Humble Harmony
A joyful, non-performing singing community where all voices belong
FREE YOUR VOICE. FIND YOUR PEOPLE.
Is This For You?
Do you sing in the shower? In the car or doing dishes? Is singing a part of your soul?
Do you miss the joy and connection of singing with others, but not the pressure of a formal choir?
Would you love to trust your ear instead of reading sheet music?
Does the sound of voices in harmony move you, and you want to co-create it?
Whether you're just beginning and exploring your voice —
or you’ve sung your whole life and are curious about a more free, intuitive way of singing with others...
there is a place for you in the circle.
What is Humble Harmony?
Humble Harmony is part of a growing movement of community singing...
reclaiming our human birthright to sing together for pure joy.
We are a non-audition, non-performing group, oriented around experience, fun, depth, and connection. No experience is needed. All voices are welcome.
Over the course of 6 weeks, we'll dive into a repertoire of easy-to-learn, short-form, uplifting and rhythmically satisfying songs from the contemporary community singing movement, including some originals from Sylvia and her songleading friends (like Coco Love Alcorn, Sarina Partridge, Luke Wallace, Lea Morris...).
Some are rounds and instant-gratification easy chants where harmonies can arise organically, and some are juicier with 2, 3, or 4 harmonies or layers that weave together, learned over several weeks.
These are non-religious, spirit-lifting songs, mostly in English and sometimes in other languages, sung a capella or accompanied by ukulele or percussion.
We learn songs and harmonies by ear; recordings are provided but practice is optional.
This committed series is an opportunity to expand and open into your natural voice.
There is structure and guidance… and also space to move and explore your voice and creativity.
To find bliss and belonging in the shared tapestry of sound.
What Makes This Different?
We learn through call-and-repeat, in the oral tradition
You're not pigeon-holed into an assigned section; you can explore your range freely
We gather in a circle and move organically together; chairs are optional.
While lyrics sheets are sometimes provided, we avoid notated music for a more freeing and immersive experience.
Through short songs and chants, we often sing without paper—making eye contact, deepening connection, and “taking the harmonies for a walk” as we listen to each other.
We love syncopated rhythms, and bringing music into the body through simple body percussion (clapping, stepping) — we move and groove!
While we may sing a Beatles classic (see my harmony version of Blackbird) and a few other meaningful folk/pop songs, we favour songs about peace, hope, resilience, and unity. We sing the world we want to see!
We have a break for ginger -lemon tea to rest and socialize... an Ubuntu Choir tradition!
Three Locations,
One Community.
We have three weekly groups in Nanaimo and Parksville, and some members come to more than one!
NANAIMO MONDAYS
2:00 - 3:40 PM
St. Andrews United Church
315 Fitzwilliam St.
(hall entrance on Wesley St.)
A heritage community hub in Nanaimo's Old City Quarter
NANAIMO TUESDAYS
7:00 - 8:40 PM
Rotary Field House
850 Third St. (off Jinglepot Rd across from Buttertubs Marsh)
A gorgeously resonant space!
with collaborator April Laurie
PARKSVILLE THURSDAYS
3:45 - 5:20 PM
McMillan Arts Centre
133 McMillan St (upper level)
Our longest-running group, in
an ever-changing art gallery with brilliant acoustics!
Six-week Seasons
Early Fall season (Sept. 14-Oct. 22): LOVE AND WINGS
Late Fall season (Nov. 2-Dec. 10): SONGS OF HOME AND BELONGING
What about SUMMER?
I'm hosting a series of drop-in song circles this summer - check out my events!
Can I drop in and try it?
YES - in week one! The first week of each 6-week series is open to drop-ins (OPEN HOUSE) - come see if you love it;
Then we are a “members only” committed group for the remaining 5 weeks. This allows us to get to know the songs and each other, for a richer group experience.
Please register by the end of week 1; a minimum of 16 people is needed to run each of the three groups.
*** NO DROP-INS AFTER WEEK ONE PLEASE ***
(late joiners welcome - please email sylvia@sylviahumble.ca)
You can also drop in to our season-end "Big Sing" celebration where folks from my three groups gather to sing the songs we've been learning, and we invite friends/ family/ the public to join us in song (listeners are welcome too).
See the Events page for details on drop-in events.
Sliding-Scale Accessible Cost
The sliding scale is meant to welcome people of diverse backgrounds and economic access...
Please consider your positionality and choose the sweet spot that feels both generous and affordable for you.
6-week membership: $90 – $150
(includes recorded song resources, and access to any / all of our three groups)
Open House Week - by donation (or included with membership)
Season-end "Big Sing" - by donation
YOU ARE WARMLY INVITED...
Join Our Next Series
Early Fall: Sept. 14 - Oct. 22 (6 weeks)
Theme: LOVE and WINGS / FLYING
If you're ready to join us, click below to go to the registration and payment form
(credit card or other payment options)
LATE FALL SERIES STARTS NOV. 2
Also check out my drop-in community singing events
Our Early Fall Song List (so far):
Angel Wash - Aimee Ringle, Mia Kelley, Saphir Lewis, Rafe Perlman
Bird Call Song - Coco Love Alcorn
Blackbird - The Beatles (my harmony tutorial video)
In This House - MaMuse
Laula - Traditional Estonian Lullaby
Love Can Build A Bridge - Naomi Judd
Migration - Sarina Partridge
Untitled - Luke Wallace (Love In the World)
Questions? Reach Sylvia directly:
Not sure?
Come to a drop-in community singing event this summer, and/or
Join us week our "Open House" on week one and see if you love it.
Humble Harmony is part of the Ubuntu Choirs Network — sharing the belief that singing together is a universal human birthright, and that through song, we can help create a more connected, compassionate world.
YOUR COMMUNITY SONGLEADER
Sylvia Humble
Sylvia is a community songleader based on Vancouver Island. She is passionate about facilitating joy and harmony in her 70-member Humble Harmony community in Nanaimo and Parksville, rooted in the Ubuntu Choirs Network tradition of inclusivity and singing for a better world.
Whether you've never sung a note in public, or you've been in choirs or sung professionally for decades, Sylvia creates a space where every voice belongs, every risk is celebrated, and the joy of harmony is within everyone's reach.
She also leads drop-in song circles, workshops with guest songwriters, and occasional participatory performances across Vancouver Island.
Voices from the Circle
“As someone with years of singing experience, I didn’t expect this to feel so different—but it really did.
Without sheet music or rigid structure, I found myself listening more deeply, connecting more with others, and experiencing harmony in a much more alive and intuitive way.
It’s been incredibly freeing—and has brought a new level of joy and richness to my singing.”
— Rob, Nanoose Bay
“Participating in Humble Harmony these last 6 weeks has cultivated joy and hope. The experience of singing with and hearing others in song lifts my soul/spirit! I am very grateful for this space and time.”
- Johanne, Nanaimo
“I have always wanted to be able to sing but I could never let anything come out that felt any good. 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."
—Denise, Nanoose Bay
“My inner child is thrilled to be singing again and I thank my lucky stars that I stumbled upon something so wonderful. The warm, welcoming playful environment is so perfectly curated…It’s like the medicine I didn't know I needed. My family has enjoyed how much happier I've been lately.”
— Talitha, Nanaimo
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