On Saturday, Oct. 11, Dave Blodgett and Gini Johnson attended the
NE Gathering of Threshold Singers at Indian Hill Music in Littleton, led by
Kate Munger the founder of the hospice singing movement.
Dave found the Threshold Choir workshop very enjoyable and
informative. He has been interested in the idea of providing music at the
bedside for folks who are hospitalized or in a hospice program and who have
expressed a desire for the therapeutic benefits that a small group of singers
can provide. The Hallowell Singers (www.hallowell-singers.org) is one
such group located in southern Vermont that provides a variety of opportunities
for hospitalized folks to enjoy the engagement and peace inherent in well
rehearsed vocal music. The Threshold Choir movement, which is a national
organization, is similar in that it supports local groups wishing to train
singers to provide folks in hospice care a soothing prayerful experience that
is spiritually nourishing while being theologically inclusive. The
Threshold Choir model seems to be focused to a greater extent on folks in the
last state of life's journey and therefore, the musical experience is geared
towards a quiet and reflective style of singing.
Gini experienced the workshop as quietly intense; learning new
songs and parts, singing softly, blending voices and entering into a prayerful
state for an extended period of time. The songs were not religious, but deeply
spiritual about love, connections and support. It seems evident that to
develop a group will require dedication, time and commitment but that it would
be rewarding to the participants and recipients of songs during struggles to
live or preparations to die. Ideally, there would be a large enough group of
trained singers to respond to requests and not become overly burdensome or
emotionally exhausting; also, to find leadership for rehearsals, fundraising,
networking, publicity, etc. It would be our hope to develop a group of
approximately 20-30 volunteers in the community over the coming year. If
interested in joining Dave and Gini on a steering committee, ultimately being a
singer or to express your ideas, please let us hear from you.
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