The longest night of the year is approaching, and truthfully, this year has sometimes felt like one long dream. I hope that you are staying safe and healthy, hunkering down with a warm beverage and a cozy blanket on these cold nights.
Going into the new year, I have several offerings to help you connect with your musical side:
The Fundamentals of Singing
Tuesdays, 6 - 8 pm PST
January 26th - March 23rd
Unlock the Song Inside: Beginning Songwriting
Mondays, 6 - 8 pm PST
January 25th - March 22nd
The Sunday Sing
Free Song Circle the First Sunday of Every Month
5:30 pm PST
More info is in this e-mail below.
Not sure if online classes are for you? I was touched to hear this from a recent student:
"Eli has adapted better than any other teacher I've seen with digital/online learning. To do so with music is especially impressive. Eli creates a strong and supportive community which is even more needed at a time when we all feel especially isolated. I'm so impressed at how connected I felt to my classmates and how I still felt their creative energy through the screen."
My classes often fill up quickly, so I encourage you to register soon if you want to participate. I'd love to have you join us!
Two big things that keep me grounded in challenging times are writing and sharing music, and being a part of movements for justice.
Lately I've been spending a lot of my free time online looking at maps of Georgia, cutting voting precincts into walkable canvassing turfs for volunteers to go door-to-door and talk to voters. They look like this:
Going into the new year, I have several offerings to help you connect with your musical side:
The Fundamentals of Singing
Tuesdays, 6 - 8 pm PST
January 26th - March 23rd
Unlock the Song Inside: Beginning Songwriting
Mondays, 6 - 8 pm PST
January 25th - March 22nd
The Sunday Sing
Free Song Circle the First Sunday of Every Month
5:30 pm PST
More info is in this e-mail below.
Not sure if online classes are for you? I was touched to hear this from a recent student:
"Eli has adapted better than any other teacher I've seen with digital/online learning. To do so with music is especially impressive. Eli creates a strong and supportive community which is even more needed at a time when we all feel especially isolated. I'm so impressed at how connected I felt to my classmates and how I still felt their creative energy through the screen."
My classes often fill up quickly, so I encourage you to register soon if you want to participate. I'd love to have you join us!
Two big things that keep me grounded in challenging times are writing and sharing music, and being a part of movements for justice.
Lately I've been spending a lot of my free time online looking at maps of Georgia, cutting voting precincts into walkable canvassing turfs for volunteers to go door-to-door and talk to voters. They look like this:
The upcoming Georgia Senate runoff will determine which party holds a majority in Congress. In the words of my friend Dylan Cooke of Catalyst Project, "Biden has already said that he wants to pass the most comprehensive climate legislation this country has ever seen. The Democrats want to pass trillions more dollars in covid-relief, a move that could have a huge slowing effect on the pandemic. Eliminating student debt, immigration reform, and so much more, all of this is on the table in this election, if we win these two seats."
Biden won Georgia by just 13,000 votes, so these conversations can have a really big impact. Sign up today to go door-to-door, make calls, or send texts to help turn the Senate blue! You can also donate to Seed the Vote to help make this work possible.
The White Artists for Racial Justice concert I helped organize a few weeks ago was a place where my love of music and movements overlapped. The concert was tender, invitational, and radically joyful, and I was honored to be a part of it. I shared a new song around 1 hr 13 mins in that was inspired by Black Lives Matter and the call to imagine ways we can keep each other safe outside of policing. You can watch the full concert on Facebook anytime.
Biden won Georgia by just 13,000 votes, so these conversations can have a really big impact. Sign up today to go door-to-door, make calls, or send texts to help turn the Senate blue! You can also donate to Seed the Vote to help make this work possible.
The White Artists for Racial Justice concert I helped organize a few weeks ago was a place where my love of music and movements overlapped. The concert was tender, invitational, and radically joyful, and I was honored to be a part of it. I shared a new song around 1 hr 13 mins in that was inspired by Black Lives Matter and the call to imagine ways we can keep each other safe outside of policing. You can watch the full concert on Facebook anytime.
If you're looking for gifts this time of year, the first Friday of the month is a great day to support musicians. Bandcamp is waiving their fees, so all of the funds from anything you purchase will go directly to the artists. I have t-shirts, CDs, and a few of these limited edition flash drives available. You can find everything in my store.
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Upcoming Offerings
The Fundamentals of Singing
A Nine-Week Class for LGBTQIA+ People & Allies
Tuesdays 6 pm - 8 pm Pacific Time
January 26th - March 23rd, 2021
Online on Zoom
This is a supportive community singing class for transgender, non-binary, queer, lesbian, bisexual, gay, asexual, and intersex people and our allies who want to develop their singing voices in a fun group setting. Beginners are very welcome! No musical experience is necessary.
This class teaches you to sing using fun games, group sing-a-longs, and solo songs of your own choosing. You will strengthen your natural singing voice by learning basic vocal technique and developing your chest (low) and head (high) registers. You will learn how to listen to yourself and other singers with a knowledgeable ear and expand your vocal range. You'll also get lots of practice and get more comfortable singing in front of others.
The class culminates with an informal online recital on the last day. Glitter will be optional but highly encouraged!
Words from Past Participants:
"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."
"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 would recommend this class – no matter what your singing experience, skill level, or interest you will have fun, you will feel safe and cared for, and you will improve!”
More Info
Register Now
A Nine-Week Class for LGBTQIA+ People & Allies
Tuesdays 6 pm - 8 pm Pacific Time
January 26th - March 23rd, 2021
Online on Zoom
This is a supportive community singing class for transgender, non-binary, queer, lesbian, bisexual, gay, asexual, and intersex people and our allies who want to develop their singing voices in a fun group setting. Beginners are very welcome! No musical experience is necessary.
This class teaches you to sing using fun games, group sing-a-longs, and solo songs of your own choosing. You will strengthen your natural singing voice by learning basic vocal technique and developing your chest (low) and head (high) registers. You will learn how to listen to yourself and other singers with a knowledgeable ear and expand your vocal range. You'll also get lots of practice and get more comfortable singing in front of others.
The class culminates with an informal online recital on the last day. Glitter will be optional but highly encouraged!
Words from Past Participants:
"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."
"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 would recommend this class – no matter what your singing experience, skill level, or interest you will have fun, you will feel safe and cared for, and you will improve!”
More Info
Register Now
Unlock the Song Inside: Beginning Songwriting
A 9-Week Class for LGBTQIA+ People & Allies
Mondays 6 pm - 8 pm Pacific Time
January 25th - March 22nd, 2021
Online on Zoom
Everyone has songs inside of them. What do yours sound like? Join us to unlock your creativity and let your songs out! This is a supportive online community class for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, queer, intersex, and asexual people and allies. Whether you've been writing for years or you have never written a song, this class is for you.
This class will get your creative juices flowing! We will explore the way that chords, melody, and lyrics come together to create a song, and learn strategies to strengthen each of these elements. Over the course of the class, participants will share works in progress and receive supportive feedback to help them grow as songwriters. We'll analyze songs to understand how music can take listeners on an emotional journey using point of view, rhyme scheme, and different song forms. We'll also cover basic chord theory to help take the guesswork out of choosing the right chords for each song.
Participants should be able to play at least three chords on an instrument (piano, guitar, ukulele, mandolin, banjo, accordion, autoharp, etc), but no other musical experience is necessary. You do not need to read music, have any musical training, or know any music theory. Beginning songwriters are very welcome!
Words from Past Participants:
"What a beautiful and powerful vision: co-create space to literally lift up each other's voices. As a trans person, and as a queer person, I have so embodied the violent belief that my voice does not matter. To have a space to explore my own unlearning was truly a much needed reminder that when I honor my voice, I honor my spirit, my aliveness."
"Such a powerful experience connecting to my voice as a songwriter. Eli's expertise, guidance and ability to draw out strong work and pass on skills was so important."
"I found myself continuously in awe of each person's unique voice, style, and capacity to create in each round of sharing. I felt moved by something in everyone's songs and that was powerful."
More Info
Register Now
A 9-Week Class for LGBTQIA+ People & Allies
Mondays 6 pm - 8 pm Pacific Time
January 25th - March 22nd, 2021
Online on Zoom
Everyone has songs inside of them. What do yours sound like? Join us to unlock your creativity and let your songs out! This is a supportive online community class for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, queer, intersex, and asexual people and allies. Whether you've been writing for years or you have never written a song, this class is for you.
This class will get your creative juices flowing! We will explore the way that chords, melody, and lyrics come together to create a song, and learn strategies to strengthen each of these elements. Over the course of the class, participants will share works in progress and receive supportive feedback to help them grow as songwriters. We'll analyze songs to understand how music can take listeners on an emotional journey using point of view, rhyme scheme, and different song forms. We'll also cover basic chord theory to help take the guesswork out of choosing the right chords for each song.
Participants should be able to play at least three chords on an instrument (piano, guitar, ukulele, mandolin, banjo, accordion, autoharp, etc), but no other musical experience is necessary. You do not need to read music, have any musical training, or know any music theory. Beginning songwriters are very welcome!
Words from Past Participants:
"What a beautiful and powerful vision: co-create space to literally lift up each other's voices. As a trans person, and as a queer person, I have so embodied the violent belief that my voice does not matter. To have a space to explore my own unlearning was truly a much needed reminder that when I honor my voice, I honor my spirit, my aliveness."
"Such a powerful experience connecting to my voice as a songwriter. Eli's expertise, guidance and ability to draw out strong work and pass on skills was so important."
"I found myself continuously in awe of each person's unique voice, style, and capacity to create in each round of sharing. I felt moved by something in everyone's songs and that was powerful."
More Info
Register Now
Sunday Sing: Songs of Comfort, Songs of Strength
Join me for a free 30 minute online gathering to connect in with your breath, learn songs old as the hills and just born this week, and raise up your voice in community. Special guests sometimes join us to teach a tune as well. Everyone is welcome! No singing experience necessary.
First Sunday of the Month
5:30 pm Pacific / 6:30 pm Mountain / 7:30 pm Central / 8:30 pm Eastern
This Sunday December 6th we'll be joined by amazing Iranian American singer-songwriter and music teacher Adrienne Shamszad.
Register to get the Zoom link.
Join me for a free 30 minute online gathering to connect in with your breath, learn songs old as the hills and just born this week, and raise up your voice in community. Special guests sometimes join us to teach a tune as well. Everyone is welcome! No singing experience necessary.
First Sunday of the Month
5:30 pm Pacific / 6:30 pm Mountain / 7:30 pm Central / 8:30 pm Eastern
This Sunday December 6th we'll be joined by amazing Iranian American singer-songwriter and music teacher Adrienne Shamszad.
Register to get the Zoom link.
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