Music Courses and Singing Lessons
Discover Your Authentic Voice
In-Person Singing Course (Jan 31 - Mar 7, 2026)
Course Overview
All acts of singing could be thought of as authentic in expression because, each time we sing, we’re doing the best we can with what we know at the time. This does not mean that things always go our way or that the process is easy; but, knowing that we’re doing our best can help us be kind and gentle with ourselves, especially when things don’t go to plan or the way we'd like them to.
The Discover Your Authentic Voice singing course will be open to eight participants and will include a series of three day-long workshops, running on 31 January, 7 February & 7 March 2026. Each workshop will explore an important aspect of singing and vocal performance that will support singers in developing and deepening their authentic voice.
The three day-long workshops will take place from 10:00-17:00 at South Belfast Meeting House (22 Marlborough Park N).
How to Register
Please follow the two-step process below to register for the course.
1. From Monday, 20th October, email Salwan (fullselfsinging@gmail.com) notifying him of your intention to participate in the course.
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If a place is available, you will be offered one and will then be asked to make BACS payment of the full course fee (£250).
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If there are no places available, you will be placed on a waitlist and will be notified if a place becomes available.
2. Make full payment of the course fee once you have been offered a place (BACS payment details will be provided).
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Payment confirms registration.
Course Content
Saturday, 31st January
Workshop 1: Support Yourself and Your Singing
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Learn what it means to support yourself and your singing
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Explore what singing means to you and the important role it plays in your life
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Share experiences with fellow singers in a supportive and friendly environment
Saturday, 7th February
Workshop 2: Develop a Relationship with Your Voice
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Explore how you relate with your voice and your singing
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Discover practice exercises that help you develop a relationship with your voice and a healthy vocal technique
Saturday, 7th March
Workshop 3: Explore the Art of Performance
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Explore different approaches to performance
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Learn how to feel comfortable in the performance space and practice different elements of performance in front of others
Workshop Format
The general format of the workshops will be to explore these important aspects during the first half of each workshop, along with warm-up exercises and relaxed group singing. In the second half of the workshops, singers will have the opportunity to perform one own choice song with (or without) accompaniment and receive feedback and guidance on their performance.
The intention of structuring the workshops like this is so that singers can feel relaxed, settled and supported in the first half, before performing solo in the second half.
Each workshop will conclude with an informal concert, where singers will have the opportunity to perform their song again. Performances will be recorded, and the recording will be made available to singers within a week of the performance.
Own Song Choice
Singers are welcome to perform any song they would like during the second part of workshops. Singers can choose a different song for each workshop or choose one song for a couple of workshops or for all three, whichever is most beneficial. More information and guidance about song choice will be made available to singers after they register for the course.
Teachers
Teaching on the course will be offered by Salwan Cartwright-Shamoon and Glenn Tweedie. Michael Harrison will be the piano accompanist for the course.
Salwan Cartwright-Shamoon is a classically-trained singer, pianist and composer from Belfast. He studied his undergraduate music degree at Queen's University, Belfast, and his master's at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. As a singer Salwan has performed as a soloist and offered recitals throughout the UK. As a composer, he has composed and recorded over twenty works including songs and pieces for a variety of instrument ensembles. As a teacher, Salwan has designed and led over twenty courses, supporting singers and musicians of all abilities in finding their deepest levels of expression.
Glenn Tweedie is an operatic tenor from Whiteabbey, Co Antrim. He studied singing at the Royal Northern College of Music and then at the Royal College of Music as a post graduate and spent a considerable number of years living in London. Glenn’s further study and singing continued in Italy at the Teatro del Maggio in Florence, and with The European Festival Chorus in Salzburg which included several Italian tours. He has worked with the National Reis Opera in the Netherlands and has been on major tours singing Opera and Operetta all over the UK and in Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark and Malaysia.
Michael Harrison is Head of Music at Assumption Grammar School, Ballynahinch. He is a highly respected accompanist throughout Northern Ireland and has played with many of the country's leading soloists.
Private Coaching
Throughout the course, Salwan will offer each participant one hour of private online coaching, split into two thirty-minute sessions. The coaching sessions will give participants the opportunity to explore song choice and performance ideas and anything else related to the course.
Important Course Information
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Registration for the course will open on Monday, 20 October 2025.
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The Discover Your Authentic Voice singing course will be limited to eight participants.
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Participants are required to attend all three workshops.
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The cost to participate is £250, which includes three day-long in-person workshops and one hour of private online coaching.
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Previous course attendees are welcome to attend any/all workshops as observers. The fee for observers is £25 per workshop, which can be paid on the day.
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Places are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please feel free to contact Salwan directly if you have any questions about the course.