Song Leader Training:
Community Singing in the Oral Tradition
Thursday, October 23rd - Sunday, October 26th, 2025
Shadow Lake Centre
Stouffville, Ontario
(45 minutes from Toronto)
Join us for a 4-day immersive Song Leader Training at the stunning Shadow Lake Centre near Toronto, Ontario. This training will support you to step into song-leading with confidence and purpose, no matter where you are starting from. All voices, genders, and backgrounds are welcome, and no formal singing experience is required.
This training is for you if…
You love Community Singing, and want to learn some tips, skills, and methods for leading groups in song
You already lead singing groups, and want to deepen your knowledge, confidence, and experience
You want to incorporate Community Singing into your current work and the spaces you hold
You have a desire to build community through the power of oral-tradition group singing
You want to improve the wellbeing of others, this world, and yourself
You have no formal musical or singing experience but you LOVE to sing
You have a dream to do work that is deeply fulfilling, creative, and brings you and others joy
You are ready to make a bigger commitment and investment in your song-leading future
What you’ll learn in this training…
An overview of Community Singing and why it’s an essential ‘technology of belonging’ for these modern times
The basics of facilitation: how to create a warm, inclusive, and relaxed singing environment
How to teach songs by ear, in the oral tradition of call-and-response: rounds, ‘layer’ songs, and harmonies
Courting the song: how to cultivate relationship with a song, in order to lead from a place of embodied presence
Reading the group: How to choose songs for specific groups, situations, and moments
Honouring the origin of songs: Cultural honouring vs. cultural appropriation
Gestures and embodiment: How to use your hands, body, and posture to guide the group
The Arc of a Song Circle: How to curate the flow and pace of your Community Singing session
How to effectively integrate group singing into your current work and the spaces you hold
How to build a singing community: methods and strategies for community engagement
The business of song-leading: marketing, admin, and having your back-end systems in place
Practice! Practice! Practice! Have the opportunity to lead a song with the group, and receive constructive feedback
What’s included in this training…
All training sessions during the 4-day immersion
Private or shared room accommodations at the Shadow Lake Centre
3 delicious, home-cooked meals/day, coffee, tea, and snacks
A robust ‘basket’ of songs to get you started on your song-leading journey
The ultimate Community Singing textbook: Song Carrier Toolkit by Liz Rog
A private WhatsApp group for those who’ve completed the training
A post-training (Online) Integration Session with your cohort
A community of practitioners to learn and grow with
An opportunity to join the Song Leader Training Alumni program, for continued mentorship and peer-led support
Schedule of our training days
Thursday:
4:00 pm: Arrival, settle in, walk the land, and drink some tea
5:30 pm: Land Orientation with Retreat Centre Staff
6:00 pm: Welcome & Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm: Opening Circle & Evening Session
Friday & Saturday:
8:00 am - 9:00 am: Breakfast
9:30 am - 12:30 pm: Morning Session
12:30 - 2:30 pm: Lunch Break
2:30 pm - 5:00 pm: Afternoon Session
6:00 pm: Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm: Evening Session
Sunday:
8:00 am - 9:00 am: Breakfast
9:30 am - 12:30 pm: Morning Session
12:30 - 2:00 pm: Lunch & Pack Up
2:00 pm: Departure
Meet Your Trainer
Mila Redwood is a Community Song Leader, Mother, certified Full Voice Coach, and the Founder of Sing for Joy in Toronto. Mila uses song as a tool for building community, for restoring our sense of belonging and connection in a fragmented world. She is passionate about singing together in the oral tradition, in the simple yet powerful ways that people have done for time immemorial. As the Founder of Sing for Joy, Mila pioneered a Community Singing movement in Ontario that has grown exponentially over the past decade. To read more about Mila, including her personal singing story, click here.
Location
We are fortunate to hold this training at the stunning Shadow Lake Centre, a short 45 minute drive north of Toronto. During our training sessions, we’ll gather in the warm and welcoming workshop space for loads of learning and singing together. During our breaks, you’ll have time to explore the 300 acres of wilderness trails, swim in the sparkling lake, or experience the fall colours in their full expression. All training participants will have simple, shared (double) room accommodations, with the option of a private room upgrade. To learn more about the Shadow Lake Centre, visit their website by clicking here.
Booking & Registration
Price per person: $1080 *Canadian dollars.
This price includes:
All training sessions during the 4-day immersion
Shared (double) room accommodations at the Shadow Lake Centre
3 delicious, home-cooked meals/day, coffee, tea, and snacks
A robust ‘basket’ of songs to get you started on your song-leading journey
The ultimate Community Singing textbook: Song Carrier Toolkit by Liz Rog
A private WhatsApp group for those who’ve completed the training
A post-training (Online) Integration Session with your cohort
A community of practitioners to learn and grow with
An opportunity to join the Song Leader Training Alumni program, for continued mentorship and peer-led support
Optional: Private (single) room upgrade at the Shadow Lake Centre ($120)
Payment Options:
There are two payment options for this training:
Pay in full at time of booking
Payment plan of three instalments, with a deposit of $360 to secure your booking (second and third payments due on July 15th and August 15th)
Payment can be made by e-transfer or credit card
Scholarships:
There are two partial scholarship spots for this training. To learn more and apply for one of these spots, you can click here.
Cancellation & Refund Policy:
A refund will be issued if notice is received by August 15th, minus a $50 admin fee. After August 15th, your registration is non-refundable, but it is transferable. This means that you can transfer your spot to another person, and be reimbursed for your investment. If we do not have a waiting list, it is the responsibility of the participant to find someone with whom you can transfer your spot.
For those who are travelling from out of town for this training, please note that we are not able to cover any costs incurred by participants for transportation or accommodations. As such, please organize your travel and travel insurance with this in mind.
If the training is cancelled by the host, you will receive a full refund.
Registration will open on May 21st for those on the Waitlist, and May 28th for the general public. To be added to the Waitlist, for early registration, you can click here.
Health & Wellness Agreements
In an effort to keep everyone healthy, we ask that you stay home if you are sick, or have tested positive for covid in the five days before, or have had an exposure with someone who has tested positive in the past five days.
Masking is optional and welcome. For the purpose of creating an impactful training experience, Mila will not be wearing a mask.
As we continue to navigate these post-pandemic times, I warmly encourage everyone to check in with each other before hugging, hand shakes, and even close-talking. We all come with different comfort levels, and I trust that we can navigate this terrain together throughout our training.
Words from past participants…
“Mila's Song Leader training was an absolute delight! As someone completely new to song leading, I felt welcomed and supported. Mila made it possible for me to learn at my own pace while benefiting from not only her wisdom, but from the wisdom of the other more experienced leaders in the group. I was exposed to a variety of song leading styles, tips and tricks, but what I really took away from the course was a greater sense of confidence in my own unique offerings and a group supporting me to step into my full Self as a leader of the circle. Thank you Mila and thank you to the other amazing song carriers who all helped to make this training something I will always treasure!” - Robin Breger, Ottawa, Ontario
“Thank you so much for creating and holding a container for the beautiful, gentle, and powerful training this past weekend. Your way of guiding the group really allowed me to believe in myself and take a small step at a time, to step into my power. I believe this magical space was created and possible, because of how you modelled self-compassion and deep listening. I am learning so much from your leadership, and I am comforted to know that I have a community of Song Leaders whom I can continue learning from and collaborating with! So much gratitude for you and what you offer to the world.” - Rieko Asaba, Toronto, Ontario
“I came to this training with a love of Community Singing and an understanding of the great need to "normalize" the gift of song medicine in our everyday lives. After 3+ days of communal learning, both from Mila and from and with the other inspirational folx in the group - all of us questioning, practicing, imagining - I came away with everything I need to begin leading Song Circles in my own community, with "connection, not perfection" at the centre. No excuses now!” - Lisa Donahue, Boulder, Colorado
“Mila created the warmest and most welcoming atmosphere to leap into the world of song leading. She is supportive, full of wisdom and deeply passionate about this work. She makes you feel so safe to take risks, leap into creativity and let your spirit soar!” - Courtney Evans, Erin, Ontario
I respectfully acknowledge that this training will take place on the traditional territory of the Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Anishinaabe First Nations. I also acknowledge the presence of the Chippewas of Georgina Island to the north of Stouffville, and the Mississaugas of Scugog Island to the east of Stouffville. I strive to learn to recognize my part in the ongoing history of colonization, and to understand how our community can work towards reconciliation, repair, and uplifting indigenous values and traditions.