Vocal Harmonies

We're back - after a summer break - and we want more voices and more instruments for our workshops and for our next public performance (optional, no pressure - but I know you'll love it). Ideal entry for singers new to our workshops. Classic Soul songs in full vocal arrangements with live band. Let's bring the backgrounds to the foreground (where they belong) and put them on an equal footing with the lead vocals. Visit the "Thursday" page of our new spreadsheet to see vacancies, current members, current repertoire, and to make and see suggestions for new repertoire: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Zb1cMKrOMDvxacsw9AoRRstkx-M7r_NIrF4tZJIREU0/edit?usp=sharing This is for you if you are: • a backing vocalist • a lead vocalist • a backing vocalist who wants to develop their lead vocal skills • a lead vocalist who wants to develop their backing vocal skills • a singer who wants to develop their percussion skills • a musician who wants to accompany singers and support them • a musician who wants to develop their own vocal skills • a guitarist, keyboard player, bass player, drummer, horn player, string player, percussionist Use your existing skills and develop new ones. The Soul repertoire offers an incredibly rich variety of vocal combinations. We will be able to choose songs to suit whatever combination of leads and backing vocals we get. Have fun singing essential, but often neglected elements of the arrangements. Vocal backgrounds play an important role in Soul - using call-and-response; creating variety of texture; defining sections of the song; differentiating repeats of the same section; building excitement. The workshop will be led by Andy Dummett. Andy has been privileged to play with many of the great singers, songwriters and musicians from Stax, Atlantic, Motown and more The way we use the studio has changed. This should be reassuring for those who are hesitant or cautious. Husky is a very Covid-secure venue and it’s important that all our members are protected, especially the most vulnerable. I would not be starting up again if I wasn’t confident in their procedures. Full details are available on the studio’s website: https://www.huskystudios.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Husky-Studios-Coronavirus-COVID-19-customer-guide.pdf Please read it all. It’s too long for me to copy it all here, but I’d like to draw your attention to some of the main points. · Wear a mask when you come in · Use the hand sanitiser at the entrance · Bring your own hand sanitiser for use in the room · Bring spare masks if you need them (they are available from the office – but for £5 each!) · Let me know you’re coming. If I’m expecting you, let me know if you’re not coming. · Let me have your phone number AND postcode for NHS Test & Trace · Microphones will be available and will have been disinfected. There is a deposit of £5 per mic, refunded on return · Microphone cables are not available. If you need to use a mic, please bring your own cable These workshops can support what you do in your own bands and in band workshops run by the Institute of Rhythm & Blues (http://www.meetup.com/London-Institute-of-Rhythm-Blues-Meetup/) Please check the studio's website for the latest Covid procedures: https://www.huskystudios.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Husky-Studios-Coronavirus-COVID-19-customer-guide.pdf Fees: Per session (drop-in): £15 Your fees include the group's costs for rehearsal studio rental and hire of mic's, PA, bass amp, guitar amps and drum kit. We will work towards a public performance. See our Calendar (http://www.meetup.com/London-Institute-of-Rhythm-Blues-Meetup/events/) for all Events http://www.meetup.com/London-Institute-of-Rhythm-Blues-Meetup/events/ To see details of individual Events (past and future), you can click through from the Calendar

**Scale Up Dinners – London** Scaling a company can be lonely. That’s why we started Scale Up Dinners, a monthly dinner in London for founders and operators with over £1M in revenue. Each dinner brings together 12 people who are building and growing real businesses. It’s relaxed, casual, and off the record. No panels or pitches, just honest conversation over a good meal. We talk about the things you can’t always say out loud: hiring and firing, money and taxes, doubts and pressure, wins and failures. The stuff only other founders truly understand. Everyone’s seated randomly at first, and we switch once during the evening so you meet more people. You’re welcome to bring one or two co-founders with you. It’s free to join. You just pay for your own dinner. We meet somewhere central in London, and we’ll share the venue details once you’re confirmed. If you’re growing from £1M and want to connect with others who are on the same journey, we’d love to have you at the table. Hosted by: Iranthi Gomes and Jarkko Oksanen, co-founders of Serviceform, a $5M+ B2B SaaS company.

We've got the songs, the charts, the enthusiasm and some of the people. All we need is more people and your enthusiasm and your song choices. All the standard elements of a Soul band plus orchestral instruments. Exploring the best Soul songs and the best arrangements - especially those featuring strings (violin, viola, cello), French horn, flute, brass, woodwinds, percussion, background vocals. Let's have fun learning and playing a bunch of great tunes from the Soul / R&B back catalogue. There will be well-known standards and lesser-known or even obscure gems chosen from anywhere in the entire history of R&B. This is for: lead vocals, backing vocals, guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, trumpet, trombone, French horn, flute, baritone sax, tenor sax, alto sax, woodwinds, violin, viola, cello, percussion. Visit the "Thursday" page of our new spreadsheet to see vacancies, current members, current repertoire, and to make and see suggestions for new repertoire: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Zb1cMKrOMDvxacsw9AoRRstkx-M7r_NIrF4tZJIREU0/edit?usp=sharing We'll learn some classic tunes by ear and play them. You do not need to be able to read music. Support is given in learning the parts (this may sometimes include written charts / tab). The workshop will be led by Andy Dummett. Andy has been privileged to play with a number of Soul legends including Stax, Atlantic and Motown recording artists - Eddie Floyd, Solomon Burke, Ben E King, Percy Sledge, Edwin Starr, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, the Memphis Horns, Steve Cropper, Teenie Hodges, Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), Leon Ware, Dorothy Moore. Please check the studio's website for the latest Covid procedures: https://www.huskystudios.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Husky-Studios-Coronavirus-COVID-19-customer-guide.pdf Fees: Per session (drop-in): £15 Your fees include the group's costs for rehearsal studio rental and hire of mic's, PA, bass amp, guitar amps and drum kit. We will work towards a public performance. See our Calendar (http://www.meetup.com/London-Institute-of-Rhythm-Blues-Meetup/events/) for all Events http://www.meetup.com/London-Institute-of-Rhythm-Blues-Meetup/events/ To see details of individual Events (past and future), you can click through from the Calendar

Join us in the upstairs cafe of Foyles bookshop on Charings Cross Road for relaxed coffee and chat about all things charity and otherwise.

Aerial Relaxation Pods… with Live Ambient Music! - London's Deep Relaxation Experience - Aerial Relaxation Pods - Lift Your Spirit Please watch our video to give you a taste of the experience: Our Aerial Relaxation Pods video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxlR9u44llw London's first multi-sensory, aerial relaxation experience with Live ambient music, aromatherapy and featuring our beautiful sky-blue silky Aerial Hammocks. "An oasis of calm in our busy lives." Two sessions per evening on Thursdays: IMPORTANT: Please note your space is only confirmed once booked through Eventbrite. 7:15-8:30pm book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/84883457707 8:45-10pm book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/84878729565 COST: 1 x ticket £17 (£18.92 inc ticket fee) Offer (limited availability) 2x tickets £28 (£30.77 inc ticket fee) "Words are inadequate to express the uniquely nurturing experience I had during your Aerial Relaxation Pod class... and the music was amazing! The feeling of being securely wrapped in a silk hammock from head to toe, suspended in the air, slowly rocking, with the crystal bowls and ambient music created a sublime and profound atmosphere. It was as if I was in a cocoon of total support, allowing peace to flow into my entire being." - Alison COVID SAFETY GUIDELINES & PREVENTION MEASURES: - If you are showing any symptoms, please do not attend. Any participant repeatedly coughing in the space will be asked to leave immediately. - You can wear a face-covering during the sessions if you choose to. - Please come already dressed in comfortable clothing ensuring your knees, armpits and torso are covered, and with a bag for your belongings. There are bathrooms at the venue but no changing rooms. - We will provide antibacterial wipes and hand sanitisers at the venue. Please wash your hands regularly and use the hand sanitiser supplied upon entering the venue. - All touch hotspots will be regularly cleaned with disinfectant between each session. - We ask that all participants keep at least 1m physical distance at all times. Any participant repeatedly breaching this distance will be asked to leave. - We will provide clean lavender eye pillows and covers will be changed between each session. You are welcome to bring your own eye pillow/ eye mask. - All hammocks will be disinfected with antibacterial spray between each session. - Blankets and cushions: we will provide separate sets for each session. You are welcome to bring your own blanket & cushion. - The venue has skylights that will be opened to allow more airflow in the space. PLEASE NOTE: 1) Strictly no latecomers! - Sorry, please arrive on time! Unfortunately, if you are more than 10 minutes late, you will not be allowed entry, (and there can be no refunds if you are more than 10 minutes late, very sorry!) as we need to make it a calm & peaceful space for people who are already here. 2) Please only arrive 5 minutes before the start of the session, as there is no waiting room. 3) No Refunds. No refunds are available as we need to have enough time to fill the space left. You are welcome to pass on your ticket to a friend, colleague or family member. 4) Clothing: Please wear a sleeved shirt that covers the armpits and leggings or yoga trousers that cover your knees. Wear form-fitting clothing. Please do not wear baggy clothing as they can snag and catch on the sling’s fabric causing accidents. Ensure that your clothing is "zipper free" and remove all jewellery (body piercings, watches and hair clips. These items can snag and damage the silk hammocks.

**Adults-only board-gaming group for anyone in and around Belmont, Surrey!** We usually meet on the first Thursday of every month. **However, please note:** as the first Thursday of January falls on New Year’s Day, the January session will be on the **second Thursday – 8th January**. The group has been running for a few months now and we currently have between 10-15 players each session. However, we'd love for you to join us! Whether you enjoy classic games (Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Chess, Scrabble, Risk, Mastermind, Uno) or prefer more modern favourites (Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, 7 Wonders, Blokus, Flip7), there’s something for everyone. We welcome groups, couples and solo players. When you arrive, you can choose to have your own table or join a communal table—perfect for meeting new people to game with. The session run from **6pm to 10pm**. You’re welcome to stay for the whole evening or drop in whenever suits you. We want this to be a chilled and fun evening. Feel free to bring your own drinks and snacks. This can include alcohol if you wish as the venue is licensed. There is a kitchen which you are welcome to use to make hot drinks – tea and coffee are provided. We welcome and respect all individuals, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or neurodiversity. Come as you are—you’ll be warmly welcomed. We only have space for 25 players, so booking your place in advance is recommended.

Invitation to a concert by the **Alkyona Quartet** (Emma Purslow, Marike Kruup, Claire Newton and Jobine Siekman) the acclaimed former resident string quartet at Leyton House on **Thursday, 8th January 2026 7pm** LEXHAM CHAMBER CONCERT SERIES Lexham Gardens, W8 5JR (full address on ticket) *In aid of Parkinson’s Charities* . Programme: HAYDN String Quartet Op.20 No.2 in C major TABAKOVA The Smile of Flamboyant Wings . – Interval – PURCELL Fantasia in F major JANÁČEK String Quartet No.2 'Intimate Letters' . followed by optional buffet and drinks . Tickets (for planning purposes) from [music@adaptalog.com](mailto:music@adaptalog.com). Please state if you will also attend the buffet Suggested donations: Concert £25, Post-concert buffet and drink £18 Online to: [https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/donate](https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/donate) Click “In celebration of a special occasion” Celebration Reference = “Lexham” Date = 28 Nov 2025 or Cash at the venue – I will have a few gift-aid forms Please feel free to forward this to interested parties

Sing West Side Story! Starts week of 5th January 2026 There will be more than 20 adults singing with you! ADULTS: every 2nd Friday 7.30-9.30pm (or attend Monday evenings in a different venue - email us) CHILDREN aged 6-11, Wednesdays, 4.30-5.30pm SOLOISTS sought Rehearsals near Chalk Farm tube, London NW3 CONTACT maestromattheww@yahoo.co.uk in advance SEE londonclassicalchoir.com

The concept is simple: No-commitment private jam sessions for the ladies of London, organised for you. All you need to do is turn up with your instrument. Find friends, potential bandmates, and have fun. **Here's how it works:** 👋🏻 Register your interest by hitting attend on this MeetUp event, and join our Whatsapp group. -Introduce yourself and specify the instrument you'd like to play. 🎟️ Once enough interest is generated, session players will be picked based on who can make the event, and what instruments are needed and a mini whatsapp group will be made for that 'band'. A 'set list' on Spotify, covering up to 7 songs will be sent out ready for the band to jam to, or can be agreed upon by the group! 📍Location will be sent out once enough musicians are sourced (to ensure safety and privacy) but the rough location will be in North London, around Hackney/Dalston way. 🌈 It will be a purely first come-first serve basis. We do not judge on experience or ability, as long as you can play the tunes on the day and have a positive attitude. If there is an over-subscription in interest, do join our [Whatsapp Group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/DlZIi2ui0zu8QC0L01RL2J) where you can post your own ads for jam sessions based on your own genre/album/artist preferences! **🎸 Who do we need?** -Singer -Backing singers (optional) -Guitarist/s -Bass player/s -Whatever other instrument you think could be fun! Additional instruments are always welcome. (Drummer is covered for this session) **💖 Girl Band** is a FLINTA (female, lesbian, intersex, non-binary, trans and asexual) group, so we do ask that you identify as such. 🎵 Beginners, all ages, and those new to jamming are welcome and encouraged (but please make sure you can play the pieces by the time the jam session occurs). Rock up and rock out! Lana x

Date/Time: Sunday 11 January 2026, 3 – 8pm (and possibly later!) 20% off food and drink for our group First-timers: please see notes below on the Meetup fee, bringing boards, etc. ☺️ Dear Backgammon Lovers, We’re delighted to announce our next social backgammon afternoon at Gest Restaurant in Euston – which will actually be our fifth time there, as we return on Sunday 11 January 2026 to welcome in the New Year together. Gest has become a favourite spot for our lively and friendly backgammon gatherings, offering more space and a relaxed atmosphere, while we continue to use the CSC on other dates when it’s available. Our last meetups have had a fantastic buzz - often with over twenty players joining in the fun, and it’s always a joy to catch up with our regulars and welcome new faces alike. Social Backgammon Whether you’re a seasoned player or completely new, everyone’s welcome. Our Sunday afternoon offers a mix of friendly competition, laughter and the occasional lucky double six. Add food, drinks and easy conversation, and you’ve got the makings of a relaxed afternoon rolling dice into the evening. 20% off food and drink Gest is kindly offering our group 20% off food and drink for this event. Please support the venue by ordering at least a drink and a bite to eat during the session, as that helps us maintain such generous deals. About Our Backgammon Group Our group started in June 2015 and has now run more than 400 official meetups plus over 200 informal gatherings. With nearly 2,000 members, we’re the largest backgammon group in the UK, known for our warmth, humour and friendliness at the board. We typically meet fortnightly on Sundays, with around twenty or so regulars plus new players each time. Everyone is welcome, whatever your level. Dinner, drinks and playing time We usually sit down for a relaxed group meal around 6pm, but you’re free to order whenever it suits you. Many people arrive early, stay late, and dip in and out of games between food and drinks. RSVP Please RSVP as soon as you can, as it really helps with planning, especially at this popular venue. Bring your own board If you have a backgammon board, please bring it. If you don’t, just post a note on the Meetup page or message me and we’ll match you up. It’s always fun to see the variety of boards people bring along. Meetup fee £4 per person. This small contribution helps pay Meetup, cover tip, admin, hosting and other organisational costs that keep the group running smoothly. Etiquette Let’s keep things friendly and respectful over the board, and please thank the lovely Gest staff for hosting us. If anything crops up during the event, just have a quiet word with me. Backgammon rules We play under international backgammon tournament rules, with one or two minor exceptions. Full details are on our Meetup page. Contact If you need help finding the venue or have any questions, call or text me on 07956 263451. Please avoid sending Meetup messages within two hours of start time, as they may not be seen in time. Looking forward to rolling dice and sharing another brilliant Sunday with you all – and to celebrating the New Year at Gest for the fifth time. Best wishes, Chris Sattaur 🤗

**Update: full for all instruments and vocals** 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 responbility 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. Always use the top of the description to see if there is an available slot for your instrument - please do not try to work this out yourself by looking at the other attendees' instruments. **Tunes this week (Sat 10 Jan)** * Freddie freeloader in Bb (warm up) (Miles Davis) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZcuSBouhVA * Song for my father in Fm (Horace Silver) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWeXOm49kE0 * Alone Together in Dm (Art Farmer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTlzSA4ADMw * Bemsha Swing in C (Thelonious Monk) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBzh-8SKB2U 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. **Tune preview - next novice session (Sat 17 Jan)** * Mack the knife (Moritat) in Bb (warm up) (Sonny Rollins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnISZLEPOYM * Recordame in Am (Chad LB) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIhCMLBbwqs * Star Eyes in Eb (Charlie Parker) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CsKnTUbth0 * All of You in Eb (Miles Davis) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di16W_std0c **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 **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 **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 fready, 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!

**Update: full for drums, guitar, piano, lead instruments (sax, trumpet, violin, flute), 1 of 2 spots taken for bass** 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 responbility 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. Always use the top of the description to see if there is an available slot for your instrument - please do not try to work this out yourself by looking at the other attendees' instruments. **Tunes this week (Sat 10 Jan)** * Freddie freeloader in Bb (warm up) (Miles Davis) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZcuSBouhVA * Song for my father in Fm (Horace Silver) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWeXOm49kE0 * Alone Together in Dm (Art Farmer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTlzSA4ADMw * Bemsha Swing in C (Thelonious Monk) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBzh-8SKB2U 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. **Tune preview - next novice session (Sat 17 Jan)** * Mack the knife (Moritat) in Bb (warm up) (Sonny Rollins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnISZLEPOYM * Recordame in Am (Chad LB) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIhCMLBbwqs * Star Eyes in Eb (Charlie Parker) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CsKnTUbth0 * All of You in Eb (Miles Davis) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di16W_std0c **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 **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 **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 fready, 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!

# **Band: The Pegheads; Caller: Liz Burkhart** Beginner lesson at 1:30, regular dancing begins at 2:00 pm NOTE THAT WE ARE TEMPORARILY DANCING IN THE AFTERNOON INSTEAD OF EVENING. Dance with us in the afternoon then you can still go out in the evening! **Sponsor: All Soles Contra and Square Dancing, First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd., Columbus OH 43214** WHAT IS CONTRA DANCING? Picture the Grand Ball scenes like you’ve seen in period films such as “Pride and Prejudice”, where the dancers are lined up in long lines, across from each other. That’s English Country Dancing, the predecessor of contra dancing. Now, add moves like “swing your partner” and “do-si-do,” like you’ve seen in square dancing. Set it to fabulous, high energy, live music with fiddles, guitars, percussion and more, alá “Riverdance.” Finally, set the whole scene down in the middle of Woodstock, with a hip, groovy atmosphere, a bit of tie-dye, and hints of counter-culture attitude. THAT’s Contra Dancing! Wear cool and comfortable clothes (you will get warm) and clean shoes that won't mark up our nice wood floor. Be sure to come for the beginner's lesson from 1:30 - 2:00, followed by dancing 2:00 - 430. All dances are taught; we will help you learn! Beginners always welcome, no need to bring a partner. Cost is $10.00 adults, $5.00 ages 12-26. Under 12 free. Free parking in church lot. Please bring your own refillable water bottle.

For January, we’re reading Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy. For fans of Flight Behavior and Station Eleven, a novel set on the brink of catastrophe, as a young woman chases the world's last birds--and her own final chance for redemption. Franny Stone has always been a wanderer. By following the ocean's tides and the birds that soar above, she can forget the losses that have haunted her life. But when the wild she loves begins to disappear, Franny can no longer wander without a destination. She arrives in remote Greenland with one purpose: to find the world's last flock of Arctic terns and track their final migration. She convinces Ennis Malone, captain of the Saghani, to take her onboard, winning over his eccentric crew with promises that the birds will lead them to fish. As the Saghani fights its way south, Franny's dark history begins to unspool. Battered by night terrors, accumulating a pile of unsent letters, and obsessed with pursuing the terns at any cost, Franny is full of secrets. When her quest threatens the safety of the entire crew, Franny must ask herself what she is really running toward--and running from. Propelled by a narrator as fierce and fragile as the terns she is following, Charlotte McConaghy's Migrations is both an ode to our threatened world and a breathtaking page-turner about the lengths we will go for the people we love.

**This is a paid program.** **Click <<[here](https://online.innerengineering.com/en/program-details/bhuta-shuddhi-cityprogram-staybridge-suites-columbus-university-area-ohio-us-jan-16-2026)\>\> to register\.** ### **Bhuta Shuddhi means “purification of the five elements” (i.e. earth, water, fire, air and space) which gets to the root of imbalances in the body that lead to disease. This simple practice which you can do daily reorganizes your system on the elemental level.** **Benefits:** * **Keeps the system in harmony and balance** * **Prepares the system to handle powerful states of energy** * **Creates the basis to gain complete mastery over the human system** **For ages 14 and above, no prior knowledge of yoga is required.** **This program is conducted by a Hatha Yoga teacher trained by Sadhguru.**

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 **Abstract** GitHub Copilot is rapidly changing how developers write, understand, and maintain code. Powered by generative AI and deeply integrated into modern development environments, Copilot acts as an intelligent coding assistant, helping developers move faster while maintaining quality and focus. In this session, we’ll explore what GitHub Copilot is, how it works, and where it fits into a real-world developer workflow. We’ll break down what Copilot can (and cannot) do, where it can be used, and how licensing differs for individuals and organizations. Most importantly, this talk goes beyond theory with a live, hands-on demo showcasing Copilot inside the IDE and on GitHub, demonstrating how it can assist with code generation, refactoring, learning new APIs, and accelerating day-to-day development tasks. Designed for developers, technical leads, and engineering managers, this session provides a practical introduction to AI-assisted development, highlights best practices for getting value from Copilot, and closes with guidance on how to continue learning and evolving alongside this rapidly advancing tool. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how GitHub Copilot can enhance productivity, improve developer experience, and fit into modern software teams today, not someday. **YouTube Link** TBA

Forgiveness is one of the most powerful acts of healing we can offer ourselves. Join us every Wednesday for **“Mastering the Art of Forgiving,”** a gentle and transformative class that explores how to release resentment, heal emotional wounds, and open your heart to peace. Through guided reflection, discussion, and practical tools, you’ll learn how forgiveness can free you from the past and create more harmony in your relationships — and in your spirit. **Let go. Heal deeply. Live freely.** **All are welcome.** No prior experience or preparation needed — just bring an open heart and the willingness to grow. **This is a weekly live event.** Simply log in to join — no RSVP required. 💗 **[Join Forgiveness Class on Zoom](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82360245386?pwd=TVZ4SS9SNFVoM2ZsTmRKZlVTVDNyZz09)** \| ID **823 6024 5386** Passcode **995999**