People of Cornwall invited to sing Christmas carols together on doorsteps and in streets
Kerbside Carols is aiming to spread some festive cheer!
Last updated 3rd Dec 2020
People across Cornwall are being invited to holler in their hamlet, carol in their cul-de-sac, bellow on their balconies and sing in their street.
In a bid to spread some festive cheer, Kerbside Carols is asking people to stand on their doorsteps and sing together through a Facebook live event.
The musical movement will be galvanising the streets of Cornwall in song every Thursday at 8pm in December.
It will encourage people to join together and sing Christmas carols in chorus, from the comfort of their own doorsteps.
The festive initiative has been masterminded by Emma Mansfield and Michelle Nineham of Really Lovely Projects – a company which produces and delivers live community singing events.
Emma Mansfield said: “Our lives have been changed enormously through singing together. Our work and mission have been massively changed due to COVID-19 but our role in our community remains strong and consistent. Our current Kerbside Carols project was inspired by the Clap for Carers campaign and in the same way we want to get people into the streets, but this time singing some well-known carols and Christmas songs.”
Emma continued: “The carols we have chosen are well-known and we are driving people to a Facebook live feed so they can just plug into us to play it out and sing along. Or they can simply tune into BBC Radio Cornwall to get a cheery Christmas singing moment in their homes, care homes or work places once a week. We have especially arranged all the songs and carols in a certain key so most people can sing them - without having to wear extra tight pants to get the high notes!”
About the events
Every Thursday evening during December from 8pm until Christmas Day, the team will lead three popular carols with live accompaniment, followed by a short reading or poem to celebrate the arrival of the festive season.
Enthusiastic singers and their families will be able to join a rehearsal on Facebook Live at 4pm on the preceding Sunday each week. They will have the chance to explore some harmonies and sing at home, gaining confidence to galvanise their neighbourhood.
The arrangements are light and fun and created in the spirit of getting everyone singing safely in their streets so, just like Clap for Carers, they can make a noise and connect with their neighbours feeling togetherness but staying safely apart.
If people are reluctant to sing in public or a suffering from stage fright, there are still ways of getting involved. They can plug into the Kerbside Carols Facebook page to play the feed out loud and proud.
For those who are keen to perform, there are some wonderful sing along videos for people to practise with at home and the Facebook page is brimming with fabulous encouragement.
Cornwall Music Education Hub is supporting Kerbside Carols by offering free, online school singing sessions which will take place on Friday afternoons across Cornwall. Singing leader Emma Mansfield will be holding these live sessions and schools will be able to access to sing-along carol films (karaoke style) as well as learning resources.
Everyone is invited and encouraged to be involved in this initiative. The live events and details can be accessed at www.facebook.com/Kerbsidecarols.
The Kerbside Carols events will take place from 8pm on Thursdays 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th December.
Rehearsal sessions will take place from 4pm on Sundays 29th November and 6th, 13th and 20th December.
The Schools Sessions will take place from 2pm on Fridays 27th November and 4th, 11th and 18th December.