A Breath of Song

Patricia Norton
  • 5.0 (28)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Ella Fitzgerald said, ”The only thing better than singing is more singing!” Use song to find wellness in ourselves, each other, and our world. In each episode, Patricia introduces a song that she trusts to help her navigate life. These songs provide a great soundtrack to your day — whether it’s comfort, presence, delight, grief-tending, or simply easing the way. Periodic interviews with song creators add color and understanding. Songs have helped Patricia heal, adapt, and grow, and she hopes these selections will become companions for you as well. Visit the website, abreathofsong.com, to learn more and suggest a song!

  1. 22h ago

    241. Sing Your Roots with guest singers

    Song: Sing Your Roots Music by: Eileen Hazel Guest Singers: Becky Peterson, Karen Chickering, Molly Moerdyk   Notes: There's a slightly strange sound quality in this one, as something weird was going on with my mic when recording... maybe we were so rooted and grounded singing this that we changed the electricity in the room?! I invited three friends over to sing Eileen's round with me, and a little delightful chaos ensued... pick a place to start singing the song, with one of us or in between us, and see what happens. I wonder how we would all be if we felt that sense of deep rootedness, combined with a rise to the stars?   Songwriter Info: After many years of singing, composing, and performing, Elieen discovered her deepest love in community singing. The joy and deep connection found in singing together deeply fed her soul. Since 2023, Elieen has been facilitating community song circles in the East Bay. She especially loves co-facilitating with other song leaders and cultivating spaces that feel joyful, welcoming, and harmonious.  In the last few years, Eileen's connection to the Muse has opened in new ways. The songs flowing through her are now largely created for community singing—meant to be shared, experienced, and sung together. The songs she creates emanate from a place of spirit, drawing inspiration from her profound connection to the natural world, and to our communities. Visit her website (eileenhazel.com) to see what’s coming up.   Sharing Info: Yes -- The song is free to share but Eileen always welcomes financial and/or networking support if/when folks are so moved.   Song Learning Time Stamps: Start time of teaching: 00:02:44 Start time of reprise: 00:13:13   Links: Eileen's Website: eileenhazel.com Bandcamp to buy music: https://eileenhazel.bandcamp.com/. More music on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/eileen-hazel Eileen's own recording of Sing Your Roots: https://soundcloud.com/eileen-hazel/sing-your-roots   Nuts & Bolts: 3:4, minor, round   Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share   Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

  2. Jul 8

    240. What Have We Done with guest Kaitie Ty Warren

    Song: What Have We Done Music by: Kaitie Ty Warren   Notes: Kaitie and I talk about how we get to practice skills in singing that help us show up in full right size to help build the kind of culture we want to live in. This includes stories about cockroaches, childraising, computer-savvy friends... and Kaitie brings it all "earthside" by teaching this powerful layer song which is intimately connected with the South African song "Senzenina". We talk about cross-cultural connections, and how we try to continually update our learning -- what it is to be in right relationship, the illness of wetiko, how to be "other" in a non-inclusive dominant culture. If any of this sparks your curiosity, join us!   Songwriter Info: Kaitie Ty Warren (any pronouns) grew up on Tongva and Ohlone lands, by the ocean and often dreams in fishes and songs. She is a songwriter, songleader, writer, collage artist, cartoonist, minister, and performing artist. She is the founder of Living Room Choir, Be Heard! Voice for Parkinson's, and East Bay Song Fest, all on Ohlone lands in the Bay Area CA. She has a background in theater and music. She goes by Mama to the most awesome little songleader. KaitieTyWarren.com for more; follow on Patreon and socials @KaitieTy.   Sharing Info: Kaitie's songs are available for free to humans for the sole purpose of using it with their choir(s) and song circles. For commercial and for-profit uses, please contact Kaitie via LivingRoomChoir.com. This is not for AI training or use.   Song Learning Time Stamps: Start time of teaching: 00:03:18 Start time of reprise: 01:14:26   Links: Where to find What Have We Done: https://livingroomchoir.com/what-have-we-done/ https://www.patreon.com/kaitiety/posts/song-what-have-143827793 https://kaitietywarren.bandcamp.com/track/what-have-we-done Living Room Choir's Instagram: www.instagram.com/livingroomchoir Living Room Choir's Website: LivingRoomChoir.com/song-library Kaitie's Website: https://kaitietywarren.com/ Kaitie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitietywarren/   Senzenina – The Joy covering it: https://youtu.be/0ye19cENvY4?si=okLZ6YrsQrXwHJb4 Vukani Mowethu South African choir in Oakland: https://www.vukani.com/ Kele Nitoto: https://www.instagram.com/kelenitoto/ Ahimsa – concept of non-violence: https://www.britannica.com/topic/ahimsa Heather Houston retreats: https://heatherhoustonmusic.com/retreats-old/ Laura Sandage: https://www.lauraschapel.com/ “I Am” by Tom Shadyac (available on Netflix) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_(2010_American_documentary_film) Wetiko: Algonquin term for a cannibalistic spirit that is driven by greed, excess and selfish consumption (in Ojibwe it is windigo, wintiko in Powhatan) - https://www.lapishealingarts.com/lapidary-blog/wetiko-and-the-collective-dark-night-of-the-soul East Bay Songfest April 16-18, 2027: https://eastbaysongfest.com/   Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, layer, major   Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share   Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

  3. Jul 1

    239. My Body is Perfect

    Song: My Body is Perfect Music by: Kaitie Ty Warren   Notes: Kaitie started quite a discussion around our house with this song. What is perfect? Who gets to decide? And why is it so darn comforting to be told you're perfect, anyway? But when I first sang this song with Kaitie at Heather Houston's Global Summit many months ago, I was struck by how much better I felt after singing it to myself -- and I have continued to sing it through a flare of pain that I'm still seeking answers for and is constricting my way of life -- and I continue to find it comforting! Maybe you will, too? Next week, I get to talk with Kaitie directly about all kinds of things, including the ways we're trying to move away from the harm done by white colonial cultures and toward a vibrant, inclusive kind of presence that hums with life and generativity.   Songwriter Info: Kaitie Ty Warren (any pronouns) grew up on Tongva and Ohlone lands, by the ocean and often dreams in fishes and songs. She is a songwriter, songleader, writer, collage artist, cartoonist, minister, and performing artist. She is the founder of Living Room Choir, Be Heard! Voice for Parkinson's, and East Bay Song Fest, all on Ohlone lands in the Bay Area CA. She has a background in theater and music. She goes by Mama to the most awesome little songleader. KaitieTyWarren.com for more; follow on Patreon and socials @KaitieTy.   Sharing Info: Kaitie's songs are available for free to humans for the sole purpose of using it with their choir(s) and song circles. For commercial and for-profit uses, please contact Kaitie via LivingRoomChoir.com. This is not for AI training or use.   Song Learning Time Stamps: Start time of teaching: 00:02:54 Start time of reprise: 00:14:00   Links: "My Body is Perfect" on Kaitie's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kaitiety/posts/new-song-my-body-137978799 Kaitie's Patreon: www.patreon.com/kaitiety Living Room Choir's Instagram: www.instagram.com/livingroomchoir Living Room Choir's Website: LivingRoomChoir.com/song-library Kaitie's Website: https://kaitietywarren.com/ Kaitie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitietywarren/ Kaitie's Bandcamp: https://kaitietywarren.bandcamp.com   Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, call and response, major   Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share   Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

  4. Jun 24

    238. Got It Goin' On

    Song: Got It Goin' On Music by: Patricia Norton   Notes: Thanks to Liz Rog, I'm sharing this relatively new song (she requested it after hearing me sing it briefly on the road trip when we were exchanging songs.) I wrote it for my fabulous songleaders in training as we were tackling sometimes intimidating skills and breaking them apart into what we could actually try next. Singing it this week has been encouraging to me as I grapple with elevated pain levels, trying different next things to see what can help my body find more ease. I sing it, I get out of breath, I start laughing, I have to dig in a bit to keep it rolling -- by the time I was done recording, I was grinning and felt energized and like it was worth trying another thing! I hope it's a lift for you, too...   Songwriter Info: You can find out more about me in general here: https://www.juneberrymusic.com/about-patricia.html Or the whole team that puts this podcast out here: https://www.abreathofsong.com/about.html   Sharing Info: Feel free to sing this song yourself and with your friends and family as often as you please! If you are using this song in a way that is making money for you, please contribute to the A Breath of Song gratitude jar at https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar, and/or send me a note letting me know how the song is helping you, so the song brings us into relationship. Thank you!   Song Learning Time Stamps: Start time of teaching: 00:03:14 Start time of reprise: 00:13:59   Links: Flow Singing: https://www.juneberrymusic.com/flow-singing.html All of what I'm up to: https://www.juneberrymusic.com/ Kindred Voices Retreat: https://kindredvoicesretreat.com   Nuts & Bolts: 15:8, minor, 6-part round   Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share   Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

  5. Jun 17

    237. Ribbon 18: New Beginnings

    The Sunday after this episode is released, June 21st, 2026, at 4 p.m. Eastern time, there will be an online gathering of folk who use song to help navigate life -- and we'll sing through this Ribbon of Songs with live-looping! To learn more, click here, or sign up right now to join us!   Lyrics ​& Links to the original episodes for the songs in this ribbon. ​ 169. We Are the Door by Lyndsey Scott (second half inspired by Rainier Maria Rilke) ​We are the door that's blowing wide open We are the path that's winding down We don't know where… Enter me! Embody me. Give me your hand -- Make big shadows I can move in   133. There Is Only Now by Steph Drouin   1. There is only now, there is only this. Don’t you look behind or you will miss it! There is only now, there is only this. Don’t you look ahead or you will miss it!   2. There’s only now. There’s only this. Blink, and you will miss it. 3. Land with your feet firmly planted right here, right now is all there is!   4. Bring your full self into this moment. One breath is all it takes.   51. I Release Control by Alexa Sunshine Rose   I release control and surrender to the flow of love, that will heal me.   7. Spiral by Patricia Norton   1. I’m letting myself move in a spiral, I’m flexing and I’m swaying and I’m bending with the wind.   2. I’m coming down to where I need to be.   3. Gonna let it go, gonna let me go; you know, I’ve got to grow.   83. Creature Teacher by Hannah Jeffery Am I tired, am I hungry? Do I need to take a break now And rest? Am I tired, am I hungry? ​Do I need to take a breath? We are responsible for tending these creatures Let the growls and the howls and the cries and the whines ​Be our teachers.   196. I Am Blessed by Desirée Dawson I am blessed, yeah, I am blessed Even when I′m here feeling like a mess This life has shown me all kinds of stress And also opened up my heart like the greatest treasure chest I have grown Yes, I have grown And I'm finding my way home Yes, I have grown And I′m finding my way home     Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share   Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

  6. Jun 10

    236. Road Trip: Earth and Sky with singer Judi Vinar

    Notes: Singing a song of my own with my long-time mentor and vocal coach was a huge honor... and brought out some vulnerable moments around my own history of working with my voice. I also made some mistakes, which is funny, since I chose these words and notes myself... but can't always come up with them in the moment!!! But Judi and I have fun settling into this song about constant change -- hope you do, too!   Song: Earth and Sky Words by: Patricia Norton Music by: Patricia Norton   Songwriter Info: You can find out more about me in general here: https://www.juneberrymusic.com/about-patricia.html Or the whole team that puts this podcast out here: https://www.abreathofsong.com/about.html   Sharing Info: Feel free to sing this song yourself and with your friends and family as often as you please! If you are using this song in a way that is making money for you, please contribute to the A Breath of Song gratitude jar at https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar, and/or send me a note letting me know how the song is helping you, so the song brings us into relationship. Thank you!   Song Learning Time Stamps:  Start of teaching: 00:03:34 Start of reprise: 00:27:12   Links: Judi Vinar – Email for newsletter: judivinar@gmail.com Website: https://www.judivinar.com/ ABS episode: https://www.abreathofsong.com/p/53-wish-for-we Video of I Can See Clearly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXeY696gZW4 Heather Houston: https://heatherhoustonmusic.com/ (Heather on A Breath of Song: https://www.abreathofsong.com/p/75-easy-does-it-with-guest-heather-houston) Visual of Bryce Canyon from Rt 66: https://www.relaxednomad.com/grand-canyon-zion-bryce-canyon-route-66/ Unity churches in Minneapolis area: https://www.unityminneapolis.org/ Bobby McFerrin and Gimme 5/Voicestra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX4UWy7X4SY   Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, major, 2-part round   Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share   Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

  7. May 27

    235. Road Trip: Minneapolis with guests Sarina Partridge and Annie Schlaefer

    Notes: It was both an honor and illumination to meet with Sarina Partridge and Annie Schlaefer to talk about Singing Resistance (they were both in it at inception…) and learn two of the songs in the Singing Resistance Songbook – and I left feeling so much encouragement for community and relationship. Annie said, “People want to come to the streets if we’re singing together.” Sarina shared her slogan: “More song circles than gas stations!” We talked about weaving the learning from one event into the next crisis you face – the wisdom of long-standing organizers who help grass-roots eco-systems evolve. The role of singing in building community, showing people what we are FOR and welcoming them in, dispelling the belief that we are powerless and isolated, easing numbness, creating a container of beauty we can be in together during these times. And these songs – soooo beautiful!   Song 1: We Belong To Each Other Words by: Nikita Gill Music by: Annie Schlaefer   Songwriter Info: Annie Schlaefer (she/her), a community song-leader, has been collecting songs and facilitating song circles for 13 years in various communities (Northern Minnesota, Maine, Wisconsin) and has more recently been co-facilitating a weekly local community song circle in Minneapolis with a dear friend, Linnea Champ, for nearly 5 years. She continues to be awed by the beautiful ways that singing together brings connection and community. She learned about this style of singing in 2012 in Decorah, Iowa from a local song-leader and now mentor, Liz Rog.    Sharing Info: Annie says: "Please freely share this song in community gathering spaces. If you want to share this song and are making a bunch of money, I would appreciate some of these funds to come my way in the form of a one-time venmo donation @Annie-Schlaefer, or by joining my Patreon as a monthly subscriber. Thank you!"   Song Learning Time Stamps: Start of teaching: 00:03:10 Start of reprise: 00:51:46   Links: Annie's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/AnnieSchlaefer  Nikita Gill: https://www.instagram.com/nikita_gill/    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, round, major   Song 2: Grief and Love Music by: Sarina Partridge   Songwriter Info: Sarina Partridge is a musician, songleader, educator, and activist in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She feels most alive when learning, creating and sharing songs. Sarina sings with a wide variety of music projects: community song-leading; harmony-rich original music with folk trio Heartwood; and performing and teaching of Eastern European and Yiddish song.  Sarina has a passion for connecting people with their own creativity and with community, and uses singing as a modality to help folks develop a sense of wonder and belonging in this wild world   Sharing Info: Sarina says: "Please sing the song with your group! You can buy sheet music for it through my website (link below). If you’d like to have tracks of the separated harmony layers, please contact me. One meaningful way to support me is to join me on patreon for whatever monthly donation amount feels right to you. I post a new song - with separated out tracks for harmony parts, lyrics, the story of the song - on patreon every other week. Thank you!"   Song Learning Time Stamps: Start of teaching: 00:11:05 Start of reprise: 00:49:36   Links: Sarina's website: www.SarinaPartridge.com  Sarina's Patreon: www.patreon.com/sarinapartridge  Sarina's Bandcamp: www.sarinapartridge.bandcamp.com    Nuts & Bolts: 2:2; 3-layer, minor   Extra links:  Barbara McAfee ABS episode: https://www.abreathofsong.com/p/195-get-up-with-guest-barbara-mcafee  Lia Falls: https://marinemillsfolkschool.org/lia-falls/  Liz Rog: https://marinemillsfolkschool.org/liz-rog/  Linnea Champ - Sing As You Are: https://www.patreon.com/cw/SingAsYouAre  Sara Thomsen: “Hearts awakened are unstoppable.”: https://www.echoesofpeace.org/vision  Frankie Armstrong: Founder of Natural Voice Network in England (NVN): https://www.naturalvoice.net/about/history-of-the-network/    Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share   Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

  8. May 20

    234. Road Trip, Indy: Patterns

    Vocal improv by: Angela Gabriel, Pam Blevins Hinkle, and Patricia Norton   Notes: I love patterns -- mandalas, fractals, tesseracts, pieced quilts, Fair Isle knitting -- and singing! In Bloomington, Indiana, on this fabulous road trip, I got to pattern-make with Angela Gabriel and Pam Blevins Hinkle... and we had so much fun imagining you singing with us. We leave space for you, building up soundbeds that you might want to add a pattern to, too, or maybe you feel a soaring line that weaves through the space? Maybe words come from deep in your body, needing to be said or sung? Maybe you sing along with one of us, letting the pattern sit down in? After the experience of singing together, we felt incredibly close -- please come join our closeness and let yourself play with us.   Songwriter Info: Angela still identifies as a performer, teacher, facilitator, and lifelong learner, even though disabilities have forced her to retire. Living with multiple invisible illnesses, some of them breathing-related, she has learned firsthand the life-saving power of song and breath. This has only amplified her mission in life, which is to spread joy through creative experiences and to encourage folks of any age and background to replace judgement with curiosity and open themselves to their unique voice. In fact, it has made it even more precious when she does have opportunities to engage with others.  She is living and loving in Bloomington IN, singing with Singing Resistance, Threshold Choir and the local UU choir.  She has adopted pacing as a new way of life, which includes prioritizing herself and only saying “YES“ to the things that truly matter to her. Singing matters! She would love to come sing with your community. Pam Blevins Hinkle is a composer, song leader, ritual artist, tree-lover, and kazoo fanatic. She creates participatory, song-centered experiences that invite people to show up as they are and make beauty together. Whether singing knee-deep in rivers, inside prison walls, or at company retreats, she aims to spark aliveness, joy, and shared humanity while practicing skills that support resilient living: collaboration, risk-taking, adaptability, vulnerability, and deep listening. Her current projects include SongSquad Indianapolis, SongSquad Inside-Outside @ Indiana Women's Prison, Indy Singing Resistance, Indy Winter Solstice Celebration, Rooted, Resilient & Reaching (community singing and documentary songwriting in partnership with Aspire House), and Artist-in-Residence at Castleton UMC.   Links: Angela's website: www.AngelaGabriel.me Pam's website: www.pamblevinshinkle.com  SongSquad Indy: www.songsquadindy.com  Velma Frye’s The Truth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_qQ8khgXto    Nuts & Bolts: patterned vocal improv, loops   Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share   Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html

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5
out of 5
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About

Ella Fitzgerald said, ”The only thing better than singing is more singing!” Use song to find wellness in ourselves, each other, and our world. In each episode, Patricia introduces a song that she trusts to help her navigate life. These songs provide a great soundtrack to your day — whether it’s comfort, presence, delight, grief-tending, or simply easing the way. Periodic interviews with song creators add color and understanding. Songs have helped Patricia heal, adapt, and grow, and she hopes these selections will become companions for you as well. Visit the website, abreathofsong.com, to learn more and suggest a song!

Information

  • Creator
    Patricia Norton
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    205
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    A Breath of Song

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