For thousands of years, all cultures in all parts of the world, have been singing as means to share stories and traditions. Like laughter, play, and exercise, singing helps underpin and maintain our well being. In recent history somewhere between childhood and adulthood, singing for many people becomes a neglected behavior that is unnecessary to our lives. We’ve become self-conscious about it. We think we need to sound like singing we listen to on-line, singing that has been electronically altered and can’t be created by an individual, or a group of individuals. Consequently, we lose confidence to sing which increases our inhibited feelings further.
Singing allows for us to easily express our stories, paths, history, and traditions with one another. It serves as a great group development activity that kills the awkwardness that may arise with new members. At the Institute for Community Leadership, we believe silence is deadly, especially in group interactions. We believe that singing is important to our culture. The flow of energy in between participants is necessary for successful interactions. Singing, slam poetry, and poem recitation are the sparks needed to ignite the fire. Singing as a art is something practiced by all walks of life. Our society is losing its voice; what we need is to bring our voices together and end the silence brought by violence and oppression.