Chant: A Channel to Deepen Our Worship

I hope to model this workshop closely on Beverly Shepard's Chanting workshop which I took at FGC in 2008. The experience of that workshop is what inspired me to begin leading sacred chanting at my home meeting for worship, Doylestown Pennsylvania.

Although we will mostly be singing, we will begin each days' session with a brief discussion including guidelines and sharing thoughts about chanting that we have done.

After our discussion we will share some silent worship, out of which the workshop leader alone will speak and then sing the chant. Then all participants will join in singing when they feel familiar enough with the chant. Often participants will embellish the chant by adding harmonies, by clapping, by movement, by playing percussion instruments. Some chants lend themselves well to call and response; some are rounds.

While experience singing and harmonizing may be helpful, no musical training is required. One could even just repeat the chant on a monotone.

The experience of chanting is unlike most other musical experiences in that the goal is *not* to bring about pleasure in a passively receptive audience, rather our goal is to deepen the spiritual experience of all the participants.

Continuing Beverly's tradition, on Thursday we will do some chants focused on healing. If Friends would like to do so, they may make us aware of their needs for healing in Thursday's introductory discussion. On Thursday (as well as on any other day), those who would like to experience healing may feel moved to sit in the center of the group.

If participants have favorite percussion instruments that they own and would like to take to the workshop to have available to play should they feel so moved during chanting, they may do so. This is very optional.

Registrants don't need to do any advance preparation for this workshop.