Terri Roben
I enjoy sharing music with all age groups, especially children. I play guitar, banjo, ukelele, mountain lap dulcimer and a little fiddle. Some of my favorite instruments are the free homemade ones, like spoons and coffee can drums. I like songs with movements and different languages that involve the audience. I have been singing at libraries, schools, festivals and coffeehouses for many years.
I am a registered Music Together teacher leading weekly classes for newborns to five year olds and their caregivers. (See www.musicboxarts.com and www.musictogetherofsaratoga.com for more info) You may also contact me about classes in Saratoga via my contact info on this site.
I have made three recordings, one particularly for families,
" Riverwalk and Other Songs." Pete Seeger honored me by ordering some copies and writing "You're a good songwriter - Keep on!" My latest cd of 12 original and two cover songs is entitled "The Path We Make" and available at www.cdbaby.com.
I play in a group called "Dangerous On Decaf" which consists of Linda Hartman on guitar and vocals, Paul Devino on drums and myself on guitar, banjo, mt dulcimer, ukelele and kazoo! We do a mixed bag of old and new folk, blues, jazz, latin and rockabilly songs. We have a dangerous amount of fun!
I am a native of New York's Capital District. I am a member of the Children's Music Network, www.cmnonline.org and I serve on the Dance Flurry committee , www.danceflurry.org
I am a member of the Eighth Step Coffeehouse, www.eighthstep.org and Caffe Lena's, www.caffelena.org
I have a loving partner and am mother to a marvelous daughter and son-in-law. I believe in working for peace, freedom, justice and a healthy environment for all people and living beings, when I'm not busy just getting by!
Terri Roben
1989 to 1994 - Designed and presented six hour Earth Day Programs for various elementary schools, including Sacandaga Elementary, Scotia and Mariaville Elementary, Mariaville.
Designed and presented after-school programs for Craig School Elementary.
Wrote song "Riverwalk" for the first Capital District Girl Scouts Riverwalk fundraiser and formed a Brownie chorus, "The Riverwalk Singers" who are featured on the "Riverwalk" recording.
Presented many children's music programs in local festivals - ex: Pumpkin Sail in Renssalaer and the Troy Victorian Stroll and coffeehouses, including Caffe Lena's.
1994-2004 - Worked as a Scotia Glenville Children's Traveling Museum presenter of various classroom programs for pre-school to 6th Grade, as well as their children's musician covering 11 counties.
Performed in several libraries, such as Scotia, Glenville, Schenectady, Rotterdam, Quaker Street, Niskayuna, Troy, Albany, Argyle, Hudson Falls, Saratoga Springs.
2000-2002 - Designed and taught an American Folk Music class to grades 9 to 12 at Spring Hill Waldorf School in Saratoga Springs.
2005 - Became trained and registered as a Music Together teacher, currently teaching preschoolers and their caregivers 4 morning classes in Schenectady, Clifton Park, and Saratoga Springs.
2008 - Released 3rd recording, adult cd of mostly originals, "The Path We Make" available on www.cdbaby.com, chaired the National Children's Music Network 20th National Conference in Albany, NY AND hosted and sang in daughter's wedding ceremony in our backyard! Bought and opened my own Music Together site in Saratoga Springs, NY.
2010 - Started a trio called "Dangerous On Decaf," featuring myself on guitar, uke, banjo, mt dulcimer; Linda Hartman on Latin, Flamenco, Jazz, Blues and Rockabilly guitar, and Paul Devino on African hand drums and snare drums. We play a variety of toe-tapping jazzy, bluesy, rag-timey, jug-bandy fun music, as well as latin and some political. See www.dangerousondecaf.webs.com
Terri is a member of:
- The Children's Music Network
- The People's Music Network
- Pickin', Singin' and Gatherin'
- The Clearwater Organization
- Caffe Lena and
- The Eighth Step Coffeehouse