BRATTLEBORO -- Sing out and help out.

That’s the theme of a workshop this weekend to raise money for Morningside Shelter.

"Morningside has a great reputation," said Brendon Taaffe, the founder and director of Turtle Dove, which hosts day, weekend and week-long singing workshops. "We like what they are doing."

Taaffe will be accompanied by Peter Amidon, Mary Alice Amidon, Andy Davis, Becky Graber and Matt Wojcik, who will present a variety of songs from around the world.

"Brattleboro is a hot spot for community choral singing," said Taaffe.

The workshop is not only a chance to help out a long-time Brattleboro organization, but also a chance to experience the music of many of the musicians who make the area a hot spot, he said.

Songs from Appalachia, England, Scotland, Haiti and Zimbabwe are all on the agenda.

"Each leader will bring some different songs and teach those songs," said Taaffe.

Most of those songs will be in four parts, he said.

"They all come from harmony traditions around the world that are not performance traditions as much as they are participation traditions," said Taaffe.

They include songs that have been sung for generations in different cultures, he said.

The workshop is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, which is a co-sponsor of the event, in the West Village Meeting House.

The Reverend Barbro Hansson said offering

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the church’s space at no cost for the fundraiser was an "uncomplicated and easy choice" for the church’s leadership.

"We want to do everything we can to help not only Morningside, but also our neighbors who are in need," she said.

Cost of the workshop is $50. All proceeds go to benefit the Morningside Shelter. The workshop is open to all, regardless of prior singing experience.

Taaffe asked that those who wish to attend register at www.turtledoveharmony.org or by calling (802) 770-0857.

Registration in advance is not required, he said, but helps him to figure out how much food to bring to the workshop.

With the downturn in the economy, said Taaffe, more and more people are in need of the services offered by Morningside.

"There are clearly a lot of people doing a lot of good work in the area," he said. "But shelters are pretty crucial, especially now."

Taaffe, along with Christian "Junior" Stevens, Stefan Amidon and Colin Lindsay, makes up the local band Magic Foot, which features music rooted in the Irish tradition.

Taaffe was also a member of Northern Harmony, a musical group based in central Vermont.

Bob Audette can be reached at raudette@reformer.com, or at 802-254-2311, ext. 273.