Music / News
Grief Choir will harness healing benefits of song
A new singing project has been designed as a ‘safe, supportive and uplifting space’ for people living with grief.
The Grief Choir sessions, supported by the Bristol Beacon, will begin with an evening gathering on February 25.
Facilitator Jannah Warlow has been leading singing workshops and choirs for over 20 years. She had the idea after experiencing her own bereavement, losing her mum 11 years ago: “I have felt the healing benefits of being so deeply involved with singing over that time,” she said. “I really noticed the benefits to my own wellbeing.
is needed now More than ever
“So now I feel like I can provide a space for people to experience the direct, amazing benefits that singing provides – they’re so well documented: releasing endorphins, helping us feel calm, promoting feelings of acceptance, safety and community.
“I’m hoping this will provide a space of solace and connection for people.”
Jannah has experience the healing benefits of singing through her own bereavement journey and intends to provide a community singing space for others to experience the same
The workshops will run, initially, for four weeks. They will start with warm-up breathing exercises and movement, offering tools and vocal techniques that support wellbeing. Participants will then learn a song to sing in harmony with others.
Jannah is keen to stress the sessions will be gentle and low pressure: “People take a big plunge when they come to do a singing group, especially if they’ve never sung before, and especially when it’s something as potentially revealing or vulnerable as this,” she says.
“I want to reassure people that it’s not a high pressure environment, you don’t have to have done any singing before, it’s just about coming into a space with other people who may be feeling something similar to you.”
She also wants to encourage anyone who is grieving – whether ‘the loss, death or separation of a loved one, or a part of yourself’ – to join: “There is no definition here in terms of what your grief is: it’s a supportive community for anyone navigating grief, of any kind,” she explains.
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Grief Choir sessions will run from 7.30-9pm on February 25, March 11, March 25 and April 1 at the Beacon Music Centre, Southmead.
Interested parties are asked to sign up to all four sessions, to create a trusted space and enable community building. Find out more and book at grief-choir.live.baluu.co.uk/event/grief-choir-1736432948
All images: Jannah Warlow
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