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While There's Time 4:050:00/4:05
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One Step 4:120:00/4:12
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A Good Day 3:460:00/3:46
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0:00/2:56
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Perfectly Imperfect 4:280:00/4:28
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At the Same Time 4:000:00/4:00
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No Way 3:470:00/3:47
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It Will Be Done 3:320:00/3:32
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Not Ready 4:070:00/4:07
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0:00/3:18
SONGS FOR COMMUNITY
Songs For Community is a bold project that provides a framework and a repertoire of songs & arrangements for groups to explore social justice, and what “being the change” could mean. It also offers choirs an embodied and wholistic approach to learning repertoire & deepening a sense of community.
It has 3 components:
- Album of songs
- Song + Activity book that has lead sheets (melody, lyrics, chords) as well as activities & conversations starters for groups who want to go beyond just singing.
- Contemporary choral arrangemets (to be available a la carte) All songs comes with suggested grooves for Body Percussion
I have been building this project for the past few years and while I received support from Ontario Arts Council to record the bed tracks, the rest of it is completely self-funded. Buying this version of the album will help me fund re-mixing & mastering it professionally, as well as completing the book.
Ever heard the phrase “music can change the world” or something similar?
Me too! I used to even say and believed it was true for many years. I’ve spent over two decades writing and performing music with this belief.
But, when asked to give a talk for Waterloo Region’s Federation of Teachers on how “how to use music for social change”, I began to realize that I actually don’t believe that it can anymore.
Don’t get me wrong- it’s certainly my favourite delivery method of sharing good ideas! And it’s true that sometimes a message delivered with a beautiful melody or infectious groove can help it to be more readily received than if words were spoken alone.
But/and, if we’re honest, we’d admit that music or art can only change the world if it changes us first. So, how do we go from singing songs that say “we’re all one” to actually doing the work to make that more true? That is what this program is attempting to help groups, choirs, classrooms, etc. unpack.
Songs For Community will also encourage choral spaces to find more space- space for embodied music making, joy and inter-personal connection.
Themes explored in Songs For Community include:
- climate change
- love in action over just words
- disrupting the status quo
- challenging our own beliefs and biases
- use of personal power
- perfectionism and how it doesn’t serve us well
- listening to and believing others’ stories
- cultivating imagination, curiosity and compassion
Who is this program for?
- teachers (primary, secondary and post-secondary)
- choirs (both community led and professional)
- university/college programs that discuss social change, inclusivity, etc.
- progressive churches
- gatherings/organizations looking for an opening/closing song to help stimulate a sense of community and collaboration
- individuals who simply enjoy the music and message and would like to sing along
