It's been awhile I've announced any shows. I'll share more below about why that is, but first I want to extend an invitation to you because...
While we are in this pandemic you may be home a lot more, looking for meaningful ways to spend your time. One of the best ways I know to lift the spirits and build community is to make music. So I'm offering several different ways to bring more music into your life right now:
Sunday Sing: Songs of Comfort, Songs of Strength
Join me for a free 30 minute weekly online gathering to connect with your breath and raise up your voice in community. I'll teach you songs old as the hills and ones just born this week. Sometimes special guests will also join us to teach a tune. Everyone is welcome to come and sing!
Every Sunday Until Further Notice
5:30 pm Pacific / 6:30 pm Mountain / 7:30 pm Central / 8:30 pm Eastern
Register to get the Zoom link
Unlock the Song Inside: Songwriting Class for LGBTQIA+ People & Allies
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 songwriting for years or you've never written a song, this class is for you.
Sundays April 19th - June 21st (no class May 17th)
3 - 5 pm Pacific / 4 -6 pm Mountain / 5 - 7 pm Central / 6 - 8 pm Eastern
More Info
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 songwriting for years or you've never written a song, this class is for you.
Sundays April 19th - June 21st (no class May 17th)
3 - 5 pm Pacific / 4 -6 pm Mountain / 5 - 7 pm Central / 6 - 8 pm Eastern
More Info
Directory of Online Music Lessons & Classes
In addition to group classes and workshops, I also offer private lessons in singing and songwriting. I'm currently teaching all lessons online, and I have openings for a few new students. I know many music teachers and musicians who are out of work due to COVID-19 who are teaching online as well. So I created a Directory of Online Music Lessons & Classes to help folks looking for music lessons and folks who are teaching online connect during this time. Please share widely!
In addition to group classes and workshops, I also offer private lessons in singing and songwriting. I'm currently teaching all lessons online, and I have openings for a few new students. I know many music teachers and musicians who are out of work due to COVID-19 who are teaching online as well. So I created a Directory of Online Music Lessons & Classes to help folks looking for music lessons and folks who are teaching online connect during this time. Please share widely!
I mentioned above that I would share more about why I haven't been playing or organizing shows recently. About a year ago I came home from a really lovely two week tour, and I was itching to get back on the road again soon. But I had persistent pain in my wrists, and it turned out to be a repetitive stress injury. Since then I've taken a big step back from playing out to focus on my health and recovery. I can only play guitar for a few minutes at a time so I've been writing on piano or with voice alone. I've gotten some cool songs out of it, but the truth is it's been a strange year for me creatively.
I was actually gearing up to have surgery to hopefully address my injury this Thursday, but it's been postponed indefinitely in light of COVID-19. While we all sit in this collective limbo, I'm glad I'll still be able to connect with you musically online even if I'm not able to perform for you at the moment.
I was actually gearing up to have surgery to hopefully address my injury this Thursday, but it's been postponed indefinitely in light of COVID-19. While we all sit in this collective limbo, I'm glad I'll still be able to connect with you musically online even if I'm not able to perform for you at the moment.
A couple more things I want to share with you before I go.
One amazing thing about this moment has been seeing so many people step up to help strangers in ways big and small. Even giving each other 6+ feet of space on the sidewalk is an act of love and care in these times. There are people in many local communities who are organizing mutual aid networks to go grocery shopping, do pharmacy pick-ups, provide emotional support, share money, masks and gloves, and show up for each other in this time. If you would like to get involved in your area, or if you are 60+, immunocompromised, disabled, or otherwise at high risk right now and would like some support, you can find a directory of local American groups here and UK groups here.
My friend Isaac Lev Szmonko compiled a list of places to donate to help folks who are heavily impacted in this crisis and will not receive government support. If you are still working and able to give during this time, please join me in making some donations:
Undocumented People
With love,
Eli
One amazing thing about this moment has been seeing so many people step up to help strangers in ways big and small. Even giving each other 6+ feet of space on the sidewalk is an act of love and care in these times. There are people in many local communities who are organizing mutual aid networks to go grocery shopping, do pharmacy pick-ups, provide emotional support, share money, masks and gloves, and show up for each other in this time. If you would like to get involved in your area, or if you are 60+, immunocompromised, disabled, or otherwise at high risk right now and would like some support, you can find a directory of local American groups here and UK groups here.
My friend Isaac Lev Szmonko compiled a list of places to donate to help folks who are heavily impacted in this crisis and will not receive government support. If you are still working and able to give during this time, please join me in making some donations:
Undocumented People
- The National Domestic Worker Alliance's Coronavirus Care Fund
- National Day Laborer Organizing Network
- Movimiento Cosecha
- A rapid response fund supporting Black, trans, and migrant sex workers in Toronto
- Decrim NY / BYP100/ Black Alliance for Just Immigration prioritizing Black sex workers and migrants in NYC
- "Whose Corner Is it Anyway" by and for under-housed/low-income/opioid-using sex workers in Western MA
- Red Canary Song for migrant sex workers in New York
- PayPal link (tax deductible)
- Venmo for discretionary funds: @Q13LLC (Please indicate RCS)
- Solutions Not Punishment Collaborative Black Trans Sex Workers survival kits in Atlanta, GA
- Decolonizing Wealth Project, in partnership with Native Americans in Philanthropy and the National Urban Indian Family Coalition, has launched a rapid response fund.
- Transitions Clinic Network - Most of the people being released nationally due to COVID19 have chronic illness. TCN is a national network of medical homes for individuals with chronic diseases recently released from incarceration in 11 states, paired with a formerly incarcerated community health worker as a part of their clinical team.
- TGI Justice Project works with Black transgender current and former prisoners and will provide resources for people being released, money for people currently in prison to buy protective/hygiene gear, and housing and food for Black trans people who are homeless.
- Bonafide - meets people upon release at the prison gate and provides them with material necessities – like clothing, toiletries, and a cellphone- as well as emotional and logistical support, rides, etc.
- A former prisoner started this facebook page where people with family members in prison can request direct financial support into their canteen to help them buy sanitation supplies.
- Organizations that are exerting massive pressure to get people out right now, such as #FreeThemAll4PublicHealth in New York
With love,
Eli
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