Online Sing-Along
Song Circle
with Cary Sheldon
Enjoy this highlight from our May 2025 Song Circle with Cary and guest artists David Gans, Kathy Kennedy, and Tony Lufrano featuring the iconic music of Motown.
About the Event
Song Circle is moving to THURSDAY!
There’s nothing that brings people together better than singing our favorite songs. It recalls summer nights around the campfire: someone strumming the guitar and all singing a mix of folk music, familiar songs we heard on the radio, and occasional new songs that someone shares.
Join us over Zoom for Song Circle. Mentor Cary Sheldon will invite us into her home to lead us in singing old favorites and new gems. Registration and participation are FREE!
Nobody has to worry about whether you know the songs or can sing like a pro. All online participants will be on mute. Lyrics and listen-links are posted on this page. This is our chance to share the joy of singing simply for the fun of it.
Date and Time
THURSDAYS at 7pm Final workshop of the season: Jun 5
Who should attend?
Everyone who wants to sing favorite songs and learn some new ones, too.
How should I prepare?
No preparation is required! We will post lyrics on this page but no practice is needed, just join us for an hour of musical fun with friends.
Is there a cost?
There is no cost, Song Circle is FREE.
Song Circle is a free initiative of Amateur Music Network, and is supported by your generous donations.
How do I attend?
REGISTER NOW!
You will receive a Zoom link in your confirmation.
Meet the Mentors
Cary Sheldon is a singer, songwriter, and beloved Berkeley voice teacher with 30 years’ worth of grateful students. She has been playing and teaching in the Bay Area for the last 40 years. Her love for R & B music led her to be part of Zazu Pitts Memorial Orchestra in the 1980’s. Other affiliations include The Henry Kaiser Band, The Henriettas (a recreation of DeZurick sisters, a popular country music duo from the 1940’s), who appeared on Prairie Home Companion, and most recently her band DanceChant, a joyful community-inspired R&B band that encourages audience participation. She continues to be inspired by her love of singing in community. “Singing together with others is one of the greatest joys in my life.” Now in her 60’s, she returns to influences from her early life. Her grade school music teachers included John Langstaff, creator of the Christmas Revels, and the repertoire was based on the American folk tradition, including old English ballads, spirituals, freedom songs, and the popular folk and protest songs of the 1960’s. She hopes to inspire others to explore the depth of this material and rediscover the joy of community singing.
Photo by Jeanette Yu
All our Song Circle Guest Artists bring their expertise and love of community to inspire us to join together in singing. We explore multiple genres and styles, all grounded in creating an hour of fun in song.
Our June Song Circle will be Freedom Songs with guest artist Candace Johnson!
Learn about all our great guests on the Song Circle Guest Artists page.
Workshop Materials
These are songs we’ll be singing at next Song Circle. We might not get to all of them, and we might bring in some others.
Note that sometimes the key of the recording or YouTube is different from what we will sing together. This is because not all these recordings are in keys that are ideal for all voice parts, and we want everyone to be able to join in.
HOW TO READ THE CHORD CHARTS
For each song, there is a short introductory note, then two music sheets. The first sheet has lyrics, and the second version has the music chords. For those who wish to play along, here are instructions from Cary about how to navigate the songs’ chord charts. For those who just wish to sing, refer to the first page (just the words).
SONG CIRCLE ARCHIVE PAGE
Lyrics and chord charts from previous Song Circle sessions can be downloaded from our Song Archive page.