Voices Together: An Intergenerational Singing Experience

As part of theACLA Intergenerational Academy, we are pleased to announce the following opportunity:

Voices Together:  An Intergenerational Singing Experience

Voices Together is a four week musical series for students in grades 5 through 8 and older adults to collaborate through the musical process. Ellen Gozion, local old songs and ballad singer, will demonstrate and lead traditional American folks songs, including story songs, love songs and party songs.

These will be fun singing circles, not voice lessons. Participants should enjoy singing, even if bashful about it. Being able to carry a tune is useful, and really nice voices are always enjoyed, but anyone with an interest in exploring singing traditional folk songs is welcome. We will begin singing as a group, and will break into very small groups each week to learn songs. Words to songs will be provided, but since we will practice learning songs from each other by ear, knowing how to read music will not be necessary.

The four week program series can begin on any Thursday between September 15 and October 6, ending date being between October 6 and 27 at an after school time. Workshops will be 90 minutes ending with an informal performance or "singing" for families/friends  of the participants during the last portion of week four.

Workshop size can range from 8 to 12 people with a 5-6 children and 5-6 adults. Participants will be asked to commit to all weeks of the series.

Each hosting library will be responsible for sharing and collecting brief pre- and post-surveys and photo release forms to participants; providing total attendance; and completing a concluding library survey. Hosting libraries will also be responsible for creating a local follow up intergenerational program that will engage music program participants as well as new participants.

Library nominations will be accepted through Tuesday, August 16. Selected libraries will be notified before August 19. To nominate your library email leonettec [at] einetwork.net with answers to the questions below.

In partnership with Ellen Gozion
(Fall; Weekly; Approximately $50 for supplies )


Nomination Questions
To nominate your library email leonettec [at] einetwork.net with answers to the following questions. For more information call Charity Leonette.

• Library & requesting staff member names
• Preferred start date and time
• What audiences, organizations or individuals are you currently working with who could participate in or support an intergenerational program? (for example a teen advisory board, school, senior center, assisted living facility, other library staff members)
• Where to you see programs and services to youth and older adults in the next 5-10 years?
• What vision do you have for intergenerational programming at your library? (includes intentional and purposeful collaborations between children or teens and older adults on series or ongoing basis)
• If you could create any intergenerational program or services (with no staffing or budgetary restrictions), what would it be?