Choir in a Week
With Kana Kernow and Songways
Course overview
Immerse yourself in a creative week of unaccompanied harmony singing in Cornwall, led by two experienced choir leaders, in professional-standard facilities.
This is a unique opportunity to sing at the Academy of Music and Theatre Arts at the University of Falmouth, in the new CORE building at the St Ives Community Orchard and at Tate St Ives; led by Pip Wright (Kana Kernow) and Jane Harris (Songways). This five day course is a rich choral and cultural experience.
The course offers a memorable week, with insights into Cornish culture, links to the places where we sing, opportunities to be creative and playful, tips for healthy voice use and effective choral vocal technique, and a chance to take part in a ‘scratch band’ and experience a Nos Lowen (a Cornish Ceilidh).
Upcoming courses
Mon 21 Jul 2025
Monday 21st - Friday 25 July 2025
Short Course: Choir in a Week | July 2025
In-person
A short course of unaccompanied harmony singing led by choir leaders Pip Wright (Kana Kernow) and Ja...
Course details
Choir in a week will be led by Pip Wright (Kana Kernow) a singing leader, teacher and community musician based in West Cornwall & Jane Harris, choir leader, singer and Director of Songways from Bath.
"Truly extraordinary complementary double act of leaders”
"Wonderful teaching… inspiring”
Pip and Jane have co-led successful singing events at venues such as Halsway Manor and Buckfast Abbey. They both compose for choirs, play the fiddle, love collaborating and have a special musical bond. They bring inclusive joy and a rich breadth and depth of experience to all their teaching and music-making.
“Pip and Jane complement each other so well… the double fiddles are a special touch”
“Pip and Jane are two of the most gifted singers I have met… very enabling in so many ways”
Pip and Jane have been running successful singing courses in beautiful venues both together and separately over the last five years.
In this course, Pip and Jane will both work with the choir at all times, each taking the lead on different songs and supporting different vocal parts. This partnership provides singers will a well-held, dynamic and satisfying learning experience. Songs will be taught by ear with scores provided as appropriate to the different styles of music. Background information on the songs as well as vocal technique and tips will be integrated into the teaching.
“Loved the way Jane and Pip worked together – and with us – in such a supportive and empowering way”
"Loved the variety of songs and appreciated the vocal training and tips"
Choir in a Week includes:
- Full singing sessions on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings (10am – 1pm) at the Academy of Music and Theatre Arts (AMATA).
- Day trip to St Ives by coach on Thursday:
- St Ives Community Orchard – singing session in the beautiful surroundings and acoustics of The CORE Building, an environmentally sustainable eco-centre at the base of the 30 acre Community Orchard and Nature Reserve.
- Tate St Ives – singing session in the Rotunda with its iconic view of Porthmeor Beach and time to explore the Tate St Ives - with admission included.
- Songs with Spirit, Songs for the Soul: optional meditative harmony singing sessions in a beautiful church in Falmouth on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
- ‘Scratch band’ workshop for instrumentalists of all levels on Tuesday afternoon at AMATA.
- Supper on Tuesday evening at AMATA, before the Nos Lowen.
- A Cornish Nos Lowen (literally Happy Night – a Cornish Ceilidh) with a chance to dance, play, and/or listen to live music on Tuesday evening after our supper at AMATA. Learn easy Cornish dances accompanied by the ‘Choir in a week Scratch Band’ (with Jane and Pip on fiddles, and supported by our AMATA technical team).
- Celebration lunch on Friday at AMATA.
- Recording session on Friday morning at AMATA, to create a lasting memory of the songs for you to access following the course.
- Refreshments: tea, coffee and biscuits each day we are at AMATA.
- Bespoke songbook with lyrics and background for the songs, and some scores.
- Sheet music with chords and sound files provided in advance for instrumentalists wishing to take part in the Scratch Band.
- Access to the delightful Falmouth University campus grounds and gardens.
What you need to know
This five-day short course will run from 21 to 25 July 2025.
This course is based at our Academy of Music and Theatre Arts on our Penryn Campus. You’ll be singing in a large, light, purpose built studio. The Academy of Music and Theatre Arts is fully accessible.
Our optional ‘Songs with Spirit, Songs for the Soul’ afternoon activities on Monday and Wednesday will be based at a beautiful church in Falmouth.
This course includes a trip to St Ives on Thursday, for which coach travel is included with pick up and drop off from the Penryn Campus.
Car parking is available on the Penryn Campus and is included in the cost of this course.
This five-day course is an opportunity for relaxation and wellbeing, as well as a chance to be challenged and try something different.
The week is structured with a mixture of singing sessions, optional extension activities, and free time to enable people to combine a singing course with a holiday in Cornwall.
Come and enjoy making positive connections and creating a community through song in a week.
Pip and Jane are passionate about the music they teach and love to share it: harmonies that lift us up; powerful songs that draw us together and go straight to the heart; songs that tell stories and songs that create a sense of stillness and peace. Choir in a week will feature a rich variety of songs throughout the week.
The repertoire will include Pip and Jane's own compositions inspired by the natural world, songs to reflect the Cornish landscape and culture, South African songs drawing on their recent study trip to Cape Town and songs led with double fiddles.
Discover new singing styles and develop your voice as we sing together through the week.
You may wish to bring your own bottle of water, and a packed lunch if wished on the days it is not provided.
You will be provided with everything you need in a bespoke songbook and information pack on arrival. This will contain all the music and lyrics that you will require for the week.
Accommodation is not included in this course cost. If you would like to book accommodation, please see our accommodation for short course students page for a range of options.
This course includes the following food and drink:
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Tea/coffee and biscuits each day we are on campus (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday).
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Cake in our late-morning refreshment break each day we are on campus.
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A shared supper on Tuesday evening before our Nos Lowen event.
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A shared lunch on Friday after our recording session, to conclude the course.
Please note that lunch is not provided on other days, and if you are taking part in optional afternoon activities we recommend that you bring a packed lunch or visit one of the café’s on campus. On Thursday when we visit St Ives there will be plenty of time for a lunch break prior to singing at the Tate.
Course programme
This is an outline of what to expect and is subject to change. There will also be plenty of time to socialise and get to know fellow singers.
Day 1
The course starts at 9.30 each day with tea / coffee and arrivals at AMATA, followed by our first singing session at 10am. We’ll sing all morning with a break for coffee and cake. After lunch, we’ll have the first optional ‘Songs with Spirit, Songs for the Soul workshop’ at a local church (or free time). Free time in the evening.
Day 2
After tea/coffee and arrivals, we’ll be singing at AMATA again until lunchtime. After lunch, there will be an optional ‘Scratch band’ workshop – open to anyone who plays an instrument - learning the easy tunes for our Nos Lowen in the evening (or free time). From 6pm we’ll have a shared supper and then a Nos Lowen with a caller.
Day 3
Singing all morning following the same pattern as previous days. After lunch we’ll have the second optional ‘Songs with Spirit, Songs for the Soul workshop’ at a local church (or free time). Free time in the evening.
Day 4
On Thursday we will travel to St Ives (with coach pick up from Falmouth University included). We will have a morning singing session in the CORE Building at the St Ives Community Orchard. After plenty of time for a lunch break and exploring St Ives, we’ll reconvene at the Tate St Ives to sing some of the songs we have learning in the beautiful acoustic of the Rotunda. Tate tickets are included for those wishing to explore the gallery and exhibitions, or free time. Coach travel back from St Ives to Falmouth University late afternoon. Free time in the evening.
Day 5
On our final day we will spend the morning singing following a similar pattern to previous days, then move to a music studio at AMATA to record the songs so that you have a record of what you’ve learned to take away. Mp3 downloads of this recording will be available to you following the course. We will then have a late lunch together at 1.30pm and a celebration to end the week. The course will finish at 3.00pm so that there is time to travel home.
Course leaders
Pip Wright (pictured left) is a choir leader and musician from Trevurvas, West Cornwall where she runs two established community choirs: the Dawn Chorus and Levow an Bys (Voices of the World in Cornish). She is passionate about singing for wellbeing and enhancing peoples’ skills and confidence with singing and music. She has been teaching her ‘Find your own Voice’ and Musicianship courses to adults for over a decade.
Pip enjoys playing and singing many different genres of music including fiddling in Cornish bands, sessions and festivals and leading informal ‘Shout’ (traditional song) sessions in local pubs. She enjoys facilitating community song-writing projects – especially bringing together different generations and groups who many not usually sing or play together. Having trained in Singing for the Brain and Singing for Lung Heath, Pip led the first groups in Cornwall for both fields. For over 10 years now she has been bringing world-class singing leaders to Cornwall to lead workshops through her Kana Kernow (Singing Cornwall) initiative.
“An excellent teacher – heart-warming, fun, uplifting, moving, inspiring”
Jane Harris (pictured right) is an experienced choir leader and Director of Songways, based in Bath. She leads singing workshops and singing retreats in beautiful places and thriving choirs in Bath and Bradford on Avon. With her lively, clear and enabling teaching style, Jane brings out the best in singers’ voices, with open, resonant, heart-felt singing. Jane teaches by ear and loves to explore songs in different ways to enrich and deepen the singing experience.
Jane writes original songs for choirs and has released her own album, One touch of nature. She also plays the violin which she uses to introduce some of the songs, and performs with her own vocal group, Rolling Harmony.
“An exceptional teacher with a wonderful choice of songs”
Download our Penryn Campus map below
Explore our AMATA facilities
Download our Terms & Conditions below
How to apply
To apply for the Choir in a week course, make your selection from the available dates below, this will take you to an event page where you will be able to book yourself onto the course via the Book now link.
Upcoming courses
Mon 21 Jul 2025
Monday 21st - Friday 25 July 2025
Short Course: Choir in a Week | July 2025
In-person
A short course of unaccompanied harmony singing led by choir leaders Pip Wright (Kana Kernow) and Ja...
Who is this course suitable for?
Choir in a week is suitable for experienced amateur singers who enjoy singing music of different genres and are confident to be able to hold their part with 5 or 6 other voices in an unaccompanied (a cappella) choir.
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Perhaps you currently sing in a choir and would like a new challenge?
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Perhaps you used to enjoy harmony singing and find that day to day life doesn't give you time to sing in a regular choir - and you fancy having that experience again?
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Perhaps you are planning on visiting Cornwall and would enjoy spending some of your time diving deeper into local culture while meeting like-minded singers?
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Perhaps you play an instrument - and would enjoy being part of a scratch folk band - to learn some new tunes and play for dancing, or just for fun?
Reading music is not required, as Pip and Jane teach by ear with scores provided as appropriate. However, you will be invited to rate your music reading ability when you have booked your place. This will help to Pip and Jane to plan the repertoire for the group.
When you have booked your place you will also be asked whether you wish to be part of the optional ‘Scratch Band’ and if so, on what instrument.
If you have any questions about whether this course is suitable for you, please contact us
