012
Lee Austin who Played Vittorio says:
As a vocal coach Maria is very professional & a joy to work with. Her techniques on oration, breathing and vocal exercises are fun to do and she makes them easy for all to understand. She explains in easy terms how to follow notation when working with a large groups such as the cast for 'Sweet Charity'.
The harmonies that are being achieved are amazing us all! Maria makes you feel at ease with your singing and helps build up your confidence in how -and what you are performing. Thanks very much for all your help xxx Lee Austin- Sweet Charity 2012.
*TRING COURT THEATRE - - 2012 Shows Vocal Coach
Katie Brooks - Producer says:
Maria worked as Vocal Coach with the cast of Sweet Charity which was performed in June 2012 at the Court Theatre in Tring and received great feedback. Maria’s energy and enthusiasm is contagious and she brought a fun element into learning. Having a professional approach brought structure and focus to her sessions which was very much needed with such a large cast of varying singing experience and vocal ranges. Thanks Maria.
Katie Brooks - Producer
BUCKS PLAY ASSOCIATION - Alan Dunham (General Manager)
Hi Maria, I would just like to say a big thank you for the workshop you put on for us at 'Lets Play Together' Play scheme during the summer.
The activities you organised complimented our sea side theme really well, making the childrens experience much more fulfilling.
Having to entertain such a range of ages (5 - 12 years) and such a mixed ability of children (children who require 1 to 1 supervision,
children with SEN, and children from mainstream schools) is not easy and you were able to do this in such a professional approach ensuring all present were involved.
Thank you for all your help and we look forward to using your services again in the near future.
Kind regards
Alan Dunham-General Manager
Bucks Play Association
3.) WARWICKSHIRE Singing Workshop (Church Group 2014)
"Maria's workshop was engaging, fun and very interesting. It helped everyone work together as a group. Maria was warm, fun and friendly and certainly knew the technical details of how to sing! It was extremely informative and a great team building event!'
Anna Bateman
Warwickshire School Teacher & Church Leader
2.) PRE-SCHOOL POLLYANNA Stoke Mandeville
Head-Trudi Sinacore says:
We were looking to provide some singing and musical sessions for our children and were recommended to use Maria from A Big Voice.
From our initial phone call and ongoing contact Maria was very approachable and professional and more than happy to tailor sessions to meet our needs and themes. Our children are very excited and inquisitive to see Maria 'The Singing Lady' and her plentiful props, so needed no encouragement to go and join her.
After an energetic warm up the children sing songs about one of our topics (Animals, Numbers/Letters, The world, People..) She also uses lots of instruments. Throughout the session Maria provides plenty of opportunities for the children to interact, dance, and join in. The session's end with some musical game, which the children enjoy followed by some calming down time.
We feel that Maria has an excellent rapport with children, ensuring our more reluctant performers join in the sessions whilst calming down some of our more excitable children!
The children were disappointed after Maria's first session at our preschool, when they found out that the ‘Singing Lady’ would not be back the following day. We did, however, quickly book Maria for regular weekly visits and continue to enjoy her sessions. HIGHLY RECOMMEND
(Trudi Sinacore-Head Pollyanna Pre-School).
BIERTON SCHOOL - SINGING WORKSHOP October 2014
HEAD TEACHER-JENNY MARTIN
"Maria, what a fantastic job you did with the children and parents and what a difference it made to our celebration. I want to thank you very much for giving up your time freely to give us a Singing Workshop. It is really appreciated". Head Teacher Jenny Martin
A Big Voice were very kind in carrying out a taster session with a group of our children at our Progress Tea Party. Maria arrived with plenty of time and had all the resources and equipment that she needed, so there was very little set up time required. Our parents are invited along to the tea parties and Maria used this to her advantage. She got all the children and their parents to come to the centre of the room and had them all involved.
Every single child and adult was able to take part in the songs as they were so accessible. In addition to this, the songs provided a lot of laughter and entertainment! The room was buzzing and the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We sang a range of songs and even had a parachute and musical instruments out for one song which involved all the children.
Having Big Voice at our event really made the tea party very special. It proved that whatever you thought before, anyone can sing!
Thank you so much Maria for joining our celebration.
Head Teacher -Jenny Martin Bierton School, Buckinghamshire.
COMMUNITY SINGING WORKSHOP 2012
Susan Code & Daughter Eleanor Code says:
I recently attended one of Maria’s Adult singing workshops as a complete novice. I was able to experience all of what my daughters fed back to me, after her singing lessons with Maria, for myself. I can honestly say it was great fun and I will be going back!! My daughter has been having 1-1 singing lessons with Maria for about a year. Following a recommendation I rang Maria, and from that first contact she inspired confidence. I felt this was a person I could trust to teach my daughter. Maria has a very cheerful and positive attitude, her enthusiasm is infectious. Maria has shared the techniques that she has taught so we can practice at home, I get regular honest and constructive feedback on how my daughter is progressing and there is a noticeable difference in my daughter’s self- confidence.
T O B O O K
Maria's gregarious and infectious personality puts people of all ages at ease immediately, making them feel inspired and bringing out the best in them. Your group will create a memorable experience together which in return will be rewarding to your establishment.
Ideal for: International and National *Corporate, *Theatre Groups *Uniting Communities *Educational Establishments. A BIG VOICE provides motivational and stimulating workshops, which have repeatedly proven to improve communications, co-operation, confidence, creativity and connections within. Based in beautiful Buckinghamshire, A BIG VOICE can host your workshop anywhere in the UK or abroad.
* R E V I E W S *
*ASDA - Corporate Team Building Event
Hi Marie, Thanks for being part of our team building exercise on 20/04/15 hosted at the Holiday Inn. You really managed to bring the team together taking them out of their comfort zone showing them, through music, how working as a team is essential for success. Let's hope we can work together again in the future. Kind Regards Sarah Watson
People Trading Manager
ASDA High Wycombe
*COVIDIEN/Medronic Global Health Care Products - Team Building Weekend hosted at Peckforton Castle, Cheshire.
"WOW! Thank you so much Maria"-Eleana
*ARLA FOODS INTERNATIONAL - Team Building Event 2013
Corporate Team Building - "Absolutely amazing experience" - Soeren Vonsild
We are a group of about 50 engineers/project managers, and I was quite anxious about the idea of us all singing together. However the catching energy and well rehearsed performance of Maria drew us all in, and before we knew what happened we were all doing voice and breathing exercises, and within the hour she had us all singing full belt, completely dis-inhibited and with broad grins on our faces. Well done :-) The kindest regards
(Mr Soeren Vonsild-Head of Group Engineering)
ARLA FOODS INTERNATIONAL - Singing Workshop
Corporate Team Building - "Surpassed All Our Expectations" - John Pinder
Thanks for your enthusiasm, professionalism and your ability to join in the "banter" - you out one or two in their place. Excellent fun with what could have been a very tricky audience - well done. We did run over somewhat - thanks again for your extra time & patience. Good luck for the future and we will keep you in mind for future events. (John Pinder - Regional Finance Manager)
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL*-Singing Flash Mob & Workshops
Vocal Coach, Maria Scobey, from A BIG VOICE.co.uk joined forces with Buckinghamshire County Council and their social marketing agency, ICE CREATES, to choreograph and perform a SINGING FLASH MOB in Buckinghamshire. Members of the Aylesbury group 'Sing with A BIG VOICE' linked up with other singers across the county to sing a Bill Withers song: 'Lean On Me' which in itself, spread the message to the unsuspecting public, to help each other more.
Maria coached the singers, of varying abilities, by teaching the song, splitting the singers into different harmony groups and increased their confidence to perform three times in different shopping centres. (Two Flash Mobs were performed in Aylesbury’s Friars Square shopping centre and the third in High Wycombe’s Eden centre).
Maria performed in the Singing FLASH MOB and was one of the main characters. The reason for the Flash Mob was to raise awareness about a new service called Prevention Matters, which is aimed at giving people that little bit of help to stay independent, active and socially connected. The service is a partnership programme with Buckinghamshire County Council, the NHS, statutory and voluntary organisations and the community sector right across the county.
The events were not only fun, the shoppers were very responsive to our message and clearly enjoyed the distraction. We are very grateful to all the singers for helping us to make this campaign successful, but our thanks go particularly to Maria for organising the Flash Mobbers superbly and performing so brilliantly. I am already talking enthusiastically to others in my communications network for future possibilities of using Maria’s skills in the future.
Beverley Frost -Communications Officer
Buckinghamshire County Council
NHS AylesburyTeam Building Workshop 2014
Thanks so much for the session you did with us. The feedback from the day was overwhelmingly positive. Mrs J.Jeanetta (RNU)
NHS Oxford Singing Workshop 2013
Maria facilitated a singing workshop for the family carers at the end of our Oxford NHS Mental Health Networking day. Maria brought a breath of fresh air – she had us on our feet, breathing deeply and stretching our vocal cords. It did not take long for us all to shake off our lethargy and feel energised by our singing activities. The workshop ended with some very enjoyable and beautiful group singing.
The feedback from the group was overwhelmingly positive and our one regret was that it had not been longer. Thank You Maria for ending our day in such a refreshing and uplifting manner.
Joy Gannett RNU
Carer Support Manager
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
CHESHAM MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY-Singing Workshop
Producer- Liz Glover: 2008
Maria provided us with great 'group vocal tuition', as part of a wider theatre company workshop, ahead of our 2008 show, 'Magical Musical Movies'. Our company members had fun going through her various vocal techniques and broke down the component parts of “Tonight” from “West Side Story”. The end of the workshop resulted in a sing-through by all of company members, who by then, all had confidence to sing in front of each other! As a result of the singing workshop, we discovered some new talent and some of our chorus members took their very first solo parts in this show, then moved on to lead roles in shows such as “Guys and Dolls” and “Sweet Charity”. Maria’s positive, vibrant, inclusive attitude made our workshop fun, fulfilling and gave us all a real confidence boost, thank you!
(Theatre Director-Liz Glover).
7.) *BARNARDO'S*-Robyn Roberts - 'Sing & Learn Summer Workshops'
Dear Marie, Thank you for coming and singing with us at Little summer breaks. Both staff and children really enjoyed the sessions.
As a service which caters exclusively for children with Additional Needs and disabilities it can be difficult to find entertainers who are inclusive and meet the needs of our children, but having talked to the staff they felt that your session was very inclusive and the children really engaged with the content.
Thank you for following our under the sea theme, it really enhanced our session.
I highly recommend you to parents and other professionals in the future.Warm Regards, Robyn
Little Breaks Co-ordinator for Barnardos.
TRING ARTS EDUCATION For Performing Arts- Head of Music-Liz Hewett:
On a regular basis during 2007 – 2008, Maria from A BIG VOICE covered a weekly singing and performance workshops for our Tring Park School Associates. She was recommended to the school by Helen Reynolds (a past Deputy Director of Music) with whom she had worked at the John Colet School, Wendover. Her role during these classes was to prepare repertoire for in-house performances, and cover some drama and singing techniques to help pupils maximise their potential. We were very grateful to Maria for her enthusiasm and expertise and also for stepping in at the last minute on a couple of occasions, when our regular teacher had professional performing commitments, to run extra classes for us. Thank you so much Maria.
Elizabeth Hewett B Mus (Hons) PGCE ALCM
Director of Music
Tring Park School for the Performing Arts
T +44 (0) 1442 821669
www.tringpark.com/disclaimer
*TRING COURT THEATRE - 'SWEET CHARITY' - Shows Vocal Coach June 2012
Lee Austin who Played Vittorio says:
As a vocal coach Maria is very professional & a joy to work with. Her techniques on oration, breathing and vocal exercises are fun to do and she makes them easy for all to understand. She explains in easy terms how to follow notation when working with a large groups such as the cast for 'Sweet Charity'.
The harmonies that are being achieved are amazing us all! Maria makes you feel at ease with your singing and helps build up your confidence in how -and what you are performing. Thanks very much for all your help xxx Lee Austin- Sweet Charity 2012.
*TRING COURT THEATRE - - 2012 Shows Vocal Coach
Katie Brooks - Producer says:
Maria worked as Vocal Coach with the cast of Sweet Charity which was performed in June 2012 at the Court Theatre in Tring and received great feedback. Maria’s energy and enthusiasm is contagious and she brought a fun element into learning. Having a professional approach brought structure and focus to her sessions which was very much needed with such a large cast of varying singing experience and vocal ranges. Thanks Maria.
Katie Brooks - Producer
BUCKS PLAY ASSOCIATION - Alan Dunham (General Manager)
Hi Maria, I would just like to say a big thank you for the workshop you put on for us at 'Lets Play Together' Play scheme during the summer.
The activities you organised complimented our sea side theme really well, making the childrens experience much more fulfilling.
Having to entertain such a range of ages (5 - 12 years) and such a mixed ability of children (children who require 1 to 1 supervision,
children with SEN, and children from mainstream schools) is not easy and you were able to do this in such a professional approach ensuring all present were involved.
Thank you for all your help and we look forward to using your services again in the near future.
Kind regards
Alan Dunham-General Manager
Bucks Play Association
3.) WARWICKSHIRE Singing Workshop (Church Group 2014)
"Maria's workshop was engaging, fun and very interesting. It helped everyone work together as a group. Maria was warm, fun and friendly and certainly knew the technical details of how to sing! It was extremely informative and a great team building event!'
Anna Bateman
Warwickshire School Teacher & Church Leader
2.) PRE-SCHOOL POLLYANNA Stoke Mandeville
Head-Trudi Sinacore says:
We were looking to provide some singing and musical sessions for our children and were recommended to use Maria from A Big Voice.
From our initial phone call and ongoing contact Maria was very approachable and professional and more than happy to tailor sessions to meet our needs and themes. Our children are very excited and inquisitive to see Maria 'The Singing Lady' and her plentiful props, so needed no encouragement to go and join her.
After an energetic warm up the children sing songs about one of our topics (Animals, Numbers/Letters, The world, People..) She also uses lots of instruments. Throughout the session Maria provides plenty of opportunities for the children to interact, dance, and join in. The session's end with some musical game, which the children enjoy followed by some calming down time.
We feel that Maria has an excellent rapport with children, ensuring our more reluctant performers join in the sessions whilst calming down some of our more excitable children!
The children were disappointed after Maria's first session at our preschool, when they found out that the ‘Singing Lady’ would not be back the following day. We did, however, quickly book Maria for regular weekly visits and continue to enjoy her sessions. HIGHLY RECOMMEND
(Trudi Sinacore-Head Pollyanna Pre-School).
BIERTON SCHOOL - SINGING WORKSHOP October 2014
HEAD TEACHER-JENNY MARTIN
"Maria, what a fantastic job you did with the children and parents and what a difference it made to our celebration. I want to thank you very much for giving up your time freely to give us a Singing Workshop. It is really appreciated". Head Teacher Jenny Martin
A Big Voice were very kind in carrying out a taster session with a group of our children at our Progress Tea Party. Maria arrived with plenty of time and had all the resources and equipment that she needed, so there was very little set up time required. Our parents are invited along to the tea parties and Maria used this to her advantage. She got all the children and their parents to come to the centre of the room and had them all involved.
Every single child and adult was able to take part in the songs as they were so accessible. In addition to this, the songs provided a lot of laughter and entertainment! The room was buzzing and the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We sang a range of songs and even had a parachute and musical instruments out for one song which involved all the children.
Having Big Voice at our event really made the tea party very special. It proved that whatever you thought before, anyone can sing!
Thank you so much Maria for joining our celebration.
Head Teacher -Jenny Martin Bierton School, Buckinghamshire.
COMMUNITY SINGING WORKSHOP 2012
Susan Code & Daughter Eleanor Code says:
I recently attended one of Maria’s Adult singing workshops as a complete novice. I was able to experience all of what my daughters fed back to me, after her singing lessons with Maria, for myself. I can honestly say it was great fun and I will be going back!! My daughter has been having 1-1 singing lessons with Maria for about a year. Following a recommendation I rang Maria, and from that first contact she inspired confidence. I felt this was a person I could trust to teach my daughter. Maria has a very cheerful and positive attitude, her enthusiasm is infectious. Maria has shared the techniques that she has taught so we can practice at home, I get regular honest and constructive feedback on how my daughter is progressing and there is a noticeable difference in my daughter’s self- confidence.
T O B O O K
