Activities marked take place at Arts First Oakland's home in the First Congregational Church of Oakland at 2501 Harrison St. at 27th, Oakland. Mondays InterPlay for Women, drop-in with Penny Mann and Susan Main, 10:30am-noon InterPlay is an art-based spiritual practice. Engage mind, body, heart, and spirit in an affirming, fun-loving practice through sharing dance, voice, story. Check www.interplay.org for schedule changes before you head to InterPlayce, 2273 Telegraph Ave at 23rd St, Oakland. East Bay Harmony This fun group of women and men who love to sing is looking for new members - especially male voices in bass and tenor ranges - for non-religious doo-wop, pop, international folk, and traditional a cappella singing. No auditions or experience necessary - they provide music and even CDs to make learning easier. Come to a rehearsal to hear what they're about! Weekly Monday evening rehearsals meet from 7-9pm, at St. Paul's Church, 116 Montecito Ave (Lake Merritt), Oakland. For more info contact Mark, 510-547-4597 or mbern(at)mindspring.com, or surf www.eastbayharmony.org. 1st Mondays The Songbird Sessions hosted by Andrej Hostynek7-9pm The Songbirds are flying circles yet not going south as it gets chilly. We will get into our bodies with games and silly warm ups. Our stories are told through the singing voice and song. You and I will find space within our collective sound to weave narrative and myth. Come co-create our Circle Song experience as we nest down this wintry Monday eve. Hot drinks provided! Donations accepted to cover costs for space and drinkables. At 2501 Harrison Street at 27th, Oakland. InterPlay for Women of Color with Michelle Jordan, 7-9pm, drop-in At 2273 Telegraph Avenue (at 23rd St.), Oakland, CA 94612. Check www.interplay.org for changes before you head to InterPlayce! 3rd Mondays Project Writers Unite! hosted by James Brown Jr7-10pm PWU welcomes writers of all levels and writing mediums: playwrights, poets, novelist, short story, lyricist. We give a forum to new and established writers, helping them create, develop, and promote their work and bring forth positive, worthwhile works of great literary, dramatic or musical value through a calm, non-threatening, optimistic environment. Donations accepted to cover costs. For a glimpse of the group's activities, check out the Website at: www.angelfire.com/ultra/projectwritersunite. At 2501 Harrison St, Oakland, info call James Brown, Jr, at 510-568-6968. 4th Mondays Community Art Salon hosted by Dawn Raymond6-9pm Art supplies, munchies, music, and good company - all ingredients for a fun and relaxing art experience. Come play in the colors, and add to our growing Art Salon bulletin board! Do you have an idea for a project you'd like to try, or even lead? Contact Dawn at 510-625-1209 to get started! At 2501 Harrison St, Oakland. Tuesdays Interplay drop-in with Elizabeth Mendana, 6-7:30pm InterPlay is an art-based spiritual practice. Engage mind, body, heart, and spirit in an affirming, fun-loving practice through sharing dance, voice, story. Check www.interplay.org for changes before you head to InterPlayce, 2273 Telegraph Ave at 23rd St, Oakland. Wednesdays The Anything Goes Chorus, Wednesdays 7:30-9:30pm with Ellen Robinson, jazz vocalist Started in 1980 still going strong! A singing group for women and men with a desire to sing, a sense of humor, and a willingness to interact with others. Students need to be able to sing in tune, hold their own while singing harmony, and have basic music reading skills. Learn how to improve your vocal technique, harmonize in different musical styles, and further develop your music reading skills. New songs are taught each week: jazz, popular, show tunes, a cappella, oldies. Annual Spring show! Sliding scale $20-25 per class, $5 discount for 4 prepaid consecutive classes. Sign up at 510-350-8323 or www.ellenrobinson.com. Interplay drop-in with Cynthia Winton-Henry and Soyinka Rahim, 7:30-9pm InterPlay is an art-based spiritual practice. Engage mind, body, heart, and spirit in an affirming, fun-loving practice through sharing dance, voice, story. Check www.interplay.org for changes before you head to InterPlayce, 2273 Telegraph Ave at 23rd St, Oakland. 2nd Wednesdays Rhythm Studio/Body Music led by Keith Terry and his students7pm Using the oldest instrument on the planet -- the human body -- we clap, slap, snap, step and vocalize our way through some very fun and funky, original and traditional rhythmic music. Body Music is an effective way of internalizing rhythmic work, which enhances the development of time, timing, phrasing, listening skills, independence, coordination and ensemble awareness. It is a useful tool for musicians and movers of all kinds. No previous experience necessary. Please wear comfortable clothing and sneakers or jazz shoes. Suggested donation $10, no one turned away for lack of funds, at 2501 Harrison St, Oakland. Info 510-444-8511 x15 or www.crosspulse.com. 3rd Wednesdays Circlesinging Workshops led by members of SoVoSó7-9pm Join us again this year for our monthly series of Circlesinging workshops, led by the fabulous teachers from SoVoSó! Circlesinging is a vocal improvisation technique in which a circle of singers takes melodic and rhythmic cues (parts) from a skilled leader, together creating songs unique to the moment. As the leader cues out old parts and introduces new ones, the song continues and changes without stopping, at times supporting individual solos, always grounded in attentive listening. Participants are welcome at any level of singing experience. Donation is $10, no one turned away for lack of funds. Work-Study also available – we welcome publicity and production volunteers! At 2501 Harrison St, Oakland. Thursdays Swingshift Singers, Thursdays 10:00am-11:30am With Ellen Robinson, jazz vocalist A girl's night out....in the morning! A women’s daytime chorus for all women who want music in their lives. Learn to sing freely, read music and harmonize in different styles: pop, folk, oldies, show tunes. Treat yourself to good music, good folks, and good fun! All voices welcome. $20 per class. To register or for more info, contact Ellen Robinson at 510-482-9520 or www.ellenrobinson.com. Interplay drop-in with Theron Shaw, 7-8:30pm InterPlay is an art-based spiritual practice. Engage mind, body, heart, and spirit in an affirming, fun-loving practice through sharing dance, voice, story. Check www.interplay.org for changes before you head to InterPlayce, 2273 Telegraph Ave at 23rd St, Oakland. Fridays Interplay drop-in with Cynthia Winton-Henry, 10-11:30am InterPlay is an art-based spiritual practice. Engage mind, body, heart, and spirit in an affirming, fun-loving practice through sharing dance, voice, story. Check www.interplay.org for changes before you head to InterPlayce, 2273 Telegraph Ave at 23rd St, Oakland. Annual Singing For Your Life! December 30Noon – Midnight Join us in our annual 12-hour Circlesong, as we close 2008 with much to remember and much to look forward to! Sing the Old Year out with us - or just relax and listen to the continuous, spontaneous song of closure and renewal. Sing & meditate, gather & reflect, become inspired by the spirit of peace in music and transformation. Singers from all over the Bay Area and beyond participate in this tradition! Originated by Bobby McFerrin and Voicestra, this popular ritual was held at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral until 1999. In 2002, Arts First Oakland brought Singing For Your Life to Oakland, where it has taken root as a 12-hour event with an East Bay flavor. Suggested Donation $10 and up, no-one turned away for lack of funds, at 2501 Harrison St, Oakland. Our Circle is supported in part by a mini-grant from the Clorox Company Foundation. We are grateful for their assistance! Arts First Oakland 2501 Harrison St, Suite 1 Oakland, CA 94612 Telephone 510-444-8511 x15 CONTACT US