Candy Verney

Candy Verney has 40 years community music teaching experience:

• Initiating, developing and teaching 7 community choirs over 25 years
• Making arrangements for choirs
• Working in a diversity of settings: schools, old people’s homes, Early Years, work in the corporate world.
• She has written 2 books of songs for Early Years and their parents/carers: The Singing Day, and The Singing Year published by Hawthorn Press
• She has developed and facilitated a training in Community Choirs Leadership, now in its 15th year. Several past students have gone on to make this their full-time profession, bringing this valuable work into school settings, old people’s homes, hospice work, community choirs, and working with refugees
• 3 books of songs for choirs: Songs from Life, Songs from a Full Moon, co-written with Lindsey Williams, and The Song House Book of Irish Songs for Choirs

Feedback from past students:

The course was so well organized and SO well balanced between instruction and practice. I particularly enjoyed the sessions where we practiced on our own. I was surprised how well we worked as a group and really used the time well. It was constructive and instructive, with such generous, heart-felt and kind feedback- we were able to do this because of the clear and open example you set for us Candy.
Carol from Texas USA 2022

Nieves from Spain The Song House 2019, now running her own choir near Madrid

I am no longer on the edge of music. My lack of musical training is no bar either to my participation in, or leadership of community choirs. There is personal and community healing and repair through this kind of music. I begin to see a place for myself through this work. Such joy, friendship, vulnerability, belonging and … love

Jessie from Ceridigion, The Song House, 2022, Wales

Beyond my expectations! I have found this is what I want to do, to help others find joy in singing

Nieves from Spain, now running her own choir near Madrid

Hugely useful week. I now know WHAT I need to prepare- timing, beginnings, endings, staffing notes etc.Excellent- well planned and thorough. Good balance between input from Candy and our own experienced learning. Great to have the notes. INTENSIVE- there is a lot- but that’s what we’ve come for. We’ve worked hard but it has been so worth it. Peer learning as well as candy’s wealth of experience.

Abigail from Ireland 2019, now running her own choir in Cork

I found the course intense and very challenging, but so very rewarding. We learned so much material in the teaching days, it will take a while for it to sink in. The practical sessions were very supportive, great considering various levels of skills in our group. We were told to challenge ourselves and most of us did just that- I did my first arrangement and my first improvising!

Graham from Belfast 2016, now running a school community choir

The course met my expectations and more. I’ve learnt so much about song styles, harmony, communication, expression- but also on a personal level I feel like I’ve gone to a place within myself and got in touch with my true self. I’ve also made some brilliant friends.
Clara Atkins from Trowbridge Wiltshire 2014 Trowbridge Song Project training course participant, now running her own community choirs in Wiltshire and Bath

The course far exceeded any expectation I could have had! Candy created such a safe, warm, creative environment to have a go teaching others to sing and it was so exciting to hear the results. Candy – you are inspirational! And warm, open, accommodating, supportive, nurturing, encouraging, yet also clear about what you think is important.

Josephine Bell from Thornbury Wiltshire 2014

Comprehensive, inspiring and joyous are just three of the words that come to mind when I think of Candy’s course. I came on this course to increase my musicality and musical skills – it’s given me that and so much more. Thank you. I set up a guinea pig choir of friends and neighbours to run sessions whilst on the course. My initial nervousness in doing this has been rewarded by the most extraordinary feedback from those attending, many of whom professed that they couldn’t sing at all. It has been a humbling experience that has given me much food for thought about how to continue to take things forward.

Carole Bond from Bath Wiltshire 2014

I offered a short session to colleagues at work and was amazed by the eruption of energy, enjoyment and laughter that happened and the transformation in the group dynamic
I am planning to run singing groups with people in recovery from mental ill health and drug/alcohol addiction
Excellent informative inspiring handouts and related to teaching sessions
incredible value course – intensive learning experience – loads of tips + practise + theory.
Very encouraging positive fun atmosphere
I would unreservedly recommend this course to anyone thinking of running a community choir. It has been a springboard of skill sharing and inspiration + new songs teach, ways to vary your teaching.
Candy has been extraordinarily generous with her knowledge of singing teaching.
Rae Levy from London Wiltshire 2014

I went away from the course confident that I had the grounding and understanding of how to direct my own choir and, indeed, have started a group, which is rapidly growing in number.  Without Candy’s training and encouragement, I could never have achieved this; I urge anyone, who is thinking about doing the same, to let Candy show them the way.  You’ll emerge from her course well-equipped to realise your dream.

Tony Barby from Corsham Wiltshire 2014. now running his own choirs in Wiltshire

I have gone from no experience to; teaching a group of six children, then a class of 30. Following this a performance in a school assembly with 90 children, then a weekly raise the roof 20 minute slot including 300 children. I didn’t think I would ever have the confidence or the opportunity to do what I am doing.

Claire Corcorran from Trowbridge Wiltshire 2013