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    238. Got It Goin' On

    15:8 Abundance Celebrate Determination Empower Enough Scale: Minor Song Form: Round

    Song: Got It Goin' On

    Music by: Patricia Norton


    Song Learning Time Stamps:


    Start of teaching: 00:03:14

    Start of reprise: 00:13:59



    Lyrics:


    I got it, you got it, we got it

    goin' on!


    I got it, you got it, we got it

    goin' on!


    I got it, you got it, we got it

    goin' on;

    

    a next right thing; finding a

    next right thing, finding a

    next right thing, finding, oh...

    Image description

    Notes: Thanks to Liz Rog, I'm sharing this relatively new song (she requested it after hearing me sing it briefly on the road trip when we were exchanging songs.) I wrote it for my fabulous song leaders in training as we were tackling sometimes intimidating skills and breaking them apart into what we could actually try next. Singing it this week has been encouraging to me as I grapple with elevated pain levels, trying different next things to see what can help my body find more ease. I sing it, I get out of breath, I start laughing, I have to dig in a bit to keep it rolling -- by the time I was done recording, I was grinning and felt energized and like it was worth trying another thing! I hope it's a lift for you, too...

     

    Songwriter Info: You can find out more about me in general here: https://www.juneberrymusic.com/about-patricia.html

    Or the whole team that puts this podcast out here: https://www.abreathofsong.com/about.html

     

    Sharing Info: Feel free to sing this song yourself and with your friends and family as often as you please! If you are using this song in a way that is making money for you, please contribute to the A Breath of Song gratitude jar at https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar, and/or send me a note letting me know how the song is helping you, so the song brings us into relationship. Thank you!

     

    Links:

    Flow Singing: https://www.juneberrymusic.com/flow-singing.html

    All of what I'm up to: https://www.juneberrymusic.com/

    Kindred Voices Retreat: https://kindredvoicesretreat.com

     

    Nuts & Bolts: 15:8, minor, 6-part round

     

    Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely:

    https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share

     

    Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

  • Published on

    216. I Believe with Guest Singers

    4:4 Celebrate Gratitude & Trust Hope Love Scale: Aeolian (minor) Song Form: Harmonized Song Form: Layer Uptempo
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:05:24
    Start time of reprise: 00:19:52
    Lyrics:

    *Soprano, Alto, Tenor*
    I believe in the goodness, 
    in the goodness of you, 
    and the goodness of me, 
    And the goodness of everybody

    We were born to love, to love, to love 
    We were born to love, to love, to love

    *Bass*
    Oh! I believe, I believe, I believe, I believe in everybody
    We, we were born to love, to love
    Picture
    Song: I Believe
    Music by: Una McCann

    Guest singers:​ Rebecca Csuy, Seth Norton, Tom Norton, Marika Tabilio

    Notes: You'll hear a wonderful group of singers helping me cover all the ranges of this song: Tom and Seth bring the bass, Marika nails the tenor, Rebecca lines up the alto, and I take on soprano. There's a bit of octave confusion -- where do we find these pitches in our different voices?! And then this fabulous song and groove reminds us to see the goodness -- in you, in me, in everybody. So grateful to Una McCann for living into the teachings of Tara Brach and catching this song that feels so good to have singing in my body! Wishing everyone a week of discovery and festive comradery, whether you are celebrating holy days or simply the close of 2025...

    Songwriter Info:
    Una McCann is based in Belfast, Northern Ireland where she works as a choir leader and songwriter.  She has been leading groups in harmony since her school days and has been working professionally with choirs for 15 years.  
    Currently the chair of the Natural Voice Network, Una runs 6 Natural Voice style weekly choirs.  She also enjoys running singing holidays and retreats.   
    Una is passionate about the power of creativity to transform lives and encourages her singers to improvise, play and explore their own creativity.
    Song writing is a part of life that sustains and supports Una.  She writes melodies and words that she needs to hear in that moment and is always delighted when they resonate with other people too.  
    I Believe was born out of the wish to always see the best in people even when it’s hard and we don’t want to, and to remember that underneath all of us is someone who just wants to be happy. We all come from love but sometimes we lose our way a bit. 
    It was inspired by listening to Tara Brach who creates beautiful talks on topics such as this.

    Sharing Info: Please buy sheet music on Una's website (see below) if you plan to share this song as a songleader.

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:05:24
    Start time of reprise: 00:19:52

    Links:
    Una's website: www.unamccann.org
    Sheet music for this song: https://unamccann.org/product/i-believe/ 
    Una's Instagram: www.instagram.com/unamccann47
    Una's Facebook (Una McCann Music): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558408430060 
    Tara Brach's website: www.tarabrach.com
    Natural Voice Network: www.naturalvoice.net 

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, minor, 2 layers, one layer with melody & two harmonies

    Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely:  https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share

    Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support.  https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html
  • Published on

    215. What A Gift with guest Angela Gabriel

    4:4 Be Grateful Be Present Body Percussion Celebrate Gratitude & Trust Scale: Aeolian (minor) Song Form: Layer Songwriter Conversation Uptempo
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:04:55
    Start time of reprise: 01:22:01
    Lyrics:

    What a gift, what a gift,
    what a gift it is to sing.
    What a gift it is to sing 
    right now with you!

    What a gift it is to sing with you,
    when I’m happy!
    What a gift it is to sing with you,
    when I’m blue!
    Picture
    Song: What A Gift
    Music by: Angela Gabriel

    Notes: What a gift it was to be in conversation with Angela Gabriel -- we talked about how to deal with having been "poked in the voice" -- and the sensation of healthy singing. -- What was "one of the most idea shattering things" Angela has ever done in her life, and how "that butterfly excitement" led her there. How she's gotten to a place where, "I don't shame myself anymore," and a slew of adulting tactics she practices. ("I have a lot of arrows in my quiver.") How community singing can show up in activist spaces, where "it is difficult, but it doesn't have to be somber." How she sets up her own space -- "I actively choose to make it colorful..." and how that helps with healing. "The tremble" when singing for someone who is dying. Percussion and how it that has made Angela's voice distinctive in community singing songs... SO many things I loved in our conversation, not to mention this song!

    Songwriter Info: Angela is a performer, a teacher, a facilitator, and a lifelong learner. Her mission in life is to facilitate expressive creative, musical, and vocal experiences and to encourage folks of any age and background to replace judgement with curiosity and open themselves to their unique, creative flow.

    Sharing Info: The song is free to share but Angela always welcomes financial and/or networking support if/when folks are so moved.

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:04:55
    Start time of reprise: 01:22:01

    Links:
    Moira Smiley: Leather Britches: https://moirasmiley.com/downloads/leather-britches-2/ 
    “The Truth” – Velma Frye: https://www.abreathofsong.com/episodes--show-notes/18-the-truth#/ 
    Josh Habermann – Santa Fe Desert Chorale: https://desertchorale.org/about/our-people/#artistic_director 
    Susan Swaney – choir director in Bloomington UU church: https://www.uubloomington.org/about/our-ministers-and-staff/ 
    Kate Munger – Women Singing In Circle retreat: https://www.lamafoundation.org/engage/events/women-singing/ 
    Threshold Choirs: https://thresholdchoir.org/ 
    Melanie DeMore: https://melaniedemore.com/
    Becky Reardon: https://beckyreardonmusic.com/ 
    Terri Garthwaite: https://terrygarthwaite.com/ 
    Poor People’s Campaign: https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/ 
    Pam Blevins Hinkle – No Kings Song doesn't seem to be online yet, but her website is https://pamblevinshinkle.com/ 
    Online group called “Lumos Transforms”: https://lumos-transforms.mn.co/ 
    PetCanvas: https://mypetcanvas.com/ 
    Mbira: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbira 
    Unitarian Universalist Church in Bloomington, IN: https://www.uubloomington.org/ 
    Rhiannon’s All the Way In improvisation class: https://rhiannonmusic.com/2026-all-the-way-in 
    “I live my life in a river of grace…” Kate Munger: https://thresholdchoir.bandcamp.com/track/life-grace-trust 
    Yes – Fragile: https://www.yesworld.com/discography/fragile/ 
    Willow Smith – Empathogen: https://willowsmith.com/products/empathogen-digital-download 
    Angela's website: www.angelagabriel.me 

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, blues minor, 2 layers and body percussion

    Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely:  https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share

    Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support.  https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html
  • Published on

    181. Extraordinary Magic with singer Rebecca Csuy

    4:4 Accept Be Present Celebrate Friendship Love Notice Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Unison With Separate Harmony Line Uptempo
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:02:35
    Start time of reprise: 00:15:14

    ​Lyrics:

    I see you, I hear you,
    I hold this space for you;
    and I am a witness
    to your extraordinary magic!
    (repeat 3x)

    I see you, I hear you,
    I hold this space for you;
    and I am a witness
    to the extraordinary magic in you!
    Picture
    Song: Extraordinary Magic
    Music by: Judy Tse

    Notes: Judy describes the act of witnessing beautifully -- and this song is one that feels so good to have echoing in my head as I practice holding space for other people... really being present and seeing them fully. That seems to get harder and harder as people get older and make choices we disagree with or are harmful. But wishing them well, looking for the extraordinary magic that is in them, even while being clear-sighted about behaviors -- while not always easy, it feels like a way of being I personally aspire to!

    Songwriter Info: Judy Tse participated in the A Breath of Song retreat in 2024! About this song, Judy says: "Being a witness to someone; really being present for a person by listening actively + not trying to fix or 'make better', is one of the greatest gifts one person can give another."

    Sharing Info: The song is free to share in oral tradition groups, but please contact Judy for recording and/or performing permission. (You can write Patricia at patricia@abreathofsong.com to be connected with Judy.)

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:02:35
    Start time of reprise: 00:15:14

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, major, unison or harmonized

    Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely:
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    Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support.
    https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html
  • Published on

    178. My Body

    4:4 Accept Beauty Belonging Celebrate Empower Heal Love Mantra Ribbon Scale: Mixolydian Song Form: Unison With Separate Harmony Line Trust
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:02:31
    Start time of reprise: 00:14:09
    Lyrics: 

    My body is fly
    My body is beautiful
    My body is bold
    My body is mine
    Picture
    Song: My Body
    Music by: Alexandra Sarton

    Notes: Singing this week brought me into my body in a joyful, appreciative way... our bodies, our existence are such miracles, and this song fully celebrates and owns this. For anyone who has ever felt ashamed of their body for any reason, this is a medicine song, a reclaiming, remembering song. Alexandra Sarton Love, who wrote it, has lived with alopecia since age 10, causing baldness. Maybe you're going through a medical treatment that makes it difficult to feel ownership of your own body? Maybe there's a relationship which leads to doubt about your body's beauty or validity? Maybe media or social gatherings has harmed your connection to your own body? Maybe you're a nursing mom? I don't know what you bring to this song... but I'm sooo glad you're bringing it!  Join me and you bring you, I'll bring me -- let's sing these words together!

    Songwriter Info: In 2011, Alexandra Love was inspired to assemble a 12-woman chorus to sing the harmonies she had written for her solo project, In Curses. She created a festival, The Festival of Light and Sound (April 2012), to debut this project and to bring Beautiful Chorus together for a one-time performance. The ladies practiced each week leading up to the album release. The festival was a huge success and after that night, Love decided to keep the project going. She booked tours for Beautiful Chorus around the country, hosted crystal singing bowl meditations w/ the ladies, lead vocal workshops and more. It was then that BC wrote + recorded songs, and have since become the most successful independent group of their kind. Fusing elements of electronic, choral, deep bass, hip hop and jazz, Beautiful Chorus is unlike any other. They have albums that span from wordless symphonies to full rhythmic songs, w/ sound healing frequencies and love-centered messages. They even have a wordless holiday album, a lullaby album, and a multitude of singable hymns and mantras. Beautiful Chorus is currently residing in Orlando, FL where they are developing a new live experience, hosting spiritual conversations, and preparing for their upcoming full album release, High Frequency Love Music, due out 7/26. Beautiful Chorus is currently made of Alexandra Love and four other members (Patty, Anisha, Yuki and Veronica).

    Sharing Info: When sharing in a money-making venture, like a workshop, class, or performance, please contact Beautiful Chorus for permission and rates.

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:02:31
    Start time of reprise: 00:14:09

    Links:
    Beautiful Chorus website: https://www.beautifulchorus.com/ 
    Alexandra Love website: https://www.alexandra.love/

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, Mixolydian, unison with optional harmony

    Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely:
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    Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support.
    https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html
  • Published on

    156. We Got All The Love with singer Tom Norton

    4:4 Abundance Be Grateful Celebrate Change Empower Enough Friendship Hope Joy Love Prayer Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Harmonized
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:35
    Start time of reprise: 00:17:09

    ​Lyrics:

    We got all the love
    to change our world.
    Halleluia!
    We got all the love,
    all that we need,
    blessed be.

    (The word 'love' can be substituted by 'soul', 'joy', 'hope', 'friends', 'prayer', 'cake'...)
    Picture
    Song: We Got All The Love
    Music by: Helen Yeoman

    ​Notes: So many different things going on in this episode! First, in some ways this is a "greatest hit" of the community song world, so maybe you already know it? Helen Yeoman's confident, sweetly harmonized zipper song speaks to what can build and sustain hopefulness -- this knowledge that, in some way, we are exactly where we need to be. I am delighted to welcome onto the podcast my beloved husband of almost 35 years, Tom. He gives us the benefit of his long vocal chords to reach some low notes that are out of my range! Instead of looping this episode, I went back and edited in the alto and tenor parts -- and, oof, the pressure to perfect it, to sing exactly in tune -- I'm not sure I could ever let it go. But here you have the best I could do this week, with the alto panned left and the tenor panned right, soprano and bass in the middle. If it's a song you already know, I hope this gives you great practice; if it's new to you, welcome (and check out the shownotes for other learning options)! Fill in our sound with your voice!!!

    Songwriter Info: Helen is a well-loved choir leader & composer from the UK. her songs are sung all around the world - literally. She is self-taught and calls on every day events as well as global issues for her inspiration. In 2015 she won the esteemed international UK Songwriters Contest in the gospel category. She has four children and lives in Devon, England. Helen runs workshops and holidays in the UK and Europe and is coming to the USA in September 2024.
    ​
    Sharing Info:     When sharing in a money-making venture, like a workshop, class, or performance, please contact Helen for permission and rates.
    ​
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:35
    Start time of reprise: 00:17:09

    Links:
    All of Helen's music can be found at www.helenyeomans.co.uk

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, major with raised 4 & 5, 4-pt harmony

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