Vocal Harmonies

## **Online Jazz Harmony Course – Understand What’s Really Happening in Jazz Standards** **Next session:** Monday 11 May 2026 · 7:30 PM · Online **Module 2: Minor Harmony** Students welcome from anywhere in the world. Recordings of all previous sessions are available for new students for an additional discounted price of £15. ### **Do you sometimes feel lost when improvising over jazz standards?** Maybe you know scales but still find it difficult to understand what’s really happening in the harmony and chord changes? This **8-week online course** is designed to help you build a clear and practical understanding of jazz harmony, so you can navigate standards with greater confidence when improvising. ### Who This Course Is For **Beginners** * Build a solid foundation in major and minor harmony * Understand how chords function within real jazz standards * Gain clarity on scales, chord tones, and basic progressions **Intermediate Players** * Strengthen your command of II–V–I progressions in all keys * Learn to use extensions and substitutions * Analyse and navigate jazz standards more independently Suitable for saxophonists and other instrumentalists who want to better understand harmony and improve their improvisation. ### Course Structure * 8 online sessions divided into 2 modules * Clear progression from foundations to application * Practice-focused and interactive sessions * Recording of every session sent by email after class ### International Students Welcome Participants from anywhere in the world are welcome (Europe, Asia, USA, etc.). ### Investment * **Full course (8 sessions)** * Introductory price £88 * Regular £135 * **Modules available separately:** £52 each * A £38 deposit secures your place. The remaining balance is due before the course begins. * **Optional add-on:** access to recordings of all previous sessions for £15. Places are limited to keep the group focused and interactive. ### How to Join The current cohort of the course is now underway. You can still join **Module 2**, focusing on minor harmony and how to apply it in your playing over the coming weeks. To join Module 2: Send the £52 fee via PayPal: [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/LexiTop8](https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/LexiTop8) Or message me through Meetup with any questions. The second cohort is now open for booking with early bird access: * **Early Bird (full course): £88** Available until **30 June**, before the second edition begins on **6 July**. To secure early bird access, pay the full amount via PayPal: [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/LexiTop8](https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/LexiTop8) **Regular Price (Second Cohort): £150** To book at the regular price: Send a £63 deposit via PayPal: [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/LexiTop8](https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/LexiTop8) Or message me through Meetup with any questions. ### About the Teacher The course is led by Aleksandra Topczewska — a London-based jazz saxophonist, arranger, and educator. She has performed at the Barbican, Royal Festival Hall, Ronnie Scott’s, and festivals across Europe alongside artists including Gary Crosby, Chaka Khan, and Binker Golding. *"Aleksandra's melodic flair, volleys of succulent notes and piercing flute song flew through Soho."* — Morning Star More information: alekandratopczewskamusic.com

Fairly new to singing and wanting to find an outlet for your new skills or long-time singer and choir member looking for a new choir to join? Want a choir that will help coach and support your singing at all levels and increase your knowledge of music technique and sight singing - and make it all fun? Then London Sings! is the group for you. London Sings! is a no audition local community choir which is big in personality and looking to grow. We cater both for experienced singers and those still quite new to singing, with plenty of opportunities for interesting performances. We do ask members to commit to regular attendance as we want to ensure our performances continue to impress and can be enjoyed with confidence by our members. We sing a wide variety of pieces ranging from jazz and musical theatre to classical, and from unison through to four part harmony, while having a lot of fun in the process. We rehearse every Monday evening from 7.30pm to 9.30pm and from April 2026, we are in a new rehearsal venue; St Vincent's Centre, Talma Road, Brixton, SW2 1AS. We always welcome new members, whatever your level of experience. The ability to read music is very helpful, but we have audio aids available for much of the music we do and if you are not a sight reader, we may ask you to spend a short amount of time with these between rehearsals when we are working towards a performance, to make sure we can all progress towards a performance at a reasonable rate. You are welcome to try us out for a few sessions at no charge while deciding whether you want to become a member. If you do join us, fees are a very reasonable £15 a month. We are a very sociable bunch, so usually go to the pub after rehearsals for a good chat and we also organise various social events. Please do not hesitate to contact us on [chair@londonsings.org.uk](mailto:chair@londonsings.org.uk) or by telephone on 07785 905355 More information on who we are can be found on [http://www.londonsings.org.uk/](http://www.londonsings.org.uk/) Looking forward to seeing you...

Join one of London’s most sociable choirs! Primrose Hill Choir, Mondays from 13.4, 7.30-9.30pm, NW1 8TN. Theme From Darkness to Light. Songs include The Sound of Silence, Some Enchanted Evening & Hard Day’s Night. All ages & abilities from across London. Solo opportunities. BOOK A PLACE: maestromattheww@yahoo.co.uk, subject heading PHC. SEE primrosehillchoirs.com

*This event is supported by [languagecalendars.com](https://www.languagecalendars.com/)* Get **£5 off** their language calendars, posters & tees 👉 use code **HOLA5** or click this link: [https://www.languagecalendars.com/discount/HOLA5](https://www.languagecalendars.com/discount/HOLA5) **🌍 Connecting locals and internationals in London 🌍** Join us every Monday evening in Clapham for the London Language Exchange, where over 40 people gather each week to practice new languages, share cultures, and make new friends. See pics of our previous events on our [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/babblelondon), and chat to other members who are coming via our [whatsapp group](https://languagexchanges.com/whatsapp/). **🙋 Who is this for?** All languages and levels are welcome, and we are inclusive of all ages, races, religions etc. Whether you're a polyglot, a beginner just starting with Duolingo Spanish, or you just want to come and socialise, you will be welcomed to our community of language learners and international friends. **🙌 What to Expect:** * **Language Practice:** Whether you’re fluent in Spanish, Italian, English, Arabic, Russian, Mandarin, or any other language, our hosts will help you connect with people who match your language interests. * **Friendly Hosts:** Our hosts will greet you at the entrance, give you a label where you can write the language(s) you speak and the ones you’d like to learn or practice. * **Inclusive Atmosphere:** We welcome all languages and levels, and make sure everyone feels comfortable—especially if you're coming alone! It’s a relaxed environment perfect for making new friends and practising languages at your own pace. * **Socialising:** Coming alone or with friends, this is a great opportunity to meet new people in the city. Unlike some other meetup ‘groups’, we do not fill our events with fake members, and you can check how many people attend each week via our [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/babblelondon). **👋 How does it work?** * **Arrive!** No need to register, just come to our event any time between 7-9pm and our event host will welcome you. They will have an orange lanyard and will be sitting next to our sign. * **Write your ‘Language Label’.** Here you can write your name, the languages you are learning, and the languages you can help others with. * **Pay.** Our £1 event fee pays for our lovely event hosts and keeps the event going. Card only please. * **Get talking!** With the help of our host you will be able to find other people attending the event with compatible language interests - we are all very friendly and the majority of our attendees come alone, so there’s no need to worry about getting involved! **📌 Where are we?** We’re normally located in the back room at O'Neill's in Clapham ([https://g.co/kgs/M4APaFg](https://g.co/kgs/M4APaFg)) 196 Clapham High St, London SW4 7UD However, always check the location on this meetup event and in our [WhatsApp Group](https://languagexchanges.com/whatsapp) just in case there is a change. **💡 Important Info:** Please disregard the attendee numbers shown on Meetup or Facebook. Because we meet at the same time and place every week, many regulars do not sign up beforehand, but we always have a great turnout, often exceeding 40 people. We also have many more participants who join through other platforms. **🔗 Connect With Us:** Stay updated by joining our WhatsApp and Facebook groups or following us on Instagram. You’ll get event updates and stay connected with the community! [https://linktr.ee/londonlanguageexchange](https://linktr.ee/londonlanguageexchange) **FAQ:** **Who is this for?** Anyone interested in languages, from complete beginners to fluent speakers! We welcome all levels and languages. **Do I need to sign up?** You don’t need to sign up, but feel free to join our WhatsApp group for updates and announcements. **Can I come alone?** Absolutely! Many people come solo, and it’s a great way to meet new friends in a relaxed environment. **How does the event work?** When you arrive, you’ll get a sticker to write your native language and the one(s) you’d like to practice. Our hosts will help you find people to chat with based on your preferences. **What if I don’t speak multiple languages?** No problem! Whether you’re fluent or just starting out with a new language, everyone is welcome. **More Questions?** Check out our [full FAQ here](https://languagexchanges.com/what-is-a-language-exchange/) **💛 WHAT THEY SAY** **🗣** “It's so great that people are very friendly and nice here. I practised my English speaking and listening.” - Gerome 🗣 “The language exchange events are a really great way not just to practise languages but also to meet new people in your area. I’ve made many local friends since I moved to the area” - Monika 🗣 “Everything was perfect. The host was so friendly and wonderful!” - Mojtaba 🗣 "It was a lovely language exchange, with lovely people. I practised so much German!" - Sara **About Languagexchanges:** We started in Leeds back in 2014 with the desire to provide a welcoming space that brings people together from all different walks of life, with a shared love of learning languages and culture. We now have communities across the UK including Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and York - [see all our locations.](https://languagexchanges.com/product-category/events/) 👔 Interested in working with us? [https://languagexchanges.com/work-with-us/](https://languagexchanges.com/work-with-us/) ✍️ Feedback form: [https://languagexchanges.com/events-feedback](https://languagexchanges.com/events-feedback) 📩 Email: [info@languagexchanges.com](http://mailto:info@languagexchanges.com/)

Golders Queens is a newly established LGBTQ+ choir meeting weekly at Golders Green Unitarians, offering a supportive and joyful space to explore singing in community. It's a place to grow in confidence, discover your voice, and enjoy the simple pleasure of making music together, Whether you've sung in a choir for years or are just beginning, you'll find a welcoming group ready to build something new.

**📅 Book your time here:** [www.betheband.org/book-online](http://www.betheband.org/book-online) 📍 **Exact location sent after booking** 🎸 **BetheBand Meet & Greet – Come Play & Say Hi** 🎤 Curious what it’s like to be in a band again? BetheBand is a London-based music programme for amateur to intermediate musicians who want to rehearse regularly, improve as players, and perform live — **without the hassle of organising bands, rehearsal rooms, or gigs yourself**. 🤝 **What’s the meet & greet?** This is a relaxed introduction — **not an audition**. You’ll play **one song** with a backing track alongside one of our band directors 🎶 You can **play whatever you like**, or choose from a **short song list** if you want some inspiration 📃 It’s friendly and low-pressure — just a chance for us to get to know your level, taste, and goals, and for you to see if BetheBand feels right for you. 🚀 **What happens if you join?** 🎯 Matched with musicians at your level 🏙️ Weekly rehearsals in a central London studio 🎼 Guided by a professional musician as your band director 🎤 Perform a full live set for friends & family at the end of an 8-week term 🎶 **Who it’s for** 🎸 Guitarists • 🎸 Bassists • 🎤 Vocalists • 🥁 Drummers • 🎹 Keyboard players ℹ️ **Practical details** 📍 Central London (address sent after sign-up) 💷 £15 meet & greet slot (non-refundable) ⏳ Limited slots — book a time that works for you If you’ve been playing on your own and miss making music *with* people, this is an easy, no-pressure way to take the first step 🎶✨

SING WITH THE LONDON CLASSICAL CHOIR, every 2nd Friday, 7.30-9.30pm, NW3 4SQ, starts 17.4. Theme From Darkness to Light, including songs by Handel, Schubert & Saint-Saëns, plus Bad Moon Rising, with solo opportunities. BOOK A PLACE: [maestromattheww@yahoo.co.uk](mailto:maestromattheww@yahoo.co.uk), subject heading LCC. SEE londonclassicalchoir.com

New members welcome. We are a 4 part choir with a life-affirming, humanist focus. We're a friendly bunch, and the singers in your section will help you get started and feel welcome. New members will be able to borrow printed music. We do perform both formally and informally, and our varied repertoire supports this. For regular attendees, please print out your music, which is available in the [members section of our site](https://london.humanistchoir.org/groups/library/buddydrive/). If you need access, contact Laurence. ([members@london.humanistchoir.org](mailto:members@london.humanistchoir.org)). For more information see the [Join Us](https://london.humanistchoir.org/join/) page , or listen to the choir on our [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@LondonHumanistChoir). We always allow potential members to try us out for a couple of weeks. We do not hold auditions. By all means message with any queries. **Term Dates (6 a year) SPRING/SUMMER 2026** * * THIS TERM - Tuesday 14 April until 19 May * TERM AFTER THAT - 2 June to EARLY JULY Current repertoire: Yesterday (Beatles) Gold (from Once) Think About Things Obladi Oblada (Beatles) Too Sweet When the Earth Stands Still more to come

Looking for a relaxed, friendly board game night in London? Join us every Thursday at **Hiver Taproom**, one of the Top 20 London taprooms, just minutes from London Bridge and close to Bermondsey. Whether you're brand new to board games or a seasoned strategist, this is a welcoming space to meet people, try great games, and enjoy excellent craft beer. ## **🎲 What Happens on the Night?** We’ll have a wide variety of board games available to play — from light, social party games to deeper strategy favourites. ✔ Solo players and groups welcome ✔ An experienced boardgamer hosting and teaching games ✔ No need to bring anything, but you're welcome to bring your own games if you want! ✔ Friendly, inclusive vibe ✔ Great for after-work socialising Just turn up, grab a drink, and we’ll help you find a table. ## **🕯️ Featured Game: Blood on the Clocktower (Upstairs Room)** We’ll also be running a dedicated game of **Blood on the Clocktower** in our upstairs private room. If you enjoy social deduction games like Werewolf or Mafia, you’ll love this immersive experience filled with hidden roles, strategy, bluffing and dramatic reveals. Spaces for this game are limited, so check out our other [Meet Up](https://www.meetup.com/bermondsey-board-gaming/events/313537869/?recId=011e01f4-928d-46e7-8c80-a4f2bb539617&recSource=event-search&searchId=ef0f242b-9ae4-4596-ac34-a13066bd9b75&eventOrigin=find_page%24all) and please RSVP if you’d like to take part. ## **🍺 Why Hiver Taproom?** * One of London’s Top 20 taprooms * Known for craft beer brewed with British honey * Spacious tables perfect for gaming * Easy walk from London Bridge Station * Relaxed, community atmosphere ## **Who Should Come?** * Board game beginners * Experienced hobby gamers * People new to London looking to meet others * After-work socialisers * Anyone who prefers dice and strategy over noisy bars If you’re searching for a regular Thursday board game meetup near London Bridge, this is your new weekly spot. RSVP now and join us for great games, great beer, and great company. 🎲🍻

Every Thursday evening, at Gospel Oak Methodist Church, Agincourt Road, London NW3 2NT our choir tries out new material and practises songs in 4 - 8 part harmony under the direction of our superb Musical Director Ben Cox, and accompanist, Jonathan Taylor. We meet from 7.30pm - 9.30pm. So come along and sing with us, as a taster. Let us know you are coming via our website contact form - see www.taketwenty.co.uk or by emailing info@taketwenty.co.uk, or via MeetUp, so we can be sure to have copies of music for you so you can join in.

full for all instruments (spot remains for vocals) **Please use this link to sign up and pay** https://tickts.co.uk/events/novice-10-12pm-may-16-vortex-upstairs (Note you must already be accepted as a member of this group, otherwise your ticket will be cancelled) **Note the Vortex rehearsals will be starting at 10am and 12pm in the coming weeks.** full list of scheduled sessions: https://www.meetup.com/Practice-Jazz-Jam-Sessions/events/ **What is it** The novice rehearsal sessions provide an opportunity for people who are relatively new to jazz, to play in a friendly, low-pressure environment. With a short set list that attendees can prepare in advance, it becomes a little less daunting to play and get the most out of practising in a group. See below for this week's setlist. Please sign up before attending. Already full for your instrument? Please check back every other Wednesday, when new sessions go live. If you keep not being able to get a spot, please message the organiser (Xie). Location: Vortex upstairs **Who's it for** Anyone who has practised following the forms (chord progressions) of jazz tunes - maybe on their own at home - and would like to build up playing experience, expand repertoire and practice performing with other musicians. There are various introductions on how jazz jams work - see e.g. https://jazznightschool.org/pages/jam-session-basics You don't need to get all these details right for these novice practice sessions. The set list format should offer opportunities for those at different levels of developing their playing. While at the beginning one might struggle to follow/comp the chords or play through the melody, it gets easier over time and one can start to develop approaches to improvisation, harmonise lead lines, add intros/endings, work on communication between band members, and even listen to recordings together and pick up specific arrangements. Bass players are expected to be able to play a walking bass line on swing tunes, and simple bossa lines for bossa novas. Playing the melody, or "head" - the responsibility is shared between horns players (e.g. sax, trumpet, violin), guitar and piano. Feel free to discuss among the group before each song - different parts of the head or the starting / ending heads can be played by different players. Some melodies will better suit several voices at the same time, whereas others are sensitive to variations in how they are played and may prefer a single instrument at a time. **What it's like** A relaxed and welcoming atmosphere - please put aside any worries of making mistakes if you’re thinking of joining us for the first time. To ensure the group is accessible for those at different levels, I ask that each novice session should work on only the below four songs of the set list, unless each and every attendee feels they prefer to move on. Each novice session is limited to up to: 1 drummer, 2 bass, 2 keys, 2 guitar, 3/4 lead instruments. The tickts.co.uk page will have tickets available only for the instruments/vocals with spots remaining. **Tunes this week (Sat May 16)** * Bolivar Blues (aka Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are) in Bb (warm up) (Thelonious Monk) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU-UjXwFi2Y * How insensitive in Dm (Wes Montgomery) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAoXA4IoSyE * Caravan in Fm (note: the form is AABA, first chord C7) (Cohen, Zenon) https://youtu.be/6kxD24KE__k?si=tNFOe16zHexe3VTZ&t=104 * Beatrice in F (Sam Rivers) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2lnek_Z_Zs Everyone is encouraged to listen to a variety of recordings for each song, but please ensure you are familiar with the recording provided as a primary reference. (Note the recordings provide stylistic reference, but may not be in the key listed, with the latter based on common real books) **Tune preview - next novice session (Sat May 23)** * Autumn Leaves in Gm (warm up) (Adderley, Davis) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpB7-8SGlJ0 Lead sheet https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/2uzg5kowaah3vswd3zrsb/AGJM9FjuAr1BHdaMYDhxsPs?rlkey=i2xriyxxvio3zbk2yudwkpk9h&st=nsx003ud&dl=0 * Maiden Voyage in D (Herbie Hancock) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWC5x9G45yo * Too close for comfort in C (Bobby Hackett) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N0ZpcGrdAg * Nardis in Em (Chet Baker) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziufEDFhlEA **Preparing for the session** The chordal form of each song follow the iReal Pro app as a common reference, or you can use sheet music from Real Books. Resource for sheet music: https://www.seventhstring.com/fbindex.html http://therealbook.info/ Try to immerse yourself in the songs by listening to recordings by different artists on youtube, spotify etc. Learn the head (main melody) of the song if you can. Don't hesitate to let the band know you can play it so you can start things off **Playing well together** The rehearsal groups are often quite large for a jazz ensemble setting. Please follow the below arrangements, which are designed to help the group be mindful of each other's volumes, and to build good habits for playing as a group * Every tune should be played at least twice. Swap the bass, piano and guitar players between the two renditions (if there are two attending) * Only one guitarist should comp - i.e. play chords - for each rendition (both guitarists can solo, and comp without amplification) * After each rendition of the warm up tune, the whole group should take a moment together and help each other to check on volumes, including: \*\* Can everyone hear themselves? \*\* Are the drums too loud? \*\* Can everyone hear the bass? \*\* Is the guitar comping too loud? \*\* Is the piano loud enough? (staff at the office can turn this up) \*\* Feel free to revisit volumes after subsequent songs * For any song, if at least two people in the group feel it would be better, the guitar and piano should share the choruses for comping (instead of comping together) - e.g. guitar comps the first time through the head, then piano, then guitar, etc. **Equipment** there is a piano, drum kit (no cymbals or high hat clutch), bass and guitar amps, stands, and microphones. Drummers: please bring cymbals (none available for rental) and hi hat clutch **Percussion** Percussionists are welcome to join with their instruments, alongside the drummer. Feel free to sign up to any session, even one that says "full for all instruments" at the top, unless it explicitly mentions "full for percussion". **Vocalists** Singers are welcome, however please note that the songs have fixed keys, and some of the repertoire are likely not in the right key for your range. If you are an experienced singer, it may be possible to arrange sessions with repertoire catered to you - to explore this, please first come to the "Afternoon Open Jams" so I can get a sense of your singing. **Observing** Would you like to attend a session without playing/singing, to get an idea of the format or to get a sense of what to practise first at home? You can sign up as usual to any novice session, and send me a message that you'd like only to watch the session. When you feel ready, the fee paid can be carried over toward any future session where you join to play or sing at the rehearsal. **Cancellation policy** Please try to make it to any session you sign up to, as the jams are organised around a particular mix of instruments. However, if things do come up and you can no longer make a session, please send a message to the organiser, Xie, as soon as possible. Places are non-refundable if your plans change, but if you provide over 1 week notice it may be possible to carry over the fee for a future session. \-\-\-\-\- any questions do get in touch!

full for all instruments (spot remains for vocals) **Please use this link to sign up and pay** https://tickts.co.uk/events/novice-12-2pm-may-16-vortex-upstairs (Note you must already be accepted as a member of this group, otherwise your ticket will be cancelled) **Note the Vortex rehearsals will be starting at 10am and 12pm in the coming weeks.** full list of scheduled sessions: https://www.meetup.com/Practice-Jazz-Jam-Sessions/events/ **What is it** The novice rehearsal sessions provide an opportunity for people who are relatively new to jazz, to play in a friendly, low-pressure environment. With a short set list that attendees can prepare in advance, it becomes a little less daunting to play and get the most out of practising in a group. See below for this week's setlist. Please sign up before attending. Already full for your instrument? Please check back every other Wednesday, when new sessions go live. If you keep not being able to get a spot, please message the organiser (Xie). Location: Vortex upstairs **Who's it for** Anyone who has practised following the forms (chord progressions) of jazz tunes - maybe on their own at home - and would like to build up playing experience, expand repertoire and practice performing with other musicians. There are various introductions on how jazz jams work - see e.g. https://jazznightschool.org/pages/jam-session-basics You don't need to get all these details right for these novice practice sessions. The set list format should offer opportunities for those at different levels of developing their playing. While at the beginning one might struggle to follow/comp the chords or play through the melody, it gets easier over time and one can start to develop approaches to improvisation, harmonise lead lines, add intros/endings, work on communication between band members, and even listen to recordings together and pick up specific arrangements. Bass players are expected to be able to play a walking bass line on swing tunes, and simple bossa lines for bossa novas. Playing the melody, or "head" - the responsibility is shared between horns players (e.g. sax, trumpet, violin), guitar and piano. Feel free to discuss among the group before each song - different parts of the head or the starting / ending heads can be played by different players. Some melodies will better suit several voices at the same time, whereas others are sensitive to variations in how they are played and may prefer a single instrument at a time. **What it's like** A relaxed and welcoming atmosphere - please put aside any worries of making mistakes if you’re thinking of joining us for the first time. To ensure the group is accessible for those at different levels, I ask that each novice session should work on only the below four songs of the set list, unless each and every attendee feels they prefer to move on. Each novice session is limited to up to: 1 drummer, 2 bass, 2 keys, 2 guitar, 3/4 lead instruments. The tickts.co.uk page will have tickets available only for the instruments/vocals with spots remaining. **Tunes this week (Sat May 16)** * Bolivar Blues (aka Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are) in Bb (warm up) (Thelonious Monk) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU-UjXwFi2Y * How insensitive in Dm (Wes Montgomery) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAoXA4IoSyE * Caravan in Fm (note: the form is AABA, first chord C7) (Cohen, Zenon) https://youtu.be/6kxD24KE__k?si=tNFOe16zHexe3VTZ&t=104 * Beatrice in F (Sam Rivers) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2lnek_Z_Zs Everyone is encouraged to listen to a variety of recordings for each song, but please ensure you are familiar with the recording provided as a primary reference. (Note the recordings provide stylistic reference, but may not be in the key listed, with the latter based on common real books) **Tune preview - next novice session (Sat May 23)** * Autumn Leaves in Gm (warm up) (Adderley, Davis) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpB7-8SGlJ0 Lead sheet https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/2uzg5kowaah3vswd3zrsb/AGJM9FjuAr1BHdaMYDhxsPs?rlkey=i2xriyxxvio3zbk2yudwkpk9h&st=nsx003ud&dl=0 * Maiden Voyage in D (Herbie Hancock) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWC5x9G45yo * Too close for comfort in C (Bobby Hackett) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N0ZpcGrdAg * Nardis in Em (Chet Baker) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziufEDFhlEA **Preparing for the session** The chordal form of each song follow the iReal Pro app as a common reference, or you can use sheet music from Real Books. Resource for sheet music: https://www.seventhstring.com/fbindex.html http://therealbook.info/ Try to immerse yourself in the songs by listening to recordings by different artists on youtube, spotify etc. Learn the head (main melody) of the song if you can. Don't hesitate to let the band know you can play it so you can start things off **Playing well together** The rehearsal groups are often quite large for a jazz ensemble setting. Please follow the below arrangements, which are designed to help the group be mindful of each other's volumes, and to build good habits for playing as a group * Every tune should be played at least twice. Swap the bass, piano and guitar players between the two renditions (if there are two attending) * Only one guitarist should comp - i.e. play chords - for each rendition (both guitarists can solo, and comp without amplification) * After each rendition of the warm up tune, the whole group should take a moment together and help each other to check on volumes, including: \*\* Can everyone hear themselves? \*\* Are the drums too loud? \*\* Can everyone hear the bass? \*\* Is the guitar comping too loud? \*\* Is the piano loud enough? (staff at the office can turn this up) \*\* Feel free to revisit volumes after subsequent songs * For any song, if at least two people in the group feel it would be better, the guitar and piano should share the choruses for comping (instead of comping together) - e.g. guitar comps the first time through the head, then piano, then guitar, etc. **Equipment** there is a piano, drum kit (no cymbals or high hat clutch), bass and guitar amps, stands, and microphones. Drummers: please bring cymbals (none available for rental) and hi hat clutch **Percussion** Percussionists are welcome to join with their instruments, alongside the drummer. Feel free to sign up to any session, even one that says "full for all instruments" at the top, unless it explicitly mentions "full for percussion". **Vocalists** Singers are welcome, however please note that the songs have fixed keys, and some of the repertoire are likely not in the right key for your range. If you are an experienced singer, it may be possible to arrange sessions with repertoire catered to you - to explore this, please first come to the "Afternoon Open Jams" so I can get a sense of your singing. **Observing** Would you like to attend a session without playing/singing, to get an idea of the format or to get a sense of what to practise first at home? You can sign up as usual to any novice session, and send me a message that you'd like only to watch the session. When you feel ready, the fee paid can be carried over toward any future session where you join to play or sing at the rehearsal. **Cancellation policy** Please try to make it to any session you sign up to, as the jams are organised around a particular mix of instruments. However, if things do come up and you can no longer make a session, please send a message to the organiser, Xie, as soon as possible. Places are non-refundable if your plans change, but if you provide over 1 week notice it may be possible to carry over the fee for a future session. \-\-\-\-\- any questions do get in touch!

**FREE FOR MEMBERS OR SIGN UP WHEN YOU ARRIVE** Hello music enthusiast, We're excited to invite you to our Songwriting Class held right here in the heart of musical Camden every Saturday at 2 p.m! Whether you're a budding songwriter or just looking to explore your creative side, this class is designed **for people under 30s and all skill levels.** Come be a part of our community!!! No matter your background or experience, all are welcome. Let's turn your musical ideas into real songs! If you want to know more information, text or call Thomas: 07310801741

Get ready for an unforgettable night of inspiration, energy, and soul-stirring performance with international speakers and artists Armand and Angelina. This is more than an event—it’s a live concert-style experience of music, message, and mirth that will uplift your spirit and move your heart. From the moment the evening begins, you’ll be immersed in a powerful atmosphere of love, laughter, and transformational sound. Featuring the angelic, heart-opening voice of Angelina—singing across multiple languages—and the dynamic presence of Armand, whose inspiring talks, original compositions, and powerful vocals ignite a passion for life, this is a performance you don’t want to miss. Come out and feel the energy, connect with the message, and experience a night that celebrates love, transformation, and the power of music to move us all. $20 Suggested Love Offering (None shall be turned away) **Bonus Morning Experience** Native Flute Playshop with A & A Thursday, May 14 at 10:00 a.m. Come back in the morning for a deeper, hands-on musical experience.

The Alliance is part of the Greater Central Ohio Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. We are an all-voices chorus dedicated to providing an inclusive environment for all those who love to sing, regardless of their race, gender identity, sexual orientation or musical background. The Alliance is the first and only all-voices barbershop chorus in Central Ohio. **Who:** Anyone with a passion for singing at a high level. Previous barbershop chorus/quartet experience not required. **When:** The Alliance rehearses weekly on Thursdays from 7pm-10pm. **Where:** Lord Of Life Lutheran Church: 2480 W Dublin Granville Rd, Columbus, OH 43235 To become a full member of The Alliance, we welcome you to start by visiting us for a few rehearsals to experience the group and sing with us! Then, you may begin the 2-part audition process for membership: the assessement, and audition. We strive to make our auditions as stress-free as possible to help you let your best singing self shine.

Join The Alliance Chorus for a fun-filled evening of vibrant a cappella entertainment! This lively event features dynamic performances from the full chorus alongside an exciting lineup of talented quartets, showcasing the rich harmonies and energy of barbershop music. Enjoy appearances by quartets including Intermission, Coffee Talk, Crosstown, Performance Check, and ACQ, each bringing their own unique style and flair to the stage. Come for the music, stay for the connection—this is a chance to engage with the community, celebrate inclusive music-making in Central Ohio, and experience the joy of live vocal performance. We hope to see you there! Buy your tickers here: [https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/the-alliance-2026-spring-show](https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/the-alliance-2026-spring-show)

# **Saturday, May 16, 2026** **Beginners’ Session 1:30 to 2:00 PM** **Dancing 2:00 to 4:30 PM** **Please note that this is an afternoon dance!** **You are invited to join us for dinner at Olive and Lime (in the church’s back parking lot) after the dance.** **Kim Thompson, from Athens, will take the mic and we’ll dance to the music of Roscommon Sessions. Kim will lead us through a variety of old and new dances that welcome newbies and delight experienced dancers.** **Roscommon Sessions, a traditional Irish music quartet from Columbus, Ohio, began their musical journey centered around the energy and spontaneity of Irish sessions. They are excited to bring their lively jigs and reels, a couple of flowing waltzes, and the occasional musical surprise to the All Soles contra dancers!** **Roscommon Sessions is Steve Steele (guitar), Jim Lindroth (percussion), Carol Metheny (fiddle) and Sarah Sigmon (fiddle).** **We hope to see you dancing!** **Location: First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Road, Columbus, OH 43214.** **Cost is $10 for adults, $5 ages 12-25.** **New to dancing? A beginners’ session, from 1:30 to 2:00 PM, will get you started. You will learn some basic figures that will be repeated in the afternoon’s dances. All dances will be taught and no partner is needed. Dancing is from 2:00 to 4:30 PM.** **Please bring your own refillable water bottle.** **All Soles Dance upcoming dance dates are, as follows:** **June 20, 2026** **Tentative:** **July 25, 2026–Summer Potluck and Dance** **No August Dance** **September 26, 2026** **October 17, 2026** **November 21, 2026** **December 19, 2026** **Visit our website at: https://firstuucolumbus.org/connection/all-soles/**