I hope you have had a fabulous summer, the festivals have been stunning haven’t they?
He mihi nui ki a koutou, ki ō koutou waiata hou, ō koutou moemoea hou, kia ora ai ō koutou mahi toi.
This first Upcoming section is to tell you about the Creativity&Music workshops I have coming up this autumn/winter period. The second Backgoing section is dedicated to my recently completed work and summer highlights for those who like to keep up to date 🙂
UPCOMING – Creativity & Music Workshops 2018
I will start the 2018 workshop series in the music month of May. All workshops run from 11-4pm.
Dates so far:
May / Haratua, Sunday 6th – Auckland / Tamaki Makaurau – Mama Inc, Sandringham June / Pipiri, Sunday 3rd – Thames / Parawai – Buddhaloka September / Mahuru, Sunday 2nd – Mt Maunganui – Mind Your Karma Retreat Centre
Auckland workshops cost $50 or early-bird $40 if paid 2 weeks in advance.
All workshops that run outside Auckland cost $60 or early-bird $50 if paid 2 weeks in advance. ( This extra $10 goes towards petrol ).
Please get in touch asap if you are interested in any of these karen@karenhunter.com or 021 946 399. I’d also love to hear from you if you would like me to run workshop in your area.
Here is a taster from Paekakariki on the Kapiti Coast in December 2017.
BACKGOING – Summer 2017/2018 has been awesome!
The photo at the top of this blog is of a jam session with the sisters from the band Rising Appalachia, Leah & Chloe. What a summer highlight! I also attended Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland, Australia as part of a short tour with the Matiu te Huki trio. It was huge, some 100 000 people attend the festival! Thankfully not all at once though as the festival lasts 8 days including New Years Eve. Another highlight was a performance at Auckland Town Hall with the duo AnaKārena ( with Anahera Higgins ) as part of a wonderful show curated by Tama Waipara in honour of the late singer/songwriter Mahinaarangi Tocker and her timeless songs. A recording of this show will air at some point on RadioNZ.
The following clip was shot in Byron Bay, Australia with the Matiu Te Huki Trio.
Festivals were juicy – after Woodford came Evolve in Nelson / Whakatū, Spirit Horse Festival in the Kaipara, a performance and a great workshop at Voices of Sacred Earth at Kawai Purapura. There is more to go! NZSpirit Festival is coming up at the end of April. Here’s a song from a house concert at Spirit Horse Festival.
Recordings – I upgraded the track Prana on the Hunter de Luz album on bandcamp – if you have purchased that album you should be able to use the same code to get the updated versions of Prana. Any problems please let me know and I’ll sort it out.
I also updated my Bandcamp page to include the ambient music albums Soul Whispers (2016) & Wildseed (2016) and Kirtan (2003)
I value your support very much. When you purchase my albums online, or in person, you help me keep playing and recording music. Thank you.
This year I am based between Auckland and Whaingaroa / Raglan and I am taking students regularly in both of those locations. Get in touch if you’d like to take on some one-to-one lessons / ‘musical play-dates’ this year 🙂
Kāren created an environment in which everybody was at ease and felt free and uninhibited to step beyond their boundaries. [She] skilfully and with great insight guided everybody to get the most out of their presence. Alistair.
On a personal note I have been continuing my journey as a student of Te Reo Maori at Poihakena Marae in Whaingaroa. Tino pai tenei mahi mōku, kia ora ai te reo rangatira i roto i tenei ao hurihuri. Nau mai koutou ki te kōrero Maori ki au. He tauira anake e au, engari ka pai mōku tenei haerenga. Kōrero mai, awhina mai, akona mai.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Mauri Ora!
Kāren
karen@karenhunter.com
021 946 399
The Kapiti workshop held at Paekakariki Beach Memorial Hall workshop was subsidised by Kapiti Creative Communities fund under the “Arts Access and Participant” section.
The following participants gave their written permission to use their comments in future promotions for Kāren Hunter’s Creativity&Music workshops.
What worked?
The gentle and safe way you brought the group together. The breaks. Really enjoyed the coming together or our group. Enjoyed your energy, could feel your caring and wholesome facilitation Sue
The way the day was structured ; warming up with art/exercise then moving into writing the music. Brilliant supportive environment. It could have been 2 or 3 days, LOL it went too fast! Fantastic tutor, Karen really knows how to bring our someones talent. I want to do another course. Louise
You are an excellent facilitator : giving space thru the day, not talking too much!, giving us space to explore ourselves and experience – special rare – felt safe and well prepared. Juli
Loved starting with the opportunity to paint. Showing us the technique of using time limits to generate material. The improvisation at the end. Very well organised and nicely structured workshop. Thanks for giving us the opportunity. Julia
All of it – from the relaxing exercise at the start to the improv exercise at the end. Inspiring and uplifting. Really enjoyed it, challenged myself to get out of comfort zone. Donna
The painting and the jam at the end & Kāren helping with our songwriting. Thank you it was amazing. Katelyn
Group dynamics – getting everyone relaxed and working together. Freedom of expression. Awesome experience, thanks for making space for everyone to learn/achieve and experience whatever it was they needed. Annette
Uplifted mood. Investing time into just being creative. Successful collaboration with like-minded people. Joyful atmosphere, laughter, expression.
… Felt anxious & sad when I arrived and this feeling was replaced in the (warm-up exercises ). My anxiety was dropped out altogether, thank goodness. Caroline
A really lovey mix of activities. Kāren helped us all to relax and build really naturally & effortlessly into writing and performing a song. I had beliefs around not being able to write lyrics and was surprised when given the opportunity that I could. Nicely paced, lots of fun. A very well facilitated workshop. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and having never written a song before loved the opportunity to collaborate. Loved having the chance to sing. Denise.
It was good group size. Kāren is very talented with passion with her ability to help us step into our creativity. I really enjoyed the loving and encouraging energy from the instructor and the supporting atmosphere from the group. Mei
Kāren, I think you presented a well thought out workshop. The artwork was great, writing words. The swapping of words, the grouping for a song, all worked wonderfully. You were very gentle and encouraging. Maureen
Kārena’s responsive facilitation and guidance and intuitive and attention to different needs.
The freedom in painting. Highlighting and focussing on powerful words as a basis for lyrics. Awesome facilitation and support in creativity.
Creativity & Music Papaioea / Palmerston North 2017 was subsidised by Palmerston North Creative Communities under the Arts Access and Participant fund.
All of it. The sharing was well facilitated so really great sharing where people could be comfortable. The different range of exercises was great exposure to different processes for helping work / expand on one’s creativity or own Art/Music ‘practise’.
I personally really enjoyed the Toning aspect to the workshop and will take that away as a special gift or ‘germ’ to realise in the future. I think the day was an amazing journey – wow – feels like we have travelled lots of landscapes. There is a lot to take away and reflect on. Bek
Kāren is a woman of great talent that gave us confidence. I would enjoy another day with Kāren. Sue
Amazing, skilled, gentle facilitation! Perfect mix of being looked after and being extended. I learned heaps! A yummy enriching challenging day with a good mix of challenges and lovely facilitated group energy. Nice mix of fund and profundity … Kāren puts the fun in profundity! Helen Whole day! Excellent pacing. Blend of people, Great explanations of activities. Thank you for allowing amazing creativity and soul strengthening to occur. Jennifer
Positive reinforcement.
Goingn out of my comfort zone.
I really enjoyed the venue and the faciliatation.
Good sized group. Vicky
Loved the time to be creative verbally and artistically ( painting ) . I really enjoyed that everyone felt together and open to be one. Thanks for making me feel myself and enjoying the vibe. Jacqui
The singing and playing and stretching were my favourite parts. Nina
Using different mediums and bringing it together. Moving around the room with different activities however always coming back to the centre circle. I liked how you kindly asked people to not comment after sharing their drawing and accepting it as an offer. You created amazing space for people to move into the unknown. You enabled time for everyone to process and feel into each process. Your ability to validate everyone on a personal level is a real art. Thank you Rebecca
Tēnā koutou ki aku tauira o te ao puoro. He mihi nui ki a koutou. He mihi tautoko hoki mō ō koutou mahi i a ra, i a ra, kia tipu ai ō koutou pukenga waiata, ō koutou pukenga taonga puoro, ō koutou pukenga tito waiata hoki.
Welcome to all my music students and my warm greetings to you all. I offer you my continued support in your daily work to develop your singing, your instrumental practice and your songwriting skills.
My next journey north from the Kapiti Coast will be on the following dates :
12th November – Sunday – Palmerston North – Creativity & Songwriting workshop
I’d love to see as many of you as possible, please do get in touch asap if you’d like to schedule a session.
I have been offered the opportunity to bring subsidised Creativity & Music workshops to two distinct communities through two successful Creative Communities grants.
Palmerston North – Sunday November 12th $20 11am-5pm
Paekakariki – Sunday December 3rd. $10 11am – 5pm
Please share the word to your friends in these communities so they can take advantage of these very special prices.
My year of travelling up and down Te Ika o Maui / The North Island is drawing to a close and I am yet to see where I will be drawn to settle for 2018. It’s been an amazing year of learning for me as I have been on the journey of discovering Te Reo Maori / Maori Language, and finding people and places where I can use this beautiful language, thoughts and ideas in my day to day life.
I will be travelling to Australia for the New Years Period to play with Matiu Te Yuki in his band My Golden Soul at Woodford Festival. I’ll also be playing and offering Creativity&Music ‘taster workshops’ at Voices of Sacred Earth Festival in Auckland in March.
I look forward to hearing from you : email karen@karenhunter.com or text 021 946 399.
Participants explore a range of activities to encourage an atmosphere of relaxation, tranquility and friendship..
Come and play music with a group of people who are also exploring self expression with sound. Bring with your voice, your instrument and your open heart.
We will be stretching, warming up, singing, writing, painting, making poems, creating rhythms, getting our groove on, listening, discovering and sharing songs.
It is not necessary to have an instrument to get the most out of this workshop however please bring any instruments you have that you like to play or would like to learn how to play.
In this circle, every one’s contribution is important, and everyone’s abilities are included.
I have a rich juicy kete from over 43 years of musical experience ( 53 years if you count my apprenticeship in my mothers womb and the ‘witnessing’ of my childhood. Several hundred years or more if ancestry plays a part of your referencing ). Many lives of experience provide my content, my ‘what’ in this work. My Zenergy training provides my approach, my ‘how’.
Participant comment: A safe and enjoyable container was created to explore freely rather than feel judged or performing. So much more that a music workshop …. A journey, a discovery, an uncovering, a liberation. Kimmy – Auckland 2017.
I don’t think we have to be ‘virtuosos’ to make great music – although virtuosity can be awesome, it can also be boring!
I like the grit and soar of a lyric wrung from the deep,
because no-one else has ever said it and it needs to exist.
Participant comment: Creativity can be as subtle or as complex as ( it happens ) or as the tools we have in our individual or collective toolboxes! Especially loved the interactive exercises and the group input into the content of the last session. Tauranga July 2017.
The small group activity in the video above takes place about half way through the day workshop. First there is a voice/body warm up, followed by several group rhythm activities, or word games and a session on non dominant hand painting.
Participant comment: What worked [was access to] different ideas to open creativity through art & movement – easy to remember ‘take outs’ to use for future inspiration. Exquisite inclusive manner and facilitation of people. Tauranga 2017
I’m working on getting these workshops to the people that want them – I’ve just run a series in Auckland, Thames and Tauranga – Looking at Palmerston North, Kapiti and possibly Wanganui or Levin next – do you know of anyone who’d be interested there? Let me know on karen@karenhunter.com.
Participant comment: At 11am we were strangers, by 5pm we left knowing we had shared something together. Immense gratitude to Kāren’s expertise, care, creativity and structure, and to my new friends, who helped me to explore some new musical territory. Dan Auckland 2017
You are welcome to ask me any questions about what I do (or don’t do) as a facilitator of this transformative approach to Creativity&Music.
Korero mai! Waiata mai! Feedback welcome in any form!
Kārena
This second video is from the Tauranga workshop at Arty House in July 2017.
Tena koutou e āku tauira rerehua. E koha ana ahau ki a koutou te wero o te waiata, kia tito waiata, kia whakatinana mai hoki te ia o te waiata.
Acknowledgements and greetings to my beautiful students. I extend to you the challenge of music, of songwriting, of the embodiment of music.
The last round of workshops and lessons has been a delight with so much transformation and joy released and birthed into being. Papatuanuku is dancing with the medicine of your freedom!
My next travel dates north of Kapiti will be for ‘one to one’ sessions on the following dates :
Tauranga : August Friday 11th and Saturday 12th
Thames / Parawai – August Sunday 13th and Monday 14th
Cost of lessons are on a sliding scale $60-50 ( plus a travel koha depending on your distance from the city centre). You can assess what is the most appropriate fee for you to pay based on your circumstances. I also accept good quality, fresh & healthy organic produce….. (and cake).
Please contact me asap if you’d like to book in.
karen@karenhunter.com is the best way to contact me.
Here is a short video from the Auckland Creativity&Music workshop in July 2017.
I am also sharing music at the following Women’s retreat in August, curated by Kimmy McKay ( you may need to be logged into facebook to open this event ) . It’s on August Friday 18th – Sunday 20th – Kaipara (West Auckland – way out past Parakai ). I am one of three or four facilitators, I will offer a ‘sound bath’ as my contribution.
I’ve spent the last week in Auckland with my students, visiting family and friends. I was also lucky enough to attend Cian Elyse Waitī’s wonderful play Te Puhi which was part of the incredible Tamaki Makaurau Matariki Festival.
I facilitated a wonderful Creativity&Music workshop in Thames yesterday – we were a magic group of seven bravely wild women. This workshop dived into a beautiful open space. We sang, danced, painted, breathed, laughed ….. and more 🙂
Matiu Te Huki played in Titirangi at Soul Centre Saturday night and with the help of Kate Hornsblow at the wheel I made it back in time to plug myself in and perform as his accompanist. It’s always an honour to play with Matiu as he makes his contribution to the Ngati Aroha community from a place of love and respect for all souls. More dancing and singing, hugging and laughing!
Tomorrow I’m driving back to Kapiti to continue my course Te Putakitanga o Te Reo Maori which is delivered by Te Wananga o Aotearoa. I am attending through the Porirua campus.
My next trip north :
Auckland July 14 – 20 ( one to one lessons & workshop in Te Atatu Sunday July 17th ) Thames July 20 & 21 ( one to one lessons ) Tauranga July 22 & 23 ( Tauranga Farmers Market & Workshop at Arty House Sunday 23rd )
Please contact me asap to book your place on the workshops or to make your appointments so I can make sure you get the time that best fits your schedule. The best way to contact me is email karen@karenhunter.com or text if you have my number.
I have also booked a workshop in Paraparaumu at Te Newhanga Kapiti Community Centre on August 6th
I have received interest from people in Napier, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin regarding expanding the workshop programme into other parts of the country – please do contact me if you are in one of these locations and you’d like to participate in a workshop. ( Or a different location ).
Are you up for some winter music fun? Do you fancy getting some new skills happening while the nights are long and there’s plenty of time to practise? There will be a special series of Creativity & Music workshops throughout New Zealand this winter.
Come and play music with a group of people who are also exploring self expression with sound. Bring with your voice, your instrument and your open heart.
We will be stretching, warming up, singing, writing, painting, making poems, creating rhythms, getting our groove on, listening, discovering and sharing songs.
It is not necessary to have an instrument to get the most out of this workshop however please bring any instruments you have that you like to play or would like to learn how to play.
You may also like to bring your creativity journal and favourite pen/pencils. Paper, paints, pencils and pens will be also be provided.
Karen Hunter is a experienced musical facilitator who is passionate about holding space for people to explore and expand their creative potential.
Karen has taught one to one music lessons and workshops in guitar, voice and songwriting since 1987. She has undertaken many musical studies both formally and informally and she also holds a diploma in Facilitation from Zenergy Global.
In addition to a lifetime of experience in the field Karen completed the Masters of Music programme at the University of Auckland. Karen has also taught music privately and lectured at both the UoA and at M.A.I.N.Z ( Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand).
If you’d like to book a lesson with me during May 2017 please contact me soon as I am creating my schedule over the next couple of days.
Thank you for all the great sessions we have had this last April, I am learning so much from each of you. Things some of you are working on include :
Using the loop station to accompany your songs,
Using the loop station to accompany your instrument practise,
Honing and crafting lyrics to your original songs,
Hitting the high notes in the songs you perform at Karaoke,
Learning circle songs and devotional chants,
Singing for healing and meditation,
Piedmont picking on the guitar,
Using the slide to solo over blues,
Vocal exercises for intonation ………. and more…..
What a variety of things I get to help you with! Thank you for bringing your enthusiasm, exploration and love of music to me 🙂
During May 2017 I will be primarily in Kapiti. I welcome new students in Kapiti – if you are interested in a lesson with me please contact me on karen@karenhunter.com
I will be heading up to Auckland on the week of 12-16 May and I’ll be available for sessions in my Te Atatu studio from Friday 12th – Tuesday 16th in afternoon.
For those in Nelson, Thames and Taupo – I am nursing a sore knee at the moment which mean’s I’m travelling by bus not van and won’t be able to make stops up and down the country. Perhaps you might consider a Skype lesson? Here are some student comments about my Skype lessons.
“Kāren and I have worked together face to face and also on Skype. I highly enjoy coming to visit Karen in her little creative hub, with all her tools and instruments that allow playing and improvising etc. But I also love the flexibility that Skype classes offer and sometimes it is nice to be physically in your own space while working on something.” Kath.
“We have lessons both in person and via Skype, the latter being relatively new to me, but working well nevertheless. The lessons work well for me, and open up the experience of music that works. We have good fun singing and playing, and who could ask for anything more.” Peter.
