The online calendar and directory at ShapeNoteSingings.com has received a substantial upgrade, adding a number of long-requested features that make it far more useful both for regular singers and for local organizers trying to keep information current. This project has been one of the most practical and robust resources on the web and this upgrade has multiplied its usefulness.
Among the most significant changes is that every singing and local group now has its own dedicated URL. This makes it much easier to share specific singings, link directly to local groups, and reference events in newsletters, social media posts, and websites.
The new site also introduces proximity-based searching, allowing users to quickly locate singings near their current location. For singers traveling or looking to connect with nearby communities, this dramatically improves usability compared to the older directory structure.
A new user account system allows singers to save and track singings of interest. Once logged in, users can:
- Mark singings they want to follow
- Receive weekly reminder emails for singings occurring within the next two weeks
- Subscribe directly to calendar feeds so events automatically appear in their personal calendars
- Receive automatic updates if event information changes
- Get notifications when new singings are added within a specified radius of saved locations
The calendar subscription feature is especially notable. Instead of manually re-entering dates or checking repeatedly for updates, singers can now integrate singings directly into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, and other calendar applications. Any later changes to event information automatically update in the user’s subscribed calendar.
The upgraded global map is also a major improvement. Users can now filter singings by tunebook and adjust the display range anywhere from seven days to an entire year. This makes the map far more practical both for planning travel and for seeing the broader shape-note landscape at a glance.
According to the site announcement, most information from the previous version of the site was imported automatically, though organizers are encouraged to review their listings for accuracy. New submission and update forms have also been added to simplify corrections and formatting updates.
For anyone involved in organizing singings, maintaining regional calendars, or simply trying to keep up with events across the Sacred Harp style community and related traditions, this is a significant step forward in infrastructure.
If you have not explored the new version yet, it is worth taking a look and creating an account to experiment with the new tools and notification options.
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