EnChantMent! Singing
“Make your own music… if you would save your soul.” – Pete Seeger
EnChantMent! gatherings are perfection-free community singing sessions open to everyone.
Did you know that singing played a key role in helping the Civil Rights movement keep going? Bolster and soothe your nervous system for the long haul now too by raising your voice with others in simple songs of peace, deep connection to Spirit and nature, fun, hope, and liberation in the service of life!
Tina Asherae Fields began leading weekly songfests back in 2005 after students in her “Singing For Our Lives” course at New College of California’s North Bay Campus didn’t want to stop after the semester ended. We are now based in Boulder, CO. During the pandemic, EnChantMent continued gathering to sing via Zoom. While occasional teaching events still occur via Zoom to make the commute more accessible, for the sings we now have returned to in-person gatherings both indoors and outside: sometimes in a cozy room, sometimes around a fire pit, and other times yet as part of a nature walk or even on a full-scale Chartres style labyrinth.
EnChantMent has been invited to bring participatory song to such varied groups as an annual gathering of Unitarian Universalist youth, GreenFaith Sacred Action day, Naropa University, Creativity Alive, Audubon Expedition Institute, Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness, Lafayette Birds, various weekend and weeklong Dance and Music Camps, private life-change celebrancy rituals, and Pagan & Druidic seasonal ceremonies to honor the Wheel of the Year.
EnChantMent Singing Gatherings
Everyone is welcome at EnChantMent gatherings. I feel that singing is part of our heritage as human beings; something people used to just do every day, like talking or walking. You do NOT have to be a “good singer” to participate. All songs are easy to pick up right away by just listening. The point is to have fun together through the spirit-lifting and often contemplative practice of singing itself. We follow the joyful tenet invented by the great songleader Doug von Koss: EnChantMent takes place in a Perfection-Free Zone.
We mainly sing rounds and simple repetitive chants from various spiritual traditions across the world. We also bring in working folk songs such as sea chanties, lullabies and other trance-inducing songs, rhythmic songs, protest songs, and fun chorus songs that lift the spirit and ease the over-burdened nervous system. Our songfests span the gamut from sacred to goofy.
You are welcome to come once, occasionally, or to sign up for a series. In the latter, we repeat some songs session after session upon request so you can really learn them by ear. That bit is important to me. I feel these need to be embedded into your heart in order for you to become carriers of them. We have come to rely on recorded technology far too much. When the electricity goes down, will you be able to kindle a fire and soothe your people with your voice, helping them weather the storm through shared magic and laughter? That’s the ability I want to give you here. If you feel drawn to this – or just to have fun singing with others – you are heartily invited to join in.
When weather allows, we will sing outdoors either on the deck or around a fire pit. On cold or wet days, we’ll sing together in a cozy room. Even though it’s often scheduled after a long day or week of work, it’s amazing how rejuvenated we always feel afterwards. Singing together feels like a dip in a refreshing pool.
DATES: stay tuned!
New folx, please contact me to get on the reminder email list and receive directions to the site. Your contact info will not be sold or abused. email: dr.tfields [at] gmail [dot-com].
Contemplative Afternoons on Ravenwood Labyrinth
Enjoy a peaceful afternoon of walking the Ravenwood Labyrinth, soul-soothing song, and Council sharing led by a Veriditas-trained Labyrinth Facilitator. This event is simple, but hopefully carries profound reverberations forward into your life. A wholly outdoor event. Free, with donations welcome for reciprocity and to help maintain the labyrinth. If you would like to attend, please write for the address in unincorporated Boulder County, CO. You can also book private or small group sessions.
– Offered when weather permits. We also offer a special combo day in early May of each year that melds World Labyrinth Day with EnChantMent. (Please email to get on the labyrinth walking and/or EnChantMent mailing list)
Seasonal Ceremonal Gatherings
Join in Solstices, Equinoxes, and the other seasonal celebrations with Druid Grove Dóiteán agus Uisce (Flame and Well), part of the Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids. Nature-based rituals, often including songs and chants. Ongoing. All seasonal celebrations except Samhain (late October) are open to visitors.
EnChantMent-style Songleading Workshop
A live, interactive two-to three- hour workshop on how to lead EnChantMent-style song in your own communities. These can be held in person or over Zoom.
We begin with a short lecture covering the basic elements of song and songleading – that is, helping a group of people with ordinary voices succeed and have fun singing together. Each participant will then have the opportunity to introduce and lead at least one song, then receive feedback and try again with enhanced understanding, skill, and attagirls behind you.
Limited to 4 people on Zoom or 6 in person so each gets the needed flight time.
Private Singing & Repertoire Lessons
Work on beautifully performing particular songs, enhancing your song repertoire by learning new songs or types of songs (such as old British Isles ballads), singing in harmony, gaining greater breath control, and/or enhancing vocal style. I accept a few private singing students from Autumn through Spring, either in person or via Zoom. Compassionate personalized help is available. Please email and let me know your desires.
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Outreach
The EnChantMent! songleader is also available for outreach work that suits your particular needs. Past examples include:
Consulting
Example: First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, Canada. Provided songs for particular occasions & from various spiritual traditions to the Director of Lifespan Learning for use in their congregation’s Singing Meditation class.
School Residencies & Courses
Examples: “Singing For Our Lives: Music, Consciousness, and Social Change.” B.A. elective course taught at New College of CA, North Bay Campus for Sustainable Living. A similar course also taught at Naropa University, Boulder CO.
“Songs for the Great Turning” units in Ecopsychology Training M.A. course at Naropa University, 2023.
Led Artist-in-Residencies for elementary-high school students in northern Nevada and California that have encompassed not only singing but visual arts, environmental awareness, and contra/barn dancing.
Ritual Leadership in both Wilderness and Urban Settings
The addition of carefully applied group singing can deeply enhance all sort of group ritual work. Tina has skillfully led song as part of such widespread ritual settings as Seasonal Pagan Ceremonies, 9-day Wilderness Rites-of-Passage Trips held both on land and rivers, Life-Change Ceremonies including Red Tent Threshold to Adulthood, Weddings, Births, Graduations, and Funerals (plus private internal preparation sessions for those); Community Grief Ceremonies, and more.
Professional Development Speeches, Workshops, and Seminars
Examples: “Using Song for Community Bonding,” and “Understanding and Teaching to Musical Intelligence” (the latter co-taught with Kirsten George). Faculty Development, Audubon Expedition Institute at Lesley University.
“Deconstructing the Performer/Artist Barrier: Participatory Song for Activism.” (Excerpts available on video by Julian Blair, Performer Activists, Part 1: Art, War, & Peace. 2004.)
Short Performances
Examples: For adults: Incorporated songleading into Naropa University’s large Convocation and Commencement ceremonies.
For all ages: “Wearing the Other’s Skin: The Great Selchie in Story, Song, and Lived Experience.” Occidental Arts & Ecology Center (OAEC)’s Chautauqua, CA
For middle schoolers: Rise UP! Story, song & nature-connection for district-wide Jr. High youth retreat, Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder, CO
For children: “Wildlife Neighbors.” Storytelling and song for grades 3-5, Sonoma County Library, CA.
EnChantMent By Request
Example: Led group singing via Zoom during the pandemic for a widespread multi-generational family online get-together; adults, pre-schoolers, and grandparents who hadn’t seen one another for a long while.
Feel free to contact me if you are interested in catalyzing an EnChantMent!singing session in the Front Range of Colorado. Also available are short-term trips to other areas to lead singing or teach techniques of group songleading.
About the Song Carrier/Leader
According to her mother, Tina Fields sang before she could talk. Her diverse singing experience since then includes semi-pro musical theater, participation in choral harmony groups whose repertoire range from a-capella madrigals to African spirituals and improvisational jazz, singing trad ballads and sea shanties with living history organizations, leading Pagan groups in ritual chants, bringing song to support wilderness rites-of-passage work, calling for positive change through group song at protest events, and singing with bands in bars and the like doing Celtic fusion and swing blues. She leads singing workshops at dance/music camps such as the west coast Queer Contradance Camp, BACDS (Bay Area Country Dance Society)’s Family Week and English Week, and Stellar Days & Nights in Colorado. Incorporating song and the other arts into education for resilience in her “day job” as a college professor, Tina has led professional development workshops for environmental educators on traditional regional music as a teaching tool, taught college courses “Singing for Social Change” at New College of California and “Singing For Our Lives” at Naropa University, and given academic papers on using music to shift consciousness. Tina also calls contra and barn dances, and has served as Artist-in-Residence and storyteller to children in NV and CA schools. Her method of teaching songs fosters a living oral tradition. She is a clear presenter with a kind, inclusively welcoming demeanor and what has been called “an infectious sense of humor,” who delights in helping uplift the human spirit through group song.
ENDORSEMENTS: EnChantMent Participants Sing Out
“Tina Fields is a Storyteller and Enchantress extraordinaire. She can conjure up beautiful song from any group and spin a yarn that brings out the kid in all of us as we wait– hanging on to her next word. Good old fashioned story-telling is becoming a lost art in this day of rapid technology but Tina resurrects the age old pastime with simple grace and talent. When Tina casts her spell you will find yourself not only soul satisfied, but truly enchanted.” –Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder
“What a joyful sense of community you brought to our gathering.” – Mark G.
“Tina rekindled my love of singing –- which I haven’t felt in years.” –Leslie G.
“Love the way Tina teaches us the [Pagan ritual] chants. She is so adept at music and leading us. We are very fortunate and blessed to have her!” – Lexi E., Flame & Well Druid Grove
“Last night’s session was everything I was looking for!!! Thank you for all the wonderful songs, sounds, and leadership, and for the tone of the evening, warm and welcoming without feeling forced!” –Chandra F.
“Oh my goodness!! How do I even begin to thank you?! That song at the end was SO beautiful and powerful. I am shaking just remembering it. All the songs all along – such a gift. Your “yes” to this event was such a spark to making this actually manifest. Thank you thank you thank you!!” –Lodi S., GreenFaith
“Tina, Singing with you has been incredibly healing, on so many levels, and ‘getting back into singing’ is something I’ve been wanting to do for quite some time…so happy the universe led me here to you… The Zoom singing really does work! 🙂 Thank you for sharing your gift of song, and for being YOU!! Bowing to you with all my love and gratitude.” –Julie B.
“Asherae, I wanted to tell you that the Kali song at Summer Solstice was the most meaningful part [of the all-night ritual] for me – brought me to tears as I feel like I’m sifting “what to keep and what to burn away.” Thank you for sharing and leading music for us all. <3″ –Claire E., Crann na Cailli Druid Grove
“We so enjoyed having you as part of our first dance camp. Thanks for getting us all singing. You have such a joyful spirit!” –Robert R., Queer Contradance Camp organizer
“Thank you thank you, dear Tina! It was wonderful! You have such an amazing capacity for focusing even when the hurricane arrives. I SO appreciate your kindness and flexibility and shifting on the fly. There was a lot going on with kids and grandparents and you guided us through a really fun time! 💓” – S.A., Zoom Family Sing commission
“It was so great to Sing and EnCHANT with you last week. I Loved it! …Thanks for Be-ing Awesome! –Cameran F.
“You led us in singing a native lullaby last year at camp. You can’t imagine how important and wonderful it was.” – Mike la F.
“I wanted to let you know that your singing workshop really moved a lot of stuff for me. My life is freaking hard right now, and you helped me grieve through a lot of what’s up. I have you to thank for helping me emote and maneuver the seas of emotion. I felt like I could see land again after that afternoon. It made a big difference for my experience [at dance camp], and I think you’re totally amazing. Thank you.” –-J.E.
“I absolutely loved the singing two weeks ago; it is such a wonderful group of women and it was really exciting!” –Lynne J.
“I am continually impressed by how rich and versatile your voice is; you can take it to so many different places, all wonderful — to say nothing of your wacky sense of humor.” –Ed S.
“Singing with you at [Naropa’s] Commencement was a highlight of my fall. Magic.” –L.S.
“Thanks, lady! That was so nourishing. ☺️” – Brigid H.
“What lovely songs! Like body therapy music. I found myself relaxing muscles I didn’t know were tightened. I am grateful.” –Marissa H.
“After the letting go song tonight I was percolating on an intention and it arrived like this: “I seek to release the weight of the world from my shoulders, to more fully and freely meet it with my heart.
Many thanks for your joyful and heart-full offering of playful and sweet, sacred and silly!” –Christi S.“[Here is a donation] for offering song to the world. ❤️ Your gift is so needed.” –Dakota L.
“You have such a wonderful gift and a wonderful light around you.” –Christopher R.
“It was great to experience EnChantment for the first time! I’d like to continue, and want to see if I can learn some of the songs deeply enough to carry them with me.” – Walker M.
“Tina – thank you for this wonderful night. Your songbook has become one of the most important books in my library. I’m so thankful to you for holding the space for our hearts to sing.” — Shea A
“I really enjoyed singing with everyone. Thank you for your great spirit-filled facilitation. I had fun.” –Sandra A.
Past Special Singing Events have included:
INVITED SHORT EVENTS:
Council of All Songs (as “Earthly Beings,” co-led with Lydia Violet Hartoonian, Eileen Shaunessy, and Adrián Villasenor Gallaraza). Reconnecting for a Just and Regenerative Future conference, Naropa University, April 13, 2025, 9-10 am.
OBOD (Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids) Anniversary sunrise ritual inside Stonehenge: carried role of Peacebringer and as part of the Eisteddfod, sang “Power of Raven” blessing out into the world. June 2024.
Lafayette birds!, Bird City Colorado, and World Migratory Bird Day. Hosts: Lafayette Open Space and Environment for the Americas. I led one song and read my poetry from Dawn Songs. The Muse in Lafayette, CO. Wednesday, January 24, 2024, 5:30- 7:00 p.m.
“Sister Song Project: Special EnChantMent Songs for the Great Turning.”Interactive presentation for the Scuola di Ecopsicologia (IES Italian School of Ecopsychology). Also part of the Lanterns of Active Hope meetings for active Ecotuners and Green Coaches who have completed their Ecopsychology training at Ecopsiché. My regular EnChantMent participants are also welcome to join. When: 30 Nov 2023, 9-10 PM Rome / 1-2 PM Colorado. Write for Zoom link.
GreenFaith Boulder County – Faiths 4 Climate Justice‘s Sacred Action Sunday. Boulder County Courthouse, 1325 Pearl Street. 10.17.21 3-5 pm
I led songs to rouse energy for making change, and also as part of a Water Offering Ceremony.
“Speakers include GreenFaith Boulder County, Zen priest and climate scientist Sensei Kritee Kanko, Jungian psychotherapist, author and Jewish Renewal Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, Sherry Ellms, Associate Professor at Naropa University and Faculty Lead for the Joanna Macy Center, and Songleader, storyteller and ecopsychologist, Dr. Tina Fields who will lead the gathering in song. Procession and vigil in downtown Boulder. We will have signs and banners calling for climate justice and an end to the use of fossil fuels for the sake of the Earth and all beings. Bring bells, shofars, drums and other instruments to sound the call to action if you would like. Water offering ceremony at the Boulder International Peace Garden to honor our inter-relationship with the Earth and with all life. Bring fall leaves, flowers, earth-friendly offerings for bark boats to send gratitude and love to the water and prayers to future generations. Songleader, storyteller and ecopsychologist Dr. Tina Fields will offer song.“
Creativity Alive, aka Mmmwhah! Vocal Playshop Series. (Mmmwhah! stands for “Movement, Music, Mindfulness — Whoa! and — Art.”) 2018-2021, Boulder CO locations ranging from Boulder Circus Center to the Library’s Creekside Plaza.
Chosen as the Boulder Daily Camera’s “Pick of the Day!”
“Tina Fields will be rejoining our Vocal Playshop series with her EnChantMent Song Circles on July 8, 2021. (Yay, Tina!)” 2018: “In the EnChantMent playshop, our new circle of community will collectively create a chorus of radiant voices. …Come and help co-create some EnChantMent together.”
Inside the Great Stupa of Dharmakala at Drala Mountain Center, Red Feather Lakes, CO. Invited to lead a Gaelic Blessing Song by sound healerChristine Stevens for her participants, 2018 & 2019.
Naropa Convocation, Fall 2021 – Arapahoe Campus. “We Shall Be Known” song, led for community in harmony with three alumni
Naropa Commencement, Spring 2019 – Macky Auditorium, UC Boulder, CO. “Good Where We’ve Been” closing transition song led for graduating community at 2:27
Naropa Convocation, Fall 2018 – Arapahoe Campus. “Beauty Song” led for community at 57:30
Rise UP! Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder, CO. Story, song & nature-connection for district-wide Junior High youth retreat. March 4, 2017
Green Gulch Zen Center, CA – Buddha’s Birthday celebration. Singing, songleading, & dance calling. April 29, 2011
Private Memorial Services – singer & songleader, San Francisco, CA and Sebastopol, CA.
Just Because It’s June! “Midsummer evening for Men & Women full of Love & Chant & Community & Song.” Guest songleading with Doug von Koss and Richard Naegle at Finnish Hall in Berkeley, CA. June 27, 2010
Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness conference. Experiential workshop: “Enchantment – Employing Song to Shift Consciousness.” UC Berkeley, CA. March 17-21, 2010 PDF Brochure
Maypole erection ceremony, New College of CA’s Permaculture course, Green Valley Village CA, 2007
Celtic New Year Celebration, Reno NV, 1994 and 1995. “Thin Veiling Between the Worlds: Early Celtic Tales and Song,” plus I created and led the Opening Druidic Fire Invocation.
SONGLEADING for WEEKEND to WEEK-LONG EVENTS includes:
Stellar Days & Nights dance and music weekend, at a lovely ranch in the mountains near Buena Vista CO. Feb 19-22, 2015; Feb 23-26, 2017.
Along with co-calling every evening contradance and leading the closing songs, in 2017 I offered 5 workshops, including:
Bawdy British Ballads. – Sing, laugh, and possibly blush as we sing shockingly bawdy ballads of yore, ranging from cautionary tales to carnal celebrations. (Oh my!) Many will feature an easy-to-sing chorus, so you do not have to be a “good singer” to join in. If you have your own favorites, bring them along to share.
BOO Camp. Jemez Springs, New Mexico, Hummingbird Music Camp. Group singing sessions and contradance calling, sponsored by New Mexico FolkMADS. 3-day weekend October 27-29, 2017.
BACDS (Bay Area Country Dance Society) English Dance and Music Week Camp. Singing workshops, group songleading for Pub Night, Beatles/60s singalong, and High Tea. Rustic camp in the redwoods, Mendocino Woodlands, CA. July 10-17, 2010
BACDS (Bay Area Country Dance Society) Family Week Camp.Daily singing class. Also did contra dance calling & led contradance workshop. This camp is big fun. Foothill Horizons Outdoor School, near Sonora, CA. July 4-10, 2010 PDF brochure
Queer Contra Dance Camp.Singing sessions. Monte Toyon campground near Aptos, CA. Gender-free dance caller extraordinaire Chris Ricciotti wrote, “I’m VERY MUCH looking forward to seeing you at Queer Camp next April! I love your presence and your singing!!!” April 9-11, 2010 PDF Brochure
Classes have included:
Songs for the Great Turning. Unit in Ecopsychology Training M.A. course, Naropa University, Summer 2023.
Special Topics in Music: Singing For Our Lives! MUS490. Class at Naropa University, Fall semester (Aug 30 – Dec 11), 2018. Tuesday & Thursday 10-11:15 AM. Lincoln Lecture Hall, Arapahoe Campus.
Pete Seeger exhorted people to “make your own music… if you would save your soul.” In this Special Topics course, we will break away from the performer/audience split so prevalent today and joyfully make our own music as a perfection-free singing community. Songs have been used since time immemorial to aid in rhythmic chores, soothe children, induce trance, foment social change, and help create community. In the theoretical portions of this course, we will examine some of the historical and cross-cultural uses of song – how it can document social conditions, shift consciousness, and effect personal and societal transformation. A large portion of each class will be devoted to unaccompanied group singing. This is not a performing ensemble; it’s a community gathering. [Open to all, including non-degree seekers and auditors.]
“Singing For Our Lives: Music and Consciousness” arts elective class, also open to the community. New College of CA, North Bay Campus (Santa Rosa, CA). 2004.
Hope to make beautiful music with you soon!
Doug Cyr and Tina Fields making music for a Sonoma County (CA) Playback Theater performance