Workshops &
Escapes

2021 OFFERINGS

Mind, Body & Music

7 Day Music Workshop - July 12 -18, 2021

Ages 16 - 21yrs

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This retreat is for young musicians looking to further their knowledge, skill set and abilities in a formula of mind, body and voice.  Featured daily workshops will focus on: formal music literacy, music improvisation, rhythmic beats, use of vocals, mindset, fitness, performance preparation and overall health and wellness. Learn knowledge and wisdom from music teachers and artistic wellness coaches who have first-hand performance experience. 

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Transform your vocal auditions and performances with your fresh perspective on the way you play with your musical craft. Gain insights from seasoned professionals on the art of perfected practice and how musicians must shift their mindset around practicing from work to passion.

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Get to know fellow artists your age and collaborate to create soulful memories for your senses.

Who is this Mind, Body & Music Intensive for?

This is especially for youth looking to a possible career in performance.

Ages 16 - 21 yrs

• High School Students in Grade 11 & 12

• Year 1 & 2 of Post-Secondary Education in a Music or Performance-based program

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This program especially helps performers who experience the following common barriers:

1. High anxiety performance nerves get the better of you and result in less than successful performances and auditions.

2. Experiencing loss of breath, bad tonality, tension in the body, profuse sweating, shaky legs, dizziness or feeling nauseated.

3. Fear of letting yourself be loose & free or letting yourself go too much. Not knowing if a performance or audition is too emotionally charged or not emotionally charged enough and creating the wrong emotional intent.

4. If you lose your memory on stage or find it difficult to memorize your music.

5. If you lose your rhythm/beat because of nerves. Lose your sense of timing.

What's Included?

• 6-night accommodation

• 3 delicious & nourishing meals, snacks & beverages per day

• Build-your-own take home Cajoń Drum & Vision Board

• Cajoń Drum & Rhythm workshops to emphasize rhythm & flow

• Daily meditation & breathing classes

• Daily strength & mobility classes

• Specialized performance workshops  - indoor & outdoor experiences

• 1-on-1 Health & Fitness Coaching Consultation

• 1-on-1 Vocal & Percussion Coaching Consultation & Feedback Review

• Performance experience - end of week community performance

• Wifi connection

• Ear Training by use of soundscapes

• Wellness seminar

• Body language & expression seminars on non-verbal communication during performance, i.e. weird posture, hand or facial gestures, tension in the shoulders, resolve these issues 

• Balance & Coordination workshops

• Assessment of task management & practice habit 

• Visualization, Performance Role & Improvisation workshops

• Daily Practice Time – we teach you how to perfect your practice for ultimate success.  We cover such topics as, music literacy, proper meaning behind warm ups & ear training, song memorization, interpretation of music, pre- performance & audition routines, and we provide mini-pressure cooker exercises to identify your weaknesses.

• Indoor & outdoor classroom settings throughout the week to experience the sights & sounds of nature. We take the group on mindfulness excursions, forest submersion, lake echo & keeling workshops. 

• Community Performance Event at end of week + performance feedback.

What makes this music week unlike any other?

We are combining multiple mind, body and emotional elements targeting audition & performance habits, wellness submersion, mindset techniques, & an end of retreat performance opportunity. Gain insight and understanding for character interpretation, giving the performer the ability to express their characters through the shedding of themselves with ease and no resistance.  We help you learn to get your ‘self’ out of the way,  momentarily. Imagination and visualization exercises which develop internal cues, each unique performer can relate to and utilize.  We teach participants how to make proper choices in music selection for their voice. We instill confidence in young performers through healthy emotional expression and mindset techniques.  Young artists come away from this intensive intuitively heightened physically, mentally & emotionally which aid the audition process and performing.  We teach students to how truly to know a musical piece by deepen their understanding of the music they are performing. Finally, we provide  individual workbooks and guidance for perfecting practice which leads to a new level of musical understanding  and adds value to your craft.

MEET THE TEAM

ELIZABETH CUSHNIE - 30 yrs of music experience

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Highly skilled teacher and performer, Soprano Elizabeth Cushnie, has been singing her whole life with roots in a musical family. Educated at the Royal Conservatory of Canada, University Of British Columbia, UBC Opera Ensemble, Kwantlen Poly-technic University and The Manhattan School of Music in New York. Elizabeth has studied and been mentored by Helga Tucker through the Royal Conservatory, Dale Throness, and Nancy Hermiston. She has worked with and been mentored by Maureen Forrester, in Santa Barbara by Marilyn Horne, in New York by Joan Caplan,  Mignon Dunn, Warren Jones, and Martin Katz.

Elizabeth was the Winner of the Provincial Senior Voice Competition,  Winner of the Provincial National Class Competition and was a Finalist in the Canadian Nation Competition.

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Elizabeth is a celebrated artist hailing from the Okanagan Valley and has performed with various symphonies and theatre companies in BC and the United States. In 2002, Elizabeth was a finalist in the National Metropolitan Opera Competition and was the winner of the Western regional finals for the Western United States.

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DOMINIQUE BERNATH - 30 yrs of music experience

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Dominique Bernath has been the Principal Timpanist of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra since 1997 after attending the University of British Columbia where she studied Orchestral Percussion. She began performing with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in 1995, and also performs with the Vancouver Island Symphony, Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and various orchestras throughout the province. Dominique has shared the stage with such Canadian talents as Jann Arden, Natalie MacMaster, Anne Murray, Dee Daniels, The Rankins and Holly Cole.

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Dominique performed three auditioned sessions with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, and has also been featured as a concerto soloist on timpani. She frequently teaches percussion clinics and masterclasses, and has been a pianist since 1981. Dominique has been the stage manager/percussion coach for the Kiwanis Concert Band Festival since 2004, and proudly works as an Educational Representative for Tapestry Music.

Ms. Bernath is a Yamaha and Zildjian Artist.

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HILARY BENNETT - Health Coach & Personal Trainer

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Hilary is a former Varsity Athlete and a recipient of the 2015 Certified Personal Trainers Network Fitness Leadership Award. She has an Honours Bachelor Degree in Health Science, Human Resources Management & Fitness Leadership Certificates as well as a Youth Strength & Mobility Specialist Certificate. Hilary trained as an athlete and has experience training First Responders, athletes and community members.  She loves motivating people to discover and understand what their self care priorities are in order to be at their optimal performance. She encourages individuals to stay present and mindful as often as possible.  Her goal is to coach and support people to take on every experience one step, blink and breath at a time.

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Hilary has 20 years of gained understanding, knowledge and experience in Music and the Performing Arts and has a deep appreciation and respect for it. Her experience in competitive ice dance, piano and musical theatre have provided her with a solid foundation in understanding fundamental core principles required to maintain an injury free, clear mind and consistent performance.  She seeks to optimize your health and wellness routine for your best results.

What do you gain?

1. Gain skills and coping strategies for calming the nervous system in a safe, nurturing environment.

2. Make friendships and connections with others who share the same issues

3. Knowledge in food & nutrition, physical, mental and emotional health maintenance & awareness

4. Ability to express their performance & audition characters through the intermittent shedding of themselves.

5. Imagination, interpretation and improvisations skills.

6. How to make proper choices in music selection for your body and current voice.

7. True understanding of how to deepen your connection to your performance pieces.

8. Perfect practice techniques, which lead to in-depth musical understanding

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We provide exclusive solutions to the major barriers young musicians have. No one is mixing all these elements targeting pre-performance & audition habits, wellness submersion, mindset & breathing techniques,  as well as the opportunity to perform in an intimate community performance.  This is a unique week-long music intensive where you will grow in a very short period of time​.  The knowledge and experience gained from these 7 days will change the way you audition, perform and present yourself to the world indefinitely.

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Don't miss the opportunity to join in the exploration & adventure!

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Price: $2870.00 CAD, taxes and gratuities not included

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Silent Escape

August 14 - 20, 2021

7 Day 6-night stay, Ages: 19yrs and up

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Is you head full of sound? Are you craving quiet and peacefulness? Are you sick of hearing your self talk and of having to put the effort into explaining yourself, your life, your job or current projects? Are you constantly doing and not being?

Listen to the sound of silence. Be still in your thoughts, rest your voice, rest the chatter of the busy world.

This 7-day, 6-night esape leaves the sound of the city and of your daily life behind.  No speaking, only written or non verbal gestures, eye contact and body language.

Activities are provided for guests on retreat in the form of silent challenges, readings, art and outdoor exploration through submersions in nature. Participants can enjoy our facility in complete silence free from light, noise and EMF pollution.

We all seek peace of mind and we all gain it uniquely. Daily opening and closing meditations will set the intention of what you wish to explore.  Immerse yourself in the natural surroundings to gain a sense of oneness with the ebb and flow of your environment. We take guests to meditate, hike and explore local sacred locations in the beautiful Chilcotin landscape.  We encourage you to write, sketch or photograph your silent exploration alongside taking it in with your senses.

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Listen to your silence and learn from it.