We hope you can join us!

Please Join Us!

For a Living Room Choir ANEW: BIG SING

Saturday, May 13th

4-5:30pm

Outdoors (weather permitting; see indoor back-up plan below)

At Grace Lutheran Church
15 Santa Fe, El Cerrito CA (street parking, 10 minute walk from El Cerrito Plaza BART)

We’ll be sharing songs we’ve been working on this session!

There will be some light teaching: sing along, or just listen.

By donation; suggested sliding scale $10-25. All proceeds go toward the continuation of this community choir. No amount is too small or too large – we can use it all to support this work and community. You can make your donation through our Payments page or at the event itself. Seats are not reserved.

Our outdoor seating includes some chairs on the lawn, but you are welcome to bring picnic blankets or whatever feels right for your body.

This is an all-ages space and very welcoming of families. We understand you may need to come and go and/or not remain seated. The courtyard is enclosed with a gate, and there will be some activities for young kids in one area of the courtyard; please do not bring pets except by prior arrangement.

Safety Acknowledgement:

Singing is still considered a high risk activity, and we are a Covid-Cautious Community with a variety of health concerns and comfort levels.
We are asking all attendees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and other viruses wherever eligible (we understand that there are age and health limitations on certain vaccines; those exceptions are welcome too.)
As with most activities nowadays, please do not attend if you’re under the weather or have a recent known exposure to COVID-19.
Thank you for doing your part to keep others safe!

OUR PLAN FOR SUN:

If it’s warm and dry we’ll meet outside in the courtyard of Grace Lutheran Church.

• We will be spread out on the lawn of the church’s courtyard. We use the Bird-Cat-Dog method of gathering, so folks are welcome to get close or distance, their choice.
• Masks are optional (most of our choir members choose to unmask when outdoors.)
• Bring layers – even on sunny days, it can get chilly in the Bay Area. You just never know.
• Chairs are available; you are also welcome to bring camping chairs or picnic blankets.

OUR PLAN FOR RAIN:

If it’s raining or seems like it might rain, we will meet inside the Sanctuary of Grace Lutheran Church.

• We will provide N95 masks at the door that are duck-bill shaped and infinitely easier to sing in than the standard kind. You are welcome to wear your own N95 if you prefer. Small children and folks with breathing difficulties can wear the masks that work for them (and children under 2 are not expected to mask at all.)
• Once inside, we’ll encourage social distancing, and have the windows open and fans and filters on.
• The choir members will all be rapid-tested for COVID day-of the event, and they too will be masked, except the leaders while leading or other moments of needing facial communication.
• Because the windows will be open, please dress warmly or bring layers.

Thank you for keeping our community safe so we can sing in person once more!

Land Acknowledgement:

Grace Church is located on unceded xučyun (Huichin) home territory (what is now known as Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Piedmont, Emeryville and Albany, California). The Chochenyo speaking Lisjan Ohlone people, have lived on this land for thousands of years.

Happy Spring! A few of us will be singing at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists this Earth Day.

Healing in Community: The Power of Music
a service led by Kaitie Ty Warren

You can join us or learn more about it here! We’re looking forward to it.
(Please note there is a strict masking policy for in-person attendees, including children.)

Happy Earth Day!

http://www.bfuu.org/images/stories/newsletters/2023/2023-04%20Communicator.pdf

Hello friends!
Kaitie was interviewed on A Breath of Song recently (episode 55) and two songs were featured: Everything is Changing and Surrender (episode 54).

Check them out below!

In the interview, Kaitie talks about ubuntu, imperfection, covid safety in community, and more.

Patricia teaches a new song every week. Tune in to sing along! You do not have to be a singer to enjoy these works – they are designed to be as accessible as possible.

https://www.abreathofsong.com/ (the show)

https://abreathofsong.podbean.com/e/55 (the interview)

https://www.abreathofsong.com/episodes–show-notes/54-surrender (the surrender song)

Original Artwork for songs by Patty Piotrowski

It’s new but feeling sweet – and we have one scheduled this Saturday! Read about our Saturday Afternoon Sing: Living Room Choir ANEW and join us!

Saturday Afternoon Singing: Living Room Choir ANEW

Outdoors

All Ages

Covid-Cautious

To be invited, please CONTACT US. Not every date will be advertised on the website, but a small email invite list goes out every time an event like this occurs.

Usually Saturdays4-5:30pm

$20 suggested ($12-24 sliding scale)*

In a large courtyard; address given upon RSVP

The courtyard is lovely, spacious, and open to the elements. Please wear weather-appropriate clothes, and bring your water bottle. There is little shade.

You are welcome and encouraged to invite new people if they are vaccinated and boosted. They must RSVP as well. Thanks for spreading the word!

• Don’t forget to bring your mask
• Chairs are available
• Picnic blankets etc are also welcome
• The courtyard is enclosed and babies/children are welcome
• Although we’ll be outside, the indoor restroom will be made available

*A word about FUNDS:

• As always, no one is turned away for lack of funds.
• You can pay electronically here or bring payment with you in cash (no change given)
• This pandemic has been financially “complex” for many of us. I intentionally did not raise the sliding scale from 2020; in fact I think it’s slightly lower than it used to be. That reflects the fact that things have changed drastically, and we are entering into a singing space together ANEW: it is essentially a pilot program in this new world landscape.
• Any dollars that you contribute above the $12 minimum helps ensure that our community can continue to welcome singers regardless of financial status. If you are in a position to donate more than the maximum, I thank you.
• It is FINE to pay less than $12 if that’s what’s doable for you right now. Your presence is valuable in many ways that have nothing to do with a dollar sign

Please read our COVID Safety page before attending.

Thank you for keeping your community safe! We can’t wait to sing with you!

Hello folks!

Thank you so much for your patience this winter. My family had COVID throughout most of January, which set me back in my timeline for scheduling choir, so I apologize that you didn’t hear from me sooner.

But it’s time to start again and I hope to see you there!

Living ZOOM Choir (Virtual)!

• Thursdays, 7-8:20pmPST
• March 10-May12
• Led by Kaitie Ty Warren and Sara Stutz
• 10 Week Series suggested sliding scale: $120-240
• REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sdOiopz8iGNPNu_X3OpznFV6kw0FzzG-A
• After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
• Next, please head to https://thelivingroomchoir.com/payments/ and send your tuition payment. You MUST reserve in order for me to know you are in the choir, and receive announcement emails.
• As usual, no one turned away for lack of funds. If you’re unable to make the bottom end of the sliding scale, please talk to me.
• Please invite anyone you think might be interested in joining us!

In Addition:

Pandemic- and Weather-Willing,
LRC will be holding some
Backyard Sings (Outdoors)!

• Exact time and place is still TBD, but likely on Saturdays 3:30-5 in Berkeley CA
• $15-25 Sliding Scale, no one turned away for lack of funds
• SPACE WILL BE LIMITED, and all attendees must be fully vaccinated and boosted (as eligible) for COVID-19*. Keep an eye out for the email and RSVP as soon as you can to hold your spot. (These events will also be announced in person at Zoom Choir.)
• You do not need to be a member of the Zoom session in order to join.
• These plans are subject to change depending on pandemic and weather.
• These Sings will be spacious enough for social distancing, but they are mask-optional.

*If you have a medical exemption that prevents you from receiving the vaccine, please discuss with Kaitie. Little ones under the age of 5 are not yet eligible for the COVID vaccine, but are welcome. For the safety of all, everyone in attendance, of any age, should be vaccinated for what they are eligible for before singing with others at our event.

We are excited to sing together in whatever form works for you.

Warmly,

Kaitie, Sara and LivingRoomChoir

Simple Harmonies

Songs for Babies and their Grownups

Join us Tuesday evenings for this sweet, online pilot program of a new singing group for babies!

• 3 Tuesdays in a row (with more down the road if it’s a hit!)
• 5-5:30ish pm (feel free to hop on late if you need to – we all understand baby schedules.) We’ll leave the room open at the end for a few minutes for anyone who wants to stay and chat
• November 16, 23 and 30. You must register for one, two, or all three using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrdeuvpzgvEtdPn-3qcMXPQdt3Yxx8MsH0
• Once you’re registered, you will receive an email with your personal link to attend the Zoom meeting
• Suggested donation $15 (sliding scale $10-20) paid online; no one turned away for lack of funds. See our Payments page: https://thelivingroomchoir.com/payments/
• If you bring a friend, pay 2-for-1
• No musical background necessary (you will learn simple yet lush, engaging songs that are easy to grab on to, but you will also be singing mostly on mute, so it’s very little pressure!)
• BY INVITATION ONLY: since we are dealing with babies and the internet, please help get the word out by inviting friends and other parents you know. Folks must have a baby or child with them to attend, but reach out to me if you want to bring a family member in a separate Zoom window so I know they belong to your group.
• Babies and kids of all ages are welcome. This is designed for babies (under 2 years old) in mind but appropriate for all ages
• Expect to sing along with your baby, and feel free to bring shaker eggs, pots and pans to bang on, or anything else fun for music-making! The songs are chosen specifically with the grownups in mind as well as the babies. Kaitie is a pandemic parent and knows first-hand the loneliness and challenges of parenting during this time. The songs are meant to uplift and nourish, as well as give you some new material to sing with your little one.

Email thelivingroomchoir@gmail.com with any questions!

Below are Kaitie and Luca singing Bele Mama, a children’s song from Camaroon, using a looper.

We’ve made plans and plans again… the times just keep changing and the music keeps rolling. So!

With a big acknowledgment that more will be revealed, here’s how I’d like to plan our winter session:

• Living Room Choir returns online! Winter 2021 Session
• Thursday nights on Zoom*
• 6:45-8pm PST
• October 21-December 16, except for Thanksgiving Day (8 Thursdays)
• Led by Kaitie Ty Warren and Sara Stutz, with support from Deborah Leeds
• Cost: $100-200 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds. (All tuition funds go directly toward keeping this space available to all. Please talk to Kaitie if you have any questions.)

• *the possibility for some in-person outdoor gatherings are being explored, but are not currently guaranteed

This session is open to all – newcomers and veterans alike! We expect it to be an intimate session but please do feel free to invite your friends and family – the beautiful thing about Zoom is anyone can join, from anywhere in the world!

We will be singing mostly on mute but will unmute at times (everything is always optional). No musical experience necessary. Kaitie plans to share mostly using live looping, diving into simple, luscious harmonies you can play with at home. No teaching tracks unless they’re requested. We may explore a simple recording as a souvenir, but no major projects or concerts are scheduled at this time.

We’ll sing songs together that reflect what we need to hear and remember during this unique time in history. Living Room Choir, in all its forms, has always been known to uplift our moods, and fill our hearts. We are the light (as the song says) – and will continue to generate light together, through the early darkness of the winter season!

Simply tell Kaitie if you’d like to be enrolled. You can send payments through the electronic channels or make other arrangements.

Can’t wait to see you and sing with you!

Community Singing on Zoom!

A one-day workshop exploring community experience through community music – online!

• On Zoom (you must register ahead of time at this link to receive the meeting link)
• Saturday, July 24th, 5-6:30pm
• Led by: Kaitie Ty Warren (with support from Sara Stutz)
• Suggested donation (no one ever turned away for lack of funds)
• Completely open to newcomers and people who consider themselves non-singers
• Because we will be connecting visually, we encourage folks to have their cameras on, but it is not required
• This event will be recorded, and the recording will be made available after the fact to registered participants.

Some of what we’ll explore:

• circle singing: building a song together as a group using the looper, one track at a time
• incorporating American Sign Language into some of our favorite choir songs so we can watch each other sing, even over Zoom
• singing to each other
• call-and-response, and layer songs, using heterophony (singing out of sync) and a looper

More than a year later… What’s new?

In March 2020 (like most group activities,) Living Room Choir moved to Zoom, with no idea what the future held. In September of that same year, choir director Kaitie Ty Warren went on maternity leave. Sara Stutz stepped into the role of director, assisted by Deborah Leeds, and kept the Living Zoom-Room open through the entire winter! Despite the twists and turns of 2020, a core group of singers continued to meet and sing regularly, mostly on Zoom. (Be sure to check out the video below of May It Be, one of our beautiful souvenirs from this strange time!) Only very recently, some members have begun to meet outdoors to sing as well. The LRC community has welcomed multiple babies during these times of separation: Luca (Kaitie’s baby, pictured above, born in September 2020), Naomi (born in the Spring 2021) and 4 grandbabies, including a set of twins! Due to complications, Kaitie wasn’t able to return full time as quickly as planned. Instead, Kaitie and Sara co-led a 12-week choir session on Zoom. While “it’s just not the same” seems to be a common mantra when it comes to singing on Zoom, this choir found innovative ways to connect each other, as well as to the music. The community continued to thrive, sing, and support each other! (See a clip of T’dumela, presented by Kaitie and Luca, for an example of one of the songs we sung together.)

Now, we’ve arrived at re-opening, and a lot of new decision-making awaits. The world is, once again, navigating uncharted waters. Living Room Choir hopes to re-open in person with a 12-week Fall Session, to be announced more formally late this summer. (We hope to once again be located at Grace Lutheran Church in El Cerrito, on Thursdays at 7pm.) However, we recognize that the Zoom offerings allowed many folks to be there who could otherwise not, and that, even by Fall, some of our dear ones still may not be able to sing safely in person due to any number of variables. So, we hope to continue offering something in an online format as well. Kaitie also hopes to create a new series of events that are more baby-friendly – as soon as it feels safe enough to gather babies and families of mixed ages together. If you want to be kept in the loop as these plans solidify, simply continue to follow our website’s blog or join our email list. This email list will only ever be used for choir-related events, and we try to email minimally. If you would like to be kept informed of even the small last-minute gatherings, which sometimes happen, please write thelivingroomchoir@gmail.com with the subject heading ADD ME! However, we already have two upcoming summer events are open to all – whether you’ve ever sung with us before or not! One is in person (led by Sara) and one is on Zoom (led by Kaitie).

Sara Sings in the Park! Come join Living Room Choir for an afternoon sing in the park:   John Hinkle Park Amphitheater, Berkeley Sunday, July 18 3:00-4:30 Led by: Sara Stutz (with support from Kaitie Ty Warren) Bring: yourselves, a water bottle, perhaps a simple song you’d like to share, layers of clothing (lots of shade), perhaps a portable chair if you desire. Directions: Get yourself to the Marin Circle Fountain in Berkeley, head up Arlington Ave, take the first right, which is Somerset Place and follow this to the dead end, which is where the amphitheater is. Feel free to bring friends along – this will be a friendly, casual, summer-time sing.  This is a mask optional event. RSVP helpful (but you’re welcome if you spontaneously show up)  smstutzpt@gmail.com Questions?  Feel free to e-mail, text or call Sara 510-375-5420 Note: If another group is using this space, we will move to another location in the park, somewhere on the grass behind the amphitheater or above the amphitheater.

Community Singing on Zoom with Kaitie! A one-day workshop exploring community experience through community music – online! On Zoom (you must register ahead of time at this link to receive the meeting link) Saturday, July 24th, 5-6:30pm Led by: Kaitie Ty Warren (with support from Sara Stutz) Suggested donation (no one ever turned away for lack of funds) Completely open to newcomers and people who consider themselves non-singers Because we will be connecting visually, we encourage folks to have their cameras on, but it is not required This event will be recorded, and the recording will be made available after the fact to registered participants. Some of what we’ll explore: -circle singing: building a song together as a group using the looper, one track at a time -incorporating American Sign Language into some of our favorite choir songs so we can watch each other sing, even over Zoom -singing to each other call-and-response, and layer songs, using heterophony (singing out of sync) and a looper

Stay safe! Go slowly. It’s been quite a year. We look forward to singing with you, in person or via Zoom, as soon as the time comes. Love, Kaitie Ty, Sara Stutz, and Living Room Choir