“You feel like you’re at a campfire!” says Ann Arbor rec supervisor Pam Simmons of the recently launched Ann Arbor Community Sing. The monthly sing-alongs at the Ann Arbor Senior Center attract grandparents, kids, and others. At the sing in December, a high schooler played his guitar while thirty or so people happily sang along.
Folksinger Dave Boutette had a songbook in hand but also took suggestions of attendees–everything from obscure hymns to folk favorites like “If I Had a Hammer” and “This Land Is Your Land.” Simmons emphasizes that no talent is required to take part–and they’ll waive the $5 fee if you’re broke.
The Community Sing is the brainchild of Matt Watroba, a folksinger, songwriter, and host of the former “Folks Like Us” show on Detroit’s WDET-FM. Inspired by a long-ago interview with the late troubadour Pete Seeger–who “reminded me that a big part of his career was to get people singing–all people, not just musicians”–he’s on a mission to revive public singing in community centers, churches, camps, schools, and senior residences.
“There’s not a lot of hometown, organic singing going on,” Watroba says. “For some reason, it’s been diverted to [watching TV] competitions.”
Watroba says that group singing brings joy and health benefits–“it absolutely releases endorphins in the brain!”–and he’s delighted that his efforts have taken root here. “The whole idea,” he says, “is these songs are too important to leave to the professionals.”