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! On Tuesdays, April Laurie joins us to lead a Bobby McFerrin-style circle song, and accompanies us on percussion.

Parksville:

THURSDAYS: 3:30 - 5pm, McMillan Arts Centre, 133 McMillan Street, upper level (kitty corner to the SOS). The art gallery is ever-changing and the acoustics are divine!

When?

New Year Series: Feb. 9 - Mar. 19

Theme: Songs of Hope

Early Spring Series: Mar 30 - May 7

Theme: Earth and Water Songs

We start off each 6-week series with an OPEN HOUSE week as an opportunity to drop in! After that, for the remaining 5 weeks we are a “members only” committed group, to get to know the songs, build social cohesion, and create a rich and meaningful community singing experience.

To Register:

If you’d like to join us for the upcoming six-week series, please fill out this brief form and I’ll put you on the 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 friends/ family/ 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, in June 2025, at our previous location at Kin Hut on Departure Bay.

Song Lists:

New Year Series: Songs of Hope

Bambelela (Never Give Up) - JL Kwane Memorial Church choir, South Africa. Here is a SATB version we might use for notes.

Hope In The Day - Coco Love Alcorn

Let Something New Grow - Sarina Partridge

Lead With Love - Melanie Demore

Let It Be - The Beatles (that’s my windy beach video)

I’m Goin’ Home on the Mornin’ Train - Lea Morris

Sing On - Sarina Partridge

Sing You Through The Storm - Sylvia Humble

Tending The Spark - Heather Houston

The Rising - Bruce Springsteen

We Shall Be Known - MaMuse

Early Spring Series: Earth and Water

A Wondrous Thing - Gretchen Sleicher

In Your Element - Ashley Johnson

Mull of Kintyre - Paul McCartney

Prayers for Freedom - Ma Muse

Put Your Roots Down - Molly Hartwell

The Mother - Xavier Rudd

Wild And Free - Sarina Partridge

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.

• First week open house: By donation (or included in membership)

• 6-week series: $75 - 150 with access to all three locations.

• Preferred payment is by e-transfer to sylvia@sylviahumble.ca. Cash and cheque are also welcomed. If you prefer to pay by credit card, here's a link to pay on my Square account: https://square.link/u/FHdmMWjI

Check out my YouTube channel for more harmony videos and community singing moments

Check out my local community singing events (drop-in song circles, workshops with guest songwriters like Luke Wallace and Sarina Partridge, and my occasional participatory performances)

Join my mailing list for occasional newsletter updates, and follow me on this exciting journey of community songleading!

I also share regularly on Facebook and Instagram - let’s connect.