Karaoke in my Youth
I grew up in a household that regularly had karaoke parties. At one point in my life, we even had a disco ball permanently installed in the ceiling so that every weekend was a colorful, boisterous rager. It was cultural music about missing your mom and loving the land and lots about heartbreak. Some of it was also in English, but mostly these were Vietnamese lyrics. I would sometimes travel to other Vietnamese households for their karaoke feasts and see similar set ups and similar songs on Laser Discs.
At first, I was too shy to share with my friends at school about this side of myself. I felt very embarrassed by the fact that my mother and I would belt out songs on the weekends, and especially in another language. Most of the time we didn’t sound very good. We did it to express ourselves, to be passionate, and to do something together.
In high school, I was surprised to find a karaoke set up in a classmate’s basement during a New Year’s Eve party. Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody was a staple at those events and I remember crowding into the space with a bunch of teenagers I didn’t know, and some of their parents, really getting into those Scaramouches. It was dramatic and silly. Consequently, all the shyness I felt before melted away in that moment when we all rocked out together.
I’m no longer shy about singing karaoke with friends. At least, not as shy as I was when I was in high school. I really appreciate my colleagues for the times we’ve sung together.
Singing at Work
For our staff retreat this year, we were hosted by Erin Thompson, our Executive Director. Erin is not only our director, but also a musician. Since I had the privilege of planning our two day retreat, I gave myself the authority to spend 60 minutes of our shared time for karaoke. It was a bold choice, but one that I knew our team could really lean into. Erin has a great set up in his basement and has used his own equipment to host karaoke events at the Institute.
The night before, I panicked about song lists. Sometimes people feel a little overwhelmed and can’t always think of songs to sing together, so I created a short list of anthem songs to uplift us and keep us united in our cause. I’ll list them below for you with a few pictures of our time together. Once we got through the awkward hurdle, everyone managed to find a few songs of their own to sing and we all had a fantastic time together. I’ll never forget it as a top team bonding experience.
Music at the Institute
As I reflect on my time back at the institute, I realize that music is at the heart of this place, nestled close to our love of nonviolence, racial justice, restorative practices, and sustainability. Music is our restorer and part of our connective tissue.
In the early days of my experience with the institute, I recall Erin, who was our financial officer at the time, playing the upright piano downstairs. It was such a lovely way to start the day. We had a board member, Izzy, who would sometimes lead us in song. Michael, who works to advance the Institute’s mission, is also a classical guitarist. I can hear him practicing upstairs as I write this. One of our interns, Mackenzie, is a classically trained singer and recently led staff in a vocal exercise to help hone our presenter voice, and can often be caught humming or singing snippets of songs throughout the day. We have lively discussions during staff meetings about what’s hot in music, even diving deep into controversial lyrics. Our staff likes to DJ during meetings and co-working times, too.
A Bit of Science
I learned much later that music has a mystical sort of power over people. I’m not alone in the sense of frisson that happens on my skin when a group harmonizes just right. Studies have found that frisson is connected to our brain’s emotional center. When we are moved by a beautiful landscape, a painting, a poem, or a song and our skin gets goosebumps, that’s frisson. Around 50% of people have these physical reactions to music or other forms of artistic expression. Maybe you’re one of them. Maybe you make these pieces of art that cause frisson in others.
Sometimes during workshops, we also do sound and harmonizing activities to quickly connect a group or draw us back together. Can you imagine a group of forty people just humming a single note in unison? I felt the frisson on my skin, chills from being a part of something bigger than myself.
Upcoming Event
If you’d like to be immersed in an opportunity like that, I’d like to suggest an upcoming event. In Spring, we connected with Rochester Oratory Society director, Eric Townell. He described a choral festival in late July called The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace by Karl Jenkins. Even though the choral piece has been performed thousands of times for the last 25 years, it has never been performed in Rochester, NY. And due to the Institute’s mission statement, Eric Townell and his group chose us as beneficiaries of the concert. I find their flier very striking. Frisson can happen with images, too!
If you’d like to learn a little bit more about the history of Karl Jenkins and this beautiful piece, this article has more musical depth and is written by Dr. Honey Meconi.
Music, like food, has a way of bringing people together. Holding us steady. Urging us onward. We celebrate with music, pray with it, mourn with it, and protest with it, too. Join us at the Finger Lakes Choral Festival at Hochstein Sunday, July 27th at 4pm for an afternoon of performance and peace. It is free to attend. Click this link to find out more and share what peace means to you!
Anthems
Lift Every Voice and Sing
By James Weldon Johnson, music by J. Rosamond Johnson
Don’t Stop Believin’
By Journey
I Will Survive
By Gloria Gaynor
Take Me Home Country Roads
By John Denver
Imagine
By John Lennon
