Candlelight CircleSing (Masked!)

These sessions are the heart & soul of what we've been building here at Gaia - warm, welcoming spaces for spontaneous singing & harmonizing, led with joy, passion, and kindness by skilled circlesong facilitators.

WHY MASKS?

This event is an opportunity to show up for the folks in our community who feel more comfortable singing with masks and welcome them into the circle. We’ll be up to our usual circlesinging shenanigans, but with masks required for all participants.

If you’re someone who has been waiting or asking for an opportunity to sing with masks on, we hope you’re able to join us! We love you, and look forward to singing & connecting with you.And if you’re someone who doesn’t need a mask to feel safe, we invite you to put one on anyways and show up in solidarity & community with our mask-wearing friends!

SING BY THE FIRELIGHT

Since the dawn of days, humans have gathered round the fire to share songs and stories, and while we may not be able to start a campfire in the middle of Manhattan, we can at least sing with some candles! These sessions are an invitation to gather round and see what the flickering flames inspire in our songs, letting our music steer towards places that it can only go in the dark. Guided by a loving facilitator who will teach parts and shape the flow, we will explore moments of song, moments of movement, moments of group and individual sharing, and moments of surprise, as every session is improvised and unique!

We will provide candles, but feel free to bring your own (preferably unscented) if you'd like to share your light with the room.

WHAT IS CIRCLESINGING?

A spontaneous vocal jam, sung by all of us and led by a facilitator in the middle of the circle who invents parts, teaches improvised harmonies, and shapes the music as we flow from meditative moments to vibrant dance parties to heartfelt anthems and everything in between! There will be opportunities for people to step into the center of the circle

Circle Singing is:

• playful
• creative
• collaborative
• joyful
• imperfect
• improvised
• finding the flow
• a full body exploration
• welcoming to all ability levels

Circle Singing is done all over the world in many different forms, and, while popularized by musical legends such as Bobby McFerrin and Rhiannon of WeBe3, it dates back to the earliest forms of human singing.

WHO IS LEADING THIS CIRCLE SINGING SESSION?

This session will be facilitated by our amazing Founder and Artistic Director, Matt Goldstein.

Matt Goldstein (he/him) is an award-winning vocal arranger, music educator, singer/songwriter, and facilitator who cultivates community through collaborative creation. He has enjoyed a vibrant career as a professional in the a cappella world, performing with and music directing for The Vassar Devils and Hyannis Sound, and composing award-winning vocal arrangements for over 80 ensembles around the world. He has taught workshops & courses in circle singing, vocal improvisation, ensembleship, and arranging at programs and schools across the country, including A Cappella Academy, NACC, and V.I.P. (Vocal Intensive Program). He now teaches private coachings and lessons for creative flow, improvisation, and vocal arranging, directs a community pop/rock choir called Rock Voices, and pours so much love & creative energy into… you guessed it…. Gaia Music Collective!

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A CIRCLE SINGING SESSION?

We begin with some easy singing games and a check-in to get to know everyone a little better. From there, the evening will follow a series of guided singing games and exercises as the group explores rhythm, movement, melody, and harmony. We practice the art of saying YES to what is happening in the moment - expressing ourselves, listening to our voices and bodies, and making stuff up.

DO I HAVE TO BE AN EXPERIENCED SINGER?

Nope! This playful, intuitive approach to singing meets you wherever you're at in your vocal journey, and allows professional artists, former choir kids, and shower singers alike to bond, collaborate, & create beautiful vocal music as a spontaneous vocal community.

WHAT GENRE OF MUSIC DO WE SING?

That's the magic of improvisation - the music we make is entirely dependent on the ensemble of folx gathered together on that particular day, and whatever musical stylings and instincts pour out of us! We will follow whatever journey the music takes us on.

THIS SOUNDS COOL, BUT I FEEL A BIT ANXIOUS...

We hear you. Singing in front of people can be really vulnerable, and we make sure to honor where everyone is at. While we will encourage you to be brave and try new things, you are also always encouraged to listen to your body and draw your own boundaries, and are invited to pass or sit out and watch if a particular game or exercise isn't for you. You will never be forced to do anything you don't want to do!

Circle Singing is a mistake-free, low-pressure, safe space to play and explore. The space we craft is one where we allow ourselves let go of the rules, restrictions, judgments, and fears of other group singing settings and just SING. And when we let ourselves simply sing - magic happens.

CAN I ARRIVE LATE?

We ask that you arrive by 7:30 at the latest, after which we close the doors (lovingly) in order to preserve the safe music container we've created. Thank you for understanding!

PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY:

• 2 step walk up to lobby.
• Elevator available to the 3rd floor (reserved for those with physical disabilities).
• Seating available (narrow benches with no backs).
• Bathroom is not wheelchair accessible.
• Venue prefers shoes to be removed upon entering.

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COVID VACCINATION & BOOSTER RECOMMENDED

CANCELLATION POLICY

We want as many people to be able to experience these gatherings as possible, and since capacity is limited, each spot is precious! If you RSVP but are no longer able to come, please let us know at least 24 hours before the event so that we may offer your spot to someone else. Tickets are non-transferable, as we need to be able to gather enough funds to rent the spaces and pay our lovely facilitator.

For more info, contact us at [email protected].

MEDIA CONSENT

Because we want to share what we’re up to with people who can’t join us in person, there will be photographers and videographers present — by attending, you consent to being a part of that media, some of which may be posted online! Please email us with any questions or concerns at [email protected]

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GAIA MUSIC COLLECTIVE MISSION

Gaia Music Collective is a creative community based in Brooklyn, NYC. Our mission is to create connective, playful, accessible spaces for collaborative music-making. Spaces where we can seek expression, growth, freedom, & release in our music. Spaces where we can explore the healing potential of collective music-making and improvisation. Spaces where folks feel safe to express themselves free of judgment or expectation, and to make new friends as our weird, beautiful, authentic selves.

All are welcome in this community. Gaia celebrates humans of all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, classes, religions, abilities, national origins, languages, and musical experiences. All we ask is that you bring an open mind, a desire to connect, and a willingness to leave judgment of self & others at the door.

Here at Gaia, we believe that music-making - and making that music in community & collaboration with other people - is a fundamental human practice, and this project seeks to build space for that in a day and age when it can so often be hard to find.

Gaia Music Collective seeks to break down divisions between performer & audience and craft experiences where we are ALL part of the music-making. We hope to offer a network & platform for local artists & creatives to connect with other artists, activate their creativity through play and collaboration, and engage their art with other musical minds.

In short - we're here to sing, to play, to connect, to grow, and to have a good time!

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Host or Publisher Gaia Music Collective