Singing is Fun

We had a really fun MANNA Singers rehearsal this week! We hooked up my computer to the speakers in Lower Sproat Hall and played the original recordings of our current repertoire while everyone enjoyed lunch. We began rehearsal with a rhythm/pulse exercise, which was a lot of fun to do together. Then we moved on to singing a round while keeping the pulse with our feet! We did our regular vocal warm-ups and then began to work through the repertoire we’re learning. This included: “On the Road Again,” “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay,” “Octopus’ Garden,” and “You are the Sunshine of My Life.” Spirits were high!

Two rehearsals ago, instead of our regularly programming, I led a Feldenkrais ‘Awareness Through Movement’ lesson with the group. The lesson focused on the movement of the jaw and eyes and there were as many different responses to the work as there were individuals in the room. For some, it was challenging to pay attention to such small movements for a long time. One fellow described the experience as “intense.” Another woman said that when she got up at the end, it felt easier to walk. While moving the eyes slowly from side to side, one man described seeing a sun set over a field. I felt grateful for the opportunity to share this work with the group and I learned a lot!