Living The Present Moment

Interview Series by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living their present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow When people come together as a group and sing, there is something about it that makes people stop to listen. Dr. Joel Ying interviews Ysaye Barnwell, exploring how she builds vocal community in her workshops, seminars, and group sings. She teaches song in the "oral tradition." In her workshop, Building a Vocal Community, she teaches the history and the songs of African chants, Spirituals, Gospel, and songs of the Civil Rights movement. I have personally experienced and witnessed her magical gift of creating community through song. The group divides itself into the parts of a choir: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. With her range, she sings all the parts. Each part of our new choir sings just their part alone back to her. She repeats until the voices come together. Then, she weaves us together in four-part harmony. As a non-singer, I found ease in sin