we can all make music
the Vocal Nosh philosophy
Vocal Nosh is the name of a community singing (and eating) practice developed by Fay White. It's the semi-formal organisation of a community behaviour we've been doing since at least the Stone Age. Unfortunately, in these days of electronic home entertainment, it's a behaviour that has become more and more unusual.
People bring food and their voices to a special place to eat and sing together.
There are now scores of Vocal Noshes happening all across Victoria, a rapidly growing network of individuals willing to pass on their experiences, and an increasing interest from community-based agencies like Neighbourhood Houses and Community Health Centres in supporting singing circles (foodless Vocal Noshes).
The values that underlie these gatherings are:
- Singing 'with', not 'to'. We come together to experience the immediate joy and fulfilment of singing with each other, not to practice for a future public event.
- Creative participation. We can all sing AND we can all write songs.
- Safe places. Together, we make a physical and emotional space where we all feel welcome, free, fearless and secure.
- Working together. We come together in co-operation and celebration, not competition and judgement. There are no losers.
- Respect and inclusiveness. We can all be involved and we can all make a creative contribution. Difference is expected and valorised; it is an advantage, not a problem.
- Care and encouragement. No one is left out or ignored; all feedback is constructive. There's no such thing as a 'wrong' note.
- Active learning. We learn to sing together by doing it. We can all get better, and have fun while we're at it.
- Nourishment. Of the spirit with music and of the body with food.
- Health. The connections between singing together and individual and community wellbeing are fostered and proclaimed.
- Empowerment. Having a voice is the first step towards having a say.
- Initiative. Through these processes we can all learn to step forward when the time is right for us.
- Meaningful relationships between art and people. Art is not just the stuff that 'real' Artists make/do. It is also the results of the creativity that we all have within us. Having the chance to exercise our creativity lets us become fully human.
- Community. These practices joyfully overflow into the rest of our lives.
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making a sound world together
