CommuniTree
Your first circle

What to expect

An evening of singing, breathing, and being together. You don't need to read music or have sung before.

We learn short songs by ear, one part at a time, and sing them until they settle in. Nobody sings alone unless they want to, and nobody gets corrected. If a part isn't landing, we sing it again together.

Some nights we'll make up a song on the spot. Someone draws a few words from a bowl, starts singing them, and the rest of us join in.

Before your first circle

  • Ask to join, and we'll send the address and anything else you need.
  • Wear something comfortable. We stand for some songs and sit for others, and there are always chairs.
  • Bring water if you like. We'll have a few teas to choose from.
  • Come a few minutes early if you'd like to meet people before we start.
A Thursday circle

The shape of an evening

About ninety minutes, from the roots up. Stay as long as you like afterward.

  1. Arrive

    Tea, hellos, and a quick round of names. Take a minute to land.

  2. Roots

    A few minutes of breath and grounding, to arrive in your body and in the room.

  3. Trunk

    A playful warm-up to wake up our voices and shake off the day.

  4. Branches

    We learn a new song together, one part at a time, by ear.

  5. Canopy

    We return to songs we know and let the harmonies open up.

  6. Fruit

    Someone shares a song they love, or one they wrote.

  7. Seed

    We close with the same song every week, a thread from one circle to the next.

Questions

Questions people ask

Do I need to be a good singer to join CommuniTree?

No. CommuniTree is for anyone who wants to sing with other people, including people who haven't sung since school. There are no auditions and no solos unless you ask for one. Songs are short and repeated, so most people know them by the end of the night.

Do I need to read music?

No. Every CommuniTree song is taught by ear. A leader sings a line, the group sings it back, and we build the harmony one part at a time. Some songs have lyric sheets, but nobody hands out sheet music.

Is CommuniTree religious?

No. CommuniTree is not part of any church or religion. The songs are about nature, gratitude, being present, and each other. People of every faith and of none are welcome, including people who miss singing in church but not the rest of it.

Which voice part should I sing?

Sing whichever part feels comfortable, and switch whenever you like. At CommuniTree, parts go by range: high, middle, and low. They are not tied to gender. If you're unsure, stand near a part and try it, and a leader can help you find a good fit.

What if I just want to listen?

You're welcome to sit and listen for part of a circle or all of it. Listening counts as taking part. Many people listen for a song or two before they join in.

Do I need to come to every circle?

No. Come when you can. You don't need to sign up for a whole season, and every circle returns to songs we've sung before, so you can join in any week.

Where do CommuniTree circles meet, and what do they cost?

Ring 1 circles meet in our home in Greenville on Thursday evenings, and they are free. We email the address to confirmed guests after they ask to join. If the group outgrows our living room, we'll move to a larger space and announce any cost well before that season starts.

Can I bring my kids to a song circle?

Babies in arms are welcome at CommuniTree, and so are kids 10 and up who want to sing. We can't offer childcare during Ring 1, so younger children are best left at home for now. Mention a baby in the join form and we'll save you a seat near the door.

Can I bring an instrument?

Bring shakers or a hand drum if you like, and we keep a basket of shakers for anyone. Most CommuniTree songs are sung without instruments. Guitars and other chord instruments are welcome on the songs we mark as simple, since new songs can be hard to follow on chords.

Ring 1

Save your place in the circle.

Our first season begins Thursday, October 22, 7:00 to 8:30 pm, in our home in Greenville. Ask to join, and we'll send you the details.

Ask to join