Susan Osborn: News and Classes

Silence and Song Workshop with Susan Osborn
Friday Evening February 22, through Sunday February 24
Orcas Island Washington
$200 ( Does not include housing and meals)
Class size limited to 16 participants
Please call 360 376 5180, or write susanosborn@susanosborn.com for registration and more information.

Singing is a primal human creative act. It is an essential part of the human emotional digestive system and a gift intricately woven into our design as human beings. Over time, as we have separated from the natural world around us and our own nature, we have relegated singing to the
extracurricular, and entertainment, and left this basic human expression to the specialists. This exploration is about reclaiming the original power and purpose of singing.

The journey of singing without words following first the breath, then the sound of a sigh, then the song, leads us with the energy of emotion into a place of clarity and integration; a reunion with our true nature.

Singing is a practice; a way to center, contact who you are, and from that place create a gift of beauty and truth to share with others.

Singing is the direct language of the soul, available to all people regardless of talent. It is a universally understood communication, beyond words, from one body to another.

A primary focus of this work is the power of compassionate witnessing ... how we listen to ourselves and each other. As the song ends, we will dwell in the silence revealed there. We will explore the nature of emotion, and how it influences and ultimately shapes the sound of the voice, as well as how singing can contribute significantly to our
emotional, physical and spiritual health.

Silence and Song is for anyone, regardless of experience or talent,who would like to: strengthen and expand the clarity and range of their voice, explore the practical uses of singing as a tool for communication ... a practice in intimate creativity and emotional integration, and as a pathway to deep silence.

Join me for this powerful weekend of exploration in song.

Release date in Japan November 21, 2007 and US, December 1, 2007. A companion CD to a book just released in Japan by Sun Mark publishers, called SAKURA. Features What A Wonderful World,, Moonlight in Vermont, Someone To Watch Over Me, and other great classic standards. Available through CD Baby
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Singing without words disorganizes patterns. It disorganizes thought, deconstructs story and keeps energy fluid and usable, and flowing. It can also organize new, cohesive patterns. The feeling of fear as we approach singing without words is about letting go of the known, the continuous story we tell ourselves about how the world is organized, and approaching the unknown. The mind needs to know to understand...and singing without words can lead us into presence which cannot be known, because it is new and happening now. Most adult civilized beings never hear their own voices singing without words. After language enters, at 2 or 3, the natural flowing wordless song of a child begins to disappear. How strange that we edit out this very basic human expression. And at the same time, we also begin to edit spontaneous dance and movement. Is it because it is so revealing? . . . of our sensuality...our connection with our senses? I believe that these natural responses to being alive are vital to our ability to survive. As we edit, we begin to lose touch with the sensual world that surrounds us and upon which we are dependent. Could it be that something as simple, and as basic as singing, holds the key to our ability to navigate more gracefully through life ? If we allow our senses to atrophy through non-use, how can we really survive ? What richness is edited out and eliminated from our experience?” I am asking you to consider that the beauty you love is actually who you are, and that you can discover and nurture that beauty in the sound of your own voice.

Pianist Kentaro Kihara and I have just completed a new duo recording of love songs from the 60's on here at my home on Orcas. Songs include, Close To You, In My Life, Moon River and Alfie. It has been released both in the US and in Japan. The experience of recording at home was extraordinary, so relaxed, and consequently we were able to produce a recording with both superior sound and intimacy. It will soon be available at CD Baby.com.

SILENCE AND SONG

Singing is a primal human creative act. It is an essential part of the human emotional digestive system and a gift intricately woven into our design as human beings. Over time, as we have separated from the natural world around us and our own nature, we have relegated singing to the extracurricular, and entertainment, and left this basic human expression to the specialists. This exploration is about reclaiming the original power and purpose of singing.

The journey of singing without words following first the breath, then the sound of a sigh, then the song, leads us with the energy of emotion into a place of clarity and integration; a reunion with our true nature.

Singing is a practice; a way to center, contact who you are, and from that place create a gift of beauty and truth to share with others.

Singing is the direct language of the soul, available to all people regardless of talent. It is a universally understood communication, beyond words, from one body to another.

Singing is a primal creative act, a physical metaphoric experience.

Singing can lead us directly to a profound silence; the healing balm of stillness where the soul can recognise itself beyond the limitations of time and space.

A primary focus of this work is the power of compassionate witnessing. How we listen to ourselves and each other is primary. As the song ends, we will dwell in the silence revealed there. We will explore the nature of emotion, and how it influences and ultimately shapes the sound of the voice, as well as how singing can contribute significantly to our emotional health.

Silence and Song is for anyone, regardless of experience or talent, who would like to: strengthen and expand the clarity and range of their voice, explore the practical uses of singing as a tool for communication ... a practice in intimate creativity and emotional integration, and as a pathway to deep silence.

Susan Osborn has been a pioneer in exploring the power of the human voice in song internationally for over 30 years as a singer, songwriter, recording artist, teacher and coach.

You can contact Susan at: susanosborn@susanosborn.com or 360 376 5180