Circle of Music
August 15 - August 21, 2021
Hybrid Conference
August 15 - August 21, 2021
Hybrid Conference
Description
Workshops
Conference Leadership
Pricing
Description
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Circle of Music
Learn from the Masters! Come join us for a magical week where we build a music community. You will be welcomed, accepted, encouraged, and challenged to grow whether you start as a beginner or are polishing skills. From the generosity of the workshop leaders to the support of the other participants who are taking risks along side you, join the opportunities to improve your musical abilities and decide how you will take your music back to the world.
Each day begins with chapel, followed by workshops, and optional afternoon activities of classes, singing, teaching, creating, playing and learning. Other options include the beach, naps, walks or all of the above. The evenings have more opportunities to create music in song circles, coffee house, talent/no talent shows and anywhere else the spirit hits you including porch sings and jams. Let the ocean waves create new rhythms, the cry of the seagulls – new melodies and the spirit of the week – new lyrics. |
Nancy Smith Circle of Music Scholarship
The Nancy Smith Circle of Music Scholarship fund has been established in memory of the late Nancy Smith, long-term Circle of Music Attendee. Nancy nurtured her spirituality and celebrated her love of music through Unitarian Universalist church choirs and the Ferry Beach Retreat and Conference Center Circle of Music Program. Through the scholarship started by her loving son Scott Smith and sister Lucinda Sanders, the memory of Nancy will live on in one of her most cherished places. To apply for the scholarship, please fill out the form below. Each year a scholarship recipient will be selected two months prior to the start of the Circle of Music Conference. |
Workshops
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Pat Wictor
Pat Wictor is a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter known for his lean, poetic songs and expressive guitar playing. Grounded in rural blues and gospel traditions, Wictor’s performances incorporate elements of jazz, pop, spoken word, and improvisational surprise. He first gained attention as an innovative lap slide guitarist, which made him a sought-after collaborator and session musician. For seven years he toured nationally as one third of Brother Sun, the powerful harmonizing trio with Joe Jencks and Greg Greenway. Wictor’s newest recording is a duo album titled Counterpoise, a collaboration with jazz vocalist Deborah Latz. The two first sang together at a vocal improvisation workshop led by Bobby McFerrin. His latest solo release, This is Absolutely Real: Visions and Versions of Phil Ochs, reached #2 on the Folk-DJ charts and was nominated for Best Tribute Album by the Independent Music Awards. His national tour schedule includes solo concerts and teaching workshops on a variety of topics, including guitar, songwriting, vocal and instrumental improvisation, and body percussion.
Improv Singing for Beginners Singing improvisationally is part of our natural creativity - children make up songs and melodies all the time. We’ll do some playful games and exercises that allow us to loosen up and make fun, spontaneous music together. If you can carry a tune, you can sing improv! The sessions build sequentially, so it’s best to attend all of them. Body Percussion for Everyone Your body is a drum! The joys of handclapping, foot-stomping, and finger-snapping are just the beginning. We’ll learn the basics of body percussion and learn ways to apply them in pieces of music. The sessions build sequentially, so it’s best to attend all of them. Spice Up Your Guitar Playing (Single Session) Ever feel like you want your guitar playing to be more interesting? This class will explore simple approaches to adding movement and color to your guitar arrangements. Bring in a song you’re playing that needs more spice. We’ll also go over useful techniques of practice - such as how to create your own exercises - that will add variety and interest to your playing. |
Sloan Wainwright
Defying standard categorization, singer/songwriter Sloan Wainwright, consistently demonstrates her easy command of a variety of American musical styles — pop, folk, jazz and blues — held together by the melodious tone of her rich contralto, with the end result being a unique and soulful hybrid. Sloan’s incredible gift is not only her unique songwriting ability but also her dramatically voiced rendition of original songs.
“She’s folk influenced, but the real star here is her voice. Warm and smoky and smooth, it makes her earthy, ominous lyrics seem all the more intense.” With a solid and impressive discography of 10 original CD releases to her credit, Sloan continues to write, sing and perform live and has won two songwriting awards at the annual EmPower Posi Music Awards. In addition, Sloan has written numerous musical compositions for theater and dance and teaches at many of the best-known master songwriter series and workshops. Singing with your Heart, Soul, and Body Inside each of us lives a beautiful and unique instrument, so let's sing together with joy and freedom! In this workshop we will move our bodies, soften our hearts, open our mouths and let our voices out to play. With an emphasis on vocal health and self-care, we’ll use a combination of vocal warm-ups and work-outs - traditional and non-traditional - to help relax, release and strengthen the voice, making it more flexible and reliable. Individual attention is offered as well as to the group as a whole, and each student will be supported in developing their own personal vocal practice. This class is for singers AND non-singers alike. Swimming in the River of your Song This is our time to create songs from a place of freedom, flow and fun. Each day we'll show up and allow ourselves to dip into the waters of creativity - we will listen, we will write, we will mine ideas and marry together music and words. Using games and prompts - we will practice being in and writing in "non-edit" mode and see where each of us are led. Through examples and discussion we will play with our ideas and open ourselves to inspiration. You'll leave the class with a whole new outlook on your songwriting process, with new skills to help you grow as an artist, and a new song to sing. Jump on in...the water is fine. |
Conference Leadership
Please call Ferry Beach at 207-282-4489 x1, or email info@ferrybeach.org with questions for the conference coordinator.
Pricing
Pricing per Person |
Adult: $384 (Includes Conference Fees + Meals) Online Attendance Only: $25.00 (if applicable to your conference) Off-Site Daily Fee: $64.00 Adult / $47.00 Youth (Includes all Meals) On-Site Daily Fee: $19.00 (Staying On Campus and Not Registered for Programming. Does not include Meals) |
Lodging |
Lodging Prices Vary. See our Lodging Page for pricing information. |
Membership |
Membership must be paid to attend any Ferry Beach program and is due annually. Individual Membership: $30.00 Family Membership: $50.00 See our Membership Page to learn more and to purchase or renew a membership. |
Or Call 207-282-4489 x1 to Register by Phone
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Due to our financial situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ferry Beach will not be able to provide the traditional account of support for our conference volunteers. If you are able to, please consider donating to help support a volunteer this summer and ensure your conference runs as smooth as you expect!
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Our mission at Ferry Beach is to awaken hearts to explore, grow and renew the spirit of universal love.
We work by creating programing and events in the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Spirituality, Sustainability, Personal Growth and Justice & Action.
We work by creating programing and events in the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Spirituality, Sustainability, Personal Growth and Justice & Action.
