Selfmade Music is an artist-led, small-scale, non-profit, independent arts organisation promoting high-quality vocal productions and musical events. Through their educational courses they seek to empower individuals in the confidence and skill of their vocal expression. They raise funds for their work through exhibitions of artwork and CDs created by the Artistic Director, Susie Self.

Selfmade Music was started in 1992 by Susie Self and Michael Christie, to create and develop new music theatre, touring the UK and internationally. They succeeded in getting project funding from the Arts Council of England, the London Arts Board and the Foundation for Sport and the Arts for a number of years, which helped them to create the music theatre productions Extraordinary Women, Three by Three, SLUMP and Pope Joan. Their current production, Heroic Women, was premiered in Taiwan in May 2002 and has since been performed in Mexico, California and the U.K. In the course of their first four productions they commissioned many composers with the help of funds from the Arts Council of England.

 

In recent years they have developed their residential vocal courses, Singing with Ease and Advanced Singer’s Intensive (see Events and Courses for details), which have become extremely popular amongst those with an interest in singing, whether complete beginners or more advanced students. The approach used is a broadly creative one, and includes specific advice aimed at helping participants find the most effective and empowering use of their voices. Combined with delicious home-cooked food and the beauty of the Norfolk countryside, many participants return again and again for the buzz they get from learning to use their voice in a relaxed and confidence-building way in the company of other singing enthusiasts.

 

In addition, new courses have been developed which broaden the range of interests catered for, including Sound Healing, Guitar and Voice, Painting Inner and Outer Landscapes, and most recently, the brand-new Bicycling Adventure.