Sing Again Community Choir
Free your voice and learn to sing in harmony by ear, with an inclusive, fun and encouraging group!
We are a diverse group, from “beginners” just getting comfortable letting their voice be heard, to singers with decades of experience, who enjoy an informal group where they can break free from the written notes, and improvise with harmony.
Sing Again is a proud member of the Ubuntu Choir Network, which shares the core belief that singing together is a human birthright, and can change the world!
Are you unsatisfied with singing alone in the car?
Do you miss singing in community (but not a formal choir)?
Would you rather learn to follow your ear than sheet music?
Re-ignite your passion for singing!
Free your voice and creative expression in a safe and supportive, informal group
Sing a mix of feel-good pop songs, uplifting layer songs, rounds, call & response, and world music. See the song list
Learn to harmonize by ear, and “wing it”. No experience necessary
Explore your range, move around the room and try different parts. Move while you sing!
A mix of acapella and accompaniment by ukulele (and sometimes percussion)
What is harmony?
Pete Seeger once said “harmony is any note you sing that’s different from your neighbour’s”. It’s the sound of two or more notes sung simultaneously (like a chord played on the piano), and it’s my ”raison d’etre” - my greatest joy! The melody of a song is the familiar tune, and a harmony is a higher or lower part, generally following the shape of the melody. Our choir is a diverse mix, from beginners to experienced singers, and not everyone will want to sing a harmony part; this works out well because, without melody singers, there would be no harmony!
Check out this fun video of us creating harmonies on “Let It Be” at The MAC last summer (harmony can make you laugh and cry)!
We are proud to be a new member of the Ubuntu Choir Network! I’m excited to share with you the new songs and skills I learned at their Community Choir Leadership Training program in Victoria in October, 2023!
Sing Again is now in three locations*:
Nanaimo (NEW: St. Andrews UC Hall) Mondays 2pm
Nanoose Bay (Nanoose Place) Tuesdays 6:30pm
Parksville (McMillan Arts Centre) Thursdays 3:30pm
With a seasonal membership to Sing Again, you can mix and match which group you attend; it’s always great to meet more people who love to sing!
If you’re not into a weekly group, we also have the occasional “Big Sing” and other community singing events. Join my mail list to stay in the loop.
*I’m considering adding some weekend drop-in sessions in Nanaimo and Victoria; let me know your preference via the “Request” form below.
Sing Again in Nanaimo:
Where? St. Andrews United Church, 315 Fitzwilliam St. (Downstairs Hall) *Note: The Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo is currently being renovated.
When? Mondays, 2 - 3:30pm (drop-ins welcome!)
Spring Season: April 15 - June 17, 10 weeks
Sing Again in Nanoose Bay:
Where? Nanoose Place, 2925 NW Bay Rd., Nanoose Bay
When? Tuesdays, 6:30 - 8 pm (drop-ins welcome!)
Spring Season: April 16 - June 18, 10 weeks
Sing Again in Parksville:
Where? McMillan Arts Centre, 133 McMillan Street, Parksville
When? Thursdays 3:30 - 5pm (drop-ins welcome!)
Spring Season: April 18 - June 20, 10 weeks
Rotating weekends: I’m considering offering weekend sessions in Victoria, Nanaimo and Parksville. Please let me know if you are interested via my Request Form.
Register:
If you’re interested in one of the above groups, please fill out this brief form: If you’d like to sing on a weekend, and/or in Victoria, please go to the Request Form.
*DISCLAIMER: By paying, you acknowledge that some choir sessions will be recorded on video, to be shared on our members page; occasional clips will be shared on social media to share the joy of singing, and for marketing purposes. If you’re not comfortable with this, you can request to stay off camera.
Refund policy for membership: If, after joining, you decide it’s not for you, you will be refunded the fee paid, minus $20 per session attended. Missed sessions are not refunded; it is a seasonal membership and most people miss a session or two.
Questions? Please email me at sylvia@sylviahumble.ca
Why become a member?
Sing Again is not your average choir; there are no auditions, it’s informal and we don’t follow sheet music. You’ll never be pigeon-holed into an assigned part - you can explore your range, move around the room, and try different parts for different songs. It’s all about creative self-expression and sharing the joy of singing in harmony!
Over the course of 10 weeks, we’ll create some great-sounding harmonies (and melodies, if harmony is not your thing), hone our listening and harmonizing skills, and gel as a group. We’ll also get to know each other and where our voices fit in the group. The experience of singing together gets sweeter the more we connect in song and community spirit!
As a member of Sing Again, you’ll have access to a private members page where you’ll find our song recordings with separate tracks for the melody and harmony parts, to help you learn to sing in harmony by ear (or even just learn the melody).
You’ll get comfortable with the group, the songs, and your voice. The more we sing the songs, the more magical sound and connection we create! We generally don’t perform, but instead gather for a “Big Sing” at the end of our season, and invite the community to join us in song.
Sing Again isn’t about perfection; it’s about being ourselves, being willing to make mistakes, laughing, and growing in confidence and self-expression!
Request a weekend option from Parksville to Victoria (potentially on a monthly basis):
Nanaimo Sing Again: Unitarian Fellowship (previous venue)
Parksville group: McMillan Arts Centre
Songs for Spring 2024:
Blackbird - The Beatles
Forget Your Perfect Offering - Leonard Cohen/ Thrive Choir
Just As You Are - Lea Morris
Mary Ellen Carter - Stan Rogers
Put A Little Love In Your Heart - Al Green & Annie Lennox
Rebirth - Coco Love Alcorn
Shosholoza - South African Folk Song
Seven Bridges Road - The Eagles (written by Steve Young)
Unbreakable - Coco Love Alcorn
Viva La Vida - Cold Play
Welcome Spring - Sylvia Humble
I Love The Summer - Sylvia Humble
Sing Again is a community where every voice has a place, and you can be yourself and enjoy singing with others who share the love of singing, without worrying about getting the notes exactly right… and maybe take some risks and get creative! This is what I call community!
An example of a harmony tutorial video, a learning resource:
A clip from our first Sing Again session of 2023:
Cost*:
Your first week is $16 - come and see if you love it!
$20 to drop in, or get a 10-week seasonal membership for $160 with access to all three groups; let’s mix it up!
Membership cost is pro-rated to the number of weeks remaining, for those joining part-way through the season.
*If this cost is prohibitive, please email me; energy exchanges (trades) and bursaries can sometimes be arranged. E.g., photography, videography, video editing, business accounting, and painting are some of the things I could use help with.
Check out my YouTube channel for more harmony videos and tutorials, community singalong moments, and my originals.
Join my mailing list for occasional newsletter updates on community singing events, and follow me on this exciting journey of songwriting and songleading!
Or, join my Facebook group, Sing with Sylvia and friends, for community events, and musical inspirations.
Our Sing Again community choir, singing at Knox United Church at our Summer Singalong, August 26, 2023. The whole audience sang along:
Satisfied Singers:
“I am amazed...I felt like I freed up part of myself that had been blocked all my life. I am so happy to have found a voice inside me and let it come out more. Sylvia made me feel like it is ok to sing; in fact it is important. She gave me confidence…”
— Denise, Nanoose Bay, BC
“I missed singing with others so much after two kids and a pandemic scuppered my time as a chorister. Sylvia created a super friendly and warm atmosphere for us all to reconnect with the joy of singing together. She made us feel supported and safe. We had fun together and it was a beautiful experience! I highly encourage anyone else with rusty pipes and a love for harmony to spend some time in the singing community being built by the talented Sylvia at Sing Again.”
— Katie, Nanoose Bay, BC
Laurel, Nanoose Bay, BC
Rob, Nanoose Bay, BC
Andrea, Qualicum Beach, BC
Kieran, Nanaimo, BC
Shirley, Nanoose Bay, BC
Dunley, Parksville, BC
Sean, Parksville, BC
Jenny, Parksville, BC
Dave, Parksville, BC
Merrien, Nanoose Bay, BC
Mary, Nanoose Bay, BC