Joni NehRita Music
Infectiously soulful music!
13/12/2023
That time I was the guest vocalist with the KW Symphony for the holiday shows in 2017. 🎤🎶 My hubby, Wil snuck this photo of the rehearsal. 😊
I’m grateful to have also performed with them on a Ray Charles tribute with guest conductor, Matt Catingub.
Singing with a full symphony behind you is an experience like no other! Definitely a career highlight.
Unfortunately we lost the symphony this fall…hopefully another configuration emerges from the ashes.
12/12/2023
Hoping to see lots of KW friends out tonight to celebrate our last Circle Music session of the year at KPL main branch!
FREE 7:00-8:30.
sing. groove. sing. move. improvise.
🎶😊🎶⭕️
Hey friends! Tomorrow is my last KPL Circle Music session of the year. I hope to see lots of you out so we can celebrate the seeds we have planted to help grow awareness of this awesome form of music-making! 🎶⭕️🎶
Here's a short video of an improvised body music song I did back in August!
WHEN: Tuesday Dec. 2 from 7:00-8:30pm. FREE!!!
WHERE: Kitchener Public Library Main Branch -85 Queen St. N
*There won't be a Circle in January because my friends, Jane & Erwan and I are headed to Brazil to take part in Música do Círculo's retreat & facilitator training together.🇧🇷
08/12/2023
We hope to see you out at our last Guelph Circle session of the year!
Someone will be present to take videos & photos for promo purposes in our efforts to keep growing next year.
See you this Sunday at 3 pm! Please register by emailing us at [email protected].
We can't wait to make music with all of you!
⭕️🎶😊
06/12/2023
Getting soooo excited for the public launch of this most amazing project dreamt up by 😍
“Chorus of Courage”
I won’t even try to describe it all in this post. But suffice it to say that being one of the songwriters on it has been one of the most rewarding and deeply moving experiences I’ve ever had.
We can’t wait for you all to hear these songs and we are excited to share them live at the album launch at in March!
Huge gratitude to you & this amazing team. 💜🎶💜✊🏾
📸 the incredible Jen Squires
Last open Circle of the year!!!
Thank you SO much to Kitchener Public Library (main branch) for being my Circle Music “home” and for providing a free and accessible space for people in our region to try out this community-minded form of music-making! 😍😊🎶
(Especially, Nathan Stretch & Kristin Johnson Perlock)
Hope to see lots of y’all out next week.
*Note: My hubby, Wil is coming to this session to film a few snippets & take some photos for promotional purposes.
01/12/2023
The face of someone grateful to have given a fun body percussion workshop at an online conference this afternoon. Thanks to for the invitation! I can’t wait to do it in person with you all!🙏🏾
Even on Zoom, this practice/work can spark joy & connectedness. ⭕️💜🎶
Picked up the guitar after a long day just say I played it a bit today. This improvised shell of a song came out.
“What do we mean we speak of love? It’s not just a word. It’s actually a verb. Love.
What do we mean when we say freedom? It’s not just word…not just a word. Freedom.”
🇵🇸💜✊🏾💜🇵🇸
🇵🇸
25/11/2023
Come and Sing with us at ! It is open to anyone willing to step into the unknown! With
23/11/2023
Think I’m all set for my guest speaker/teacher presentation to 2nd year students at Wilfrid Laurier University tomorrow!
I’ll be speaking about my experience as a community-engaged songwriter/musician/artist and will be sharing the process behind the Better Me-Songs for Community project I’m launching in 2024. I’m especially looking forward to teaching them a song from the project! Grateful their prof, Dr. Yerichuck for the opportunity!
🎶😊🎶
20/11/2023
Cheeeeeze!
I had a fun Circle Music workshop at main branch this morning with this group of seniors that meet once a month.
I enjoyed watching them give their inner child permission to come out explore!
Thanks to Leigh for the invitation.
😊🎶⭕️
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz4KVdGAwlh/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
21/10/2023
Participated in a wonderful 3 day workshop on vocal improvisation this week with the formidable Rhiannon!
Feeling open, inspired and keen to continue spreading awareness of this practice in our region & beyond.
In “the circle” and through improvisation we can learn more about vulnerability, trust, collaboration, authenticity and deep listening. It offers new pathways forward.
21/10/2023
Jane Lewis, Erwan Noblet voice teacher & I are offering a Circle Music workshop tomorrow in Guelph. Hope you can make it.
We are feeling renewed in our passion for this work/practice after a 3-day workshop with vocal improv giant, Rhiannon!
16/10/2023
Hope you can join us tomorrow at KPL!
10/10/2023
As many of you know, I returned to Brazil this past summer for more musical explorations, thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des arts du Canada!
I think of it as a self-guided residency that allowed me to dive deeper into my practice with Música do Círculo, to increase my skill as a body percussionist, particularly in the context of Brazilian styles, and also, to finally meet & study with my percussion teacher, Fabiano in person in Rio!
My final report is due soon and so I put together a little video documenting some of my activities. If you'd like a glimpse into what I was doing & learning about, take a look!
Many thanks to CCA for supporting this project and to the many mentors, teachers and friends I have in Brazil!
***I've been studying Portuguese online with Rodolpho Martins (aka Dodô) for much of the year as well. Two lessons a week- one with just him, and one with my partner, Eneida who is a Brazilian woman learning English. We 3 have such fun in our lessons and it was such a pleasure to meet her in person on this trip. We all went out for dinner & it was certainly a highlight of the trip! Muito obrigado!
Joni NehRita's Self-Guided Music Residency in Brazil This is a compilation video I made of my June/July 2023 trip to Brazil to continue my music & facilitator studies thanks to a Professional Development grant ...
24/09/2023
will be filled with the sound of 's sun-drenched melodies and infectious grooves at 1:00 PM next Sunday, 1 October. Feel, move and think on the final day of the Keep Hope Alive Festival.
20/09/2023
Looking forward to sharing some music at Take Back the Night tomorrow at Gaukel Block as part of event.
📣 A CALL TO END GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE 📣
The 40th Anniversary of Take Back the Night is NEXT WEEK! Join us on Thursday, September 21, 2023 from 6-9 p.m. at Gaukel Block in Kitchener for speeches, performances, activities, and a march to Carl Zehr Square at Kitchener City Hall.
A digital program is now available with our full event schedule, march route and more. Check it out: sascwr.org/tbtn.
16/09/2023
More soon about our show tonight… but for now a few super cute photos with these lovelies!
& - Thank YOU for breathing more life into my songs. It was such a joyful show. 💜🎶
📸 Wil G
14/09/2023
Friday night don't miss the return of the fabulous Joni NehRita!
Joni NehRita returns to The Jazz Room after over three years in a whole new and intimate way! Since she last performed there she has explored new ways of making music that she is deeply passionate about.
This show will be intimate- Joni on piano & guitar, featuring Abu Ghouri & Abena Peprah on backing vocals. Together they will weave the story of Joni's last few years and introduce the new songs she has written since her last visit. It will also be her debut of singing Brazilian songs in Portuguese.
This performance is part of the WOMEN IN JAZZ series, sponsored by DIVA INTERNATIONAL, makers of the Diva Cup.
📸 😍
08/09/2023
Playing in one week- it’s been over three years since my last show there.
This show will be unlike anything I’ve brought to that room before, so come on out & be a part of the experience. Tickets available on The Jazz Room website.
06/09/2023
Circle Music / Música do Círculo with Joni NehRita Music is a monthly collective music-making experience that is centred around core elements including: body percussion, improvisation, singing, movement and non-verbal communication. No music experience required. Open to adults. Registration is required for each session.
Upcoming sessions:
🗓 Tuesday, September 19
🗓 Tuesday, October 17
🗓 Tuesday, November 7
🗓 Tuesday, December 12
https://www.kpl.org/programs-and-events/event-listing?&eventsKeywords=circle%20music
I guess it’s fair to say that Brazil has changed my life. 💜🇧🇷🎶
Looking forward to playing The Jazz Room on September 15th. It will be an intimate show where I share many of my new songs as well as make my debut singing some Brazilian songs in Portuguese.
It’s been a big year for me and I am so grateful for this journey and excited for what else is to come.
Clip of me working on “Sina” by the amazing musician & composer, Djavan.
I have a new 6 week workshop starting in a couple of weeks in Kitchener! (Wednesdays starting September 20th)
Body Grooves is rooted in the methodology of Música do Círculo as well as my experience as a singer and educator for over 20 years. This practice helps us feel alive, fosters creativity and connection within and with each other.
We use musical “games” that incorporate body percussion, circle singing, improvisation and movement and link them together to create a “flow”. No experience is needed. Each person can come as they are. All you need is a curiosity and desire to listening deeply and make a joyful noise with others in the circle.
Email info [at] luvsum-music.com for more info or visit the link in bio.
25/08/2023
I made this compilation video upon returning from Brazil the first time last January. It gives a little window into the world of Música do Círculo and why I'm so enamoured with this
practice/methodology and keen to spread it here in Canada!
Footage: Some is mine. I believe also Kiko Medici, Tati Wexler and possibly Rico Persson shared some of these clips in our MdC WhatsApp group. Obrigada!
Musica do Circulo Compilation - Brazil January 2023 This is a brief compilation of clips from my transformative trip to Brazil where I completed my leader's training with Música do Círculo. I consider this a g...
14/08/2023
Happy Monday 🙂
Here's the poster for my in-person 6 week Body Grooves Lab where we will explore improvisation, singing, body percussion & the MdC (Música do Círculo) methodology. No experience necessary. Please share with anyone you think might be interested- word of mouth is the best promo there is. 😊🙏🏾😊
*If lack of funds is an issue, please message/email me directly.
Also, I am SO pumped that KPL has agreed to partner with me to continue offering free community sessions. This time we're going to try monthly sessions. They are from 7:00-8:30pm and are open to ages 18+.
FREE KPL Sessions (central branch):
Tuesday September 19
Tuesday October 17
Tuesday November 7
Tuesday December 12
11/08/2023
Cleaning up the last couple of charts for the newest songs on the new album. So exited to record at in a couple weeks- so many of musician friends say they love it there!
😍🎶🎹
10/08/2023
In the the spring Gryphon Hudson Photography shot & edited this short clip about my journey with Música do Círculo and my efforts to build a scene for MdC, vocal improv & body music here in KW! Thank you- it was fun working with you and I appreciate your help shining a light on this beautiful practice that I've had the pleasure of studying for the past year and a half.
Joni NehRita ~ Música do Círculo Journey KW photographer & film-maker, Gryphon Hudson explores Joni's passion for Música do Círculo (MdC) and gives a glimpse into her journey of bringing this rich m...
05/08/2023
This is how my day is going & I think I like it.
Finishing up demos for the new album that we start recording in 3 weeks!!😳🤗
04/08/2023
New controller, who dis?
I recently sold my beloved Korg SV-1 to my friend Jeff Eager, not because I didn’t love it anymore, but because these days I’m a home studio person & tend to bring my guitar for performances because it’s a lot lighter than lugging that beast around!😅
Also, I was missing having a keyboard with 88 keys. Sooo… I got the Arturia KeyLab 88 mk ll. So far, I really like it & it came with some cool stuff like a virtual Juno 6!
All ready to finish up pre-production before we hit Union Sound to record the bed tracks for the new album in a few weeks! 😍🎶😍
10/07/2023
Beauty at the Música do Círculo retreat. 🏝☀️🎶🇧🇷💜
08/07/2023
Making our way to the retreat centre & stopped at a sweet restaurant for some empadas.
We are far more north (Bahia) and it feels familiar. Reminds me of Jamaica... 💜
26/06/2023
This bird has (almost) flown. 🇧🇷
I am off to Brazil for a month long self-guided roaming residency thanks to .council awarding me a Professional Development Grant.
Very excited to visit new places, continue my studies in Brazilian percussion & music & continue exploring with 💜💜💜
1) Luggage tags
2) Wil & I having fun with the electronic label maker. 😆
3) Crying after saying goodbye to my love who was working today & unable to take me to the airport.
4) Chicken pad Thai at YYZ
Preparing for this trip has been such a duality. If you know me, you know how much I love Brazil & its music & culture, so having this opportunity is the stuff dreams are made of!
I also adore my hubby and the older I get, the harder it gets to be away from him for long stretches. He says he’s proud of me and that we’re lucky to love and be loved so deeply. He is right.
Deep breaths. Gratitude. I got this.
🎶🥁😊💜🙏🏾
23/06/2023
Spent the week in Ontario paradise being part of a sweet and radically transformative project that uses music, songwriting & somatic practices for healing.
Deep gratitude for the connections made and for the seeds planted. The revolution is here. 💜🌲💜
More about it soon...😍
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