* Motivational Presentation for Educators
Download the promotional flier : PDF (126 KB)
* Civil Rights and Civil Wrongs
* Gay Rights vs. Civil Rights | similarities & differences

* The History of Women in the Blues
Download the promotional brochure : PDF (414 KB)
* Blues Vocal Techniques
* Performance of Blues Vocals
* Blues Repertoire
* The Business of Music
* Songwriting

Gaye Adegbalola was an educator in the public school system for 18 years, and honored as Virginia State Teacher of the Year. Primarily an eighth grade science teacher, she also designed and taught gifted and talented programs from its inception. She has extensive experience in "teaching teachers how to teach." Recently, Gaye has been called upon to inspire educators - as a motivational speaker for school openings and in-services. She recognizes the worth and the challenges of various instructional departments and incorporates much needed humor in her reflections on teaching. Often she will conclude her speeches with songs, including the Saffire favorite: "School Teacher's Blues."

An engaging speech about the past, the present, and hopes for the future.

Gaye Adegbalola was born and raised in segregated Fredericksburg, Virginia. In 1960, she attended mass meetings and training sessions in order to learn how to picket, sit-in and participate in non-violent protests. Gaye's mother organized and the teen-aged Gaye actively participated in the ensuing demonstrations.

With hopes of avoiding the discrimination she grew up with, Adegbalola left Virginia to attend college in Boston. She soon came to realize the discrimination in Boston was just as real as it was in the South, however, it was usually covert and subtle.

Disillusioned with the Civil Rights Movement, Adegbalola embraced the Black Power Movement. She studied her past history (Garvey, DuBois and others) and spearheaded protests in NYC. During this time Adegbalola became friends with the Last Poets (the forefathers of Rap). She worked at the Liberation Bookstore in Harlem and led protests against the war in Vietnam. She returned home in 1972 and continued her efforts for Black Liberation in Harambee 360º Experimental Theater for the next 15 years. As she became a full-time musician, many of her compositions were, and continue to be, topical.

Gaye shares her first-hand experiences and insights in the struggle for equality, from embracing the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King to those of Malcom X in order to find her own path on the journey to self-acceptance, empowerment and freedom.

This thought-provoking and insightful discussion can be custom tailored from a time of 20 minutes to 2 hours (with facilitated discussion following the speech).

Optional: This discussion can be broadened to address the current fight for GLBT equality; as Gaye is able to identify the similarities and the differences between these civil rights struggles.

Gaye traces her personal journey in the fight for equal rights.

Many activists in today's struggle for GLBT Equality often compare this fight to that of black people during the civil rights movement of the '60;s. Many blacks, in turn, feel that members of the GLBT community haven't nearly suffered the same oppression – the loss of roots, language and culture. Having been involved in both struggles, Gaye is able to present a unique and personal interpretation.

Starting with the biggest difference ("you don't have to tell your mother that you're black!") to the similarities of the deep feelings of inferiority, Gaye is able to illuminate the comparisons – in terms of family, religion, education, job discrimination, legislated oppression, need for allies, the martyrs, "passing" and more. She highlights areas that many have yet to investigate and describes the interweaving of varied levels of oppression – of the poor, of blacks, of single parents, of females, of closeted and of openly out members of the GLBT community.

This speech can run from 20 minutes to 2 hours (with facilitated discussion following the speech).

Gaye incorporates video clips, audio clips, live performance and lecture into this exciting, inspiring, enlightening, empowering and entertaining workshop presentation.

Blues is the poor person’s psychiatrist. Moreover, the Blues Woman is the poor woman’s psychiatrist -- singing songs of advice, offering ways to cope with daily struggles, ways to live and not merely survive.

Often the Blues Woman is the comedienne – finding humor in the pain and ways to exorcise the hurt and humiliation.

The Blues Woman is the original wild woman, oftimes deviating from the norm – unashamed and unafraid to lay her soul bare, share her heart and speak her mind.

Classic Blues Women of the 1920’s provide the only documented history of black working class women. They were the first to chronicle topics like prostitution, domestic abuse, alcoholism, infidelity, homosexuality, gender politics, prisons, racism, etc. They were the first to openly talk about sex --its joy and its pain. Many of these women were fiercely independent.

Musically, these women introduced vocal techniques that gave drama and immediacy to their performances. They would cry, growl, yell, wail, syncopate, slide & slur, bend & break notes, improvise, phrase & rephrase to give added depth and texture in order to bring their stories to life.

From these unique beginnings, Gaye traces the evolution of today’s Blues Women.

This presentation is appropriate for: Black History, Women's History, Blues Societies, Colleges & Universities, Arts Organizations, Personal Growth Workshops, and more...

This workshop can be customized to fit any group size or any length of time. It can be effective as a 1 or 2 hour class, a day-long workshop, as well as a full college semester course.

(AV projection with DVD & VHS capabilities and sound system with speakers required.)

Blues Vocal Techniques

This vocal workshop will help bring your blues songs to life! Gaye Adegbalola has identified 17 key points to help a singer put his or her song across. As she puts it: "My mission is give you some ideas to help you relay a story... lay your soul bare... share an experience... say aloud what others feel deep inside."

Gaye shares the elements of singing that she has gleaned from years of performing experience. She discusses her ideas on communicating to an audience -- personalizing a song, choosing a repertoire, picking the right tempo and key, phrasing, etc. -- and provides technical instruction in breathing, vibrato, the "growl", the octave slur and other elements of singing. In addition, her tips on dialoguing, imaging, shading, squeezing notes and other "tricks of the trade" will add color and flavor to your blues renditions.

Ideally, this workshop should run 8 to 10 hours. Teaching a few major techniques can be accomplished in a 2 hour period. There is no limit on workshop size.

New! Homespun Instructional Video has just released Gaye's "Learn to Sing The Blues" on DVD (please visit the shop for more information).

Performance of Blues Vocals

This class is a natural compliment to the Blues Vocal Techniques workshop. Students will perform and will be given immediate feedback in specific areas stage presence, pitch, rhythm, body language, believability, projection, the "goosebump" factor, etc. Gaye fosters an environment for all participants to receive and give constructive criticism. By observing each other's strengths and weaknesses, one should learn how to more effectively evaluate one's own performance.

This workshop runs 8 to 10 hours. Ideally, workshop size is limited to 12 participants.

Blues Repertoire

Gaye shares lyrics and chords to dozens of great blues songs – both traditional and contemporary, country blues and electric, classic blues and soul blues. This is the foundation for any fledgling blues artist. Participants become acquainted with the most famous blues musicians – from Bessie Smith to Robert Johnson, to Memphis Minnie to Muddy Waters and beyond.

This workshop can be customized to fit any group size or any length of time. It can be effective as a 1 or 2 hour class, a day-long workshop, as well as a full college semester course.

The Business of Music

This workshop is for anyone interested in a career in the music business; musicians and non-musicians alike. Gaye shares information on how to set up a band (from repertoire to accounting), timelines for recording, adjunct careers (such as booking, management, etc.), copyrighting and publishing, royalties and contracts, etc.

This workshop can be customized to fit any group or any length of time. It can be effective as a single 2 hour class, a day-long workshop, as well as a full college semester course.

Songwriting

Bring your ideas to fruition and develop your musical and lyrical style. All pieces of a song are explored in this class; from hook to groove to chords to melody. Gaye helps participants tell a universal story in a unique way. Learn to develop imagery, metaphors and alliteration, and incorporate elements of surprise into your song. Gaye also shares a variety of standard Blues chord progressions.

This workshop can be customized to fit any group or any length.

Package suggestion:
The History of Women in The Blues Workshop can be enhanced by following the presentation with a separate blues concert performance by Gaye Adegbalola with pianist Roddy Barnes. Adagebalola & Barnes conjure up the era of the classic blues divas from the 1920s and '30s and deliver a dynamic cabaret style performance which brings history to life!