Throughout history, music has been a catalyst for change, a medium for protest and a way to deliver a message of hope. Clearwater’s founder, Pete Seeger, has always understood this, and now Clearwater’s Power of Song program offers 15 – 23 year olds an opportunity to explore songwriting, practice and perform with a group, and learn how to put music into action through a new interactive learning experience for students that exposes them to socially conscious music and inspires them to become active on issues that concern them.
In Clearwater’s Power of Song program, students are introduced to songs that teach them about scientific principles and historic events. Many of the songs are also thematically connected to the Hudson River. In the workshops, students experience “parodies with a purpose,” and then learn to create their own songs in this regard. In longer programs, the students research, write and perform a variety of meaningful songs.
The goal of this program is for students to be inspired by the social movements of the past and appreciate their ability to enact social change through the power of song,” said Richards, formerly a Sloop Singer and classroom teacher, and now Clearwater’s Events and Power of Song Outreach Coordinator.
Linda shares her experiences with Power of Song:
When Power of Song member Wyatt Buesing performed the Rise Against song, ”Hero of War” at the opening set at the 2011 Cleawater Festival, a dry eye in the crowd was hard to find. Joe Krzyzewski’s version of “Which Side Are You On?” got the audience singing along, as did Haden Minifie’s “River’s Call to Freedom” – a parody of the Weaver’s “Battle Cry of Freedom”.
Who are these talented young musicians with their thoughtful lyrics and incredible stage presence? They are members of Clearwater’s Power of Song Apprentice Program.
The Power of Song Apprentice Program now has a year and a half under its belt. This year and a half has yielded, through the creative energy of its founding and continued members, Sarah Armour, Jacob Bernz, Cody Buesing, Wyatt Buesing, Ava Coleman, Matt Emmer, Ian Guthoff, Joe Krzyzewski, Nils Lewis, Haden Minifie, Jennifer Moretti, Julie Moschitta, Emely Pena, and Walker Rumpf, twenty-two performances that reached over three thousand audience members at festivals, bridges, boats, movie theaters, schools, retirement homes, conference rooms, parking lots, and warming shacks.
Power of Song have shared performance spaces with Pete Seeger, David Amram, Livingston Taylor, Peter Yarrow, Janis Ian, Jackson Browne, and more. The core group of fifteen to twenty-two year olds has seen members come and go during its tenure, and each participant has left his own individual imprint on the program. This has made Clearwater’s Power of Song grow and morph into something that transcends music and issues, and zeroes right in on our overall humanity.
Call for Musicians for Power of Song!
Power of Song accepts new members on an ongoing basis! The group meets every Wednesday from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Clearwater Offices located at 724 Wolcott Avenue in Beacon, NY.
For more information or to join Power of Song, contact: Linda Richards at 845-265-8080 x 7105, or Linda@clearwater.org
