28 May 2026
Asking for the Best w/ Nick Page
Nick Page is the author of SING AND SHINE ON, a guide to multi-cultural song leading. Hal Leonard publishes his SING WITH US songbook which are sing-along songs for chorus and audience. Nick has led sings and songleading workshops at educational conferences, at the Jewish Choral Festival, for the Unitarian Universalist General Assemblies, and at the People Music Network gatherings (where he would wash pots with Pete Seeger). Nick directed Boston’s Mystic Chorale that always brought their audiences in to sing-along. He has over 100 published works for chorus.
More info at www.nickmusic.com
N I C K P A G E R E S O U R C E S F O R S I N G S
www.nickmusic.com nick@nickmusic.com
BVOCAL, Boston’s Voices of Community and Labor. (Lisa Gallatin started this chorus who sing at protests and rallies. Their website has songs, rehearsal schedules and more. I have a feeling it will become a movement spreading to other cities.) https://bvocalchorus.org
VOICES HEARD by Nick Page (Web resource of songs for social change. You must have a google account - Gmail - to access the files. It’s free.) https://nickmusic.com/?page_id=386
PEOPLE’S MUSIC NETWORK (PMN). (They are a support group for songwriter activists with weekend workshops and online song swaps.) https://www.peoplesmusic.org
CHILDREN’S MUSIC NETWORK (CMN) (They are an offshoot of PMN, a support group for activist music teachers). https://childrensmusic.org
GREATER BOSTON CHORAL CONSORTIUM, (Support group for hundreds of choral groups in the Boston area. Other cities have similar groups). https://bostonsings.org
GLOBAL JUKEBOX, An incredible FREE online resource with recordings of EVERY CULTURE on Earth, songs, dances. www.theglobaljukebox.org
BUILDING SINGING COMMUNITIES Joey Weisenberg is a master of leading contemporary Jewish songs. He has brought the niggun tradition into the 21st Century. www.buildingsingingcommunities.com.
www.smithsonianglobalsound.org l Their "education & outreach" section (particularly the Center for Folklife section) has free lessons for teachers. http://www.folkways.si.edu/index.htm
CHORUSES FOR CHANGE. Peter Blood, co-creator of the Rise Up Singing songbooks, created a website dedicated to activist choruses. The site includes strategies, songs, and many useful resources. https://www.riseupandsing.org/singing/choruses
SINGING CIRCLES Circle Sings are improvisational a cappella fully-participatory events inspired by Bobby McFerrin’s work. Do a search for “singing circles near me.” In Boston, go to: https://www.bostonareasingingcircles.com
SHAPE NOTE SINGERS (Resource for finding Sacred Harp singers in your area.) https://shapenotesingings.com/local-singing-groups/
RECOMMENDED SONG COLLECTIONS
AND SONG LEADING INSTRUCTION BOOKS.
The African American Heritage Hymnal, published by GIA (Excellent hymnal)
Barnwell, Ysaye, 1989. Singing in the African American Tradition, Choral and Congregational Vocal Music. (Six CDs where Dr. Barnwell teaches the harmonies one part at a time---Her way of keeping the songs within the aural tradition. With great background information. Highly recommended!)
Blood, Peter, & Patterson, Annie, ed. 1988. Rise Up Singing. Bethlehem, PA: A Sing Out Publication, PO Box 5253, 18015. (The best collection of folk song lyrics around. Tapes or CDs available.) www.singout.org
Carawan, Guy and Candie, ed. Sing For Freedom, The Story of the Civil Rights Movement Through its Songs, Bethlehem, PA: A Sing Out Publication, 1990.
Cuyler, Patty and Stone, Molly, ed., RAISING THE BAR Vol. 1 & 2, Trad. South African music taught in the oral tradition from South African choirs. http://www.northernharmony.pair.com
Nyberg, Anders, ed. FREEDOM IS COMING, Songs of Protest and Praise from South Africa for Mixed Choir. Chapel Hill, NC: Walton Music Corporation. (Great book and CD of SATB songs and chants.)
Orozco, José-Luis, ed. Ill. by Elisa Kleven, De
