2020 Workshop ProgramWorkshop Grid ![]() Saturday, January 25: 9:15 AM-10:35 AM – Workshop OneSunday, January 26: 9:30 AM-11:00 AM – Workshop Four Workshop Categories Workshop Descriptions
Sat., Jan. 25, 9:15 AM-10:35 AM – Workshop One1A) Choral TRACK: How To Improvise Activist Music on the Street (Auditorium – 1st floor) Music in the Movement ![]() We will share and develop skills specific to the needs of street performance and actions: volume, articulation, teachability, legibility, flexibility, and endurance. We will improvise, generate new material and work with well known song and chant forms. savitri d: an NYC-based activist and artist. She has been directing The Stop Shopping Choir since 9/11 and has designed and orchestrated creative interventions all over the world. www.revbilly.com ![]() nehemiah luckett: is the music director of the Stop Shopping Choir and has extensive experience with choral and vocal music forms. He has played for, sung in and directed choirs since he was a child. www.nehemiahluckett.com
(Library – 2nd floor) Song Swap We’ll create a supportive circle where participants are invited to share a song, poem, or rap. Gary Allard: Brooklyn-based singer songwriter.
(Room 128) Music in the Movement
![]() Steve Deasy: Award-winning American-Canadian performing songwriter, producer and arranger; socially conscious in the tradition of Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger with contemporary musicality. PMN Steering Committee member. WWW.stevedeasy.com Jasper Lapienski: Community organizer, choral singer, and dancer. Coordinator of Dance Spree and the Freedom & Struggle Song Swap in Greenfield, MA. www.dancespree.org
(Room 118) Song Swap ![]() This circle gives voice and support to LGBTQIA songs and issues. ALL are welcome to share songs that speak to the queer experience: originals, existing songs that offered meaning or comfort, songs you wish you had heard, rallying anthems, personal revelations, celebrations of strength over adversity and the power of diversity. All are welcome - LGBTIQA identified and Allies. ![]() Due to the nature of this workshop we respectfully request participants arrive in a timely way, share with us and not just 'drop by'. Martin Swinger: A thoughtful facilitator establishing safe space for participants to share profound and intimate, unique and universal themes. Martin is a life-long musician and gay activist. www.martinswinger.com Dave Gott: Banjo player and singer from Greenfield, MA and regular participant in the local PMN Song Swap in Greenfield.
(Room 112) Musical Traditions of Struggle
Dilson Hernandez: Dilson is a genre merging artist from the Bronx. His talents include creative writing, playing various instruments, spoken-word poetry, singing, audio engineering, and beat making. He also became a certified Audio Engineer from the Institute of Audio Research. Dilson wishes to change the world with his art and community work (mostly for youth), striving for a more progressive and creative future. Dilson currently works at the nonprofit Friends of Island Academy advocating in courtrooms for 16-21 year-old incarcerated youth in NYC. www.dilsonmusic.com
(Room 110) Creative Process This workshop will lead participants through a series of prompts and explore free verse writing. The sessions will include ice breakers, a group poem activity, a guided writing session, and a sharing portion of the participant’s written works. Frank Antonio López, of the Peace Poets: Frank Antonio López has woven the knowledge of his BFA earned at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and his years of film experience with poetry to teach youth throughout New York City, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Ireland, and Singapore as a facilitator for his alma mater’s Tisch Special Programs. In 2006 and 2009, Frank was nominated for the prestigious NYU Oliver Stone Screenwriting Award for overachievement in the field of storytelling. He is a member of The Peace Poets. http://thepeacepoets.com/artist/frank-lopez/ Sat., Jan. 25, 10:50 AM-12:10 PM – Workshop Two
(Auditorium – 1st floor) Music in the Movement We’ll start by screening a new 25-min film, “We Began to Sing,” which features the work of Annie Patterson & Peter Blood, and the late Pete Seeger. There will be a chance for Q and A with the film-maker, Polly Wells, followed by a discussion on how community singing furthers the mission of PMN to advance justice and peace through music. Polly, Peter, and workshop participants will explore together what makes a group sing really click and draw hearts together. Polly Wells: Canadian-American independent documentary filmmaker, member of a song circle in Toronto. www.riseupandsing.org Peter Blood: Co-creator of Rise Up Singing & Rise Again, editor of Pete Seeger’s autobiography, Where Have All the Flowers Gone: A Singalong Memoir www.riseupandsing.org Candida Paltiel: is a documentary producer, director, and writer. She was the Aristic Director of Planet in Focus International Environmental Film Festival and received her MFA in Film from Columbia University.
(Library – 2nd floor) Group Singing
Colleen Kattau: Vocalist and writer of original & bilingual music. With a voice that 'haunts with its range and clarity" her energy in performance is contagious. She performs solo and w her band Dos XX. www.colleenkattau.com Juliana Barnet: Activist, anti-colonial anthropologist, musician, writer, cultural educator and organizer immersed in Latin American popular movements and their music, based in Mexico and the US (DC metro area). Ruben Gonzalez: Originally from San Juan Argentina, Rubén González is a singer songwriter, musician and educator residing in New York City. His music is a journey crossing borders between distant places and spaces: South and North America, politics and poetry, pain and humor. Ruben’s music has a “handmade” feeling that draws audiences into a communal music making experience.
(Room 128) Group Singing
Elise Bryant: For 30 years has used song in her educational work to teach history, inspire and build solidarity. She is Executive Director of the Labor Heritage Foundation, and director of the DC Labor Chorus. www.laborheritage.org
(Room 118) Song Swap
At this workshop we will share these songs and make them available to each other. We especially welcome completely new songs. We are also interested very old songs that have been updated. There are some great old songs like "Deportee", or "Pastures of Plenty" – and we hope you will sing these too, but in this workshop, we encourage you to leave them at the door, because we already know them, and we're looking for new material that we can be singing on the streets. You can send your lyrics in advance to be printed by Mike & Lindsey for a workshop handout by emailing mikeglick@earthlink.net with “immigration workshop” in the subject line. Mike Glick: Long time PMN member and member of GENERATIONS, a father/son led progressive music group using jazz, blues, US folk, Brazilian, latin music and more. www.generations-music.com
(Room 112) Musical Traditions of Struggle
Be prepared for a lively, guided interchange. Wallace St. Clair and the HQ Brothers: Hip Hop Artist from the Bronx. Started the HQ Brothers in the 1970s. Currently works with formerly incarcerated individuals to help them get jobs and reintegrate into society.
(Room 110) Creative Process This Workshop will give tips to prepare for open mics and poetry slams. The goal is to encourage speaking your truth unapologetically and discovering the tools needed to handle nerves during performances at an open mic or poetry slam. The workshop will discuss the do’s and the “idk bro” of the Open mic scene, how to alleviate the nerves, and maintain confidence while on stage. From the slam poetry perspective, we will further emphasize, confidence, emotion and passion. Sav-B: 26 year old writer Sav-B is a rapper with a foundation in poetry from Long Island, and is a force to be heard. His lyrics take you on a trip into real life through his first hand experience and story telling ability. From poetry slam champion to Tedx speaker to performing at the Highline Ballroom, Sav-B shares his truth as much as he can. His goal is to give more, and inspire people. Sav-B is reporting love from the underground, and wont stop and can't be stopped. His sound is truthful and powerful. He knows his voice brings abundance and empowers everyone listening to “Start1st”. Sat., Jan. 25, 2:15 PM-3:35 PM – Workshop Three
(Auditorium – 1st floor) Concert This concert is FREE and open to the Public, so tell every child in NYC about it! It will feature: a group of children known as The Garden Players, led by Betina Hershey; Different groups of students from CPEII led by Paul Clarke as well as Anand Gan, plus some long-time PMN members who perform regularly for children. Jayme Winell: Has been leading the youth Creative Convergence for PMN since 2017. Teaches dance. Betina Hershey: Leads the Garden Players. www.gardenplayers.com
(Library – 2nd floor) Group Singing
![]() Ani Cordero: is a Puerto Rican songwriter and activist living in New York. Ani writes socially-conscious musicinspired by Nueva Cancion traditions and is co-founder of PRIMA, a non-profit that provides support to Puerto Rico’s independent music community. www.anicordero.net Luci Murphy: D.C.-based vocalist and song-leader. Former PMN Steering Committee member. Member of the D.C. Labor Chorus. Founder and director of the Black Workers Center Chorus. www.blackagendareport.com/luci-murphy_cultural_warrior
(Room 128) Music in the Movement
The Walkabout Clearwater Chorus has been quite successful in getting others to sing with us at many demonstrations including the The Women's Marches, The People's Climate March, a Black Lives Matter march in New Rochelle, and many others. www.walkaboutchorus.org Other Participating Choral Groups: Voices Rising Philly and Sing in Solidarity Chorus.
(Room 118) Song Swap
Steve Suffet: An old fashioned folksinger in the People's Music tradition. Member of the Peoples' Voice Cafe collective in NYC. Long-time union member (now retired). www.stevesuffet.com
(Room 112) Creative Process
Matthew “Div1ne” Rosario is an audio instructor, engineer, and music producer. Graduated from The City College of New York in 2015 (B.A. Music). Eight years of experience working with artists of all levels. Keyboard based musician, self-taught with knowledge in music theory.
(Room 110) Creative Process
Artist Up (Nicole Watson): Nicole N. Watson, also known as Artist Up, overcame traumas by indulging herself in the arts. She began writing, performing spoken word, and acting. After the death of her mother she became the Creative Director of @MissAbbiesKids and has appeared on many stages/platforms as a host, actor, spoken word artist, and program creator/facilitator. Nicole has inspired the disconnected youth community by facilitating groups in spoken word, public speaking, creative writing, and expression from Rikers Island to August Aichhorn. Artist Up provides a weekly forum in the Bronx for people to express themselves and relieve stress/traumas called "Tuesday Night Expressions". www.nicolewatson.org Sun., Jan. 26, 9:30 AM-11:00 AM – Workshop Four
(Auditorium – 1st floor) Group Singing Songs of the Spirit is a PMN tradition since 1982. We gather in a large circle for a cappella singing of inspirational and empowering songs. Between songs, we pause, breathe and feel the energy and connection of the group. Please select songs that can be learned immediately and where essentially the entire song can be sung by every voice. Because we are aiming to achieve full group participation throughout, we ask that you not choose songs in which only the leader knows the verses or which preclude full participation. If you’ve already initiated one song, make space for someone else to do this. Songs of the Spirit allows us to practice spontaneity and responsiveness in a large group – both essential components of community building. We aim to transcend attachments we feel to specific songs and our own leadership and to become more aware of ways the whole group can feel inspired. We hope to conclude feeling centered and grounded. Verne McArthur: Activist, song-leader, and long-time UU member from Springfield, MA. He travels around UU congregations in New England offering Sunday services built around congregational singing. Sun., Jan. 26 26, 11:15 AM-12:45 PM – Workshop Five
(Auditorium – 1st floor) Music in the Movement
Sunday’s session will bring our tracks together to share our experiences of integrating music, singing, and spoken word into current day protests. We will explore strengths and creative interventions that our different musical genres can bring to street actions. We will learn songs that have been used in Poor People’s Campaign actions, talk about "action logic," and explore how to innovate new ways to use music in the streets, revitalize long standing traditions of participatory singing, and think creatively about the use of spoken word and choral arrangements in creative direct action. www.poorpeoplescampaign.org
(Library – 2nd floor) Creative Process
we work with as many participants as time allows and collectively ponder the many elements – lyric, melody, rhythm, chord progression, key, arrangement, etc. – that make a song click. Participants are invited to bring 10-15 lyric sheets of the song they'll be presenting. Pat Lamanna: Long-time member of PMN; award-winning singer-songwriter. Learned about this type of workshop at Summersongs, a songwriter’s camp in Ashokan, N.Y. www.patlamanna.com Terry Kitchen: Award-winning folksinger/songwriter, recording artist, author and activist. He teaches songwriting, often in conjunction with his performances. www.terrykitchen.com
(Room 128) Song Swap
David Heitler-Klevans: www.twoofakind.com Jenny Heitler-Klevans: www.twoofakind.com
(Room 118) Creative Process
Judy Gorman: World renowned singer/songwriter with years of experience in teaching, sharing, songwriting, social justice worlds! www.judygormanmusic.com
(Room 112) Music Promotion
Khaiim Kelly: Khaiim the RapOet is an international touring artist and keynote speaker. He's received critical acclaim as a positive rapper while performing with everyone from Pulitzer Prize poets like Alice Walker to Grammy winning MCs like Common. He’s also recorded in Jay-Z’s studio with J Cole's multiplatinum engineer Mez. www.rapoets.com
(Room 110) Song Swap Sharing songs about growing older in any manner: physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Since we are all constantly aging, participants of any age are welcome.
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