The Voices of A Woman's Voice

"Robin brings a combination of music education, professional career in music industry, demonstrated collaborative techniques, and an array of lived experiences that enables her to offer a program that resonates with women consumers of mental health services, survivors of childhood abuse, trauma survivors, and women in recovery. There are few known programs that bring together these elements to create a powerful workshop that taps into the inner resources and gifts of women allowing them to engage in their own healing.

I had the personal privilege of attending the first "A Woman's Voice" workshop conducted by Robin Lane, and I can honestly say it has been one of the most enriching experiences of my creative life. Robin has the ability to be an active and thoughtful participant in the songwriting process while providing needed support and encouragement so that women can access their own voice. The need for this program is evident in the remarkable response to the first "A Woman's Voice" and CD. As the Executive Director of an agency that works with women I have seen first hand the impact Robin's work has had in our community."

"This has been one of the most significant experiences of my life. I suffer from PTSD. A Woman's Voice helped me to address my pain and what needed healing. Through the process of writing my own song, much of my shame has been lifted like a veil, and I can now see what I have to give. I am doing things I never thought possible before doing the workshop. I have set goals for myself, and have reached out to other women, with confidence in my ability that I never had before. I feel I have something to offer others, rather than just receiving what others have to offer me."

"To deal with the trauma I experienced as a child and as a teen, I need to write; yet a tide of emotions just wasn't given voice until I was part of A Woman's Voice program."

"A Woman's Voice program encourages us that our story matters; that our stories and the songs that are in our heart are every woman's story. That we are so NOT alone. Look around the room. The room is filled with women, some shy and reserved at first, that over time share tears, share hope, and so much laughter... Look at our resilience. Look at our strength. Look at the political messages in some of the songs. Look at how many songs beam hope or 'that's enough!' We are so much more than our trauma and pain... Our human spirits have a chance to soar and sing and be validated within this creative space of A Woman's Voice that Robin Lane has created. Because the truth is allowed, because we, all of our parts and our wounded sides, are allowed to exist in this room."

"I would like to share some after thoughts regarding A Woman's Voice taught by Robin Lane. All of the participants (all ages, ethnic groups, issues, etc) in the class had the chance to share our stories in writing and then again vocally in songwriting. Looking back, for myself to be able to feel comfortable in a group setting alone was difficult at first. Gradually I felt more at ease, actually you could feel the whole group feeling more at ease as we progressed on this songwriting journey together. The songwriting class helped me integrate my unspoken feelings and open up creative blocks, and thus becoming more vocally relaxed and centered/focused.

Robin's style is hard to define, it's unique. She has the gift of spontaneously banging out a melody on the guitar for us to begin our work with in class and later at home. Robin is incredibly articulate, a perfectionist and a rebel all at the same time, giving us critiques, encouraging us to "see" our blocks, find our boundaries, maybe work on those to open up and move further with our creative process, all in a supportive atmosphere. She worked with us individually at her home, as well as in class. We loved being on a "field trip" to Robin's home which is settled in a wide open meadow where you could see 6-10 deer occasionally. This process was so healing for us on several levels. We created in song, a history for us to have, something concrete to pass on to others or family. This "space" we created in, was "safe" to us women to open up to ourselves and each other. It challenged us to finish the project of writing the song and whatever else we needed to do on whatever level, be it to be an advocate of peace, non-violence, women's empowerment, joy, or love. We al took part in the instrumental aspects which was a blast, an integral powerful part in pulling the song together, the instruments added so much, to witness that and feelings of growth, fearlessness, and being gentle with ourselves in the same moments was awesome!

Peace could be felt, a sacredness of remembering who we are, what our "mission" is if any, sadness, joy -- all of that in our "sessions" with Robin Lane. Sound & Music are energy techniques from our ancestors, to dare to see beyond yourself, the personality, and embrace it and also to celebrate it. We began with charred melodies that grew and became beautiful mosaics in song and voice. I can't do justice in words to describe the experience I've had with this "Zen" of songwriting class-it's a journey. But I know for certain, I want to sign up again for another class! Robin's incredibly funny, a great guide and a noted musician. I listen to the CD we did, "A Woman's Voice" and listen to her guitar parts, all I can say is you're missing out if you don't have the CD."