Yesterday at the laundromat I had three unforgettable conversations with strangers. I love the laundromat for that; it’s a place where we do this common human task in public, a place that is shared and appreciated. A place where anything can happen and much does.
One of the people I spoke with yesterday, a man in his 80s whose wife had recently died, let me sing for him Sarah Burgess’ song ‘Welcome to the Light,’ and then gave me a song in return: he told me that at her upcoming funeral the pastor would be singing Tex Ritter’s ‘Just Beyond the Moon, and then found it on his phone so I could hear it. We both cried, and as I departed he called out after me, ‘There’s good people in the world!’
I turned and replied, ‘So many!’
And the day shone.
How’s it going there where you live? Are people in your community finding ways to connect with friends and strangers? Are songs finding their way into the spaces where you play, rest, worship, work? If you’re looking for inspiration in grassroots community building, I recommend the book ‘Start With Hello (And Other Simple Ways to Live as Neighbors)’ by Shannan Martin. If you come over sometime for a songcircle or to stay in our cabin, I’ll loan it to you. 🙂
It looks like I’ll be rambling around the Midwest this summer and singing with people! What follows is a list of one-off song circles; three songleader trainings; Ahlay Blakely’s Midwest tour that includes a stop in Decorah; WisconSing; a basket camp that we’re hosting here at the Center for Belonging; and new dates for Musicland.
See you somewhere down the road!
Liz
Song Circles
in or near Madison, Iowa City, LaCrosse, and Viroqua
Come join me at any of these song circles where we’ll be singing songs that invite renewal, play, courage, and joy! As we remember how to sing together, we also remember how to listen, how to heal ourselves and others, and how to connect with our essential, compassionate nature. All voices desired, no singing experience needed. Come let’s sing!
June 21st: Song Circle at the Land Alliance Folk School near Iowa City, IA
Date and Time: Friday, June 21st from 6-8pm Location: Land Alliance Folk School & Retreat Center, 1259 Rohret Road SW, Oxford IA 52322 Cost: No cost, donate if you’d like! Save your spot here!
July 6th: Song Circle at the Driftless Folk School School Celebration
Date and Time: I’ll be leading a community song circle from 4:30-5:30. Location: Driftless Folk School + Thoreau College Campus, 224 Wisconsin 56 Viroqua, WI, 54665 Cost: None, Learn more here! Event Details: This event will be Saturday, July 6th from 1-5:30 pm. Come early for the Viroqua Farmers Market and stay after for Live in Viroqua… Make it a fun-filled day in Viroqua!
There will be a variety of Driftless Folk School Instructors leading demonstrations of their classes, a Silent Auction with instructors’ handmade goods and other fun prizes, traditional games and activities for the whole family, a few farm animals to meet (sheep, oxen, etc.), live music from multiple local bands (+ the community song circle that I’m hosting at 4:30!), along with refreshing beverages, seasonal snacks, and an ice cream truck!
August 23rd: Songs of Comfort and Healing
Date and Time: FridayAugust 23, 1:00-3:00. Stay on and attend the Great River Folk Fest! Location: LaCrosse, WI (location TBA) Event Details: Would you like to have a pocketful of songs that you and a few friends could bring to others in your community during times of need? Join me to learn some short, simple songs of comfort, healing, and courage.
Email centerforbelongingfolkschool@gmail.com to indicate interest so we can get you information once it’s ready!
August 25th: Great River Folk Fest
Date and Time: I’ll be leading a community song circle from 3:30-4:30 on Sunday, August 25th Location: La Crosse, WI Event Details: This is a 3-day festival running from August 23-25, which is easy to pop in and out of for a day or even part of a day. Can you come raise up some songs with me on Sunday afternoon, August 25 from 3:30-5:30?
Jamming at the Great River Folk Festival, c. 1979
Daniel and I love this folk festival and have been attending it for 40+ years! I’m delighted to report that in the last few years the organizers have started inviting community singing as an addition to all the great singer-songwriter action that happens there.
Cost: day passes and weekend passes available here.
October 21st: Song Circle at Folklore Village near Madison, WI
Date and Time: Friday, October 21st from 6:30-8:30 PM Location: Folklore Village, 3210 Co Rd BB, Dodgeville, WI 53533 Cost: $20, Sign up today!
Three Weekend Songleader Trainings
June near Iowa City, IA // Sept. near Minneapolis, MN // Oct. near Madison, WI
Are you excited about Community Singing? Would you like to help gather people in your home community to twine voices and hearts in this all-voices-welcomed way? Are you intrigued about the possibility of helping to lead songs yourself?
Consider joining me for a special weekend for picking up some tools for community songleading. We will practice many of the skills involved in successfully getting other folks singing including: teaching in a clear call & response style, picking the right song for the moment, finding a good starting pitch, showing the rhythm and melody in your body, building confidence, and modeling joyful and welcoming humility.
If you are connected to a Folk School or another grassroots community education organization and would like to join, we may have a no-cost spot for you to attend! Please reach out by replying to this email, or by reaching out to us at centerforbelongingfolkschool@gmail.com.
After a weekend songleader training at the Center for Belonging, Nov. 2023
June 22-23: Land Alliance Folk School & Retreat Center
Date: Saturday, June 22nd and Sunday, June 23rd Location: 1259 Rohret Road SW, Oxford IA 52322 Cost: $150 (4 spots remaining). Sign up today!
September 7-8: Marine Mills Folk School
Joining me for this special-edition songleader training are Annie Schlaefer, Linnea Champ, and Sarina Partridge. We have spots for 30 participants. As with all above, those connected with a folk school or other related grassroots educational organization can come for free.
Date: Saturday, September 7th and Sunday, September 8th, 9:00-5:00 each day plus Saturday evening informal gathering for song and play Location: 550 Pine St, Marine on St Croix, MN 55047 Cost: TBD, Watch this newsletter, or sign up for Marine Mills’ newsletter at the bottom of their website for updates when registration is live!
October 22-23: Folklore Village
Date: Saturday, October 22nd and Sunday, October 23rd Location: Folklore Village, 3210 Co Rd BB, Dodgeville, WI 53533 Cost: Only available slots are for people who are connected with a Folk School or other grassroots learning organization. Please claim your spot by emailing centerforbelongingfolkschool@gmail.com!
More Events
Ahlay Blakely Returns to the Center for Belonging
Date and Time: Saturday, July 20, 2024 from 6:30-9 PM Location: At the gazebo in the woods at the Center for Belonging. Free camping!
Maybe you’ve been in song circles where Ahlay’s songs are being sung, or maybe you’re about to learn the power and beauty of what she is making. Whichever of these you are, I guarantee that you will be glad to be in the presence of Ahlay, these songs, and the others who will gather here to sing them. Take a listen!
Date and Time: August 3-4, 9AM - 5PM Location and Notes: At the gazebo in the woods at the Center for Belonging, BYO lunch, free camping, weaving materials included!
Come spend two days in the gazebo in the woods at the Center for Belonging learning from a master basket maker! This is a project for beginning basket makers, a Black ash berry basket that you can make in a weekend. It's a simple under one/over one design with a spiral weave, lashed on the rim.
Zac Fittipaldi lives in northern Minnesota on the edge of a beautiful lake and has been weaving baskets and teaching basketry for 12 years. Zac grows his own willow and harvests his own ash splints. He creates hex weave, black ash and willow baskets, with the occasional soft twined basswood bag. See more of his work on Instagram.
Date: August 10-13th Location: Bethel Horizons in Dodgeville, WI
I’ll be one of the many songleaders at this 3rd annual event, organized by some fine Wisconsin folks. Come sing with us! More info here!
Musicland 2024 - new dates!
Musicland will be held at Dream Acres Farm near Rochester MN from September 27-29 (this is a week later than what had been announced a few months ago). Registration will open via this newsletter in late June. Musicland is our family’s 32-year-old intergenerational gathering of singers, players, dreamers, and makers.
“I want to sing, strong and hard, and stomp my feet with a hundred others so that the waters hum with our happiness. I want to dance for the renewal of the world.”
