Chicago Shanty Collective Song Circle

REGISTER ON DISCORD: [hidden] What is this ? We’re an open community of folks who love singing all kinds of folk music together! Sea shanties, work songs, you name it - as long as it has an easy to learn chorus that can be picked up aurally, it’s on the table. No musical experience is even remotely required; bring your voice or an instrument and come jam. If you've sung along to any song, you can do this. What’s it mean to learn a song “aurally” ? With your ears! Rather than having to know how to read music, you can show up and hear the chorus and pick it up as we sing. It won’t be perfect, and that’s the best part. By teaching songs aurally, we’re able to focus on creating music for the communal fun it brings! You are more than welcome to create harmonies or jam with instruments if you so wish. What’s the vibe ? What’s the etiquette ? We gather at a location (⁠announcements) and begin with introductions; from there, we’ll go around in a circle. When it comes to you, you may either lead a song or choose to pass! There is no obligation to ever lead a song! Everyone will have the chance to lead one song if they want to. We’ll continue around the circle until the hour is up. If you wish to lead a song, I recommend speaking the chorus lyrics once, then singing the chorus through once, before singing the full tune, particularly if it’s one we have not sung before or is particularly fast/complicated. Try to sing songs that have a easy to learn and that have a strong chorus - we're all here to sing together! This group is explicitly leftist , as we are singing work songs which are 90 % about unionization or labor power . Most of our members are queer . If either of these facts is an issue for you , I encourage you not to attend . More Info below.