This workshop is a precious gift, a pearl in the sea for you to discover the whole..possibilities of the sea of your body and soul through your individual voice, to reconnect yourself with the range of rainbow colours for your art and your personality…. while being grounded.

Explorer le grand, le petit, le fort, le tendre, le doux, le subtile, le profond, l’intense, le lumineux, le sombre, le legato, le staccato, le dense, le léger, avec Margaret et Neil: c’est déplier les possibles de la voix et du corps, c’est ouvrir les sensations, le ressenti et la vie. MERCI.

Thanks so much for a wonderful week of expression and exploration! I really loved it. I really appreciated the close listening that you give all your students, and the embodied active and highly personal approach to voice work. ….. I feel deeply and personally affected by the work, inspired, reminded of what matters to me, and moved in a subconscious world that threw up many dreams connected to my own creative journey and obstacles.

This workshop is not about powering through tiring new techniques or screaming your lungs out. It is much more about opening up and listening to what is there. With Neil’s integral warm-up (which was a beautiful discovery of our one and only singing instrument: our body – no matter if you like it or not!) and Margaret’s continuous and patient research for our « real » voice with a range which in fact is much wider than I thought, I found that this teacher-duo complemented each other perfectly. I learnt to listen. To myself, to the teachers, but also to each one of our group; we are so different and similar at the same time! ……..I learnt that the voice does not lie. Margaret and Neil listened to each of us carefully and I had the feeling to be guided in a wise and sincere way. The safe and peaceful setting gave me a freedom to ‘fail’ (which actually does not exist in this workshop). And it made my own research very honest and intense…. I feel inspired to continue my way as an artist – on stage and off stage.

The workshop was both practical-down-to-earth and inspiring. Such an experience reflects the high level of teaching. Although the classes are taught in groups, each student receives feedback and encouragement to match their individual journey of discovery. I also learned as much or even more from comments to other students as from those directed to me. When I needed it, I was given time and space to explore and at appropriate times I received the gentle encouragement to break out of my comfort zone and take my work to the next level. I cannot recommend this workshop highly enough.

Der Workshop in Frankreich war einfach großartig! In einer traumhaften Atmosphäre mit professionellen, wundervollen Lehrern wurde das Zusammenspiel von Stimme und Körper perfekt umgesetzt. In Gruppenarbeit sowie auch in individueller Einzelarbeit wurden wir diszipliniert, sehr professionell, aber auch liebevoll, lebendig, mit viel Spaß und Freude, und mit viel Achtsamkeit durch den Workshop begleitet. Ich habe mich jederzeit sehr gut aufgehoben gefühlt und habe auch Dank der gemeinsamen, sehr homogenen Gruppenarbeit, was nicht zuletzt ein Verdienst von Margaret und Neill ist, eigene Grenzen kennengelernt und mich gewagt sie zu überschreiten. Ich habe gelernt, dass wir durch gutes Zuhören und Zuschauen bei den anderen genauso viel lernen wie im eigenen Prozess. Die Verbindung von Stimme und Körper macht die Stimme stark und ausdrucksvoll. Das perfekte Zusammenspiel macht die große Reichweite der eigenen Stimme möglich. Ich kannte Margaret durch meine monatliche Gruppenarbeit, aber dieser Workshop in Frankreich ist das Tüpfelchen auf dem i. Herzlichen Dank für diese wundervolle Arbeit und Zeit, die wir zusammen verbringen durften.

Just to say ‘thank you’ for a wonderful week of vocal and physical exploration at Le Hameau. Thank you for all your hard work, care, generosity and the very high level of both group and individual teaching. I had quite a few personal vocal revelations and the journey continues of course.It was a great combination of holiday and work – perfect! And with such a brilliant group of people too.

It was quite amazing how Margaret was able to understand our voices, just by simply listening to them for a short while in the exercises we played with. My voice felt like it had been expanded by the end of the session as well as being clearer. I began to understand just how important the breath is in vocal work, and life in general. I very much enjoyed working with breath first in order to establish the voice, almost like a baby…. Margaret brought something into my conscience that I will never disregard again. ‘Using the voice isn’t about straining it or making weird sounds. It’s about depth, clarity and expression’.

The course was one of those few times in the process of creative work that is marked as a key crossroads. In my 30 or so years of learning within creative practice this course goes down as one of those epiphany moments. I feel it has enhanced my development both as a teacher and as an artist. Thank you. The quality of teaching was of a very high standard with close attention to one on one and good group work that offered different levels of learning. Beautiful location and lovely food. Perfect.

I would like to thank you both for a wonderful week that has made a deep impact on me, both as an individual, as a researcher and as an artist. It was a pleasure to work with two sensitive, talented, assured master-teachers. I felt in very safe hands throughout, and felt able to explore my voice in a supportive, non-judgemental environment. The accommodation at L’Hameau de L’Etoile was exquisite – it was wonderful being so close to the stunning natural surroundings and being able to take a dip in the pool after class. I felt that this was a reflection of the great care and attention to detail that went into the whole workshop!

It was such an magnificent present I got out of this « Schnupperworkshop »…I kept singing all my way home, and my voice was flowing out of my body, as naturally as a large River. It felt powerfull and soft at the same time. Thank you very, very much again.

Die Klassen von Margaret Pikes sind einfach genial! Wer mit der Stimme experimentieren und sie erweitern möchte, ist hier richtig. In kleinen Gruppen und in absolut entspannter Atmosphäre kann man hier ausprobieren und sich von anderen inspirieren lassen. Margaret Pikes ist eine aufmerksame Lehrerin und leitet in einfühlsamer und unterstützender Weise. Sehr wertvolle Impulse für mich.

J’ai beaucoup apprécié qu’il y aie à la fois un travail de groupe et aussi l’espace pour un chemin plus personnalisé. J’ai aussi trouvé très riche lorsque le groupe me soutenait dans mon travail vocal individuel, de même lorsque je faisais partie du groupe qui accompagnait l’un de nous. J’ai apprécié l’alternance de ces dynamiques, leur cohérence et leur synergie. Il me semble que c’est un art de gérer un groupe ainsi… Chaque début de matinée et d’après-midi,le warming-up m’ancrait, me centrait et me rendait disponible au travail vocal qui suivait…. J’ai reçu des repères de sensations concernant ma voix. J’ai aimé ces voyages de sons dans les profondeurs, dans les sphères du milieux et dans les hauteurs: je sentais ainsi les différentes qualités de ma voix liées aux différents lieus de mon corps et aux différents vécus intérieurs. J’entends mieux maintenant comment ma voix vibre et d’où elle vient. Je trouve très riche de plonger corps et âme dans l’exploration vocale…et aussi de donner une forme momentanée à tout cela en abordant des chansons en les présentant à la fin. Je ressens combien ma voix et reliée à ma vie.