One of my fondest memories is attending a Shape Note Convention. It was in Wellesley, Mass. a few years ago. The experience of hearing hundreds of people singing, parts positioned in a square so that the sound soars into the center of the room, just about blew me away. You've never seen fevor like Shape Note fevor!--there are no rules about volume. It can get LOUD! But look at the faces of the singers. That's JOY.

My father, then 90 years old, got us to go. I hace never sung this kind of music before. He wore his high top red sneakers, proud as he could be. As we went through the food line for lunch, I noticed a little old lady and she too was wearing high top red sneakers. Eventually they found each other and I got to take a photo of their feet.

So there's more to Shape Note Singing than meets the eye!