Come and sing. That’s the whole thing.
No audition, no experience, no sheet music. Every song is taught by call and response, and if you get it wrong the first four times, so did everyone else.
Some circles are pure singing. Others bring in play and movement, because it turns out grown adults being slightly silly together is one of the fastest ways to connect.
Where and when
Most Wednesdays we sing at McMinn Park, by the playground, from 6:30 to 7:30pm. Come five or ten minutes early if you can.
Some weekends we’re at Esquimalt Gorge Park or at a Beach somewhere. We sing for an hour, then stay to play in the park, and in summer usually end up in the water.
All ages are welcome. Kids can play in the park while we sing, or join in — plenty do.
Dates move around, so the Meetup group is the reliable place to check. RSVP there and you’ll hear about cancellations too. Pop-up sings get planned in a WhatsApp chat — email me and I’ll send you the link.
There’s a second group, Play, Laugh, and Spread Joy, for the sessions where we do more than just sing, check it out as well!
What we sing
Short songs, mostly about community, nature, joy, hope, from meditative to ridiculous! Taught by call and response, often without written lyrics, so people are looking at each other rather than at a page. You can browse some examples of songs we sing, and if you let me know about a favourite song I will always consider that as well!
Cost
Drop in by donation. If you’re enjoying it and want to contribute, e-transfer whatever suits to singforjoy135@gmail.com. Please don’t bring cash to the sessions; handling it in the middle of a sing breaks the thing we came for.
Circles run one to three hours depending on the setting, and I’ll put together a private one for your group if you’d like. I’ve led them in Saanich, Victoria, Esquimalt, Vancouver, Burnaby and Kelowna.
What people say
Public and community singing was something I actively avoided and was borderline scared of, and now it’s become something so joyful and meaningful — even while staying bad at it. Singing together is so deeply human, and so comforting at a community, personal and nervous system level.
— M., Victoria
No matter how depressing my day has been, if I go to a community singing session and sing together in harmony, I feel one hundred percent better. It is magic!
— J., Victoria
We had crazy fun with random people by the beach. Trust me, no one’s a very good singer, but we made sure we were full of enthusiasm.
— F.M., Vancouver
I thought I’d worked my brain enough during the day — the exercises you did obviously worked a different part! Great group of people.
— J-A., Victoria
Nothing to sign up for. Check the Meetup group for the next date and turn up. If you’d rather ask something first, I’m at singforjoy135@gmail.com.