8/31/25 - Shape Note Singing Workshop

This experiential workshop, which will be held in the historic Bevier House, offers an introduction to the rich and stirring tradition of shape-note singing, from its 18th-century origins to its 21st-century revival. Participants will learn the basics of this distinctive style of four-part a cappella harmony using geometric shapes to represent musical notes—a system once common in early American singing schools. 

The method, which emphasizes powerful, communal sound over polished performance, is remarkably accessible to beginners and has helped people of all backgrounds quickly learn to sing in harmony without prior musical training. The class will follow the time-honored “singing school” approach: starting with singing the shapes (fa, sol, la, mi), adding parts in harmony, and finally singing the words. 

This technique, which began in religious contexts in 19th-century America, has found new life in secular community spaces during the current revival. Described as "barnyard Baroque," shape-note singing continues to shake floorboards and move hearts. The revival—sparked by grassroots enthusiasm, folk traditions, and even Hollywood films like Cold Mountain—has inspired weekly and monthly gatherings throughout the mid-Hudson Valley and beyond.

Your instructor is retired history teacher James D. Ulrich, who has been singing this music for over four decades in five states. While not a formal expert, Jim brings deep lived experience and a heartfelt love of the tradition, and he will be joined by a few proficient leaders to help guide the session.

This workshop is open to all ages and skill levels. Whether you’re a curious listener or an eager singer, this is a chance to experience a tradition that values participation over perfection, and where the collective voice is greater than the sum of its parts.

Thank you for supporting local history and community programming!