Community Singing vibrates us body and soul, and brings us together.
Elise Witt has earned a reputation as a masterful educator, working with professionals and beginners alike. In her Community Singing Workshops, Elise takes singers on a journey to expand confidence and consciousness. Playing with melody, rhythm, language, harmony, vocal production, and soul connection, students discover, explore, and expand their vocal range and abilities in a supportive and joyous atmosphere.
In Atlanta, Elise leads one-time Community Sings for a myriad of venues and organizations, as well as teaching ongoing classes.
Around the U.S., Elise takes her Impromptu Glorious Chorus™ Community Singing Workshop to studios like San Francisco’s Sawtooth, Seattle’s Space Needle, Boston’s Third Life, and Asheville’s Jubilee, as well as conducting workshops for organizations like Alternate ROOTS, the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, Daily Antidote of Song, People’s Music Network, and a wide variety of choirs, choruses, and vocal ensembles.
Internationally, Elise uses her fluency in multiple languages to lead community singing workshops in Italy, France, Switzerland, Latin America and Africa.
During the pandemic, Elise has added the convenience of singing workshops in online classes, which have made it possible for singers to join from around the globe.
Community Singing Workshops with Elise Witt
Singing for Fun for Everyone
Discover, explore, and expand your natural voice with Community Singing.
Singing for Fun is both a forum for individuals to learn more about their own voice, and a way to build community through group singing.
The singing workshop includes body and voice integration, calling in elements of Tai Chi, Yoga, and Alexander Technique, as well as dance, theater, and vocal improvisation to focus on breath and ease of movement.
Singers learn songs that explore the vast expression of harmony from around the world. Drawing from her love of diverse melodies and rhythms, Elise might introduce a Brazilian samba, a Congolese storysong, an Italian round, or four-part harmonies from Zimbabwe. There are also lots of songs in English, including songs from the African American tradition, quirky rounds, food songs, Elise originals, and lots more!
All of the songs are broken down into easily learnable parts and become thrilling to sing in a group. Even people who think they “can’t carry a tune in a bucket” in no time find themselves part of an impromptu glorious chorus.
Singers of all levels of experience are welcome.
Music reading is not a prerequisite.
An Impromptu Glorious Chorus™
Low Pressure, High Pleasure Community Singing
Discover, explore, and expand your natural voice, with fresh, physical ways into strengthening your confidence, clarity, and listening. Elise teaches in a style so easy that, before you know it, the room is in perfect harmony.
Drawing from her love of diverse melodies and rhythms, Elise introduces songs from global and local repertoires, as well as her original songs and in-the-moment improvised creations.
All pieces are broken down into easily learnable parts and become thrilling to sing in a group.
Singers of all abilities, styles, and experience are welcome.
No music reading required.
Vocal Improvisation
Expand your confidence and your consciousness in this singing workshop!
Dive in!
Play with melody, rhythm, language, harmony, vocal production, and soul connection. Get the gritty, technical, sensual sense of how the voice can draw powerfully on vocal wisdom from many cultures.
Explore the rainbow of colors inherent in our voices and join with other daring singers to create vocal landscapes, soulful harmonies, and impromptu sonic masterpieces. In her improvisation Singing Workshops, Elise uses games and exercises from her studies with master teachers Rhiannon, Bobbie McFerrin, David Darling, Dr. Fred Onovwerosuoke, and Dr. Ysaye Barnwell, which expand with our own creativity. We also explore SONGS as inspiration for improvisation.
Vocal Improvisation provides a safe and supportive space to stretch out and widen vocal horizons, and to express our authentic selves.
Music reading is not a prerequisite,
but some knowledge of music theory can’t hurt.
What is Circle Singing?
“Not to be confused with a “song circle,” where folks take turns playing songs, Circle Singing is a form of A Cappella group singing created by Bobby McFerrin. In this form of singing, a conductor leads the group in an improvised song. The songs take many shapes and forms. So, many different musical styles can be invoked during one session of Circle Singing. When beginning the session, the conductor improvises a part and assigns it to a section of singers. Then, one by one, more parts are layered. Eventually, a complete piece of music is created with components of rhythm, melody, harmony and embellishments. In contrast to popular chanting, vocables (syllabic phrases) replace words. And, refreshingly, it is completely non-denominational. However, like chanting, meditative repetition creates a tapestry of sound.” – Ryan Moore, Chicago IL
Circlesinging with Guillermo Rozenthuler
VOCAL IMPROVISATION with RHIANNON
In 2008 Elise joined 15 singers from around the globe for All the Way In, a year-long program to study vocal improvisation, sound healing, and performance with vocalist extraordinaire and master teacher Rhiannon.
In 2012 Elise served as a “co-pilot” (assistant teacher/mentoree) for the 2012 All the Way In, which included singers from Switzerland, Australia, Hawai’i, Canada, Germany, and the continental U.S.
Elise continues to study with Rhiannon, and to infuse the art of improvisation in her workshops, concerts, and in all aspects of her life!
Rhiannon on Improvisation, and her book The Vocal River
Bobby McFerrin on Improvisation
Harmony: A World View
Build community through group singing workshops.
“Harmony” in the world can be defined as people of many different cultures, customs, and beliefs recognizing and celebrating each others’ differences while also identifying with and sharing the traits common to us all as one human family.
Likewise in music, harmony is the celebration of different sounds that, blended together, are pleasing to the ear and the spirit. However “pleasing” to one ear may be strange to another. Harmony is subjective and cultural.
In this workshop, we explore harmonies from many different cultures and traditions – from the familiar Triad Harmonies of folk, blues, bluegrass, spirituals, country, and gospel, to vibration unifying chants from Africa and the Middle East, to the exciting tight harmonies of the Balkans and the Appalachians.
Through song and improvisation, singers experiment with creating different kinds of harmonies to become more confident and creative harmony singers.
School Programs
Singing Workshops for Elementary, Middle, High Schools and Universities
Elise has been a Visiting Artist and Artist-in-Residence in schools all over the country.
Elise works with students in elementary schools, middle, and high schools, as well as colleges and universities. Writing songs about everything from Prefixes & Suffixes, Secrets of Fractions, the Planets, and Contemporary Leaders, Elise and her students have made the learning of difficult subjects fun with their original songs. Her education workshops and concerts use music as a language to celebrate our cultural diversity while appreciating our connections as one human family. Elise currently serves as Artist-in-Residence and Director of Music Programs at the Global Village Project, a non-profit special purpose middle school in Decatur GA, for teenage girls with interrupted education.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Elise is also a highly respected and sought after teacher of teachers, leading professional development workshops in a myriad of settings.
“I was totally impressed and awed with her fantastic voice and ability to inspire the students and teachers alike.” – High School language arts teacher, Thomaston GA
Study Guide provided for all programs.
Language is Music is Language
For French, Spanish, and German classes.
It’s easier to learn a foreign language by singing!
Download the Language is Music is Language Study Guide. Click here!
Drawing on her vast repertoire of songs from Europe, Canada, South America, Africa, and the United States, Elise involves the students in a discovery of the musicality of Language. Each culture brings its own rich linguistic characteristics to its music and has unique rhythms and melodies to share with the rest of the world.
As Elise teaches songs she puts them into their cultural context with stories that illuminate each song’s origins. Elise is also a stickler for pronunciation, and makes the speaking so much fun, that in no time students find themselves sounding like native speakers!
She taught the students culture, pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary without the students even realizing it!
– Spanish Teacher, Barnesville HS; Barnesville GA
She would receive straight A’s from me!!
– French Student, Cony HS; Augusta ME
Grade Levels: College, University, Middle School & High School Foreign Language Students
Languages: Spanish, French, German, mixed languages
Maximum number of students: 30-50
Available as Workshop or Residency (1-2 weeks)
Length of Workshop: 1-2 class periods
Study Guide provided.
Vocal Improvisation
For University, HS & MS Vocal Ensembles
Dive in!
This workshop is guaranteed to expand your confidence and your consciousness! Play with melody, rhythm, language, harmony, vocal production, and soul connection. Get the gritty, technical, sensual sense of how the voice can draw powerfully on vocal wisdom from many cultures. Explore the rainbow of colors inherent in our voices and join with other daring singers to create vocal landscapes, soulful harmonies, and impromptu sonic masterpieces.
Elise uses games and exercises from her studies with master teachers Bobbie McFerrin, Rhiannon, David Darling, Dr. Fred Onovwerosuoke , and Dr. Ysaye Barnwell, which then expand with our own creativity. Vocal Improvisation provides a safe and supportive space to stretch out and widen vocal horizons, and to express our authentic selves. Music reading is not a prerequisite, but some knowledge of music theory can’t hurt.
Elise teaches great ways to access your deepest, most authentic, most beautiful voice.
– Leila, Atlanta GA
You help create positive, transformative experiences for people of all ages.
– Loraine Martin, Outreach Director, Lake Eden Arts Festival, Black Mountain NC
Grade Level: College, University, Middle & High School Vocal Groups – Chorus, Choir, Glee Club, A Capella Ensembles, etc.
Maximum number of students: 60
Workshop or Residency
Length of Workshop: 1-2 class periods
Study Guide provided.
Choral Tune Up
For University, HS & MS Vocal Ensembles
Develop group dynamics and build ensemble.
Download the Choral Tune Up Study Guide. Click here!
Drawing on her vast experience as a professional soloist, and a 20-year member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Chamber Chorus under the direction of choral master Robert Shaw, Elise breathes new life and excitement into the process of ensemble singing.
CHORAL TUNE UP is a workshop for College, University, Middle & High School Vocal Groups. It reinforces choral teacher’s warm-up techniques, proper breathing, diaphragm work, diction, and dynamics.
Inspired by her studies of vocal improvisation with Bobby McFerrin, Rhiannon, and David Darling, of African Music with Dr. Fred Onovwerosuoke and African American music with Dr. Ysaye Barnwell, Elise teaches songs that are polyrhythmic and polytonal, songs that are easy to learn, but sound fabulous when sung in ensemble. The workshop is ideal for developing group dynamics and building Ensemble.
She has a way of making students feel good about what they’re doing.
– Choral Teacher, Atlanta GA
She gives students an outlet not only to express what’s in their minds, but what’s in their hearts.
– The Daily Reflector, Greenville NC
Grade Level: College, University, Middle & High School
Vocal Groups – Chorus, Choir, Glee Club, A Capella Ensembles, etc.
Maximum number of students: 60
Workshop or Residency
Length of Workshop: 1-2 class periods
Study Guide provided.
A Musical Trip Around the World
For Elementary Schools
Sing and Sign in many languages!
Download the Musical Trip Around the World Study Guide. Click here!
Through multi-lingual singing, students will gain a perception of the rich differences that exist between cultures, while also sensing the universal nature of music that binds the world together as one family. Students may learn a bi-lingual Puerto Rican song celebrating the human family, a Kiswahili counting song, an animal song in French, a clock song in Danish, a mystery song in Japanese, or a New Orleans vegetarian jazz song. Many songs will also be accompanied with Sign Language.
Grade Levels: K-2 / 3-5
Maximum number of students for Concert: 250/performance
Concert or Residency
Length of Concert: 40-55 min.
Technical Requirements: PA with 2 microphones on stands (prefer boom or gooseneck)
Study Guide provided.
Cantamos Con Ritmo
A bi-lingual artsploration / celebration of Latin Rhythms & the Spanish Language with Beverly Botsford & Elise Witt
Exploring the Spanish Language and the Contagious Rhythms of Latin America, Spain, and the Caribbean!
Join international vocalist Elise Witt & cross-cultural percussionist Beverly Botsford in an inspired collaboration that honors traditions in a contemporary spirit, Elise & Beverly are the guides on a journey using the two oldest forms of musical expression.
Students join in polyrhythms and vocal harmonies on everything from Cuban son and Chilean nueva canción to Spanish flamenco and a Nicaraguan food song! We will even create a “polyrhythmic sound painting” using Thank You’s from around the world. Music is a language used by people all over the world, a bridge that brings us together as one human family. When we learn songs from other countries, we learn to appreciate what makes each culture different, special, and unique.
Grade Levels: Elementary, Middle, & High School
Maximum number of students: 250 (performance) ~ 30 (workshop)
Performance, Workshop or Residency
BEVERLY BOTSFORD has performed in Africa, Asia, Europe, Cuba, and all over the Americas. For 13 years Beverly travelled with the Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble, is on the music faculty of the American Dance Festival, has studied Afro-Cuban culture and percussion in her travels to Cuba, and currently tours internationally with jazz singer Nnenna Freelon.
Together, Beverly and Elise have sung and played in schools around the Southeast, working with Kindergarten through High School age students including students studying Spanish, French, Chorus, Band, Theater, Dance,and core academics. Their collaborations have also included Teacher Workshops and polyrhythmic/multi-tonal Workshops for Adults. “Singing Hands,” their residency at Creekside High School in Atlanta, was featured in Pass It On, the national journal of the Children’s Music Network. In addition to being animated and entertaining performers, Beverly and Elise are known and loved as Educators who pass on their passion for singing, percussion, and world.
We think the key to better understanding and appreciating music and foreign language is to get children involved in fun, high energy, interactive music and language experimentation, and that is exactly what ‘Cantamos con Ritmo’ did for our students!
– Joyner Elementary School, Raleigh NC
This terrific team of two captivated both elementary and middle school students. Phenomenal!
– Corinth Holders School, Zebulon NC
Resources for Singers
The Benefits of Singing from the Daily OM
HARMONIAby Barbara McAfee
NEUROEDUCATION: LEARNING, ARTS, AND THE BRAIN – By Mariale Hardiman, Ed.D., Susan Magsamen, Guy McKhann, M.D., and Janet Eilber
Why Music – Karl Paulnack
The Neuroscience of Singing – Cassandra Sheppard
Making Your Life as an Artist – Andrew Simonet
