SingMates Sessions

Join our public SingMates group singing sessions at The Piano, Centre for Music & the Arts in Christchurch Central

SingMates public sessions are our weekly group singing classes in Christchurch. We have different levels to choose from, from beginner to advanced. Most of our groups are non-auditioned and open to anyone who loves singing Rock & Pop music and wants to develop their vocal & musical skills and confidence together with others.

All our classes have a focus on contemporary vocals and the musical genres of the 1960s to early 2000s. We must admit we do like songs that rock and move us! Songs with a message, a bit of an edge and attitude. So if your shower repertoire includes Stevie Nix, Annie Lennox, David Bowie or other legends you grew up with, SingMates should be right up your alley.

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SESSIONS ON OFFER

SingMates Foundations

Do you run out of air when you sing or find it hard to sing high or low notes? Do you want to know more about your vocal range and be able to sing with ease and a ‘good sound’? Then start here!

‘Foundations’ are the perfect group singing classes for beginner* or not-yet-so confident singers who want to build confidence, develop a healthy and effective vocal technique and learn how to apply their new skills to singing Rock & Pop songs. The smaller group environment allows you to become part of a team but also offers the opportunity to work on individual challenges.

Our two levels, Foundations A and B, provide a structured, progressive program with fun activities that will help you understand and develop your vocal instrument. Both of these classes are great for newcomers to SingMates who want to find their feet in group singing, or for aspiring solo singers who want to improve their vocal technique, music and performance skills.

In all classes, there will be plenty of time to practice your singing with Rock & Pop songs. We mainly sing in unison but we might throw in the occasional harmony or solo for a little challenge. We’ll also tell you a little more about how contemporary music and songs work to develop your musical skills. Practice routines and resources will help you practice at home.

You can stay in any Foundations class for as long as you like or need. Building good foundations takes time!

Foundations A – ‘Breath-Tone-Resonance’

Term 1 and 3 : Tuesdays at 5.30pm (1 hour)

Term 2 and 4 : Wednesday at 5.30pm (1 hour)

This class will help you find and unlock your real voice. We will show you how to control and coordinate the body parts that allow you to create a healthy, easy and beautiful sound in a comfortable range. We will look at common tendencies and ‘bad habits’ of untrained singers that may cause you to strain the voice or work way harder than necessary. All songs will be beginner friendly, so you can build confidence quickly.

This class should be a great fit for those of you who love singing but never had any proper vocal training. Or for those who have not sung on a regular basis for a long time and want to reactivate their voice. A group setting might not be the right environment if you struggle with matching pitch (singing in tune). If you are looking for guidance in developping this skill, we recommend booking in for a private session with Trix first, so she can help you figure out what is going on.

Foundations B – ‘Vocal Range and Registers’

Term 1 and 3 : Wednesday at 5.30pm (1 hour)

Term 2 and 4: Tuesdays at 5.30pm (1 hour)

Moving from high to low notes smoothly can be quite a complicated affair for our voice and most singers have to work on this skill (a lot!). This class will get you started on your journey of singing through your range with ‘one voice’, one with a consistent sound free of ‘flips’ and ‘breaks’. We’ll also start to extend and strengthen your vocal range while building more agility. The songs will be a bit more challenging with a larger range, as well as more complex melodies and grooves.

This class may be a good fit for singers with some previous training/experience or those who specifically want to work on their vocal range.

Groups of 8 – 14 singers*

Fees: NZ$ 240.00 (+ GST) per term (9 sessions)

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SingMates Core

Term 1 – 4 : Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 6.45pm (1 hour)

These two classes are for all of those who are looking for their weekly fix of singing with like-minded people. They are fairly ‘low-pressure’ and ‘play it by ear’, tailored to the groups’ skills and interests. As the name suggests, this is where our SingMates ‘regulars’ hang out and keep growing their team spirit.

SingMates Core is a great place to practice your skills, for getting really comfortable with your voice and slowly dive into singing simple harmony arrangements, or learning how to create your own.

There will be enough challenges for singers to grow and build on their foundational skills, be it in the area of vocal technique, mastering different styles, improvising & harmonising, or creating your very own cover version of the songs we work on.

Groups of 8 – 16 singers*

Fees: NZ$ 240.00 (+ GST) per term (9 sessions)

Please get in touch if you are not sure which class is the right one for you. We are happy to help!

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SingMates Performers

Term 1 – 4 : Thursdays at 6.15pm (75min)

This class is for more confident and advanced singers who are keen to level up and sing more complex harmony arrangements, and also perform every now and then.

Performers will keep growing their vocal and musical skills and work toward becoming a tight-knit team with a solid repertoire of songs that we make our own.

Existing SingMates who have done at least one term with us can generally join this class if they are ready. Singers new to SingMates will need to audition for this group.

The musical style of the songs is Pop & Rock, but we might throw in the occasional Folk song, just because you cannot beat those goosebump harmonies!

Group of 8 – 16 singers*

Fees: NZ$ 260.00 (+ GST) per term (9 sessions)

* Sessions require minimum number of participants.