In Action: Nathen Aswell

This Canadian delight tops the "musician's musician" list as a favorite person to have in your band.  Nathen's a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with mountains of experience in sacred and secular gigs of all kinds, and well as decades of walking the NT talk.

Though he's based in Vancouver Nathen travels extensively doing services, concerts, and conferences all over the hemisphere, this week at the Posi Fest in Orlando, then back to BC for kirtan with the Sufi Order of Vancouver, and then back to Orlando for the CSL Leadership Conference.

Nathen has a long term commitment to SEVA which restores sight and prevents blindness in the developing world, and sends fond shout-outs to three great spiritual centers:  CSL White Rock, CSL Eugene, and CSL in Columbia MD (wow, I didn't even know they had one there!)

Find out more at www.nathenaswell.com.

Shareables - 5 Crucial Techniques for Songleading in New Thought Services

From your NT Artist page admin Erin McGaughan:   
I wrote this paper on songleading, with input from some of the best songleaders I know, including Karen Drucker, David Roth,  Daniel Nahmod, Thom Lich, Christopher Fritzsche, Thaddeus Spae, Becky Thatcher, Richard Mekdeci, Penelope Williams, Sydney Lehman, Amy Steinberg, Rev. Daley Worley, and the late Rev. Sky St. John.

Read and pass this on to songleaders, service planners, ministers and music directors. 

I'd love any feedback you have on the topic, too.   More freebie papers on music ministry, voice and other topics are available at http://erinmcgaughan.com/links.aspx.  

In Action: Laura Berman

With a brand new CD just released, Laura Berman is touring around the US right now, making new friends and catching up with old ones.  Based in the Northwest region, she travels to share inspirational originals and collaborate with other NT circuit artists. 

Laura supports the Georgia-based Center for Positive Aging and also supports the Pixel Project, a global group ending violence against women. And this week, she's fund-raising for Jewish Family Services - Laura is a serious student of Judaism and organizes beautiful events that connect Judaism with New Thought.  

Laura sends shout-outs to CSL Morristown and also to SCLA Atlanta.

More about Laura at www.laurabermanmusic.com. 

Shareables: Taize music for free

 Characterized by candlelight, prayer, and beautiful music, Taize services are more and more popular in New Thought.   Ecumenical, mystical, and contemplative, these services attract a wide range of worshippers, young and old.

Fortunately, the Taize community in Burgundy, France posts its whole library of songs, plus learning tools for each part.  They REALLY want you to be able to sing these pieces. Taize songs come from various global chant traditions and languages including Latin, German, Russian, French, Portugese, Spanish, English, Lithuanian and more.

In Action: Jennifer Ferren

Atlanta-based Jennifer Ferren isn't a show-off, so it takes a while to realize how many distinct superpowers she has.  An accomplished event band leader and frontwoman, producer, music director, singer/songwriter and mom, Jennifer brings a wealth of experience and hip grace to her gigs.   She's well-liked by other artists and leaders for her flexibility, humor, and perspective.

Jennifer supports Red Cross for disaster relief and United Way. She travels in both Unity and CSL circles, but sends special love to Spiritual Living Center of Atlanta, as well as Atlanta CSL Midtown and CSL Sarasota.  Learn much more at http://jenniferferren.com/.

Shareables: New Thought Music Director Listing

This list, updated every month has basic contact info for hundreds of music directors from CSL's, Unities, and independent NT ministries all across the nation.  Right now the CSL's are a bit under-represented, so you're encouraged to send in the contact info for your church's program.

"Why should I do this?  Will it mean someone will bother me?  Will I get nuisance email?"  

So far, no, that's not been a problem, but in any case, NT centers in general could do more 'being seen' and less 'hiding out'.   One of the major ways we advance as a movement is through collaboration and networking, so don't skip this very easy way you can support the greater good, just by speaking up and being counted.     

Want another "being seen" easy freebie?   Make sure your church's website has a music ministry page, with contact info easily available for prospective guest artists and volunteers. 

In Action: Chanda Rule

Based in NYC, Chanda Rule brings her soul/jazz voice to diverse venues from the Apollo to Lincoln Center, BAMcafe to Union Theological Seminary, where she was recently awarded one of seven Hough Scholarships from Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University to study Interfaith Dialogue through the Arts.  

She also tours the east coast regularly, though right now she's on "mini-maternity leave" and staying close to the NYC metro area.  (Mazeltov!) 

Chanda's outreach includes  BethelAfrica, which serves children in Uganda, and was started by one of her own workshop students.  Shout-outs go to CSL Morristown, as well as CSL North Jersey, and CSL Atlanta.

Learn much more about Chanda and hear lovely clips at http://www.chandarule.com/.