How to sing together for deeper connection | Maggie Wheeler & Arnae Batson | TEDxManhattanBeach

Key Concepts

• Singing as a bonding experience
• Call and response singing
• Kinship and connection through shared music
• The "We Will Gather" song
• Community building through singing
• Overlapping vocal lines
• Breathing exercises for vocal preparation

Introduction

Maggie Wheeler and Arne Batson introduce a demonstration of the power of singing together, featuring the Manhattan Beach choir and the audience as a combined choir. They emphasize their 40+ year friendship that began in a singing workshop, highlighting their belief that everyone belongs at the "singing table" regardless of musical background.

The "We Will Gather" Song

Maggie introduces a song she wrote called "We Will Gather," describing it as fun, easy, and perfect for fostering kinship. The song is structured as a call and response, where Maggie sings a line, Arne repeats it, and the audience joins in as the responders.

Preparation and Warm-up

Before singing, the presenters lead the audience in physical and vocal warm-up exercises:

• Body Shake: Shaking hands down by the knees, in front, and above the head to release tension.
• Sound Gathering: A breathing exercise where participants visualize pulling sound from the earth and throwing it into the sky.
• Breathing Exercises: Three rounds of inhaling, holding, and releasing with "ah," "oh," and "all" sounds to open the vocal cords.

Call and Response Demonstration

Maggie and Arne demonstrate the call and response technique with the first lines of "We Will Gather":

• Maggie: "We will sing"
• Arne: "We will sing"
• Audience: "We will sing"
• Maggie: "We will dream"
• Arne: "We will dream"
• Audience: "We will dream"

They explain that the lines will overlap slightly.

Performance of "We Will Gather"

The presenters lead the audience through the full song, using the call and response format. The lyrics emphasize gathering, singing, friendship, and connection in various settings (by the stream, when the tide is high/out, where waters glisten/fall).

Lyrics and Structure

The song follows a consistent pattern:

1. "We will sing" (call and response)
2. "We will [verb]" (e.g., dream, cry, shout, listen, call) (call and response)
3. "We will gather" (call and response)
4. "Yes, we will gather" (call and response)
5. "And as we sing" (call and response)
6. "We'll become friends" (call and response)

Audience Interaction and Connection

During the final verses, the presenters encourage the audience to turn to their left and right, making eye contact and connecting with others while singing "We'll become friends." They also prompt the audience to put their hands together, reinforcing the sense of unity.

Conclusion

The performance concludes with the audience singing "We'll become friends" together, followed by applause. Maggie and Arne thank the audience for their participation, emphasizing the successful demonstration of connection through singing.

Key Takeaways

• Singing together can quickly foster a sense of community and connection.
• Call and response is an effective technique for engaging groups in singing.
• Simple songs with repetitive lyrics can be powerful tools for building kinship.
• Physical and vocal warm-ups are important for preparing to sing.
• Shared musical experiences can create lasting bonds between people.