What is it?

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This is a largely a capella, drop-in group in the Community Singing tradition, focused on the craft of bringing songs into our living songbook, through creation or through song leading.

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Have you ever dreamed of teaching or leading songs at a song circle, but hesitate to dip your toe in?

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Have you ever made up a little song... and dreamed of sharing it with someone else?

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Join us in the Songcraft Skill Building Circle, where we can practice and learn our song leading skills together, and song catchers can introduce their original songs to willing and patient singers.

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Who is it for?

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This circle will differ from the Monsoon Seed Song Circle in that our focus is on nurturing song leaders and song catchers, in the spirit of learning and practicing those skills. You don't need to be a skilled song leader to participate, or a seasoned song catcher. We are all song carriers, and this is the place to build those skills!

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Those who wish to sing in support of the song leaders are also welcome, and their patience and willingness to help others develop their skills and craft are deeply appreciated.

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How will it work?

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We can shape this experience to fit the needs of those who attend. If you want to build your confidence, try leading a song everyone already knows. If you want to build your skills, try teaching a new song but keep it simple. If you want to really stretch and try teaching a longer song with multiple parts, we will make time for that. We will rotate through song leaders, but when it's your time, take all the time you need. We are here to learn what it takes to teach a song thoroughly, so that others may carry that song into the future.

 

 

Do you want input and collaboration on an original song? Just ask. Don't want any creative input, just voices to sing your song? We can do that.

 

 

Maureen, the circle facilitator, will poll participants at the beginning of each group regarding what they want to bring that day, and set a rough schedule/line-up of song leaders. Maureen will also check in regularly with the circle regarding feelings and needs that may arise and evolve as we sing and share.

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Values and commitments:

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Maureen is committed to creating a welcoming space that is safe for tender hearts in vulnerable moments of creation and sharing. We will check in with our feelings and boundaries frequently; participants are asked to speak and act with acceptance and kindness. Participants are encouraged to listen closely, support one another, and always care for yourself.

 

 

This is an explicitly anti-oppression space: anti-racist, queer positive, accessible.

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Every song you share takes an act of courage, and we celebrate that courage. We also welcome your shyness, your fear, your nerves, and your journey through self doubt. In the words of Alexandra Blakely: "Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the feeling of this fear, being afraid, and showing up anyway."