The Heart Sings: A Course in Vocal and Inner Freedom

The Heart Sings is a 9 week course to explore, express and accept your unique voice, as it is now, through joyous community singing - without critique or judgement.

About the event
Do you want more opportunities to sing with others, in a supportive and nurturing environment? Not to rehearse for a performance, but for the pure joy of it? The Heart Sings is a space to explore, express and accept your unique voice, as it is now, through community singing - without critique or judgement.
I created this 9-week course based on decades of experience as a devotional singer and community builder. And because I saw a true need for it. So many of us want to sing. So many of us are tired of not being ourselves (not singing or speaking up) because of what others might think of us. So many of us want real community. And every heart yearns to express itself.

Register HERE <---

Who this Course is For:
This space is for all, not just those who consider themselves singers, because singing is a birthright. Expressing our emotions and giving voice to what is true is essential to our wellbeing. And singing is a potent, healing and liberating vehicle for this vital expression - the expression of our heart.
Yet it makes sense that many of us are not comfortable with our voice - we are sorely lacking opportunities to sing together. Why would we be confident in a muscle we rarely get to use? Let's change that! And reclaim our voice as a tool for authentic expression and healing.

What to Expect:
We will gather in Eliot, Maine on Wednesday evenings from 6-7:30pm for 9 weeks to:

• Learn healing songs and chants from diverse traditions - many of which are spiritual in nature
• Practice freeing the voice through a variety of exercises including vocal toning, relaxation techniques, improvisation, and call and response (with a little movement and rhythm thrown in!)
• Strengthen the ability to center yourself within through guided mindful noticing, rather than worrying about other's opinions and perceptions of you (or your singing)
• Bolster the voice through singing in rounds and in harmony with each other, often accompanied by crystal bowls, drums and the Shruti Box
• Be nourished by community as we support and encourage each other through check-ins and optional group sharing

While this course will help heal your relationship with your voice and your perception of yourself, it is also for those who are already comfortable singing. It truly is for all voices - those who consider themselves singers and those who don't (yet).
Let's gather to give voice to our joy and our pain, find ease within ourselves, and connect inwardly and with each other, through song.

Course Details:
Our weekly gatherings will take place on Wednesday evenings starting Aug 6 at the idyllic Pinetree Farm Learning Center (image above) located at 206 Old Rd, Eliot, ME.

Monetary exchange: Sliding scale of $30-$40 per week (or $270-$360 for 9 weeks). The going rate is $35 per week, but a sliding scale has been provided for those who would be hindered from paying the full rate, as well as those who are able to give more to offset the discounts others receive. If the discounted rate is out of reach for you, please contact me at jessica.f.gaines@gmail.com and we'll find what works. Finances should not hinder you from participating.

I hope you'll join us as we sing, express, and free our voices and ourselves!

Register HERE <---

Here's what recent participants are saying:

"The Heart Sings is like building a safe space together with strangers who gradually become trusted friends. The song is a joyful and inspiring part of the experience, but not the whole - it's a wonderful tool for bringing us together and lifting us up." - Jess F.

"The Heart Sings is a space for meditation through song. It's not a choir or a space to improve your technique so much as a space to dive deeper into your connection with your voice and soul - a spiritual practice. Being part of the group means being surrounded by the same folks every week, and this builds trust and community. It helps you build confidence. " - Beth T.

"This is a restorative experience of being in community and enjoying making music together. Jessica makes the space safe and welcoming and guides the songs so you can easily follow and learn. Singing + harmonic vibration feel so good in these difficult times." - Rachel F.