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Celebrating Sing for Good 2015
January 1, 2016You sang, you spread the word and raised your voice for people experiencing depression,anxiety, loneliness, disadvantage, unemployment or homelessness.
Together, through the magic of Sing for Good, more than $70,000 was raised for Creativity Australia’s life changing With One Voice program.
Relive the magic of Sing for Good 2015 by watching the highlight video below.
Or (If you are feeling inspired) Register your interest for the 2016 campaign here.
You can also see the full list of 2015 Sing for Good winners here.
What a Wonderful Year!
December 21, 2015
Our choir season has come to a close for 2015, and what a year it has been!
The new choir season will commence the week beginning:
February 1st, 2016
We look forward to singing with you then.
In the meantime, keep sharing the joy of song!
With One Voice Footscray: Free Beatbox Workshop
October 13, 2015Join With One Voice Footscray on Thursday 22 October for a free Beatbox Workshop. Learn the how to combine beats with singing and use your mouth as a percussion. See the details below and come along to make some beats, and have some fun at the African Australian Community Centre.
Rock the next big Aussie Anthem
October 6, 2015Hey Australia!
You are invited to…
Star in the next big Aussie Rock Anthem, Legends of the Southern Land.
Legends of the Southern Land is new song by Aussie music legends, John ‘Wonder World’ St. Peeters, John (Swanee) Swan, Marty Rhone, Ray Burgess, Tommy Emmanuel and composed by Michael Yule. They are calling on all Australians to join them in singing this uplifting song.
Think you can’t sing? Don’t fret.
This isn’t a talent quest. We’re seeking people of all ages, cultures, faiths. Professional artists, shower singers… everyone is welcome.
It’s as easy as one, two, three.
Simply enter a video through Sing for Good singing along to the Aussie Rock Anthem. The song will be split into four sections over the month of October with mp3 and lyrics released weekly on Sing for Good. Enter one section, or as many as you like!
You can feel good and do good
We’re seeking 1,000 videos from around Australia and donations raised through Legends of the Southern Land go towards helping people in need through Sing for Good.
But wait there’s more…
Winners will star in the official Legends of the Southern Land music video and appear live on stage during the 2016 national tour.
Are you ready to rock?
Make you mark, make a difference, be the best that you can.
You’re the future of the southern land.
A Culture of Innovation the Key to Success
September 21, 2015by Tania de Jong AM for Spark Mag
In this era of disruption, a culture of innovation is one of the main reasons for the success of many fast growing companies.
Sometimes it feels like the queue of emails, piles of papers and ‘to do’ lists and not to mention a private life are overwhelming. Who has time for creativity or innovation? It’ll just mean more work and more pressure.
Yet creativity is probably just what business needs – a chance for that unique, creative voice to shine, to re-energise, re-invent and re-imagine or create the future.
Dr Charlie Teo sings for good
August 20, 2015Leading neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo has shared his secret for surviving the rigours, challenges and tragedies he and his team see on a daily basis – Singing!
Dr Teo and his team have entered an inspirational and creative rendition of the Gloria Gaynor hit “I will survive” into the national singing project Sing for Good as a tribute to their patients suffering from brain cancer.
Sing for Good was set up by Creativity Australia to raise awareness of the power of singing to improve mental health, wellbeing and connect communities. It is also a fundraiser for disadvantaged people in the With One Voice social inclusion program that is changing the lives of people all across Australia.
Dr Teo is known world-wide for his skill, but even he admits that “surgery for brain cancer is high risk and physically and emotionally taxing. The management of those with brain cancer is so stressful one could be excused for seeing only the negative side of life … Singing together during and after a hard day in the operating theatre has helped me and my team overcome many of the tragedies that we see on a daily basis and we encourage everyone to do the same”.
“Unfortunately brain cancer kills more children and young adults than any other cancer. It is also the least funded and has the greatest socio-economic impact on society” explains Dr Teo, “but fortunately, this terrible disease often brings out the best in people. Patients demonstrate amazing courage, loved-ones rally to their sides, doctors and nurses bond together as a committed and unified team and life acquires new meaning”.
Creativity Australia founder Tania de Jong AM says “It’s inspirational and life-affirming to see Charlie’s entry! Neuroscience proves singing makes us happier, healthier, smarter and more creative, and that’s why Sing for Good is so important.” Watch Tania’s TED Talk “how singing together changes the brain”.
The goal for Sing for Good, explains de Jong, “is to get every community in Australia participating and to raise money for not only the With One Voice program, but also many other charities and creative arts-health programs.”
“The best part about Sing for Good is that everyone can participate and support their charities. While fun runs and moustaches are great, this is a fundraiser that gives people who don’t want to run or can’t grow a mo, the chance to support charities and improve their own wellbeing too”.
“Sing for Good is easy and everyone can do it. Families, workplaces, schools, sports teams, choirs… Real courage is needed to sing in public; likewise it is courage that is needed to overcome adversity, illness and disadvantage”, says de Jong.
Sing for Good started on 1 August and runs through until 31 October. Visit www.singforgood.org for more information and to start singing.
Watch Dr Teo and the Brain Cancer Warriors video and support the cause at www.singforgood.org/campaigns/brain-cancer-warriors-i-will-survive/
Do good. Feel good. Sing for Good is now open!
August 7, 2015
Please help us get communities singing in every postcode of Australia!
Our inspirational community singing project Sing for Good has just opened and we’ve already received amazing video entries from office workers, flash mobbers, OzHarvest, Cambodia, a yoga class and more! Check out the gallery
About Sing for Good
Sing for Good aims to get communities singing for joy in every postcode of Australia and beyond. Families, workplaces, schools, sports teams… everyone is welcome.
- sing with a group (two or more)
- enter your video
- vote, donate + celebrate
There are heaps of categories, plus cash prizes for schools. Winners are announced at our huge With One BIG Voice concert at Melbourne Town Hall (3pm Sunday 8 November). Book tickets.
Donations raised help people in need through Creativity Australia’s With One Voice program.
How to help:
- vote, share, comment and donate to support your favourites
- submit video(s) (as many as you like) and challenge friends
- spread the word (connect Facebook and Twitter; or see the attached Guide to Sharing Sing for Good)
With One Voice welcomes people aged 9 to 90, from all cultures and backgrounds. Through the Wish List, diverse people grant each other wishes like music lessons, language tuition and jobs. Swinburne University research showed 98% of With One Voice choir participants experienced less stress, 91% improved social bonds and 66% feel less depressed. The program has also been named in Anthill’s SMART 100 social innovations in 2015, 2014 and 2013.
Do good. Feel good. Register now at www.singforgood.org
Marg and daughter unite With One Voice
May 26, 2015
For resident Marg Walker, the With One Voice Altona Meadows community choir at Benetas St George’s is more than just an opportunity to sing along to her favourite tunes.
Read more in this great article from DPS News.
It’s never too late: raise your voice, lift your heart
May 25, 2015
Adrift after the loss of her great love, Angela Quigley re-discovered joy and a new community at With One Voice Brisbane.
Read more in this lovely Reader’s Digest article by Hazel Flynn.
Nerves On A Choir: My First Rehearsal
May 14, 2015My first choir experience
I had no idea what to expect heading into the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins for my first With One Voice choir. I had just landed a gig as an intern for Creativity Australia and assumed I’d be there in an ‘observational’ capacity. That assumption proved to be incorrect. I’d never sung in a choir before, let alone publicly, and was nervous about to be doing so.
As I stood awkwardly wondering what I had got myself into it was suggested I go and join the “boys”. The boys, or the bass section, consisted of six men all much older than me, yet some were years apart from one and other. Summing up the situation I attempted to sneak into the back row unnoticed, but this close knit gang of basses weren’t about to just let anyone in. A tall older man turned and looked at me. He offered me his hand and joyfully asked “do you sing often?” “No, not really,” I said. He smiled before saying, “You have a voice. That’s a start”. (more…)
Top 10 Songs To Sing In The Shower
May 13, 2015A Music Buff’s Guide to Singing In the Buff
Not only does everybody sing in the shower, everybody also thinks they sound better in the shower. The reason why we sound better is fairly simple, it’s due to your voice bouncing off the smooth hard tiles and glass surfaces, giving it more power. This makes a regular Joe or Joanne sound as powerful as the late Roy Orbison or as soulful as Adele.
Research into shower singing has provided even more reasons to belt it out first thing in the morning. A Swiss study found singing to have a huge effect on your heart rate, so much so that it can even reduce the risk of heart disease. Swedish neurologist Bjorn Vickhoff said that singing “gives you pretty much the same effect as yoga breathing”.
So what other reasons do you need to realize the beauty of shower singing first thing in the morning? Maybe you’re just stuck for ideas on what to sing next? If that’s so, enjoy 10 songs selected to belt out in a hot shower on a cold morning.
Give Happy, Live Happy: Volunteer Week
May 13, 2015Volunteer Week 2015
It’s National Volunteer Week and Creativity Australia’s With One Voice family wants to say a big thank you to our 100 volunteers who support and contribute to the community every week.
Without their ongoing support, the With One Voice choirs wouldn’t be able to operate as successfully as it does and for that, we are truly grateful.
Together, our volunteers and other wonderful team members are helping change the world… one voice at a time. Creativity Australia’s aim is to bridge the gap between people experiencing disadvantage and those more fortunate through the neuro-scientific benefits of community singing, choirs and singing projects. We build supportive networks that help people connect to brighter futures.
Coinciding with Volunteering Australia’s motto this year, our team members share the same value: Give Happy, Live Happy.
