Comments
“I’m loving the Sunday morning SongRise. It’s a sublime experience. Sometimes I look around the circle and think how radiantly beautiful everyone looks when they’re singing. This is a great thing you’ve created. Love and Gratitude,”
“Thank you for another beautiful musical/spiritual/community experience, Laurel. It was magical, in every way. I’m soooo greatful for your vision, and for the generosity and genuineness in which you share that vision.”
“I loved SongRise. I am one of those people who can’t sing but loves to. You made it so successful for all of us regardless of ability. It was such a good experience.”
“I attended SongRise and was completely impressed with your warmth and positive spirit. The voice is such a powerful tool, and you have helped so many of us unleash its inspiring magic through song. Thank you again for sharing your talents to bring people together.”
“It’s amazing what can happen when we sing together—I forget all my cares and am lifted into a state of joy each time. It’s better than therapy!”
“SongRise is one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
“I finally managed to relax about singing and really enjoy myself. Sending you a heartfelt THANK YOU!”
“I have wanted to sing my whole life finally decided to take the chance. I was petrified but immediately, Laurel made me feel accepted and safe. The session was so much fun!”
“To my utter delight and surprise, during my very first circle singing experience I felt confident to enter the middle of the group and sing my own, improvised melody. My decision to take this chance had everything to do with Laurel’s talent as a facilitator, her fine teaching philosophy and nonjudgemental, inclusive eye on life.”
“The experience was incredible! I was utterly euphoric by the time I got home.”
“SongRise has had the most positive impact on me–I feel confident, strong and very centered. As we use our voices together I gain a sense of community and a bond is formed – we are making music together!”
“Laurel’s singing classes are safe, rewarding, fun, exciting, welcoming, warm, relaxing – one of the best antidotes to feeling blue I’ve found so far.”
“SongRise New Year’s Eve was spectacular. We had so much fun – really glad to be there!”
“The workshop was excellent. Your gentle, inviting style of leading is very helpful. You give the invitation- hold the space – and make selective observations. Excellent teaching. It made a huge difference in my ability to be present and centred.” – Susan, Toronto
“This session helped me to completely forget fears and let the music come out.” – Participant, Toronto
“It was great to have the safe space to explore, create, observe and experiment. You have a wonderful, direct and gracious style!” – Participant, Toronto
“I think we all came away feeling pretty exhilarated about singing, freer in our voices/bodies/heads. I liked the feeling of safety in the group….that we were there to have fun and learn things and throw ourselves into something new and both safe and risky. I liked that everyone had some time to shine and really make art. Wow!” – Participant, Victoria
“I learned to get rid of the voice in my head telling me I can’t do it. I learned how to listen and to “feel” the part. I learned to push my edge just a little farther. I felt very inspired to trust my voice, and explore its ranges. Singing is healing. Thank you, Laurel.” – Participant, Bowen Island
“…when i allowed my true inner voice, unencumbered by ego motives, to lead the way, it took me to the places i needed to be. in those places i found some feelings that needed to be expressed…you brought out the courage in us. you reminded us to sidestep our minds/egos.” – D.G., Toronto
“I liked the gentle pace and gradual build-up of complexity and “riskiness”. The build-up of trust and affirmation in the group. The atmosphere of fun. It was a lovely gentle weekend.” – Jen, Victoria
“I’ve always sung from a book, so it was great to learn that I could improvise and free-form harmonize. To discover that singing can be play and let go of perfection. By Sunday morning, my excitement for the doing became greater than my fear of doing!” – Participant, Nanaimo
“The experience was soul opening and I am thankful for it. My yoga, my meditation, my writing and even my painting benefited because of this weekend.” – Donna, Vancouver
“Laurel – you are truly gifted – both vocally and in your teaching style. It is so easy to receive instruction from you. What a great gift you left me with. I may be one of the few people in the world that has experienced this aspect of the depth of music in your beingness. Thank you.”- Participant, Esalen Institute
“The workshop was just wonderful! I still have music dancing in my brain. For me, this was just one of those blessed constellations that worked on every level. Thanks so much for making this part of your work. Harmoniously yours,” – Pat, Vancouver
“Laurel, thanks again for such a great experience this weekend. Ellen and I have been singing since we left and both of us are very inspired by the music and the community you’ve created in Vancouver. I just wanted to again extend my gratitude and admiration for who you are and what you do.” – Jennifer, Portland
“I liked the way you worked with the group energy, moving through it and along with it and open to it. I found you subtle, gentle, supportive, clear with instructions, humourous, full of interesting musical lines. Had a great time. Loved it.” – Louise, Victoria
“That was a fabulous workshop Laurel (though it’s clear to me that I have little skill in that area but it was fun trying!) – and thanks for being so attentive to my out-of-town friend the next day at Songrise. She was blown away (of course). Thanks for all your wonderful work.” – Jill, Vancouver
“Know that your music and teaching has made a big impact in my life. I saw it in others as well…” – Beth, Vancouver
“You truly had us all wrapped around your finger as you wove a collage of moods with grace and humour.” – Ellie K., Seattle
“Stunning. Your voice is so clear and strong and expressive. Very inspiring.” – Melissa, San Francisco
“Wow! Your performance moved me, it made me cry and most of all it made me smile.” – David G., Vancouver
“Your vocalese is terrific–you sing right in the pocket. I am very impressed.” – David, Los Angeles
“When you sing I hear your soul. Your voice is so beautiful and so embracing.” – Participant, Cortes Island
“I loved the piece with the looper and dancer – amazing! You are very talented and sensitive improviser. I admire your commitment to that form. But I also really love your jazz singing too.” –Audience, Vancouver
“The Human Loops evening was amazing. I had the pleasure of being able to sit amidst the audience and take a somewhat investigative ear to people’s reactions first-hand. Periodically people would spontaneously gasp, out of nowehere, and then furiously poke the person next to them [whether they knew them or not, in some cases] in an attempt to recreate what they just saw/heard with a ‘pssst!! did you see that?? did they really just do that??” – audience member
“I loved all pieces, the duets turned quartets, the shapeshifts, the looped dance, the semi-conducted and the spontaneous; the final product came to be more an experience than a ‘show’. Yours was quite possibly the most open and warmhearted circle I’ve ever had a chance to work with.” – Audience member, Vancouver
“What a beautiful and fun evening.” – Carol, Vancouver
“Thank you, all, for taking Laurel’s lovely vision and indulging fully in it. We created something really beautiful on Saturday night. I’m really happy about how things turned out – initially, I was more than a little freaked out (improvising in front of an audience…first time for me…and others, of course). On the other side of the experience, what I feel is deep gratitude and an eagerness to do it again.” – Pariticipant, Vancouver
“Laurel Murphy is music. She can sing to the hurting within us and convert it into an energy that is healing. Laurel uses her lovely voice to perfection, to aid deep relaxation to people in physical and emotional pain. Whether she sings alone, plays a solo instrument or fills the space with sound, she is able to be the pathfinder to hidden emotions and move her listeners profoundly. She can turn a single word into a cantata or a sound into a haven.” – Lis Smith, hypnotherapist.
“Delightful! I felt J & me were in our individual cocoons & I received all that was required and everyone else as well. All the sounds felt totally in sync. So beautiful.” E.
“So relaxing! Felt myself totally surrounded by sound. Very healing, transformative experience. Thank you so much.” A.
“Incredible – loved it – the surround sound effect, voices in unison and moving about, the drumming like a heart beat sound, all the other instruments.”
“So beautiful! I felt like I was dreaming; it was surreal but entirely peaceful!”
“Brilliant! Can’t think of anything that could be better. Thank you!” J.
“Thanks so much! It was so beautiful.” O.
“Loved the slow momentum, the energy was irridescent and I felt truly enveloped by the sound. It was a truly breathtaking experience.” K.