Group Singing: The Heart of Resistance Movements

How can musically-inspired activists put song back at the center of protest?  Group singing at strikes and demonstrations can: 1) Generate courage and collective power; 2) Intimidate political adversaries; 3) Bring joy to movement events; and 4) Convey key ideas in memorable ways.   Yet despite music’s power, its use—especially group singing with sharp political content—has declined in U.S. protests. Few major progressive organizations prioritize music when planning demonstrations. This workshop explores how independent, musically-inspired activists can reach out to organizers and highlight the political value of the songs they bring.

Part 1: Putting Music on the Agenda (1:30–2:45pm)
We’ll begin by identifying the group’s top priorities for what they want music to do at protests. Then, we’ll explore how musicians can build collaborative relationships with movement leaders to bring those priorities to life. A playful theatre exercise will help us examine how ego—especially among performers—can get in the way of serving the collective. We’ll discuss ways of addressing common hesitations organizers have about using music.  In small groups, we’ll develop strategies to make song a more vital part of movement culture.

Part 2: Activist Song Leader Performance Lab (3:00–4:15pm)
This session focuses on the craft of song leadership. Participants can try leading a song with a strong sing along component that they plan to use in a demonstration. We’ll re-create the protest context and give feedback based on the priorities identified in Part 1. Through this process, we’ll sharpen key elements of effective song leadership—choosing the right song for the right occasion, lyrics, scansion, rhythm, melody, and the overall performance—so music can serve its full political potential.