Choir

The One Heart Choir

Welcome!

This is where you will find images, videos, and articles about One Heart Choir activities.

choir 700 wide

Read more about our director, Claire Victor.

It's also the place where you will find:

• Audition Announcements (see below)

• Everything you need to know about being a choir member (see below)

• Choir Member Agreement Fall 2012 (click here)
• Respectful Communication Guide (click here)

Everything You Need to Know About Choir - Spring 2013

One Heart Choir Membership Policy 2013

Purpose statement:

We, the members of the ONE HEART CHOIR, a ministry of the Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa,serve our community by bringing Love, Joy and Harmony to the celebration through music for the purpose of raising consciousness.

Thank you for your interest in the One Heart Choir music community at the Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa.

People join a choir for different reasons:

• Some join to be part of a fun community

• Some join because they seek healing in their hearts

• Some join because they love to sing the message of the music

• Some join to improve musically

• Some join just for the joy of creative expression

You are welcome to sing in the One Heart Choir for whatever reason brings you. To make the experience a blessing to all, here are the standards of participation:

Membership Qualifications and Agreements Policy

All Members:

• Attend weekly rehearsals and agree to participate in at least 5 out of 6 scheduled choir performance dates;

• Are expected to have access to a computer and basic computer skills for Yahoo Group communication, sheet music, & mp3 music downloads;

• Agree to practice independent of choir rehearsal, memorize parts in a timely fashion, print out and organize sheet music, blend vocal tone with others, exhibit music skill level to meet standard of participation and sing to the best of your ability;

• Are strongly encouraged to enroll in one of the following CSLSR classes within the first year of membership: “Beyond Limits,” “Five Pillars of a Spiritual Life,” or “Science of Mind for Beginners.” (Choir members receive a reduced price.) If you haven’t taken one of the above classes, you have the option to provide 15 hours of seva (selfless service) in the Center’s general community. There are many opportunities that will fit any schedule. This can occur before joining choir or happen simultaneously within the first year of membership.

• Are encouraged to attend the free seva workshop and/or attend the Center Membership classes. Call Georgett Eggel at 546-4543 x110 for dates;

• Participate in choir by singing and offering choir seva. Examples of choir seva: helping to set up chairs or risers, praying at the start or at end of rehearsal, being on a committee, assisting sound team, and bringing food on choir Sundays;

• Are expected to have:
- a personal commitment to spiritual practice;
- a personal program of spiritual study;
- a willingness to be in service to the music ministry;
- a practice of respectful communication

• Are required to join the Yahoo choir email group and check for communications and notes weekly;

• Are aware that if inconsistent participation becomes an issue, members will be invited to a review to discuss solutions to stay engaged and/or be asked to open the space for another more dedicated singer to take their place;

• Adhere to the dress code as requested for choir Sundays;

• Embrace the "respectful communication guidelines" of the Center for Spiritual Living.

Performance and Rehearsal Dates. We sing on designated Sundays at all three services: 8:30 am, 10:00 am and 11:30 am. On Choir Sundays, we meet on stage in the sanctuary at 7:20 a.m. to warm up and check sound. The final service ends at 12:30 pm.

Rehearsals are held every Thursday evening beginning January 17, 2013, and continue through May 9^th, 2013. On Thursday, Jan. 17, we meet in room 10 at 6:30pm. Every Thursday after that, we meet in sectionals between 6:30 – 7:25 in break out rooms; then, the full choir meets between 7:30–9:00 in room 10. On the Thursday evening before our performance Sunday, we have a full band rehearsal. We set up risers in the Sanctuary at 6:00 pm. On these evenings, prepare to stay until 9:30 or 10:00 pm.

Fall season is almost over!

• Sunday December 16 – Choir Sunday (3^rd Sunday of the month)

• Winter Break - December 17 – January 16, 2013

Spring 2013 Choir calendar:

• Thursday January 17 - First night back to choir

• Sunday February 24 - Choir Sunday (4^th Sunday of the month)

• Easter Sunday March 31 - Choir Sunday

• Sunday May 5 (1st Sunday of the month) - Choir Sunday

• Thursday May 9 - Last day of choir (potluck celebration)

Accountability / Absence Policy:

Please check in with Claire Victor, Choir Director, regarding absences for either rehearsals or performances, or a request for an extended time away. Also, mark the dates of any planned absences on the attendance sheet. In the event of an unplanned absence, call or email Claire AND your designated section leader before the start of a rehearsal, if possible. Everyone is held responsible for the material covered during each rehearsal. Arrange to have a choir “buddy” take notes and/or record the session you miss. If you miss more than one choir performance, you may be asked to open your place to a singer whose schedule allows them to be present on choir performance dates.

Music Preparation:

Sheet Music: As a new member, you’ll be invited to join The ONE HEART CHOIR yahoo group. Sheet music is stored on this site under FILES > 2013 - Spring Music. The files will either be just lyrics, music with parts or just the melody line. You are responsible for printing your music. Please attend all rehearsals with sheet music, audio recorders and other support tools.

Homework:

Members are requested to devote individual time to learning his/her part between scheduled group rehearsals. If any questions or concerns come up as you rehearse independently, contact a “buddy” or section leader(s). We are “off book” with all music memorized two weeks prior to a performance date.

Choir Email:

Choir email is essential. Check it weekly before rehearsal for announcements. Choir email is for currently enrolled choir members and staff only. Email assists with questions pertaining to choir music preparation, prayer requests and demonstrations. We also use it for community building and keeping each other informed of music-related announcements and personal inquiries. Please, NO chain letters , petitions, or political mail. If your email is not directly related to choir music make sure you indicate this in the subject line with the word, “optional”. Ex. RE: (optional) prayer request or RE: (optional) Cat wanted.

If you have questions, contact Francesca whose email is: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Here are the e-mail addresses to post, subscribe or to unsubscribe from our group, & website location:

Post message: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Subscribe: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Unsubscribe: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

List owner: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Group Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OneHeartChoir

Yahoo Groups has ALL of the ONE HEART CHOIR messages ever sent. You can look at them at any time. To do this you have to:

1) Go to Yahoo.com;

2) Find the Sign In! "button" and click it;

3) Sign in with your Yahoo ID and Password (you must already have one if you are in the group);

4) Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the Groups “button” and click on it.

5) Click on "OneHeartChoir" in the 'My Groups' column on the left;

6) Bookmark the page so you never have to go through this nonsense ever again; and

7) Read any of the messages ever posted.

There are also FILES there that you may find helpful regarding singing tips, how to burn a CD, dress code and so on. Check it out!

Dress Code:

We wear a certain style or color(s) for performances. You will be expected to either borrow or purchase some items if you do not already own them. We try to give 3 weeks advance notice of color schemes so you can plan your outfit before our “dress rehearsal” on the Thursday before choir Sunday.

Treatment and Prayer:

Choir practitioners are available to you for prayer requests. We open each sectional with prayer. This is a great opportunity to practice praying out loud. You also might consider having a choir prayer partner.

Vocal coaching:

Periodically, Claire and other members will offer “sectional classes” and/or other music skill development opportunities. They are designed to work group qualities including blending and tone. In addition you may want to consider private voice lessons as well as spiritual counseling for those beliefs that hold you back from expressing your full voice and authenticity. Both are available at a discount to choir members.

Please feel free to contact choir director Claire Victor directly with questions.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Phone: (707) 484-3810

Last Updated on Monday, 26 November 2012 21:03

Why I love the One Heart Choir

Members of the One Heart Choir express their gratitude for being part of the music ministry at the Center and tell the story of why they love to sing. Look for a different story every few weeks.

Every now and then I'm reminded that the songs we sing do count for something. After having a "bad" day mentally and physically, I stopped in my tracts while listening to our downloaded music CD and took notice of the words of "Count Your Blessings". Needless to say I took those words to heart, really listened...and all was well after that! What a miracle! No, really it was me slowing down and noticing my life and all the experiences that I am so blessed to have.

Claire, great song you and Randal wrote. Thanks...Olivia

I just wanted to express to you how wonderful it felt last week to become a New Heart! Thank YOU Claire for all of your hard work and all of those that are your right-hand persons! I have to admit that I felt over-whelmed, but it was a very good over-whelm!

It was so abundantly clear to me how much each person there loves and cares about their part in the choir and the role that it plays in the center community. The first night was amazing, awesome, heart-felt.....I could go on and on. Thank you over and over again.

Blessings to you, Dinna

Thank goodness we are stuck with you Claire! I have learned more about singing, music, behaving, integrity, respect, showing up, being responsive, happiness, choosing, loving, boundaries, feeling included, listening to my own guides, working, paying attention, supporting, being available, opening up, breathing, and did I mention singing! That is in these four short months! I am letting my imagination wander to where I could be in 1 year, 2 years, and so on. With you as a leader, just your presence demands these things; your hard work, your diligence, your caring, your beautiful voice, are such examples. I feel blessed to be a part of such a great group with your leadership!

YAHOOOOOOOO! Happy to be stuck with you! You Rock!

In Happiness, Stacy

I also didn't take the time to express my appreciation for Claire. She has been a light in my life over the past decade. She has been an inspiration to me in how she led us consistently to improve and be our best; how she helped me get to the edge of feelings where I could experience a presence not available during the rest of my life; and how all she had to do was smile to brighten my days. I was fortunate to spend an evening every week with her and all of you.  

Harvey

Singing with the One Heart Choir last Sunday takes me in and out of happiness and tears for each service we sing at. I've found I am opening my heart chakra in so many other areas of my life because of it. It extends into my work, my creativity, my relationships, love.....The heart combined with singing does amazing things to ones spirit.

Sun

Why I Love to Sing in The One Heart Choir – Jo Lauer, Soprano

When I was a child, I remember holidays or Sunday gatherings of our multi-generational extended family after a huge meal of meat and potatoes, overcooked vegetables, and cherry or apple pie or whatever had been salvaged from the trees out back that year. We crowded into my Aunt’s family room, around the piano, on arms of couches, filling floor space. The kids, my cousins and I, always got to go first. We’d sing songs, create one-act plays, maybe do a tap dance routine while twirling batons. Whatever we did, it was to a rapturous audience.

They loved us, we loved them, and we loved them loving us. Then the big folks would sing the “old time songs” that still linger somewhere in the back of my memory, and we’d all join in. This is where I learned harmony. My Dad’s brother Bob and sister Charlotte would play the piano by ear, the various aunts, uncles, grandparents, and a few town elders thrown into the mix would pick out their parts and sing, if not always on tune, with more heart and soul than anyone on the radio.

When I was a teen, my cousin Ian died of a brain tumor. The family gathered a year later for vacation and to celebrate his life. We sat around one evening and sang, “I Come to the Garden Alone,” and “Swing Low Sweet Chariot,” in three-part harmony. Not a dry eye in the house. We lightened up a little with “Sentimental Journey,” “Doodle de Do,” and “Go Tell Aunt Rhode.”

My parents are gone now; all the grandparents, aunts, and uncles preceded them. A few of my cousins have died, and the rest of us are spread all over the map. Singing in The One Heart Choir is a way of honoring my family, my connection to music and Spirit, to the beauty of energy vibrating through harmony. I am as much in service to my church family when I get to sing to you as I was singing to my Great Grammy Godlove. It’s a personal expression of love, from me to you, joined by all my choir “cousins,” in fabulous harmony. And so it is; and so it has always been.

In deep gratitude,

Jo Lauer

Last Updated on Thursday, 07 March 2013 16:44