east bay community music project

Please join us in spreading the joy of song throughout our neighborhoods this holiday season. This year’s caroling will be a bit of a departure from previous years, so please check out the details below. Songbooks will be provided. Dress warmly, bring jingle bells or other festive noisemakers, and please include all ages, from kids to grandparents.

We will meet in two separate groups–one at Ashby BART and one at Downtown Berkeley BART. Each group will sing at the BART station and then set out toward the center of Berkeley, singing in front of businesses and weaving through neighborhoods, as the spirit moves us. We’ll plan to converge near the corner of Shattuck and Dwight, and then enjoy dinner together at Tuk Tuk Thai at 2468 Shattuck Ave., between Dwight and Haste.

Schedule

5:00pm-5:30pm Meet and sing at the BART station (Ashby or Downtown Berkeley)
5:30pm-7:00pm Walk and sing, heading toward central Berkeley
7:00pm-7:15pm Converge near the corner of Shattuck and Dwight, and then head to Tuk Tuk Thai for dinner

You can coordinate with group leaders by text message on caroling night to join us en route:

North Group (Downtown Berkeley BART): Erika: 510.926.2604
South Group (Ashby BART): Ryk: 510.410.5446

For questions or more information, email info@ebcmp.org

Happy holidays, everyone!

As part of our 4th Sunday gathering at Malcolm X on July 27th we’ll take some time to honor the 70th birthday of Susan Groetchen, who is Ryk’s mother and has been attending our gatherings since we started over two years ago. Please bring a scarf, bandana or piece of fabric that you can part with, and we will use it as part of a fun and simple ceremony to “tie together” the community.

This event reflects our intention to use music and movement to acknowledge the important milestones and life transitions of community members. If there is a significant event in your family that you would like to recognize–a birth, coming-of-age, a passing, a retirement or other life change– please invite the EBCMP community to help you celebrate.

Join us on March 23 for our 2nd Annual Spring Festival from 11:30am – 2:00pm at Malcolm X Elementary in Berkeley. We’ll start with a community potluck with informal singing and socializing (bring a healthy dish to share) and celebrate the coming of Spring with a vocal marching band, circle dances, more singing, and we’ll beautify the already lovely Malcolm X Garden. Bring a flower, bring a friend, and bring your love of music and community.

We had so much fun last year we just have to continue the tradition! We’ll sing during the evening commute at four South Berkeley/North Oakland BART stations. Join us for the whole time or just stop by for a visit, as your schedule allows. Feel free to bring a friend!

Approximate Schedule

Friday, December 20, 2013

• 5:00 Meet at Downtown Berkeley BART
• 5:00 – 5:25 Downtown Berkeley BART
• 5:30 – 5:55 Ashby BART
• 6:00 – 6:25 Macarthur BART
• 6:30 – 7:00 Rockridge BART
• 7:15 Cactus burritos!

Please feel free to join us at any point along the way, and drop out when you like. If you’d like to join us en route and want to be sure of our location, send a text message to 510.410.5446.

What to bring (and what to expect)?

Don we now our gay apparel! No dress code, but wear something festive (and warm). If you feel like it, bring a thermos of something hot to share, and bring some snacks for your kids if they’re coming along. We’ll have jingle bells and music folders, and will post the sheet music for those that are registered (so register now!). We may exit the paid area of the BART station at each stop, so be prepared to pay $7.00 per person in train fare if you join us for the whole route.

http://ebcmp.org/register

If you have any song requests, please enter them in the “Questions or Comments” field of the registration form.

We are preparing for a very special Winter Solstice event. We hope you can join us on December 22, 2013, from 11am-1pm at the Malcolm X gym for potluck, community, and informal singing of some of our favorite songs, winter-themed and otherwise. Bring some food and drink to share. We’ll also celebrate the spirit and practice of giving with a Musical Offering (a piece of music created especially for this event) wherein we create 50 care packages, to be distributed to homeless youth in the East Bay.

Please Join Us

We hope you can participate in this special event, either by attending or by enabling others with your donations. You can donate through PayPal with the button below (funds donated before December 22 will be earmarked especially for this event).

If you’d like make an in-kind donation, or directly purchase items to be included in the care packages, email us at:

winter2013@ebcmp.org

Here’s a list of what will be included in the care packages:

• Cloth bag
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Dental floss
• Mouthwash
• Comb
• Soap
• Washcloth
• Flashlight
• Band-aids/First aid kit
• Knit cap
• Knit gloves
• Socks
• Cough drops
• Food vouchers/gift cards
• Personal card created by youth artists of Youth Spirit Artworks

We will purchase items in bulk. If you’d like to help with purchasing or donating a specific item, please let us know by email so we can plan our buying accordingly.

Our goal is to create 50 care packages, each with an approximate cost of $40, to be distributed to youth through YEAH! Berkeley and Youth Spirit Artworks. Help us reach our target of $2000 by donating now. All donations collected between now and December 22nd will be earmarked for this project, with any excess going to support our regular programs.

For more information about our beneficiary organizations:

YEAH! Berkeley
http://www.yeah-berkeley.org/index.php

Youth Spirit Artworks
http://youthspiritartworks.org

We hope to see you and sing with you soon!

Winter Solstice Potluck and Musical Offering with EBCMP and YSA
Sunday, December 22, 2013
11am-1pm
Malcolm X Gym
1731 Prince Street
(enter on King)
Berkeley CA 94703

Friday, October 11 @ 6:15 sharp
Bites Off Broadway
365 45th Street
Oakland

Come enjoy some great local food and sing a song. You’ll probably know it (and if not, it will be easy to learn).

If you haven’t attended Bites Off Broadway yet, this is your last chance this season. This is a wonderful community event, where you can find great locally prepared food, and meet up with other folks outside. Lots of room for kids to run around. This is one of those rare opportunities to run into old friends or make new ones as we navigate our busy schedules. Don’t miss it!

See us on Facebook!