Tofino Time - Tofino Article: Sing for your Life!

Sing for your Life with shivon robinsong

by Shirley Langer, Tofino

How many times have you heard some say - or said yourself - “I can’t sing”?

“ Balderdash!” says Shivon Robinsong. She says anyone can learn to sing, and she should know. Shivon is founder and co-director of Victoria’s Getting’ Higher Choir, a no-audition community choir that has grown to over 300 members, many who once thought of themselves as “non-singers”.

Shivon conducted a marvelous Sing For Your Life! workshop in the area last year. Not wanting to stop singing, people formed soundwaves choir, which has since grown considerably and meets regularly. By popular demand, Shivon returns for another Sing for Your Life! workshop Saturday & Sunday, June 5th and 6th at Long Beach Lodge, from 10am - 5pm.

Robinsong herself spent many years believing she couldn’t sing. Growing up in a large musical family, she identified as “the non-musical one”. In the early eighties, she moved to Cortes Island, where, with a group of friends, she co-founded the workshop centre called Hollyhock. “In my 14 years at Hollyhock, I took every singing workshop I could. I had the privilege of studying with such masters as Susan Osborn, Ysaye Barnwell (of Sweet Honey in the Rock), and Ann Mortifee, all of whom believed that singing is an essential part of the human experience, and that music is for everyone. Thanks to these wonderful teachers, I stopped judging my singing voice as good or bad, and concentrated only on whether I was using it enough.”

Sing for Your Life! workshop will focus on singing songs from various traditions that are easy to learn, fun and uplifting to sing, in glorious 3 and 4 part harmonies. Fee is $67 for both days, $40 for one. A limited number of “pay as you can” registrations is available.

To register, or for further info, contact Shirley Langer at (250) 725-3992