HARMONIZE IT!

5:30 on Mondays at BFUU

5:30 on Fridays at The Freight

“Tamsen is a gifted, generous, talented teacher.  She can get the group singing in three part harmony on a new song in a remarkably short period of time.  In addition to her skill as a singing teacher, Tamsen is one of the loveliest, funniest, and most joyful people i know. “

"It's amazing to me that I could become a good singer and learn how to sing harmony by having so much FUN. Tamsen is the very best facilitator ever, she's truly gifted at how she leads this group. (And I know this from experience, I've spent my life teaching and written a book on the subject!) This class is not work, it's pure joy. It's so joyful that after each class, I have a happy heart for days afterwards."

Build 2-part and 3-part vocal harmonies in Tamsen Fynn's newest class, Harmonize It! You'll hear the most common ways to build harmonies in popular music and learn how to use do-re-mi (solfege) with The SOUND of Music Theory. We will sing everything from Tom Petty to Gillian Welch. We will hear how the chord gives us the notes we need to build a beautiful harmony. Each song will be a chance to focus on building harmonies through listening, matching pitch, and developing the inner ear, in order to gain an understanding of beginning theory in a clear, strategic way that aims to create comfort and familiarity with harmonies.

STRUM & SING

7:00 on Tuesdays at The Sawtooth Building in Wildcat Studio

7:00 on Wednesdays at The Freight:

"Singing and strumming once a week with Tamsen is one of the happiest parts of my week. I leave humming and smiling after each session. She makes learning joyful!

Strum & Sing is for anyone who wants to feel more comfortable strumming an instrument while they sing a song. All you need is a well-tuned instrument, the ability to play 5 chords (A, D, E, G & a bit of C), and a sense of humor! We will break it down and build it up, with an emphasis on fun and musicality.

We will focus specifically on strumming and the richness it brings when singing a song. I find an instrument helps me sing for longer periods at home, lead songs with others, and learn songs consistently. I will also tuck in some vocal tricks and warm-ups and aim to increase both confidence and motivation, leading to more playing and more music!

THE JOY OF SINGING

5:30 on Wednesdays at The Freight

“The Joy of Singing has truly been joyful and fun, and it's helped me learn new songs and improve my singing skills! Tamsen makes everyone feel included, and her teaching style is just right for beginners as well as experienced singers."

When I started leading the Freight Singing Circle in 2011 I wanted a group that sang together for joy, levity, and comfort. We warm up just enough, learn technique just enough, and practice the melody and harmony just enough to sing beautifully together.

I have taught music for more than thirty years, completed my MA in education in 2015, and have plenty of empathy for anyone struggling to learn something uncomfortable or new because of my own struggles in various classes. My aim is to offer the most helpful, effective instruction while making as much music as we can..

If you can laugh, you can sing… and we will do both! Find your voice in the context of a nurturing group if you are a beginner, and build on your skills if you are comfortable singing but would like the opportunity to gain more confidence to stretch vocally. And if you lean toward practicality, massage your organs with deep breathing, lower your stress and anxiety levels, and elevate your mood.

THE JUNKYARD CHOIR

5:30 on Tuesdays in Wildcat Studio at The Sawtooth Building

“As someone who hadn’t sung since early childhood, I felt instantly welcomed and warmly accepted by Tamsen and our group. We all have different levels of musical expertise and ability but it matters not….we make beautiful music together! I have become so much more confident and joyful in my singing through our weekly get-togethers. If you have often thought to yourself, “I’d really like to do more singing,” then this is truly the best place to do just that!”

On Tuesday nights we sing in a resonant dance studio with wooden floors and high ceilings. The Junkyard Choir is philosophically rowdy and we aim for pleasure and good feelings over perfection. That being said, with just the right amount of guidance we tend to make some beautiful music and often find moments of awe.

Tamsen Fynn
A musician and educator, Tamsen Fynn has a strong background in singing everything from rock, folk, classical, and acapella, to jazz standards. A performer in the Bay Area since 1995, she currently writes music and sings in a 4-piece band, teaches Harmonize It!, The Joy of Singing, and Strum & Sing at The Freight and elsewhere in Berkeley, and leads community singing with The Junkyard Choir, as well as Breath Workshops and Protest Song Sing Alongs. Tamsen has an MA in education and has written, recorded, produced, and released material for seven CDs. She also co-owns Morell’s Bread with her husband, Eduardo Morell, making traditional sourdough breads for the Thursday and Saturday Berkeley Farmers’ Market.