Giving Voice to Grief

[Giving Voice to Grief]

Work with vocal instructor and composer Sarah M. Greer
to develop her new improvised vocal work

Looking for Music Makers

Hello, I'm Sarah.

I teach singing in the music department at Mpls College, and I'm looking for music-makers and voice users to help me explore and develop an improvised composition sourced from the vocal sounds we make when we express sorrow.

My goal is to use vocal improvisation to explore how we can create musical rituals/ceremonies to express, digest and transmute grief in communal spaces. There is so much to hold and so much to grieve in this place (the Twin Cities) and in these times.

It is my hope that through coming together to sing (using prompts, structures and forms I create) we can find ways to digest and transmute grief through song, story and music.

About This Project

The singing sessions for this project will take place during the Spring 2024 semester and begin Friday, February 2nd. I will facilitate a total of six (6) workshop sessions to explore and develop the work. We will also collaborate with singers from my long-running, improv based community song circle, Songtaneous for those folks looking for more vocal and improv practice in general.

Students and community will have an opportunity to share a version of the piece we create during the Mpls College concert on Friday, May 3rd.

I believe in singing (music) and its power to help us and hold us we move through these challenging times. I invite you to read through the info on this page to learn more about the project and if it feels like a fit for you. Also, please feel free to get in touch (sarah.greer@minneapolis dot edu) if you have questions or concerns.

I hope to sing with you soon. In the meantime, be well and keep singing.

singingly,
Sarah M. Greer

Students and interested community members are invited to join these singing sessions.

Student Singing Sessions

The student singing sessions will focus on exploring Sarah's composition ideas. Sarah will also invite community singers and improvisers to these sessions. See schedule below.

Songaneous Sessions

Songtaneous sessions are community singing events. Bassed in improvisation, the environment is relaxed and playful. See schedule below.

Who can join the project?

This is a project for student and community music-makers. Previous experience improvising or group singing is NOT required. Interested folks should be comfortable with group singing. Opportunties for solo singing may also come up.

Attendance

Because grieving is such a personal and senstive topic, this singing requires that the ensemble members work together to build community and trust. Students are asked to commit to attend all 6 of the singing sessions (see schedule).

Making space for grief

Part of our student/community singing sessions will be spent exploring placemaking and how it supports the music we make.

Sign up for reminders

If you'd like to receive reminders (email or text) , you can join the contact list using the QR code or web linke below.

LINK: http://eepurl.com/iJcFp6

Project Schedule

Below is the schedule of Student and Songtaneous Sessions.
A reminder that starred entries are required for Mpls College students.

Still Have Questions?

Contact sarah.greer@minneapolis.edu to learn more about this project.

About Sarah M. Greer

Sarah M. Greer is an instructor, improviser, and composer who performs with a cappella ensemble Give Get Sistet, numerous Twin Cities artists and musicians, and guests with a variety of players in other projects and collaborations throughout Minnesota and around the world.

Sarah has performed for NPR’s Talking Volumes (with Give Get Sistet), opened for Take 6 (also with Give Get Sistet), and numerous times at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. She is a performer in and founding member of Ebb N’ Flow, a collective of Black improvising artists in the Twin Cities.

Sarah has taught voice at Minneapolis College since 2010. She is passionate about every person’s right to sing and the power of singing to change the world.

This activity is made possible by the voters Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

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