Rachel Perkins Vocal and Piano Studio

What a wonderful day of music, community and charity fundraising.

As many of my pupils and their families know, there are occasional weekends or weeknights when choir commitments mean that I have to shuffle a few lessons around. I never take that support and understanding for granted, and I'd like to say a huge thank you to all the families who are so flexible and accommodating when these opportunities arise.

Today was one of those days, as I had the privilege of leading and supporting singers from Swansea Male Choir, Côr Dynion Bryncoch and other choirs at the Wales v Europe charity football match in aid of Joseph's Smile.

Watching people of all ages discover the joy of music—whether that's a young singer mastering a difficult song, a pianist achieving a new goal, or a group of men standing proudly together in a choir—is exactly why I love what I do.

I'm incredibly proud of all my pupils and all of the choirs I work with. Each in their own way shows the power of music to build confidence, friendships and community.

Thank you for allowing me to be part of your musical journeys. 🎹🎤🎶💚

What an incredible day!

Today, we were immensely proud to bring men together from communities across South Wales to sing as one voice at the Wales v Europe charity football match in support of Joseph’s Smile

What started as a simple idea—to encourage men to sing, connect and enjoy the many benefits of music—was on full display as voices from different choirs and backgrounds came together to create something truly special.

A huge thank you to every single person who took part. Whether you travelled near or far, attended rehearsals, learned the music, or stood proudly on the pitch today, you helped create a memorable and uplifting occasion. We aren’t able to tag the Morriston Orpheus Male Voice Choir, so here’s a big shout out to them 🙏🎶

The atmosphere was fantastic, the singing was superb, and the sense of camaraderie and friendship was everything The Dynion Project is about.

We are incredibly grateful to Joseph’s Smile for the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful event and to everyone who supported us throughout the day.

Days like today remind us that music has the power to bring people together, create lasting friendships, and make a real difference.

Diolch yn fawr pawb – you were amazing! 💚🎶

Feeling incredibly proud this week watching both Swansea Male Choir and the new Côr Dynion Bryncoch Men's Choir preparing to sing at the Wales v Europe charity football match on Saturday. 💙🎶⚽

To see established choristers standing alongside men who only discovered choir singing through The Dynion Project is something really special.

Male voice choirs are often talked about as though they belong in the past — but this weekend shows exactly why they still matter. Community, friendship, teamwork, pride, and a sound that can still fill a stadium.

Some of the men singing on Saturday had never sung in a choir before this year. Now they’ll be performing at the Swansea.com Stadium alongside choirs from across South Wales.

As a Musical Director, moments like this make all the hard work worthwhile.

Very proud of every single one of them.

Mae'r côrau meibion yma o hyd!

One of the things I love most about teaching singing is solving vocal puzzles.

Sometimes the breakthrough comes from technique.
Sometimes it comes from understanding how the voice actually works.

And sometimes… it comes from asking grown adults to miaow like cats, whimper like puppies, or make ridiculous siren noises. 😂

My Estill Voice Training® journey (Levels 1 & 2 completed, now working towards Figure Proficiency certification) has completely changed the way I teach and listen to voices.

The strange sounds might seem odd at first… but when they suddenly unlock freedom, power, and confidence in the voice, it all makes sense. 🎶

One of the things I love most about teaching singing is that every voice is different.

Two singers can have exactly the same issue — tension, cracking, lack of power, running out of breath — but the reason behind it can be completely different.

That’s one of the reasons I became so interested in Estill Voice Training®.

Over the past few years I’ve completed Estill Level 1 & 2 training, and I’m now working towards Estill Figure Proficiency certification. It’s completely changed the way I listen to voices and help singers solve problems.

It HAS also resulted in me regularly asking grown adults to:

🐯 miaow like a cat
🐾 whimper like a puppy
🚑 make siren noises
🦆 sound like cartoon ducks

…all in the name of healthy singing.

And the worst part?

It usually works almost immediately. 😂

I genuinely love the detective work of teaching — figuring out why something is happening, then finding the weird little exercise that suddenly unlocks everything for a singer.

That moment never gets old. 🎶

I’m pretty sure 80% of my job as a singing teacher can be summed up in three words:

“Open. Your. Mouth.”

😅

Week after week, lesson after lesson, rehearsal after rehearsal… I say it SO often I sometimes wonder if I should just have it printed on a t-shirt.

And then… this photo happened.

📸 The photographer has very kindly captured what I actually mean when I say it.

Not a polite little gap…
Not a “that’ll do”…

THIS. 👆

Full commitment. Proper sound. No holding back.

So next time you’re singing and you hear my voice in your head… you know exactly what to do 😂

Mae’n ddydd y piano 🎹

Happy world piano day

Catch me lose the ability to speak in joined up sentences 😬🙈

🚨 We’re on BBC Wales News Wales Today – 6.30pm this evening! 🚨

The Dynion Project will be featured on BBC Wales Today tonight at 6.30pm — and you might just catch a glimpse of what happens when you put a group of men, a camera crew, and a brand-new choir together… 😅

There were nerves.
There was excitement.
There was… a little dread.
Our MD may or may not have temporarily lost the ability to speak in full, coherent sentences. 🎤🙈

But despite all of the above — the men did brilliantly.

The singing is coming on so well, the sound is growing every week, and the camaraderie is exactly what this project is all about. Community. Charity. Courage.

We’re so proud of every man who stepped up, faced the cameras, and sang anyway. That’s what the Dynion Project is about — showing up, even when your knees are wobbling.

Tune in at 6.30pm and cheer them on! 💙

Really looking forward to our first proper rehearsal tomorrow 🎶

If you fancy doing something different on a Wednesday evening and help raise money for charity, come along to Bryncoch Community Centre at 7pm.

We thought we'd get in on the act! This will be us (but a bit more casual) at our first full rehearsal at Bryncoch Community Centre at 7pm, Wednesday 11th February.

There's still time to join us and help raise money for Joseph’s Smile 🎶

🩵 World Cancer Day 🩵

Today, we stand with everyone whose life has been touched by cancer.

The Dynion Project brings men together through singing to raise funds for Joseph’s Smile, supporting families of children living with cancer.

This isn’t about experience — it’s about using your voice to do something that matters.

🎶 10-week modern men’s choir
❤️ Singing to support children with cancer
🤝 Community, purpose, connection

📅 Introductory Evening: Wednesday 4th February
📍 Bryncoch Community Centre, Neath SA10 7TT
🕖 7pm

👉 Come along. Try it. Join the project.