Humble Harmony*

Where?

Nanaimo - Two Options:

MONDAY AFTERNOONS: 2 - 3:30pm at St. Andrews United Church, 315 Fitzwilliam St. (in the hall, Wesley Street entrance)

TUESDAY EVENINGS: 7:00 - 8:30pm at Rotary House (850 Third St, accessed via Jingle Pot Road (across from Buttertubs marsh). What beautiful acoustics!

When?

We’ll have two six-week series this Fall, each followed by a BIG SING where we welcome family/ friends/ anyone to sing together (not a concert)!

Early Fall Series: Sept 8 - Oct 16.

Theme: Wind, Weather, and Gratitude

Late Fall Series: Oct. 27 - Dec .4

Theme: Resilience and Belonging

DROP-INs are welcome for the first two weeks of each series, and then we will be a closed container (committed group), to get to know the songs, build social cohesion, and create a rich and meaningful experience for the group.

To Register:

If you’d like to join us for the upcoming six-week series, please fill out this brief form and I’ll add you to the weekly email list:

*DISCLAIMER: By paying, you acknowledge that some sessions will be recorded on video, and 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

What makes our group different?

Humble Harmony is unlike a choir; 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, and try different parts for different songs. We often sing without lyrics sheets, make eye contact, sing songs with actions, and move around the room. It’s about community, and the joy and connection of singing in harmony, as well as creative self expression.

Over time, we get to know a set of songs and create some great-sounding harmonies, 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!

Instead of sheet music, we learn by ear in the oral tradition, and I’ll provide song recordings including separate tracks for the melody and harmony parts, to help you learn to sing the parts (whether a main melody or a harmony part).

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.

Humble Harmony isn’t about perfection; it’s about being ourselves, being willing to make mistakes, laughing, and growing in confidence and self-expression!

Video from my Nanaimo Evening group, with April Laurie, vocal improviser and percussionist who leads us in a fun warmup!

Song List (Sept 2025 so far):

Blackbird by The Beatles

…stay tuned for song list… I’m open to suggestions.

…and many fun and easy songs in between, like these:

Humble Harmony 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

Cost: Sliding Scale*

*SLIDING SCALE: is meant to welcome people of diverse backgrounds and economic access. Please consider your positionality and choose the sweet spot that is both generous and affordable for you.

• Drop In (First 2 weeks only) $15 - 25 per visit. If you’ve never sung with me before, try it FREE!

• 6-week Fall Series: $75 - 150 with access to all three locations. If you come to 5 or 6 sessions, it’s a great deal; if you come to more than one session a week, it’s a smokin’ deal!

• Preferred payment is by e-transfer to sylvia@sylviahumble.ca. Cash and cheque are also welcomed.

Check out my YouTube channel for more harmony videos and tutorials, community singalong moments, and my originals.

Check out my local community singing events (outdoor singalongs, workshops with songwriters like Sarina Partridge and Coco Love Alcorn)

Join my mailing list for occasional newsletter updates, 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.