Spook is available to work with your college, school, department or health and wellness organization to tailor a residency or guest lecture program to fit your needs. (Refer to Spook’s Programs for Ideas.) Below are a list of some residencies, mentoring and guest lecturing Spook has provided in the past. Under each venue type are descriptions of the program’s contents.
Past Residencies
(Scroll down for Mentoring and Guest Lecture Appearances)
***Colleges***
Rutgers University – April 2013
One Week Residency; “The Power of Song in American Social Movements”
Including Concerts, Classrooms, and in-classroom discussions.
Manhattanville College – September 2012
Mini Residency; “The Power of Song in Contemporary Social Movements”
Salt Lake Community College – September 2011
One week residency; “The Power of Song in The Civil Rights Movement”
Including concerts, workshops, and in-classroom discussions.
***Health and Wellness Organizations***
Wellness and Total Learning Center, Ashtabula, OH – October 2013
One Week Residency – Including Concerts and workshops.
Wellness and Total Learning Center, Ashtabula, OH – October 2010
One Week Residency- Including Concerts and workshops.
***Schools***
Rumson (New Jersey) School District – 2013-2016
Year long residency; “Using Music to Make the World a Better Place”
Including assemblies and in-classroom songwriting workshops.
Mentoring Programs
At your school or college
Spook is available to mentor students one-on-one or in groups in the discipline of
Simple Measures for Drastic Guitar Playing Improvement
Techniques for Effective Stage Presence
Secrets of Songwriting
or any combination of the three. (click on the discipline you are interested in for more information.)
Spook has provided this mentoring at “Teen Arts Festivals” in Burlington, Monmouth, Union, Somerset and Warren Counties of New Jersery.
Guest Lecture Appearances
Read letter of endorsement from Rutgers University
***Colleges***
Rutgers University – Spring 2015
English Studies – Multimedia Composition; American Studies – Participatory Democracy
Rutgers University – April 2014
American Studies – Listening Beyond the Earbud; “Pete, Woody and the Power of Song in American Social Movements”
Rutgers University – March 2014
English Studies – Multimedia Composition
Rutgers University – Spring 2014
English Studies – Creative Writing; “Secrets of Songwriting”
References:
“I would not hesitate to recommend Spook Handy to my fellow professors around the country. Spook did everything asked of him with cheerful willingness, and students are still talking about his visit with us at Rutgers…..” more
… Dr. Gillespie – American Studies Department Head – Rutgers University.
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“Spook was gracious enough to speak to my class, Popular Music and
Political Performances, during the Spring 2013 semester. His ability to illuminate the history of folk music through personal stories, as well as his skillful articulation of its power to mobilize social consciousness, provided students with a first-hand experience of participatory democracy. Students were excited to have Spook in class and I will certainly be welcoming him back next year. He is one of folk music’s premier bards, offering insight to its rich past, while helping communities in a politically divisive present find a common voice.”
… Christopher Rzigalinski – Instructor in American Studies, Rutgers University.
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“Spook, you have an extremely powerful essence and I want you to come back!”
… Susan Deak – Wellness + Total Learning Center, Ashtabula, OH.
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