Sing, laugh, connect. Singers of all abilities welcome. We were born and built to sing!

To join the Rhythm & Song! email list, go to the CONTACT link in the left hand menu or send an email to: randsalmonte@gmail.com

General info about what we do is further down the page.

“Singing with Rhythm & Song! for the past five years has become a weekly ritual. It’s FUN to sing & harmonize with others, improving listening & rhythm skills while learning many new songs. And there is no audition!”   - A.C..

WINTER & SPRING SESSIONS 2025

There will be songs to wake you up, work your brains and bodies, give you comfort, and reinforce our human connection to each other and to the world. All of this while helping you become better singers both on your own and in this non-traditional, fun, and funky group we call 'choir'. Music is magic.

Please pre-register in name only, by email to randsalmonte@gmail.com.

New singers are welcome to come and try a session before committing financially. Please pre-register so that you will receive all the necessary information before the first session.

WINTER SESSION 2025

Tuesday AFTERNOONS only

Jan. 7 - Feb. 25, 2024 1:00-2:30pm

AUDITORIUM 3rd Floor, Almonte Old Town Hall (accessible by elevator)

Fee: $120

SPRING SESSION 2025

Tuesday AFTERNOONS

March 11 - May 27 1:00-2:30pm

AUDITORIUM 3rd Floor, Almonte Old Town Hall (accessible by elevator)

Fee: $180

Thursday EVENINGS

March 13 - May 29 7:00-8:30pm

SOCIAL HALL, Almonte United Church 106 Elgin St.

Fee: $180

Registration - Send me an email to let me know your intended session to randsalmonte@gmail.com

Payment - E-transfer is preferred to randsalmonte@gmail.com, no password needed. Cheques and cash are also accepted. Payment in installments is possible, please let me know if this is your preferred method.

• There are no credits for personal 'holidays' or missed 'classes' but please see ‘Flexibility’ below.

• There are no rate deductions for late starts/early endings. Think of the fees as a membership. 

Flexibility - You are welcome to make up missed 'classes' on either day, and if you just want to sing more you are welcome to come to both sessions in any or all weeks for no extra fee. Cross-pollination = more voices and new friends.

Subsidies - If the fee is financially challenging for you, please let me know as there are limited subsidies available and we can figure something out.

A Note on Fees....

Fees cover prep time, space rental, insurance software, arranging and recording of song tracks, admin time, ongoing communication with singers, planning, and weekly sessions. I hope I make it look easy! If I do, it’s because there’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes.

Credit - If you are unable to complete a majority of the 'classes' due to a health or family emergency, please get in touch and I'll be happy to issue you a credit for time remaining. Credit will only be granted from the time you get in touch with me.

Let's get the word out! Again, if there is anyone you know who might be interested, let them know. Please tell your bike clubs, book clubs, neighbours, etc. New residents of Mississippi Mills will also appreciate the info as there is no more Welcome Wagon. I know the singers are there, we just need to bring them out of the woodwork!

My goal is to energize you and to give you the feeling of being connected, to sing, to laugh, and to be part of a community of fun-loving, compassionate humans.

What kind of songs will we sing?

Songs from the folk, pop, world and roots traditions, rounds, short and longer songs, and I always try to include some body percussion just to keep you on your toes! This gives our brains, bodies, and voices a good workout. Singers leave a session feeling energized and revitalized.

Other FAQs

Because we don’t use sheet music, the songs are taught by ear, in a traditional call and response fashion. Repetition and review help you get the song into your bones. Lyrics are provided and used when necessary. Some songs are sung in unison, others in two-four part harmony. The songs vary in length. We generally start with short easy-to-pick up songs for warming up and move to longer songs over the course of any 1.5 hour session. We start with learning the melody, and harmonies are added over subsequent weeks. 

Recorded parts in track form are made available. You are able to download the tracks to your computer. These are learning tracks so I ask you NOT to share the files or post on social media. They are for your use only. 

The First Session

Please have water for drinking within reach - you will want it. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. It is ideal to stand and sing but if you need to sit for all or part of the session, please do so. 

ABOUT JENNIFER

I have been singing all of my life but officially ‘burst out of the closet’ as a singer/songwriter in the 1990’s. I performed on the folk circuit at festivals and doing small venues/house concerts for ten years, have two full-length recordings, and am currently working on a third. I also collaborated on a full-length recording with the trio Frida’s Brow. It was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award in 2006. In 2015, time came to re-jig my ‘other’ life as an adult educator. My creative self wanted to offer my local community something musical and rewarding.

In 2015, I completed the intensive Community Choir Leadership Training in Victoria, BC offered by Denis Donnelly and Shiobhan Robinsong, the founders of the Ubuntu Community Choir Network. I have been leading choirs and singing workshops ever since and get incredible satisfaction from bringing people together through music, and watching new friendships blossom.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

I LOVE what I do. My goal is to give you a stress-free, fun and uplifting singing experience. If you have any questions, fears associated with singing, or constructive feedback, please contact me to discuss. The voice is an amazing instrument. It is one of the most personal and unique aspects of ourselves. The blending of many voices provides us all with an amazing sense of belonging, connection and community.

Summer Solstice Celebration, June 20 at John Levi Community Centre, Almonte

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We acknowledge that this sacred land on which Mississippi Mills is now located has been a site of human activity since time immemorial and is rich in Indigenous history. This land is the ancestral and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation. We are grateful to the Algonquin ancestors who cared for the land and water in order that we might meet here today.

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See my ‘Singing Events’ page for upcoming workshops or sing outs.