A Day of Play at Ser Vivo with The Embodied Voice

Experience a day of deep play, creative discovery, and collective music-making. At The Embodied Voice, we’ll explore how body and voice intertwine through somatic practice, improvisation, and co-creation. Expect laughter, liberation, and connection as we open space for authentic expression — no songs to learn, just pure spontaneous music made together. Hosted in the serene hills of Ser Vivo, Arrábida, with time to rest, share food, and walk in nature between sessions.

Sunday November 9th, 10-18h @Ser Vivo, Palmela

Schedule

10:00–13:00 – Morning Session
Laying the groundwork:
- Opening a space of play and discovery
- Somatic and vocal exploration to free the voice and release judgments
- Movement and vocal release
- Foundations of making music together: exploring rhythm, harmony, and melody

Lunch + Nature Break (13:00–15:00)
Savour a meal from Ser Vivo’s kitchen or bring your own lunch, and enjoy a restorative walk in nature.

15:00–18:00 – Afternoon Session
Diving into co-creation:
- Learning new forms and games for collective singing
- Circle singing
- Small group practice, play, and sharing

Investment

If possible, please sign up for the full day!
(However, if you can only make it for the morning or afternoon, you may purchase a separate ticket, but numbers will be limited.) 

Whole day tickets:
60EUR Regular ticket (45EUR low-income)

Half day tickets (limited):
38EUR Regular ticket (25EUR low-income)

Lunch
At checkout you will be able to select if you would like to order lunch for 12EUR.

Lovingly prepared by Ser Vivo chefs, lunch will consist of a vegan/vegetarian plate with a protein, salad, and grain/potato, followed by a dessert. 

We need a minimum of 8 people to sign up for lunch in advance, so please make your decision when you check out and don't wait until the day we arrive! ;) 🙏🏼

What is Co-Improv?

Collective vocal improvisation is the art of creating music together using only our voices and bodies — without a conductor or leader. Groups may use established forms or games to guide their music-making, or create freely from scratch. The results can range from rich soundscapes to rhythm- and harmony-based pieces that feel like complete songs.

What is Circle Singing?

Circle singing is a form of vocal improvisation pioneered by Bobby McFerrin, where a leader creates parts in real time and gives them to singers in the circle. Each layer builds into a living, breathing piece of music.

Note: We will not be learning songs — everything will be improvised!

Why Improvise?

• To discover your authentic voice

• To practice being present in the moment

• To release perfectionism and all the “shoulds”

• To experience the joy of discovery

• To recognize that every voice is valuable and contributes to the whole

• To learn musical essentials — harmony, rhythm, texture — in an intuitive way

• To reconnect with your inherent creativity

• To embrace the unknown and grow more comfortable within it

• To join a supportive community where everyone is making it up together!

Do I Have to Be a Singer?

Not at all!
This event is open to all levels. Both experienced singers and complete beginners will find ways to challenge themselves, learn, and enjoy. Because the music is created collectively, you can choose how deeply you dive in — at your own pace and comfort level.

What will I get out of this experience? 

This will be a day of fun, freedom, and human connection. Get in touch with your vibrant, vital self - breathe deeply, move freely - vibrate, hum, and bellow - be moved by the magic of collective music making.

About Your Facilitator

My specialty is holding joyful, supportive spaces where everyone feels safe to be themselves, regardless of experience or background.

What participants have said:

“Kate is a wonderfully relaxed and fun vocal leader.”

“An exploratory couple of hours with Kate Smith is like nothing else I’ve experienced during the 40 or more years I’ve spent working with my voice.”

“Kate has a rare ability to create a learning space that feels both musically challenging and very nurturing.”

“It left me full of the different sounds on into the evening — celebrated and celebrating — and longing for more.”

Stay Connected

Questions? Write to me: Kate.Smith.Music [at] gmail.com
Join the Embodied Voice Lisbon WhatsApp group for updates
theembodiedvoice.net | katesmithmusic.com
Instagram: @TheEmbodiedVoice | @KateSmithMusic

(Photo credit Ana Torres @a_anatorres)

Kate Smith is a vocal acrobat, composer, and facilitator known for her seamless blend of musical precision, free improvisation and physical exploration. As the creator of The Embodied Voice©, a research, performance and teaching practice, Kate’s many-faceted creative endeavours address themes of presence, the body-mind relationship, and human rewilding, through the expressive shaping of voice, movement and improvisation.

A dedicated improviser, Kate performs in numerous contexts and collaborations (TATE Modern, A Fundação Eugénio de Almeida, Lisboa Incommun), and has released five albums of vocal improvisation since 2020; Remembering, Anthropos, Source, Oöm, and Live From Županova Cave. Kate is one of the founding members of the UK Vocal Improv Collective, which organizes large scale gatherings dedicated to vocal improv in the UK, now entering its fourth year. She has led voice, movement, and improvisation workshops for Harvard University, Whitechapel Gallery, Le Cercle Enchante, and more.

The Embodied Voice is a practice for living more joyfully in mind and body by bringing together voice, movement, mindful awareness, and improvisation. Balancing science and technique with play and creativity, The Embodied Voice helps us tap into a voice and body that is free, expressive, vital, and present.The Embodied Voice emerged from Kate's voracious desire to draw connections between practices, searching for fundamental ways of being that transcend genre and dogma. Drawing on a deep commitment to embodied research, Kate likes to question received wisdoms through experimentation and playful curiosity.

As a result, the practice draws on many influences including yoga, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method®, Body-Mind Centering®, mindfulness, contact improv, dance, and theatre. Kate has studied with a variety of leading artists in the voice and movement fields, including Meredith Monk, Bonnie Bainbridge-Cohen (BMC), Seke Chimutengwende, Margaret Pikes (Roy Hart Theatre), Grzegorz Braal (Song of the Goat), and more. She studied Feldenkrais-based vocal pedagogy with Robert Sussuma, and is a 200hr Yoga-Alliance certified teacher of Authentic Flow Yoga. She is grateful for the inspiration of her colleagues and mentors, including Jenni Roditi (TIC), Guillermo Rozenthuler, David Eskenazy and more. Kate has also trained in trauma-informed and resilient nervous system facilitation as certified by the Complementary Medical Association (CMA).

Her workshops can run the gamut from sessions of soulful sounding, to technical lessons on voice-body anatomy, to creative games for embodied musicality, to wild and playful movement explorations. What holds all the diversity of approach together is Kate's consistent commitment to holding safe and welcoming spaces that encourage us to reconnect to our essential being.

www.KateSmithMusic.com

www.TheEmbodiedVoice.net