I live in a rural area 50 miles northeast of Sacramento, California. Our biggest town has 10,000 people. We had no singarounds for a while, but then a woman moved to town from the San Francisco Bay Area, where she had belonged to the In Harmony's Way group. She founded "In Harmony's Way Up In Auburn" maybe 8 years ago, and it has been wonderful. We meet in the afternoon of the third and fifth Sundays of the month (12 Sundays + 4), and we have a lovely time. Several people drive from Sacramento or the 75 miles from Davis - I think our afternoon singing time is helpful for those who come from far away. And there's an instrumental session at a local restaurant after we finish singing.

This singaround is the most supportive singing group I've seen. People come from all levels of talent, and all are appreciated and supported. We do have written rules which we follow in spirit, but we often defy them just for the hell of it.

We tell people to come with three songs prepared to sing for and/or with the group. We ask people not to sing on the verses or play an instrument unless requested by the person whose turn it is. People are welcome to sing with an instrument, but only when it's their turn.

-Joe-