After taking a brief break in August, People's Music Network is once again hosting this community singing event, which has deep historical roots, as well as a growing community of singers who have found this practice to be transformative, even when done virtually.
Registration
Free registration for this event is open to all members of PMN. Not a member? Check out our inclusive sliding scale membership policy.
Immediately upon registering, you will receive an e-mail confirmation that provides you a link to a private Zoom meeting.
Description
Come join us in this shared experience of Community and Heart. You're invited to enjoy a (digital) community circle where inspirational and empowering songs from many traditions rise up from the group. Singers offer a song one by one without instruments or song sheets. These are songs that people know or can learn easily without requiring a lot of teaching.
In this online event, we are drawing upon the tradition of Songs of the Spirit, which has been a consistent feature of PMN/SFS Gatherings since 1977. One person will sing and others will sing along. We ask everyone to mute themselves while the one person is singing, allowing all of us to at least see each other as we fill our separate physical spaces with music.
Between songs, we pause, breathe and feel the energy and connection of the group. We are sustaining this rich tradition during the pandemic, despite the inherent limits of Zoom. One part of our tradition is recognizing that the silence is sacred. In avoiding the urgency to fill a space with song, once we finally do fill a space with song, that song sinks in more deeply.
This is a wonderful opportunity to build community and to harmonize (in your own home) and to start the day with some grounded sacredness.
This event will not be livestreamed or recorded.
If you have any questions, please contact the facilitators:
*** Registration Deadline: Thursday, September 23 at 8:00 PM.
Workshop Description
Pete Seeger said, "a song is not an editorial." How can we get our message across without pontificating or resorting to clichés in lyrics and melody? What is it about songs with a political edge that enables them to cut through convention and allow people to think new thoughts?
Writing songs that deliver a compelling message of social justice in ways that move people's hearts is both a political and artistic process that integrates analysis with feeling, rhythm, and style. If you are somewhere in the middle of this process, and interested in receiving peer feedback on your own work in progress, then this workshop is for you.
This popular PMN workshop is an invitation to present your song-in-progress to a group of like-minded songwriters for feedback and critique. We'll discuss "stars and wishes" -- what works well, and where there's room for improvement. We'll explore the songwriting process as we listen to each others' songs and discover, not only the components of an effective song, but how to give and receive positive and/or constructive feedback.
How to participate:
Workshop Facilitators:
Eligibility to Participate
Participants in this workshop must:
* If you are not a PMN member, you may join here: https://www.peoplesmusic.org/join-PMN
PMN is hosting our third monthly Ensembles Song Swap. Our hosts are PMN members, Joel McGlynn and Carrie Klein, of the musical duo, hot glue & the gun. The format for this online song swap emphasizes performances by groups with 2 or more people making music together. The promotional image above includes images of ensembles who have performed at previous PMN online events. (From left to right and top to bottom: Da Fours (NYC), Occupella (San Francisco), BITUAYA (Caracas) and the Black Workers Center Chorus (Washington, DC)
How to Participate
Members of the People's Music Network may use the online registration form to sign up an ensemble they're part of to share two songs during this event. Members may also register to be in the audience. Just press the "Register" button on the left side of the web page. Registered performers and audience members receive an e-mail message containing the Zoom Meeting link immediately after they register. Registering your ensemble does not automatically mean you'll be included in the final performance line up, but it is the first step (See below, "How we Select the Performers"). We encourage live performance, but you may submit a pre-recorded video when you register to substitute for a live performance. Members sharing videos first give a live introduction.
The content of the online swap will also be livestreamed free of charge via the PMN Facebook Page AND the PMN Youtube Channel.
Registration Deadline: Monday, September 27 at 8:00 PM (EDT)
The order of performance will be released within a day following the registration deadline. You may register for this event after the deadline, and you'll be added to the wait list.
The Topic
We're looking for poetry and songs of Freedom and Struggle that speak to the struggles of people fighting for a better world, free from war, poverty, racism, and all forms of oppression. In these dangerous times, we gather strength and courage from songs that nourish our spirits, and that help us make sense of the events unfolding before us, and sustain the dream of a better future where people can live in dignity.
PERFORMER LIST: (Coming soon!)
Eligibility to Perform:
To perform in this song swap, you must:
1) Be a PMN member in good standing and/or have received a special invitation. 2) Be part of a musical ensemble that is confirmed. 2) Register using the online form. 3) Have a computer with functioning video camera and microphone. * If you are not a PMN member, you may join here: https://www.peoplesmusic.org/join-PMN
1) Be a PMN member in good standing and/or have received a special invitation.
2) Be part of a musical ensemble that is confirmed.
2) Register using the online form.
3) Have a computer with functioning video camera and microphone.
How we Select the Performers
For this event we are prioritizing PMN members who belong to performing ensembles. New members are particularly encouraged to register. Each member wishing to perform is invited to register sooner than later, but selection for the final performer list, is not first-come first-served. Because we are giving each act 10 minutes, we can only accommodate a maximum of 8 or 9 acts. If we can't fit in every act this time, anticipate more opportunities similar to this one coming soon!
Technical Orientation Session: Wednesday, September 29, 6:00-7:00 PM
Selected ensembles will receive an e-mail invitation to a technical orientation session at the time listed above by the morning of the same day. We will discuss and practice how to get the best sound when sharing music on Zoom. Each performer will have a chance to sing a verse of a song and then receive feedback on ways to improve the audio quality. While perfection is not expected, artists new to Zoom are strongly encouraged to attend the tech run through, because doing so will build your confidence in using these tools. The audio quality that listeners hear from your live performance depends on the equipment you have and how you use it. Find tips to improve audio quality here.
Free Livestream
TUNE INTO THE LIVE BROADCAST via YOUTUBE
Thursday, September 30, 7:00 - 9:00 PM (ET)
**Past and future Livestreams are available through the PMN Facebook Live Page: https://www.facebook.com/Peoples.Music.Network/live
Help Publicize!
Encourage your friends to tune into this online musical event for progressive culture: Share the event on Facebook!! (Coming soon!)
©2017-2021 People's Music Network for Songs of Freedom and Struggle is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
