The Fundamentals of Singing: A Class for Queer & Trans Folks & Allies

The Fundamentals of Singing: A Class for Queer & Trans Folks & Allies
Mondays, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
January 6th - March 10th, ​No class January 20th (MLK Day & Inauguration Day)
This is an in person community singing class for queer and transgender people and allies who want to develop their voices in a warm, supportive group setting. Beginners are very welcome! No musical experience is necessary.
Learn to sing using fun games, vocal exercises, group sing-a-longs, and solo songs of your own choosing. You will strengthen your natural voice by learning the fundamentals of vocal technique. We'll explore breathing for singing in depth, and developing your chest (low), head (high), and mix (middle) registers. You'll get personalized coaching, and learn how to listen to yourself and other singers with a more knowledgeable ear. You'll also get lots of practice and get more comfortable singing solo in front of others.
The class culminates with a recital on the last day. Glitter will be optional but highly encouraged!
About the Teacher
Eli Conley is a singer-songwriter and teaching artist based in Sacramento, California. He is a certified teacher of Somatic Voicework - The LoVetri Method™ who continues to study to deepen his approach to contemporary vocal pedagogy. He performs and tours as a folk/country artist, and is a former member of the Grammy award-winning San Francisco Symphony Chorus. In addition to group classes and workshops, Eli also offers private voice lessons and songwriting coaching for people of all identities, ages 13 and up.

Testimonials
"This class was the light of my week. I am astounded by how much my voice and my confidence have grown in such a short time."
"This class opened up a new world for me. I have always harbored a desire to sing with the confidence I see in many of my friends but due to anxiety I've always shut myself down, held my voice back. This class helped me to open up to my voice, to give it space to just be what it is and to start to love and value it. I'm so grateful and so excited to see what other changes this leads to in my life."
"Eli's classes are magic: queer community, gender inclusivity, singing, personal expression. It's the safest, most encouraging space to learn to sing. I couldn't imagine growing as much as I have as a singer and as a person without it."
"I rarely sang before this class, although I was an experienced cellist. I felt myself improving and growing in confidence from the very first week, and despite a critical ear and brain, came to truly enjoy the sound of my own voice and the experience of singing, thanks to Eli's amazing teaching style and skill. I immediately signed up for a second class, and recruited several friends to join me."
"I have dreamt of a place free of shame and snobbery. I found it! This class brought me to a community of folks centered in love of song and voice that was encouraging in a realistic way. I learned so much about music and voice. This is another reminder what queerdos can create for each other in community!"

COVID Care
Singing is unfortunately a high risk activity for virus transmission. Out of care for our community and the health of all participants, including disabled and immunocompromised folks, this class requires N95, KN95, or KF94 masks. Lightweight duckbill-style N95s that are more comfortable for singing will be provided, or you can wear your own mask. You're welcome to reach out with any questions.

Accessibility
All of the exercises in this class are designed to work for people with a broad range of abilities and body types, and disabled and neurodivergent folks are very welcome! Most of our time will be spent sitting in sturdy chairs without arms. Participants will stand occasionally, but remaining seated is always an option. The Sacramento Friends Meeting House is a wheelchair and mobility scooter accessible space with no steps and a parking lot right outside. We are the only people in the building during class, and there is a dark, quiet room if you need to take a break. There are two single stall ADA accessible all gender restrooms in the building. Please let me know about your specific access needs when you register. You're also welcome to reach out with any questions about accessibility.

Cost
The cost of this class is on a sliding scale, and payment is due in two installments:
- 50% when you register, to hold your spot
- 50% on the first day of class
Participants can also request a payment plan to split the second half of their fee into more installments.
At Cost: $370 (Unlimited spots)
This is the true cost of the class, and the rate I need most people to pay in order to cover my costs and pay myself a living wage.
Higher Rate: $470 (Unlimited spots)
This is a pay-it-forward rate. It's an opportunity to not only take this class, but also support your fellow community members in doing so too. Consider paying this amount if you are comfortably able to meet your basic needs (food, housing, healthcare, transportation, childcare), own the home your live in or rent a higher end property, have access to financial savings and/or investments, have paid or pay for private education, have reliable work or do not need to work to meet your needs, have inherited wealth, and/or can afford to travel every year.
Lower Rate: $270 (4 spots)
Two pay-what-you-can spots are available in this class. If you are Black, Indigenous, a Person of Color, and/or disabled and paying more would be a significant hardship, this option is for you.
Pay What You Can: $110 - $250 (2 spots)
Two pay-what-you-can spots are available in this class. If you are Black, Indigenous, a Person of Color, and/or disabled and paying more would be a significant hardship, this option is for you.
​I am grateful to Alexis J. Cunningfolk of and Hadassah Damien of for inspiring my approach to sliding scale.
More Info
See all Eli's upcoming offerings for queer and trans folks and allies
Questions? [email protected]

Host or Publisher Eli Conley