Much of the work that we will do in this workshop will be the work of undoing limitations and limiting thoughts. Of opening the body, deepening the breath and allowing our vessel to resonate and amplify the natural sounds created in the throat. Peia encourages a practice of gentleness rather than force, a practice that harnesses the energy of the breath and vibration of the voice, rather than muscling from the throat. From there you can open easily and reach both the top and bottom of your range with grace.

Together we will learn healthy body alignment for optimal sound production, how to ground and harness the power of the breath from your deep core, and how to tap into the natural resonance already in your voice and body. Working with tools from the ancient Indian alchemy of Raga we will enter a meditative practice know as “The Yoga of Sound.” We will gain deeper understanding of the physical inner-workings of the voice from Vocal Pedagogy and learn to sing with grace, power, flexibility and ease. This workshop is beneficial for singers on all stages of the journey, from very beginner to advanced. The first part of this workshop will focus on vocal embodiment and cultivation tools, and the second part will focus on learning and singing a traditional song. For more information please visit PeiaSong.com.

BIO:

Peia Luzzi is an American born song collector, writer and multi-instrumentalist based in the mountains of Southern Oregon. Like water from a deep well, she draws inspiration from her ancestral roots of Celtic and Old World European folk music. With the voice of a lark, Peia dances nimbly from Child Ballads and 17th C. Gaelic laments, to Waulking Songs, and Bulgarian mountain calls. She has traveled extensively over the past 10 years to uncover melodies wrinkled and wise with time, laboring to honor their language and stories, while bringing a piece of herself to each song she carries.

A powerful voice in the rising global community of people who are committed to restoring a balanced relationship with the Earth, Peia expresses her holistic vision and passion through her music, educational workshops and advocacy for social and environmental rights groups.
Peia’s revolving collaborative ensemble weaves in rich vocal harmonies, driving percussion, and intricate guitar work, together with her own instrumentation on charangon and harmonium to create lush, organic soundscapes. Her mesmerizing performances offer authentic re-imaginings of traditional musical treasures, along with a stunning repertoire of her own original songs.

In 2012 Peia released her first solo album, The Dance of Devotion, an intimate collection of poetic love songs and chants. Her second release Four Great Winds – a timeless journey through traditional and original sacred song was self released in May 2013 and picked up by Sounds True for global release in 2015. Following the initial release of ‘Four Great Winds’ Peia gained international notoriety and requests for performances in Europe, Australia, Bali, Brazil and Canada. Her music has taken her around the world and sparked collaborations with many world-class artists including: legendary poet and Rumi scholar Coleman Barks, author, mythologist & storyteller Michael Meade, Renaissance Lutist Ronn McFarlane, Iranian tar master Ali Ghamsari, Grammy Award Winner Peter Kater and Sephardic song carrier and oud player Shai Shriki.

Peia currently splits her time between touring and the, wild hills of Southern OR where she wildcrafts herbal remedies, sings with Wild Honey – an all women’s world music trio, and teaches Song of the Ancients – voice cultivation and ancestral songline tracing. Fusing her knowledge of Vocal Pedagogy (The Science of the Voice) with the ancient meditative practice of Nada Yoga, she imparts upon her students the tools to harness the natural beauty and resonance of the voice. Visit Peia on the web at PeiaSong.com.