Why Groups Matter
Sometimes it doesn’t matter how much I’ve accomplished, how many checks I’ve marked on my to do list, how many new opportunities may be peaking on the horizon, I just don’t feel right until I’ve shared the whole journey of how I got through Tuesday to appreciate what all I’ve done. Once I get to “break bread” with like minded folks who share my values and or interests, then I can see that despite the detours we’re all making spiritual and artistic progress.
For the last 20 months I’ve found an incredible amount of solace from various online thriving artist groups and it’s made me reconsider how I want to be supporting other artists/creatives. Since the start of the pandemic I began offering a weekly workshop as a way to build community and help those that wanted to feel more centered onstage. This eventually developed into a weekly artists support group for women/non-binary folks. And next year I will be launching my first 9 month group program called The Embodied Artists Program!!
While it seems like this was birthed out of the pandemic, I realize that groups have been a core thread for me throughout the years. From the singer songwriter circle that my friend Tom Paul ran yearssss ago out of his home every Monday evening in Park Slope. There I met artists such as Debbie Deane and Amma Whatt amongst others. I’ve worked with business coach Britt Bolnick where I then met Nikki Starcat Shields whose book writing group I joined during the pandemic where I am completing my first hybrid memoir. My connection to the goodness of groups dates all the way back to middle school and high school where I used to play music with my friends in our band Soul Sauce. Laughing and making music after school was in many ways the foundation for how I built my music making process to feel like home.
I’m now confident that group learning and support is an incredible tool for helping artists stay accountable and continue making huge leaps with their goals. If you’re ready to give your voice the confidence boost you’ve been looking for, email lessons@pyengnyc.com to find out more about The Embodied Artist Program