Robin O'herin, Acoustic Blues & Gospel Acoustic Guitarist from Lee, MA

'...Bottleneck blues, Gospel and lots of strong folk originals from Boston-based O'Herin, who accompanies her Appalachian edged, rein-free vocals with some creative, dancing fingerpickin...' Sing Out 2013 Boston Blues Finalist, Robin O'Herin, specializes in historically rich, often interactive concerts that include original and traditional American music, for small listening rooms, libraries, festivals and  schools. Her concerts are warm, affirming experiences she shares with the audience. Let her take you on a journey of musical exploration through the Delta and Piedmont regions of the South. Song selections may include Robert Johnson, Blind Willie Johnson and Robin's own original blues and fingerstyle ballads. She has had her original music licensed to PBS and currently has one of her songs being played on NPR's CarTalk. Learn more about Robin at Robin has shared the stage with Paul Geremia, Andy Cohen and Roy Bookbinder. She is currently working on a new gospel CD and then hopes to jump right into a new blues and original CD. She teaches beginning delta and piedmont blues guitar and songwriting, various workshops, and partners with and to bring the power of music into the classroom and hospitals to reach children and teachers in new and innovative ways. WORKSHOPS (workshops are usually 1.5-2 hours) beginning slide and piedmont style guitar Learn the basics of Pre-WWII Delta bottleneck guitar and Piedmont finger style country blues. Delve into the earthy and emotional slide guitar styles of Fred McDowell, Blind Willie Johnson, Skip James, Son House, and Charley Patton. Topics include basic slideguitar technique, open tunings, making voice and slide work together with an emphasis on call-andresponse singing and playing. Explore the elements of hand and body position, quality of sound, intonation, and how to listen and connect what you are playing with what you hear and feel. From Spirituals to Gospel to Blues; An American Musical Journey 1-2 hour interactive concert explaining the roots of early blues and gospel music and how it influenced much of the American music that came afterwards. Blues and the Harlem Renaissance: 45 min-1 hour program on how early blues music informed the poetry of Langston Hughes. 4-5 songs with information about the time period and the original musicians as well as interactive questions and exercises Rhythm and Roots Presentation: 1 hour presentation K-5 with interactive demonstrations about early blues and gospel music and back-beat rhythms. songwriting for young people and adults learn songwriting fundamentals, write and perform original songs. Tap & Blues Explore the intersection of American Tap and Blues. Participants actually learn tap steps and get to dance to some great delta blues. This can be a 2 hour workshop, a 1 hour assembly, or an 8 week after school program FOR SENIORS, SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN AND ADULTS Interactive concerts Concerts to sing and clap along (I can bring multiple rhythm instruments) Ukelele Club Learn to play simple chords. Play and sing along. (we would have to provide ukeleles, we could include it in the grant.) Tell your story in song Interactive (possibly one-on-one song writing). AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS (8-12 weeks, 2-4 hours a week) Beginning guitar/Songwriting The first hour would include beginning slide and piedmont blues guitar lessons, as well as some music theory, rhythm and roots in guitar music in general and blues in specific; integrating music and math. The second hour would explore the relationship between songs and poetry, various poetic devices, songwriting as an instrument of cultural change and as a means of capturing historical data. Recycled Instruments Research, build and learn to play instruments from recycled materials.