Spirit Jam : 3-Session Harmony Edition

March 18, April 1 and April 9 from 7-9pm
Rudolph Steiner Branch

4251 N. Lincoln

Have you ever wanted to harmonize in a song circle or music jam, but couldn’t figure out how?In this 3-session course, we will explore how to sing harmonies and improvise our own harmonies. Harmony study will occur through songs, games and vocal technique exercises. Each session ends with a lightly guided vocal improvisation (the Spirit Jam).

Accessibility info:

**The location is a ground floor store-front and handicap accessible.

**Masking is optional. Luckily the space is very large, so there will be adequate airflow. Please stay home if you are feeling sick. Participants will receive a refund for days missed if feeling sick.

Doors open at 6:45pm, the workshop begins promptly at 7pm.

Spirit Jam is an offering created over several years by singer-songwriter, musician, educator and Jewish ritual leader, Leah Shoshanah. This workshop shares vocal skills and musical games to guide participants toward an improvised vocal jam. In this particular edition of Spirit Jam, participants will be focusing on develop skills in vocal harmonizing through songs and improvisation.

6:45pm- doors

7-7:10pm - opening circle

7:10-7:30pm - vocal exercises

7:30-8pm - musical improv games

8-8:10pm - break

8:10pm-8:50pm - improvised jam(s)

8:50-9pm - closing circle

9-9:30pm - tea and connection

Q&A:

Spirit Jam is a space where anyone can explore singing, create songs, and connect with their voice in meaningful ways. Led by Leah Shoshanah, the workshop blends vocal technique, circle songs from diverse cultures and spiritual traditions, and playful musical games to spark creativity. It all comes together in free vocal improvisation—a ceremonial space to dive into the moment and experience the magic of spontaneous music-making.

In this workshop we will still have space for group improvisation, with a focus on harmony singing. The class will build on skills and songs introduced each week.

Leah’s journey with voice began at age 10 and has included jazz, classical, operatic, and energetic techniques. She’s learned from renowned teachers like Metropolitan Opera stars Julia Faulkner and Winnifred Brown, jazz vocalist Typhanie Monique, and her current teacher, Vince Lonergan, who explores the energetics of voice. Along the way, she also studied conscious body movement with Nana Shineflug and theatrical improvisation with Mike Abdelsayed, tying it all back to the power of presence and connection through voice.

This practice has holistic benefits for the mind & body. Having worked through challenges like asthma and back pain using movement and singing, Leah understands how deeply voice connects to the body. She’s developed an ability to hear where tension lives in others’ voices and helps participants release it, opening up not just their singing but their whole body’s alignment.

Spirit Jam weaves is creative space where participants can explore, grow, and feel the joy of singing together. Participants have reported that this workshop has helped lift their mood through the visceral feeling of connection in collective harmony.

Nope! All are welcome. In the past, the groups have ranged from folks who have not sung in their whole lives to professional singers. There is something to be learned at all levels of experience.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

4251 N Lincoln Ave, 4251 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, United States