People's Music Network Hybrid Fall Convergence

October 21-22, 2022

The following schedule is provisional.  Final schedule may include changes and additional offerings.

(REC)=recorded or partially recorded

EVENT COLOR CODE:

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Workshop Descriptions

Saturday, October 22, 2022, Workshop #1:

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (ET)

1A) Music in Fusion Organizing

Violeta Parra Stage –Ground Floor

How can music help in the work of organizing? What tangible roles can it play in political education and protest? Charon Hribar and Matt Puckett join from the Poor People’s Campaign to discuss the ways the movement has built a shared canon of songs that empower collective political expression and connect the multiple issues that a fusion movement brings together.

We will approach the topic from several angles:

• History of music in protest movements
• Adjusting musical approaches based on the environments of political action
• Unique considerations for original compositions in movement songs
• Methods of establishing a canon/songbook across the movement

The workshop will also feature PMN leaders who have been part of the PPC; we’ll discuss their participation with the campaign and lessons we've learned together about the use of music in social movements through this process.

Facilitators: Charon Hribar and Matt Puckett

Panelists: Lindsey Wilson, Gale Bonker, Jendog Lonewolf

1B) Song Collab: Defending Abortion Rights.  

Paul Robeson Room–Lower Level

[DESCRIPTION TBA]

Co-Facilitator: Adele Rollider

1C) Song Collab: Resisting Nukes, U.S. Military Aggression & Militarism

C) Art Space –Lower Level

Music has always been a powerful organizing tool in the struggle to end war.  This workshop facilitates a musical dialog between leaders of anti-war organizations active in NYC and musicians whose songs aim to bolster the Anti-War movement.  

After brief introductions by the Bronx Anti-War Coalition, Cuba Si, and NYC War Resister League, we’ll break out into small groups centered around the specific issues presented by these organizations, respectively:

1. De-funding the military/refunding our communities
2. Ending the blockade of Cuba
3. Fighting for total nuclear disarmament

Come prepared to share/learn songs, poems, and chants on the specific subjects presented.  The goal of each breakout group will be to decide on a single 5-8 minute cultural/musical presentation on the each of the 3 issues in the evening’s Collaborative Concert.  Find inspiration in spite of the growing prevalence of war and destruction.  Come to sing and RESIST.

Co-Facilitators: Ben Bath and Vera Anderson

1E) New Songs, Old Styles

E) Josina Machel Room –Mezzanine

Let’s share newer songs that are consciously written in older traditional styles, such as Appalachian, maritime, Dixieland, ragtime, Delta blues, Gospel, or country swing, to name just a few. In Ireland and Britain this is known as “writing in the tradition,” and it is something that political singer-songwriters on both sides of the Atlantic have done. Think of the SNCC Freedom Singers, Tommy Sands, Peggy Seeger, Ewan MacColl, Jean Ritchie, Big Bill Broonzy, Huddie Ledbetter, and Woody Guthrie, as well as many PMN members.

Facilitator:

Steve Suffet is best described as an old fashioned folksinger in the People’s Music tradition. He is member of the People’s Voice Cafe Collective in New York City and a long-time member of PMN. Except when covid-19 made international travel problematic, Steve has been performing regularly in folk clubs throughout the United Kingdom since 2008, often taking another PMN member with him on tour.

1.Z.1) If I had a Song

Zoom Room

Songwriters in People's Music Network strive to write songs that wake people up, challenge the status quo, and reach people’s hearts and minds.  We don't believe it takes larger-than-life talent to create powerful songs.  Rather, the craft of songwriting involves skill, practice, hard work, and the willingness to listen to how our words and music land with others.

Through our monthly “If I Had a Song” workshops, PMN is building a loving and supportive creative community that provides songwriters with the honest listening we need.  Participants present a song-in-progress to like-minded songwriters, and then receive constructive feedback. We’d love to have you join us.

This is NOT a song swap.  We share original material and always benefit from the insightful feedback and suggestions that we receive from fellow songwriters.  We learn to listen non-defensively.  You are responsible for your own song, and can decide what – if any – of the feedback you choose to use.

Come join us at the convergence for a sample of our monthly online sessions!  Come to observe and/or present and get feedback on a song you’re working on.  We will get into break-out rooms, and will likely have time to work through 2-3 songs per breakout room.

Facilitators: Eric Law, Joanie Calem

1.Z.2)  Using Song Lyric Apps to Enhance Performance

Zoom Room

This workshop will show the performing musician how to organize your chord charts, lyric sheets and songbooks with a simple app on your laptop or tablet, replacing binders, paper, and music stand to allow for more convenience and professional stage presentation. Those interested in an app to enhance practice and playing may also find it very useful.

The Songbook Pro app, available on iOS, Android, Windows or Amazon Fire, will be demonstrated. Topics discussed will include how to upload songs from the web, how to enter and edit songs, how to organize set lists, how to backup your song library to the web or cloud.

If you have been considering using such technology, please come and bring your questions.

Facilitator: Steve Deasy

Saturday, October 22, 2022, Workshop #2:

2:15 PM - 3:45 PM (ET)

2A) Defending People’s Democracy

Violeta Parra Stage –Ground Floor

The triple evils of capitalism, racism, and militarism which threaten our own fragile democracy in the U.S. are the same forces which have illegally overthrown democratically elected governments around the world.  By learning songs from people’s democratic struggles around the world, we strengthen international solidarity and gain strategies (and songs) to defend what’s left of our own democracy.  

Come and hear from political movements and musicians from around the world, about the ways they are engaging in pro democratic music, song, and struggle.

Facilitators: Luci Murphy & Ben Bath

2B) Song Collab: Confronting Police Brutality & Mass Incarceration  Paul Robeson Room–Lower Level

This workshop will follow the timeline of 3 major components of mass incarceration (1. Policing, 2. Incarceration, 3. Reintegration). Facilitators will speak about their own experiences working in the carcel system, as well as use arts as a form of collaboration with participants. Participants will collectively create a brief collaborative piece in each of the 3 major components of the workshop. At the end of the workshop we will combine all 3 collaborative pieces and rehearse them to perform at the Round Robin.  

Facilitators: Dilson Hernandez, Wallace St. Claire

2D) Cántalo en español tambien! (Sing it also in Spanish)

D) Michael Ratner Room –Mezzanine

In this workshop participants will try their hand at writing short Spanish lyrics to songs already written in English as a way to extend the songs reach into other communities.  Bring your own tunes that may benefit from a short Spanish version of their verses or chorus. Or collaborate and write a chorus in Spanish on the spot!

Participants will listen, analyze, translate and sing songs of struggle written in Spanish as a way of getting familiar with the language. Then they’ll turn their attention to the work of adding/translating English lines into Spanish in singable versions.  Spanish sample of songs: “Solo le pido a Dios;”  “Gracias a la vida;”  “Que se vayan ellos;”  “Para el pueblo lo que es del pueblo”

Facilitators:  Rubén González and Mario Cancel Bigay

2.Z.1) how to activist marching band!

Zoom Room + In Person at TPF (Claudia Jones Room)

The Rude Mechanical Orchestra is a 30-odd piece radical activist marching band in NYC. Through our music and performance, we strive to support people and communities working for social justice. We play protests, demonstrations, direct actions, picket lines, marches, benefits and events for good causes by partnering with a variety of movement organizations. We function as a democratic collective through consensus-based decision-making, and we do not discriminate on the basis of musical ability. We play revolutionary music of many different cultures and struggles around the world and throughout history, and we always strive to give credit where credit is due. We also have many original songs.

During this workshop, we will discuss the ins and outs of how we operate as both a band and activist organization. Then we will teach folks lyrics to some of our songs so that you can sing or play them next time you’re in the streets. We will also discuss the role of chants and how to utilize them effectively while keeping the crowd in time. Lastly, we’ll give you all some tips on how to get your own activist marching band started in your area. Feel free to use our website as a reference. All revolutions need a soundtrack!

Facilitators: Gale Juhkol, Philip Hood, Shawn Belgrave (Rude Mechanical Orchestra)

2.Z.2) Open Song  Swap

Zoom Room

Facilitators: Joanie Calem & Amy Conley.