Songbird Sings Inc

Hello, I'm Robin Lane, and  I'm the founder of Songbird Sings.

Do you know someone who’s been affected by Domestic Violence or Childhood Abuse? What about Addiction? Sexual assault? Exploitation? I know a LOT of these people, and I’ve found that most of them suffer in silence, with invisible wounds that fester and spread.

 “With trauma, it is like there is screaming trapped inside parts of your mind that you can no longer access, because the pain of the situation caused you to disconnect. But the music can reach those places and help drain the trauma away, restoring health and balance” - Hope, a program participant

Fifteen years ago, after a lengthy career in the music business (google search me)  I began facilitating songwriting workshops for women and girls who had survived trauma in the form of Childhood Abuse, Domestic Violence, Addictions, and Sexual Exploitation. I found that people with lived experience are the real experts on trauma. As the women shared their stories, and as I helped put these forgotten voices into song, I experienced first hand the profound and powerful healing brought about through the process of songwriting and community-building. After many successful workshops and over 500 songs, I founded Songbird Sings. From 2001 – 2016 Songbird Sings has been there for over 1500 women, youth, elders and prison inmates.

Carl Jung said: “The reason for evil in the world is that people aren’t allowed to tell their stories.”   

Can you imagine telling your story with music, writing a song, singing that song? Many people will say NO, I can’t do that… but let me tell you this: 9 out of 10 women who feel this way at the beginning of a workshop will be jumping up and down with joy by the end. The catharsis that occurs is transformational. Many participants find that it’s easier to “sing” of their trauma than it ever could be to speak of it. Songwriting becomes a tool for personal empowerment - a positive form of expression that helps redirect their lives. 

Here is a verse from one of our Prison Project workshops:

“Everything is broken. Can I mend these broken things? It’s up to me to find a way out of here - to fly with broken wings”   Beautiful song you can hear on our website, http://www.songbirdsings.org/

No one ever has to pay for the workshops, but we are a grass roots organization which is why we need your help.

Your funding support could save so many people in hugely important ways, helping us find a way to make something good come from something so horribly unspeakable.

Please explore the materials on our website (songbirdsings.org). Read the program descriptions. Listen to the songs. Watch the videos.  

Listen to this WBUR radio interview with Robin and women from programs.

http://www.wbur.org/2016/01/17/songbird-sings-trauma-support

Donate or host a house concert and tell others about us. Information on House Concerts is on our website songbirdsings.org.

Music and songwriting saved me a long time ago and I believe it can save others as well.

Let’s heal the world from trauma, one song at a time.