Music Tool Kit

For the general Arts Tool Kit, Click Here.

Looking for some music for a 5G Flashmob? 

Bryan Divisions – 5G to 5D might be perfect!

SONG

BUILDING A CULTURE OF CREATIVE CONNECTION

Adapted from an article by Lu Aya of The Peace Poets

When we sing together, we connect to each other and our purpose. Sing to open meetings. Sing to launch a rally. Sing to close a vigil. Sing as an act of love, and the music will elevate us all.

WHEN TO SING A SONG?

    • Opening or closing a meeting
    • At Town Hall Meetings
    • At public events, actions, or rallies

WHAT TO SING?

    • The songbook Circle of Song is pure Magic. It contains powerful chants and simple circle songs that are thematically organized, well-arranged, and empower us to celebrate life.
    • The Rise for Climate Songbook developed by Thrive Street Choir, Peace Poets + RISE Arts features songs you can sing at your events to bring energy and inspiration. The Microsoft Word version found here will allow you to change lyrics to make them 5G and EMR relevant if you choose.
    • For those who don’t read music, free audio and YouTube recordings of many of the songs in both songbooks may be found online.

WHY SONG?

    • Heightens the impact of  your public actions
    • Deepens the relationships within and beyond your community
    • Grounds your community in its purpose
    • Expresses key points of your group’s messaging in a beautiful and accessible way
    • Unveils the deep human emotion of your group’s caring for the world
    • Enlivens your gatherings

USE MUSIC IN OUR MOVEMENT FOR:

    • Gathering, Grounding, Focus, Energizing, De-escalating, Grieving, Bonding. Moving, Transitioning: Escalating, Accompanying, Channeling, Messaging, Transforming.
    • Expressing Beauty, Rage, Love, Connection, Purpose.
    • Closing.

TIPS FOR SONG LEADING

Prepare

    • Practice alone and practice leading friends, family and others in the song
    • Brainstorm words you can improvise with to add to the song.
    • Find the place in the song where you can interject phrases like “sing it loud, for your neighbors, dance with it, etc.” (Sometimes this will be overt op of the singing)

Connect

    • Learn from and reflect on the stories struggle-songs speak to
    • Feel how a song connects you to history, purpose and community.

Plan

    • Schedule song into the program.
    • Know what will happen before and after the song so you can set the tone.

Play

    • Tempo ~ Make a chill song energizing or vice versa
    • Volume ~ Use volume to manage the tone and vibe of the group. (“Let’s get loud” or “Sing it gently now.”)
Barbara Danes Leading Protest Songs against the Vietnam War in 1964