Communal Songcatching Series

A committed series dedicated to the craft of spontaneously & collectively creating songs together. At Boston-Area Singing Circles, we inspire deeper connection to ourselves, each other, and the Earth through song. We believe in the healing, freedom, and joy that can come through communal singing, and aim to make that experience more widely accessible. About the Series: "Communal Songcatching" is a process of spontaneously and collaboratively creating songs together. With an equal emphasis on storytelling, deep listening, and improvisation, we use real stories from our lives as inspiration, drawing out words, phrases, and themes to create songs in the moment. "This practice is such good medicine! There is power in having your story heard - even if it’s simply a story from an ordinary day. To have something personal turned into a little piece of musical art that is made by the collective and then shared beyond the room is a gift" - past participant This series will invite a committed cohort of singers into a deeper relationship with the process, exploring what is possible as familiarity with the practice and each other grows. While the songs created are beautiful in and of themselves, the community that is built around the co-creation of them is the real gift. "As the sessions unfolded, we developed a real sense of familiarity, trust, and connection with one another. By the end, there was a unique comfort and ease that came from collaborating together consistently and sharing space in such a heartFULL way." No prior songwriting or singing experience is necessary - just come with an openness to mystery and a desire to attune both to yourself and the collective. "Going into the series, I was nervous because I do not have a formal music background — I worried that I might somehow hold the group back from “catching” songs. But I quickly realized those fears were unnecessary. Jordan structured the sessions in such an inclusive and thoughtful way that I always felt like a valued member of the group, with both meaningful contributions to offer and so much to learn." Schedule & Commitment: We meet 6 Tuesdays in a row, 7-9pm, from 10/13 - 11/17: • 10/13: Open Songcatching Circle - anyone can join this circle, without committing to the full series. Those who wish to join the full series must attend this circle. If you wish to sign-up only for this circle, do so here. • 10/20, 10/27, 11/3: 3 closed sessions for a committed cohort to deepen their practice together. Yes, 11/3 is election night! What better night to sit with mystery together? • 11/10: Alumni Night - anyone who has participated in a songcatching series before is invited to join. • 11/17: Community Share - after honing our songcatching skills over 5 weeks, we'll invite friends, family, and community to come witness and share in the process. There are options to sign-up for just the first 4-weeks of the series, or the full 6 weeks. "Homework": In between each session there will be simple and fun musical "homework" to complete between each session, designed to help integrate songcatching practices into your daily life. A WhatsApp group will be made to share in these practices and facilitate connection between participants. About the Facilitator: Jordan Mudd is a songleader, grief tender, vocal coach, and co-founder of Boston-Area Singing Circles. He has been catching songs individually & collectively for many years. Learn more about him and listen to his music at www.jordanmudd.com Sign-up & Cost: • Open Songcatching Circle [10/13]: $30, sliding scale $20 - 40 [sign-up for this circle only here] • First 4 Weeks of Series [10/13 - 11/3]: Suggested $115, sliding scale $75 - 155. • Full 6 Week Series [10/13 - 11/17]: Suggested $165, sliding scale $100 - 225. We also have 2 pay-what-you-wish tickets available for each of the above those for whom the cost is prohibitive. Use the code "access" at checkout to reveal those tickets. This series will be capped at 15 participants, so get your spot soon! Refund Policy: Full refunds offered before 10/9, half refunds offered until 10/19. Additional 1-1 Coaching Available: All participants in this series are eligible for a private "pay-what-you-wish" Embodied Vocal Coaching session with facilitator Jordan Mudd. These sessions will focus on supporting your practice of songcatching. Sessions last 75 minutes, and can be scheduled between 9am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, at Jordan's home studio, a 5 minute walk from Forest Hills, JP. Sessions must be conducted between 10/13 & 11/17. Participation in a vocal coaching session is not required to participate in this series. Learn more about Jordan's approach to Embodied Vocal Coaching here. Location: Hope Central Church is a 4 minute walk from the Green Street stop on the orange line, and has its own free parking lot across the street. The Church is wheelchair accessible via a ramp and Power Stair Lift Chair, and has a wheelchair accessible bathroom. Please note during sign-up if you have any accessibility needs we should know about. Bring: A water bottle, a cushion or blanket to sit on [optional], and a snack to share if you'd like. What Past Participants Said: "If you are at all curious— DO IT! Such a beautiful experience of co-creation! " "This offering floated me through a difficult period with so much joy and uplift. The process of collaborative, improvisational songwriting has been magical and deep. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves feeling embodied, connected, and free to explore and express. Jordan is a wizard. " "I enjoyed every single second. Jordan’s gift of creating and sustaining generative spaces for songs to flow is astounding, so if this series calls to you, push everything else aside and do it!"