Remembering- Shoestring Singers Inc. 2004 -2011

Community Singing

Our Values

We Value;
- Enjoying singing for its own sake
- Having fun
- Inclusion; having everyone sing
- The sense of connectedness when we sing together
- The friends we make and meet
- Not judging ourselves or others
- Becoming better singers

Community Singing
In 2003 the In Town Centre Inc. wanted to add to the meals programme at the Shoe String Cafe. Some people had exceptional talents in music that were not being used. A choir seemed logical. Country Arts got us started in 2004 and Adult Community Education (DET) provided consolidation funding to increase skills. Worsley Alumina helped too. We were blessed to find a skilled musical director. Many people helped on the way and it seems that the Shoestring Singers was just meant to be. Now you know how the Shoestring Singers started. It's a really uplifting community sing-a-long giving rise to regular sessions at aged care facilities; instument playing and practice, and original songs which are now on CD.

Shoestring Singers and Identity

Way back in the dark ages of the 1960's Goffman wrote about identity and labels. He wrote that labels are stigmatising and harm us. The Shoestring Singers is about moving beyond the labels and imposed identities of the health and welfare system. Singers leave all these labels behind. Singers are singers.
The health and welfare system creates passive roles for recipients. We are active in and involved with our community. Shoestring Singers are givers of musical pleasure.
A Strengths perspective looks to the capacities of the person. We use our skills and abilities (strengths) to do everything in life. Our strengths see us through the tough times. Community singing enhances strengths.

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Singing in Bunbury, Western Australia