Joyful Voices Chorus -- Summer/Fall '24 -- San Anselmo

Love to sing while you're driving? On a walk? In the shower? Then this joyful, soulful, uplifting community choir is for you! Our choir is:

• Easy to join in and sing because singing experience is never needed, and, because all songs are taught by ear, call-and-repeat-style, there's no music to read!
  
• Non-audition, non-performative, and anti-perfectionistic.
• Welcoming, accepting, and inclusive. We create a safe, non-judgmental, collaborative space that's supportive for all, especially if you're feeling nervous.
• SO. MUCH. FUN.

So...what kinds of songs do we sing?

• Led by Marv Zauderer, we sing short-form, non-religious, easy-to-learn songs mostly sourced from the modern community singing movement -- unison songs, chants, rounds, layer songs, and 2-, 3-, and 4-part harmony songs. With the occasional old favorite, too -- even a sea shanty!
  
• Songs are selected for their ability to rejuvenate, soothe, uplift and inspire! Songs of belonging, songs of healing, songs of hope, songs of joy.
  
• Feel free to check out our YouTube channel or our website for videos and audio of our choir and song circle, and our Song Library, which has every song we've ever sung so far -- and there will be a whole bunch of new songs this season!

And this season, instead of drop-in, we're doing a 7-week community choir, which, although similar in most ways to our drop-in song circle, brings you unique benefits that come from being part of a consistent group:

• Some of our songs can be juicier, richer songs that take parts of 2-3 successive evenings to learn. So juicy!
  
• We get to co-create and experience a deeper feeling of community with each other!
• Although there's no need to practice the songs between evenings, there will be practice tracks posted online for each part of every song if you'd like to practice.
• The 7th week, Sunday Sept 29, we'll again be holding a Big Sing in San Anselmo -- a wonderful celebration of singing together and building community! This is NOT a performance -- we'll invite family and friends and the community, I'll teach a couple songs that we've been working on (choir members vote in advance on which ones), and a VERY special guest, to be announced shortly, will teach the rest from their huge repertoire! This Big Sing is going to be amazing! (Check out our YouTube channel and our Photo Gallery for videos and photos of last season's Big Sing.)
  
• Singers who haven't sung with me before can try it FREE one of the first two weeks (August 21 or August 28) before committing to the season. 
• Missed a week? (or any week) No problem! I always review what we're working on, we have practice tracks posted online so you can catch up, and every evening has songs that we learn completely that night!
  

Here are some of the comments from singers in last season's Joyful Voices Chorus:

• "I felt invigorated, connected, peaceful, and nourished."
• "This kind of singing is my daily medicine to get through the hard stuff in life."
• "I was finally doing what my soul has been longing for: to sing in a playful, safe environment with community, where the songs were soulful and it stimulated excitement to try and get my part down well enough that I could feel the satisfaction of participating with others with a shared unperfectionistic goal of bringing the songs to life."
• "I felt a reconnection to a childhood love that I had lost touch with, and I felt joy, more openness, and a sense of community."
• "Marv's style of teaching was one of the best things about the chorus: his ease that let me feel at ease about not having to get it right, his positivity, his play, his energy, and his effort to want things to work for us all."
• "It was very uplifting -- we felt inspired and happier every single time."
• "I felt like I was a part of something larger -- it was very uniting and spiritual for me."
• "It touched my heart and soul!"
  

The details:

• Because of the current Covid situation in Marin, we're outdoors at first, in the lighted courtyard (see photo below, facing Duncan Hall) in front of our usual big Duncan Hall auditorium space at the church in San Anselmo Wednesday evenings, 7:00-8:30, August 21-September 25, plus the Big Sing in Duncan Hall on Sunday, September 29, 3:30-5:00. While we're outdoors, we'll continue to use Duncan Hall's folding chairs, water, and bathroom.
  
                                                 
  
  
• Once we move into Duncan Hall -- and if the Covid pattern from last summer & early fall is any indication, it won't be long -- we'll have some fans/doors/windows open for airflow and the massive heating system going to keep us warm if needed. If at that time being indoors doesn't work for you, you'll receive a full refund. If you haven't been in Duncan Hall, you can check out our Big Sing Photo Gallery from last season to get a good look.
• Sliding scale cost for the 7-week series including the Big Sing: $105-$175. Lower amounts make the choir more accessible to more people, higher amounts support folks who need a lower fee at this time, you choose the fee that feels affordable and generous. Your payment is for the entire series, regardless of attendance. Although we'd love for you to be there every time, if you make it to 4 or 5 of the sessions because of vacation or whatever, it's still a great deal!
  
• Early Bird Discount if you register by Tuesday, August 13 at midnite: $90 (such a deal!).
  
• Kids under 18 are FREE with accompanying adult.
  
• And, if you haven't sung with me before, feel free to try it one night FREE on 8/21 or 8/28!
• Community members who don't want to join the choir, but do want to attend the Big Sing (we're delighted if you'd sing with us, and you can also just listen or hum, no pressure!), can buy tickets just for the Big Sing -- note there's an Early Bird Discount for that too!
• Our COVID policy is required reading before you attend.
• If you (ever) have a challenge getting to/from choir, or you can offer a ride to a choir member, please email me, we're setting up carpools.

Come and co-create the magic of singing in community with the Joyful Voices Chorus! Reserve your seat (or get your try-it-free ticket) by clicking the orange Get Tickets button -- I hope to sing with you!

Warmly,

Marv Zauderer

Community Choir Leader & Enthusiator

pronouns: he/they (what are these?)

e: marv@singwithmarv.com  •  w: singwithmarv.com  •  t: 415.488.5969