Sonia Wilson is a living, breathing human Womad Festival. Born and raised in Paris, UK-educated and now based in Auckland, the Franco-American singer, songwriter and musician had a dizzying musical apprenticeship. A member of both gospel and a capella choirs from a young age, Sonia infuses into her music a wide variety of languages, colours and cultures: her music has taken her from the streets of Paris, across the Kenyan savannah, through remote Himalayan villages, and then ’home’ to New Zealand. She currently plays with the Gitbox Rebellion 8-guitar ensemble, is a singer and instrumentalist in various groups, and is a founding member of the Seattle-based Tiny Orchestral Moments. When she’s not performing, Sonia teaches, offering classes in individual and group ukulele, guitar and voice.

+ What I can teach you

I offer a raft of music lessons to children and adults including:

• Ukulele (from absolute beginner to intermediate)
• Guitar (from absolute beginner to intermediate)
• Singing (Beginner-intermediate)
• Basic music theory

My students range in age from 3 to 75 (!) These are some of the things we’ll cover in class:

• Ukulele/guitar tuning
• Games to develop musicality and fine motor skills
• Learning chords, rhythms and riffs on ukulele/guitar
• Learning songs from popular genres (song requests most welcome!)
• Musical improvisation on your own or in a group
• How to read ukulele/guitar tab
• Singing and strumming/fingerpicking techniques
• Harmony singing
• Perfomance technique
• Children’s songs for parents and/or teachers

I also offer classes in French conversation and sometimes… a combo of all the above (music in French!).

+ My teaching style

Music is a beautiful language for communicating emotions and ideas and I feel it should be made accessible to anyone who yearns to connect with it. I believe great music is made up of the right balance of head (wit and understanding), heart (engaging your emotions and embracing vulnerability and generosity) and hands (acquiring musical technique and dexterity). I focus on all three in my teaching. My lessons are intended to be educational in a fun and relaxed kind of way – a "safe zone" for musical play and learning.

Something else I love about music is the community it engenders. For the past few years, I’ve also taught group ukulele and singing lessons via Meetup. This Auckland group allows music lovers to get together, hone their skills, share songs from all genres and have heaps of fun in a cosy, safe and supportive environment.

+ My first significant musical moment

Falling asleep each night as an infant to the sound of my father practising guitar in his music studio next door. Also meeting the eclectic procession of musicians who’d come over to play, rehearse or record at our family home throughout my childhood.

+ Most enduring influence

I grew up in Paris where you’ll find music of every imaginable type in almost every city block. When I was 15 a friend convinced me to join group classes hosted by an exceptionally gifted and kind woman named Caroline Daparo. In Circle Songs (Songs of the World), we’d stand in a circle and learn a variety of sounds/rhythms/tongue-twisting songs in different languages and dialects from around the globe. Sometimes we’d improvise together, eyes closed, listening closely: one person would start a rhythm, another would add a sound loop or melody, the next (and the next and next) adding to the music with their own imagination, voice and body.

We travelled like this through a multitude of landscapes and dimensions – galloping with cowboys through vast expanses, conversing with the fish at the bottom of a sea. We’d occasionally reach such a level of sound and freedom together that I felt I’d left my body and was floating above the room. These weekly classes became a refuge for the soul in my teenager’s world. I remember singing out loud on the long subway ride home (much to my fellow passengers’ amusement).

I left this group when I went to university in the UK but Caroline and I have remained very close. Her profound love of music and deep humanity have had an enormously positive impact on my life and musical journey to this day.

+ Most thrilling gig I've played

I was living in Kathmandu when the 2015 Nepal Earthquake struck, killing 9000 people and destroying 600,000 buildings. This small country with its famously hospitable people was devastated. When I returned home to France, I knew I had to do something and that is how the Paris Day for Nepal Concert was born. We decided we’d fundraise for the Gandarbha, a Dalit community from the hilly centre of Nepal who’d traditionally earnt their living by travelling around the country delivering the news via folk songs. True troubadours.

As well as organising the event, I had the beautiful experience of joining some fabulous musicians on stage. I sung with Barbara Scaff who I’d dreamt of singing with since I was a toddler. She’d been the singer in my father’s band and had then gone on to a stellar musical career.

All in all, it was a memorable night. A large sum of money was raised that night to help my Nepali friends. It’s definitely the most meaningful musical event I’ve been involved in.

+ Who I’d most like to jam with

Here’s what comes to heart and mind when I imagine my dream big band. The guitar section features Molly Tuttle, Nigel Gavin, James Wilson and Eric Bibb. Jake Shimabukuro is on ukulele, Ballake Sissoko on kora, Nina Simone – the one and only – on piano.

Mike Visceglia from Suzanne Vega’s band is on bass. Yo-Yo Ma, who you may have heard of, is on cello. Flute and sax is Bobby Rangell. Percussion with instruments made from nature, calabash and bird calls – Charlie Dalin from Cameroon. Folly Ponny and Bobby McFerrin on body percussion and backing vocals.

My band – I did mention it was a big band! – has four lead vocalists singing four-part harmony. Fleur Taken (my soul sister), Glen Hansard, Gunnar Ellwanger (my soul brother and lead singer of Gunwood) and, er, me!

+ Fave YouTube clip

Impossible to have just one so I’m sharing three:

• The Swingle Singers on the London Underground. No words needed.
• Bobby McFerrin. An endless source of musical inspiration. Watch him demonstrate the pentatonic scale at the Notes & Neurons: In Search of the Common Chorus World Science Festival.
• And Joni Mitchell for her talent, storytelling gift and authenticity.

Testimonials

"Being a late starter on the guitar has its challenges, and Sonia has been nothing but encouraging and supportive. She has a sublime singing voice and has really enabled me to find my voice. I have grown in confidence and learnt some great songs – sometimes my choices, sometimes Sonia's. Sonia is a warm-hearted and generous spirit. I feel our lessons are often a collaboration which is very empowering for me as a learner. She’s a beautiful soul with a great talent for bringing the best out in people. She brings me joy! I can't recommend her highly enough." > > Grete, Auckland

“Sonia is a gifted and vastly talented musician and her lessons have been a real joy for me. Sonia has created a community connected through music and song, brought together by her vision of peace, kindness and harmony. Even in these difficult times she has risen to the challenge, creating a virtual space for us to connect and make music together. We are very lucky to have her as our teacher and friend.” > > Lucy, Auckland