Re: To Mini-HN or not to Mini-HN

[Rachel Gurevitz <rgurevit...>]

Dear Karen and everyone else talking about mini HNs.

First, Karen raised an important point about the label.  Jess started up a
small organisation of which I and a few other songleaders were a part a
couple of years ago to run half day sessions on songleading skills - it was
primarily skills-based workshops rather than repertoire collecting sessions
in the couple of workshop days that we ran and we hope that the work will
restart again in the near future in the UK.  But she asked about using the
Hava Nashira title and was refused permission.  So she called it Shema
Koleinu instead.

But the experience of doing Shema Koleinu stuff along with a regular Fri.
night gathering that about 5-6 UK London-based songleaders have had for the
past few months to support each other and share repertoire suggests that
there is absolutely no reason for not having other 'Hava Nashira'-type
regional events.  Joanna's Bay area eg. is a good one too.  And you never
know who else might come forward when you start running groups for people
to come and sing (not just for training songleaders) - not everyone can or
wishes to take the plunge at Hava Nashira first time round.  In London I
run a once-monthly singing gathering (not a choir; no performances) which
pulls in many different people with different levels of singing and leading
ability.  I may be coming out to work in the US for 9 months in January
(more news once it's really official) and have to think about how to keep
the group going.  The group has been running 3 years now, and we have 6-8
people in the group who could songlead there now quite proficiently (and
I'm sure other members could too if they had the courage to try).  If you
really want to see songleading develop and help to create more talent in
the movement then it's up to you guys to facilitate that project wherever
you are based.

Shabbat shalom one and all,

Rachel G