EnChantMent! Singing

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“Make your own music… if you would save your soul.” – Pete Seeger

EnChantMent! are group singing sessions open to everyone.

Did you know that singing played a key role in helping the Civil Rights movement keep going? Bolster and soothe your nervous system for the long haul now too by raising your voice with others in simple songs of peace, deep connection to Spirit and nature, fun, and hopeful, rebellious resistance in the service of life.

Soothe your nervous systems, renew your connection to the sacred, and raise your voices for hope and liberation! Everyone is welcome. You do NOT have to be a “good singer” to participate. All songs are easy to learn and will be sung by ear, not reading. Each person will get the chance to choose a song for us all to sing together from the EnChantMent songbook.

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CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS

SUN, MAY 5, 2024: World Labyrinth Day + EnChantMent!

Melding World Labyrinth Day & EnChantMent, come enjoy a contemplative afternoon that includes singing simple, spirit-raising, perfection-free songs with others (2-3 pm) and walking our outdoor Chartres-replica Labyrinth built of smooth stones (until 6 pm). Barefoot walking is welcome. Note that this event is on Sunday. Free, with love offerings to help maintain the labyrinth deeply appreciated.

EnChantMent Singing Gatherings

IN PERSON, Spring 2024:
* Sun, March 10,  2-3:30 pm
** Wed, March 20,  7-8:30 pm
* Sun April 14, 2-3:30 pm
** Wed April 24, 7-8:30 pm
* Sun May 5, 2-3 pm (then labyrinth walking: see separate World Labyrinth Day event details above)
** Wed May 15, 7-8:30 pm

Location: Ravenwood Labyrinth near Boulder CO. If weather allows, we will sing outdoors either on the deck or around a fire chiminea and if not, we’ll sing together in a cozy room.

Cost: Gratefully accepting love offerings for the time, energy, and knowledge put into creating these events.

New folx, please contact me to receive directions and to get on the reminder email list. Your contact info will not be sold or abused.

What kinds of songs will we sing? –As one of my old ballad-singing buddies put it, “Earth Mama stuff.” Plus more. We’ll largely work from my EnChantMent collection of easy-to-learn songs for communities to sing together. These include chants from many spiritual traditions, rounds, lullabies, and fun chorus songs that lift the spirit and ease the over-burdened nervous system. Repertoire spans the gamut from sacred to goofy. Most of the singing will be easy enough to pick up right away by just listening. If you have my EnChantMent songbook, you may choose some of the songs each session.  The main point is the joyful, spirit-lifting, and often contemplative practice of singing itself, with some songs repeating week after week upon request so you can really learn them by ear. That bit is important to me. I feel these need to be embedded into your heart in order for you to become carriers of them. We have come to rely on recorded technology far too much. When the electricity goes down, will you be able to kindle a fire and soothe your people with your voice, helping them weather the storm through shared magic and laughter? That’s the ability I want to give you here.  If you feel drawn to this, you are heartily invited to join in.

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Contemplative Afternoons on Ravenwood Labyrinth – when weather permits (watch this space for dates, & better, please email to get on the EnChantMent mailing list)

Enjoy a peaceful afternoon of walking the Ravenwood Labyrinth, soul-soothing song, and Council sharing.  This event is simple, but hopefully carries profound reverberations forward into your life. A wholly outdoor event. Free, with donations welcome for reciprocity and to help maintain the labyrinth. If you would like to attend, please write for the address.

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Seasonal Ceremonal Gatherings

Join in for Solstice, Equinox, and other seasonal celebrations with Dóiteán agus Uisce (Flame and Well), a Grove in the Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids. Nature-based rituals, often including songs and chants. Ongoing. All seasonal celebrations except Samhain are open to visitors.

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EnChantMent-style Songleading Workshop

By special request, I now offer a live, interactive Zoom workshop on how to lead EnChantMent-style song in your own communities.

We begin with a short lecture covering the basic elements of song and songleading – that is, helping a group of people with ordinary voices succeed and have fun singing together.  Each participant will then have the opportunity to introduce and lead at least one song, then receive feedback and try again with enhanced understanding, skill, and attagirls behind you.

UPCOMING: TBA

PAST: Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 from 6-8 PM MT, on Zoom.

Limited to 4 people so each gets the needed flight time.

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Private Repertoire Lessons

If you would like to learn particular songs or types of songs, or gain personalized help with singing them, private lessons are available. Please email and let me know your desires.

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EnChantMent Participants Sing Out:

• “Love the way Tina teaches us the chants. She is so adept at music and leading us. We are very fortunate and blessed to have her!” – Lexi E.
• “Last night’s session was everything I was looking for!!! Thank you for all the wonderful songs, sounds, and leadership, and for the tone of the evening, warm and welcoming without feeling forced!” –Chandra F.
• “Tina rekindled my love of singing –- which I haven’t felt in years.” –Leslie G.
• “I am continually impressed by how rich and versatile your voice is; you can take it to so many different places, all wonderful — to say nothing of your wacky sense of humor.” –Ed S.
• “It was so great to Sing and EnCHANT with you last week. I Loved it! …Thanks for Be-ing Awesome! –Cameran F.
• “I wanted to let you know that your singing workshop really moved a lot of stuff for me.  My life is freaking hard right now, and you helped me grieve through a lot of what’s up. I have you to thank for helping me emote and maneuver the seas of emotion. I felt like I could see land again after that afternoon. It made a big difference for my experience [at dance camp], and I think you’re totally amazing.  Thank you.” –J.E.
• “I absolutely loved the singing two weeks ago; it is such a wonderful group of women and it was really exciting!” –Lynne J.
• “What a joyful sense of community you brought to our gathering.” –Mark G.

What is EnChantMent! about?

DESCRIPTION of IN-PERSON EVENTS (availability unpredictable until Covid-19 settles down):

EnChantMent! is a group singing session open to anyone.

You are heartily invited to come out and play; to join your voice with others who like to sing – for joy, spiritual uplift, community building, activist oomph, or just plain fun.

Led by Tina Fields, sessions can range in duration from a one-time meeting of two hours up to a series of 4 – 6 weekly meetings. Enchantment began in 2006, when Tina’s college students in a “Music for Social Change” class didn’t want to stop singing after the class was over.

In EnChantMent, the emphasis is on the group’s collective act of singing, not on finished product or individual solos. We break away from the performer/audience split so prevalent today. Simple percussion is the only accompaniment. You do not need to know how to read music as we’ll be learning the tunes by ear, and you are welcome even if you think you “can’t sing.”  The point is to have fun together. We follow the joyful rule invented by the great songleader Doug von Koss: this group sings in a Perfection-Free Zone.

We mainly sing rounds and simple repetitive chants from various spiritual traditions across the world. We also play with working songs such as sea chanties, folk songs and trad ballads with choruses from America and the British Isles, goofy kids’ songs, lullabies and other trance-inducing songs, African part-songs in harmony, and protest songs both old and new.  Lyrics are provided. In addition, if you have favorite songs you’d like to bring to the group, they are very welcome. It is a lot of fun.

“La la laaaa!”

Participants also develop practical skills in music, gaining more control over, and confidence in, their singing voices. To that end, we do simple warmups that help extend our vocal range; and as we sing, we play with elements of a-capella sound production such as breathing techniques, rhythm, tone, mouth formation, dynamics of volume, and harmony.

Because Tina’s ‘day job’ is college teaching, at times she’ll be unable to resist telling you some tidbit about the historical and cross-cultural uses of the music we’re singing. Or perhaps we’ll briefly discuss how such music can create community, document social conditions, shift consciousness, and/or effect personal and societal transformation. But that will be kept to a minimum. The singing is the main thing.

Even though it’s often scheduled after a long day or week of work, it’s amazing how rejuvenated we always feel afterwards. Singing together feels like a dip in a refreshing pool.

I am also open to leading one-time rounds and/or chanting sessions upon request. There is also potential to run a short-term weekly group, to play with more complex harmonies. Please contact me if interested!   

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About the Song Carrier/Leader

According to her mother, Tina Fields sang before she could talk. Her diverse singing experience since then includes semi-pro musical theater, participation in choral harmony groups such as early music and a-capella madrigals, play with living history organizations doing trad ballads and sea shanties, leading pagan women in ritual chants, and singing with bands in bars and the like doing Celtic fusion and swing blues. She leads singing workshops at dance camps such as the west coast Queer Contradance Camp, BACDS’ Family Week, and English Week. Incorporating song and the other arts into education for resilience in her “day job” as a college professor, Tina has led professional development workshops for environmental educators on traditional regional music as a teaching tool, taught college courses “Singing for Social Change” at New College of California and “Singing For Our Lives” at Naropa University, and given academic papers on using music to shift consciousness. Tina has also served as Artist-in-Residence and storyteller to children in NV and CA schools, and calls contra and barn dances. She is a clear presenter with a kind demeanor and what has been called “an infectious sense of humor,” who delights in helping uplift the human spirit through group song.

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Past Special Singing Events include:

Lafayette birds!, Bird City Colorado, and World Migratory Bird Day.   I’ll lead one song and read my poetry from Dawn Songs. Hosts: Lafayette Open Space and Environment for the Americas. ”The evening will include refreshments, music, bird art, poetry, and conversations with interesting people. We will showcase the recent “Innovations in Environmental Education Award” given to the Lafayette birds! program by the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education. And, we will express our gratitude to volunteers and others who have contributed to bringing these programs and the joy of birds to Lafayette.” The Muse in Lafayette, CO.  Wednesday, January 24, 2024, 5:30- 7:00 p.m.  

“Sister Song Project: Special EnChantMent Songs for the Great Turning.” Interactive presentation for the Scuola di Ecopsicologia (IES Italian School of Ecopsychology). Also part of the Lanterns of Active Hope meetings for active Ecotuners and Green Coaches who have completed their Ecopsychology training at Ecopsiché. My regular EnChantMent participants are also welcome to join. When: 30 Nov 2023,  9-10 PM Rome / 1-2 PM Colorado. Write for Zoom link. 

Contemplative Afternoons on Ravenwood Labyrinth – Saturday, October 9, 2021; Oct 2, 2022; Oct 23, 2022; Nov 6, 2022, some in 2023 — and continuing into 2024 when the weather allows!

• Enjoy a peaceful afternoon of walking the Ravenwood Labyrinth, soul-soothing song, and Council sharing.  It will be simple, but hopefully carry profound reverberations forward into your autumn days. A wholly outdoor event. Free, with donations welcome for reciprocity and to help maintain the labyrinth. If you haven’t received an invite and would like to attend, please write for the address.

EnChantMent-style Songleading Workshop

By special request, I now offer a live, interactive Zoom workshop on how to lead EnChantMent-style song in your own communities.

We begin with a short lecture covering the basic elements of song and songleading – that is, helping a group of people with ordinary voices succeed and have fun singing together.  Each participant will then have the opportunity to introduce and lead at least one song, then receive feedback and try again with enhanced understanding, skill, and attagirls behind you.

UPCOMING: TBA

PAST: Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 from 6-8 PM MT, on Zoom.

Limited to 4 people so each gets the needed flight time.

GreenFaith Boulder CountyFaiths 4 Climate Justice‘s Sacred Action Sunday 10/17/2021 from 3-5pm
Boulder County Courthouse, 1325 Pearl Street

• Speakers include GreenFaith Boulder County, Zen priest and climate scientist Sensei Kritee Kanko, Jungian psychotherapist, author and Jewish Renewal Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, Sherry Ellms, Associate Professor at Naropa University and Faculty Lead for the Joanna Macy Center, and Songleader, storyteller and ecopsychologist, Dr. Tina Fields who will lead the gathering in song.
• Procession and vigil in downtown Boulder. We will have signs and banners calling for climate justice and an end to the use of fossil fuels for the sake of the Earth and all beings. Bring bells, shofars, drums and other instruments to sound the call to action if you would like.
• Water offering ceremony at the Boulder International Peace Garden to honor our inter-relationship with the Earth and with all life. Bring fall leaves, flowers, earth-friendly offerings for bark boats to send gratitude and love to the water and prayers to future generations. Songleader, storyteller and ecopsychologist Dr. Tina Fields will offer song.

EnChantMent on Zoom (so the commute is a breeze!)

Autumn 2022 Zoom sings: Tues Oct 4, Wed Nov 2, and Tues Dec. 6. All run 7-8 pm Mountain Time. Write for the Zoom link.

Beginning last September 2020 when so many of us missed singing in person, a lovely singing community with participants from all over the country began creating EnChantMent together on Zoom. This continues now once per month during the colder seasons here, usually on the first Tuesday eve of each month for an hour, 7-8 pm Mountain Time. I plan to repeat this offering through Spring, Autumn, and Winter of 2022 with a few exceptions: you know, life.

Everyone is welcome.

Soothe your nervous systems, renew your connection to the sac

• EnChantMent! IN PERSON singing for Creativity Alive, aka Mmmwhah! Vocal Playshop Series.  (Mmmwhah! stands for “Movement, Music, Mindfulness — Whoa! and — Art.”)
• Chosen as the Boulder Daily Camera’s “Pick of the Day!”
  • Thurs, July 8, 2021, 7-8:30 PM MST outdoors Creekside Plaza, Boulder Public Library
  • Monday, March 4, 2019
  • Monday, November 19, 2018
  • 6-8 pm at the Boulder Circus Center, 4747 26th St. Limited to 20 participants.
  • Description 2021: “Tina Fields will be rejoining our Vocal Playshop series with her EnChantMent Song Circles on July 8.  (Yay, Tina!)  In these circles, we fill our hearts with joy by singing simple repetitive chants and harmonious rounds from various traditions across the world. Songs can be quickly learned via call-and-response.  See full schedule for upcoming vocal playshops.”  
  • Description 2018-19:

    In the EnChantMent playshop, our new circle of community will collectively create a chorus of radiant voices. We will mainly sing simple repetitive chants and harmonious rounds from various traditions across the world that uplift and celebrate the human spirit, along with a few fun and easy-to-sing chorus songs. Songs will be quickly learned via call-and-response. You are welcome even if you think you ‘can’t sing’ — singing is part of everyone’s birthright, and don’t let those voices rob you of it. As Pete Seeger once said, “Make your own music… if you would save your soul.” Come and help co-create some EnChantMent together.

• Special Topics in Music: Singing For Our Lives!  MUS490. Class at Naropa University, Fall semester (Aug 30 – Dec 11), 2018. Tuesday & Thursday 10-11:15 AM. Lincoln Lecture Hall,  Arapahoe Campus.

Pete Seeger exhorted people to “make your own music… if you would save your soul.” In this Special Topics course, we will break away from the performer/audience split so prevalent today and joyfully make our own music as a perfection-free singing community. Songs have been used since time immemorial to aid in rhythmic chores, soothe children, induce trance, foment social change, and help create community. In the theoretical portions of this course, we will examine some of the historical and cross-cultural uses of song – how it can document social conditions, shift consciousness, and effect personal and societal transformation. A large portion of each class will be devoted to unaccompanied group singing. This is not a performing ensemble; it’s a community gathering.  [Open to all, including non-degree seekers and auditors.]

• BOO! Camp, Jemez Springs, New Mexico. Group singing sessions and contradance calling. 3-day weekend in late October, 2017.

This isn’t sacred chanting, but it is fun. February 23 – 26, 2017  Stellar Days & Nights  dance and music weekend, Buena Vista CO.  Along with co-calling every evening contradance and leading the closing songs, I offered 5 workshops, including:

Bawdy British Ballads. – Sing, laugh, and possibly blush as we sing shockingly bawdy ballads of yore, ranging from cautionary tales to carnal celebrations. (Oh my!) Many will feature an easy-to-sing chorus, so you do not have to be a “good singer” to join in. If you have your own favorites, bring them along to share.

• Rise UP!  Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder, CO. Story, song & nature-connection for district-wide Junior High youth retreat.  March 4, 2017.
• EnChantMent!  Open Group Singing
  • Monthly gatherings in west Santa Rosa during Summer 2010 (June-Sept) on a Thursday eve, 7-9 pm.
  • A five-week series, once per week on Tues eves in Sebastopol, CA. Fall 2009
  • Weekly songfest gatherings at New College of CA, North Bay Campus, 2005-07
• Green Gulch Zen Center, CA – Buddha’s Birthday celebration. Singing, songleading, & dance calling. April 29, 2011
• Private memorial service – singer & songleader, San Francisco, CA.  February 5, 2011
• BACDS English Dance and Music Week. Singing workshops, group songleading for Pub Night, Beatles/60s singalong, and High Tea. Rustic camp in the redwoods, Mendocino Woodlands, CA. July 10-17, 2010
• BACDS Family Week. Daily singing class. Also did contra dance calling & led contradance workshop.  This camp is big fun. Foothill Horizons Outdoor School, near Sonora, CA. July 4-10, 2010     PDF brochure
• Just Because It’s June! “Midsummer evening for Men & Women full of Love & Chant & Community & Song.”  Guest songleading with Doug von Koss and Richard Naegle at Finnish Hall in Berkeley, CA.  June 27, 2010
• Queer Contra Dance Camp. Singing sessions.  Monte Toyon campground near Aptos, CA.  Gender-free dance caller extraordinaire Chris Ricciotti wrote, “I’m VERY MUCH looking forward to seeing you at Queer Camp next April! I love your presence and your singing!!!” April 9-11, 2010    PDF Brochure
• Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness conference. Experiential workshop: “Enchantment – Employing Song to Shift Consciousness.”  UC Berkeley, CA. March 17-21, 2010    PDF Brochure
• “Singing For Our Lives: Music and Consciousness” arts elective class, also open to the community. New College of CA, North Bay Campus (Santa Rosa, CA). 2004.

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Outreach

EnChantMent! songleader Tina Fields is also available for outreach work such as:

• Consulting Example: Provided songs for particular occasions & from various spiritual traditions to the Director of Lifespan Learning at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, Canada for use in their congregation’s Singing Meditation class.
• Private Voice Lessons
  Work on beautifully performing particular songs, Voice control & quality for beginners/intermediate level singers, Harmony singing, Song repertoire and vocal style enhancement.
  
• College Courses
  Example: “Singing For Our Lives: Music, Consciousness, and Social Change.”  B.A. elective course taught at New College of CA, North Bay Campus for Sustainable Living.
• Professional Development Speeches and Seminars      Examples:
  • “Deconstructing the Performer/Artist Barrier: Participatory Song for Activism.” (Excerpts available on video by Julian Blair, Performer Activists, Part 1: Art, War, & Peace. 2004.)
  • “Using Song for Community Bonding,” and  “Understanding and Teaching to Musical Intelligence” (the latter co-taught with Kirsten George). Faculty Development, Audubon Expedition Institute at Lesley University.
• Short PerformancesExamples:
  • For all ages: “Wearing the Other’s Skin: The Great Selchie in Story, Song, and Lived Experience.” Occidental Arts & Ecology Center (OAEC)  Chautauqua.
  • For children: “Wildlife Neighbors.” Storytelling and song for grades 3-5,  Sonoma County Library.
• EnChantMent By Request

Feel free to write if you are interested in catalyzing an EnChantMent! singing session in the Front Range of Colorado. Also available are short-term trips to other areas to lead singing or teach techniques of group songleading.

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Please pass the word about us on to anyone you think might be interested in, or in need of, more homemade joy in her/his life.

Contact: tfields8 [at] yahoo [dot] com

 

Hope to make beautiful music with you soon!

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