Singing and Songleading in Folk Schools Survey Report

SONG-LEADING IN FOLK SCHOOLS

Survey Report

This project is funded by the Office of Research and Evaluation at AmeriCorps under Grant No. 22REACA001 through the National Service and Civic Engagement research grant competition. Opinions or points of view expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of, or a position that is endorsed by, AmeriCorps.

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Background Info

The Center for Belonging (CFB) Folk School believes in the profound impact of song as a tool for building strong and vibrant communities. Through a partnership supported through the federally-grant-funded Folk Education Network Research Grant, we hope to understand how to seed a culture of singing across the nation.

To achieve this understanding and vision, CFB will offer song leader and community singing experiences for folk school leaders, equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to incorporate community singing into their programs.

What is Community Singing?

By Liz Rog (2023)

There is no definition of community singing that could ever be accurate or complete. I know that the songs and our singing of them are a response to the needs and gifts of this time and they will change along with the changes in us and our world. I know that the earth has been singing since she began and humans have been singing together since we began.

Community singing can contain some of the elements that might distinguish it from other forms of singing: All voices are welcomed. There is no audition and no hierarchy of voice.

There is generally no paper to look down at People are learning and remembering through oral tradition. Since written musical notation is not a universal language, this offers access to singing for more people

People generally stand/sit in a circle. This amplifies the idea of equality and also, since people are not looking down at written music, helps all to see each other and feel seen. In this way we viscerally feel that we are singing for each other.

The singing is not aimed at performance; it’s done for the pleasure of the moment. Though sometimes there is optional, low-stakes performance as in a variety show or community fundraiser

The songs are easily accessible to anyone. No special education or language of formal music is needed; the songs are short enough for most people’s memories; and the emphasis is on what the collective rather than individual memory can hold.

It’s most often unaccompanied by musical instruments. In this way we can remember that even with just our voices we are strong together.

It’s often intergenerational.

The current community singing world that I know embraces all of the practices above, each in their own locally-grown way But in addition to these there are other values found in the very spirit of the singing-together: a named and felt intention toward building community; a strong and generous welcome of all voices and all experiences (joy, grief, love, nature, spirit, play, mystery, diversity, respect, light and darkness); a celebration of the way that each voice matters in the making of the whole of our sound; encouragement for those interested to learn how to step into the ever-growing circle of shared local leadership; the invitation for anyone to listen for the songs that are being made inside of them and to share those songs; and brave listening for how our choices of songs invite us to consider their origins, messages, and impacts in a world that needs both our voices and ears.

Baseline survey

The Singing and Songleading in Folk Schools project is one of the core research projects focusing on the effects of training local folk school staff and leaders in community song leading and hosting We are gathering baseline data about the various kinds of singing taking place at folk schools across the country, and collecting interest from folk school and folk education organization members.

Aims and objectives

Confirm or disprove our assumption regarding lack of singing at folk schools

Gathering folk school contacts interested in community singing activities happening at their folk school / involving their staff or community members in 2024.

Research Question(s)

What types of singing are happening in folk schools, if any? What types of singing opportunities/experiences do you host?

What is the frequency of singing / songleading experiences at folk schools?

Would you like to receive information about starting community singing at your folk school/organization?

Contact information

Methodology

The Folk Education Association of America (FEAA) administered a short, three-question online survey from Nov 30th, 2023 to Feb 29th, 2024 including quantitative and qualitative options for responses.

An invitation to participate in the survey was sent by email through to Folk School Alliance Community of Practice (CoP) members on Nov 30th, 2023. The initial email request resulted in 13 responses. The survey was shared during the January CoP Meeting, gathering 5 more responses. Further telephone outreach for survey responses: Between Feb 21st and Feb 28th, an additional 30 folk schools were contacted via phone call by Mari Sanborn. Of the 30 called, 7 more responses to the survey were completed and 21 voice messages were left.

The survey was closed on: February 29th, 2024

Timing and Outputs

A short survey was administered by the FEAA SurveyMonkey account from Nov 30th, 2023 - Feb 29th, 2024

The survey was closed on: February 29th, 2024 35 folk schools responded, of 62 folk schools in the FEAA network (56% response rate).

In addition to the 35 responses, one response was a duplicate response and two represented individuals outside of the network, all three responses were eliminated from the data as to avoid skewing the final data analysis.

Findings

Concerts were the most common experience offered at folk schools, with 11 folk schools reporting hosting concerts at least once per year

Only 1 folk school responded saying they host an annual songleader course / class.

5 folk schools reported hosting an open mic at least once per year.

10 folk schools reported hosting sing-a-long experiences at least once per year

26 folk schools indicated interest in “starting community singing at your folk school/organization”.

Verbatim Responses

Community music night is offered once a month as a way of connecting through singing and playing instruments Artist in Resonance series with Community Singing composers/song leaders Song Leader workshop. Planned Shape Note Singing workshop.

We're hoping to begin hosting monthly [sing-a-longs] focused on folk songs When we are able to have visiting musicians teach we try to have at least one singing workshop as it is more accessible and well-received locally than instrument workshops (small rural population)

"Sing Your Heart Out" "Singing for Old-Time Fiddlers" "Songwriter's Workshop"

We hold band concerts about once a month. We have solo singers or feature two or three single performers in a show about 4 times a year. Open mics are held about once a month, and we also have a Song Writer's Retreat in mid-winter

Main efforts are to engage people in community singing sessions at monthly pub sing events and at folk festivals held in the region. Traditional and singer/songwriter material is promoted. To some degree, singing lessons occasionally are baked into the pub sing and folk festival experiences. Encouraging people to be engaged in a singing experience in some way often is the catalyst to encourage personal development in learning to sing If a performer of interest is visiting the region, effort will be applied to organize/promote a special performance opportunity

When [in session], there is singing multiple times a day This year there was an opportunity for small groups to compose a song , but that's not typical.

6 offerings, 1 is a sea-shanty group. All concerts were held in orchards with lots of singing. 2 classes within the past 4 years. We have an annual summer concert series. One concert a month June-September

“Introduction to Song-Writing” “Easy Harmony Singing” Hosting classes outside of folk school space before they are formally open Offering lessons, weekly children's choir both off the FS site.

Events with audience participation - musical performances with sing-along components. Summer music retreat, rustic and heritage craft. Youth program also involves singing and music.

Conclusions and Limitations

Only 25 of these experiences / offerings occur on a monthly basis, and only 10 of these experiences / offerings occur on a weekly basis - the outcome of the survey strengthens the assumption of a general lack of singing experiences at folk schools across the network

Sentiments of those who indicated ‘not interested’ in being involved in singing opportunities at their folk school cited a lack of current capacity to be involved more than a general lack of interest

There was a large majority of respondents showing interest in being involved in the Community Singing project. For contact information, no responses in Physical Address, ZIP Code, and Country - not necessary for future surveys unless gathering information for event planning purposes. The survey did not include a definition of Community Singing and therefore the results specific to questions regarding Community Singing may not align with the specific format the project team utilizes.

This survey has confirmed the project’s hypothesis that singing and songleading and specifically “Community Singing” is not a commonly seen / practiced offering at folk schools in the USA.

Thus, this project’s efforts to train local songleaders at folkschools will hopefully improve the quanitity and quality of singing and song as a tool for community building in folk schools across the USA.

Team

Community Researcher - Liz Rog

Community Researcher - Liliana Coelho

PI - David Blake Willis, PhD

Co-PI - Dawn Jackman Murphy

Project Coordinator - Mari Sanborn

Report designed on Canva by Mari Sanborn

The Folk Education Association of American or FEAA was founded in 1976 to promote humanistic personal development, understanding of one's own and other's cultural diversity, and commitment to community growth The FEAA identifies, supports, and facilitates community-based, learner-led education as a strategic tool for community organizing.

CENTER FOR BELONGING FOLK SCHOOL

The Center for Belonging nurtures grassroots community connection in spacious time through celebration, ritual, play, song, story, art, food, craft, and learning together with nature

We are non-experts working together to offer authentic alternatives to the perfectionism, isolation, and rush of modern society. We create simple and welcoming ways for connecting humans of all ages to spirit, land, and one another.

May 2024