San Quentin’s music community welcomed a new program that seeks to encourage and empower participants to sing their truths.
Sponsored by musician and recording artist Essence Goldman, her non-profit organization “Believe Music Heals,” and Jewish chaplain Rabbi Paul Shleffar, 25 residents will put their lived experiences into song form. While learning about the transformative power of music, the performers will record music they wrote in class.
“When you write a story in song, it helps you create an opportunity for soul searching and introspection,” Goldman said.
Goldman said that for incarcerated individuals, music plays an integral part in rehabilitation and opens a portal to connecting with their true selves. She believes music not only transforms, but also can improve consciousness and self-awareness. The artist explained how, through introspection and digging through the layers of egoism, performers and audiences could find authenticity in their hearts.
The 16-week program started with self-examination and self-care through meditation and by mastering breathing.
Classes begin with a vocal pitch warm-up and a breathing exercise. During the meditations, Goldman guided the cohort through contemplative exercises. She encouraged the group to feel warmth, safety, and connection within a circle of trust. “We have each other’s backs throughout this collaborative process and everybody is equal,” Goldman said.
Goldman described the body as an instrumental part to setting one’s intentions within oneself. She instructed the participants on the mechanics of singing, pitch accuracy, dynamics, breath support, basic cords, and strumming.
“[Our] goal is to tell stories with words. It’s a feeling, and what does that sound like to you?,” Goldman asked.
Resident Robert Walthal’s incarceration at San Quentin has inspired him to write music.
“You can have all this talent, but not until something inspiring happens in your heart, do you know what God has in store.” He said that he hopes that his voice technique and skills would improve throughout the class. He also imagined that his God-inspired songs, “Wedding Song” and “Feasting At My Wedding” would one day turn into hits.
“I have no talent,” Walthal admitted with blunt honesty, “but God has blessed me with some wonderful music and song-writing ability.” Walthal said he remains optimistic that an instrumentally talented performer would hear his songs and would make them a success. He said he would like his songs to endure the test of time.
Resident Tam Steve Nguyen said he felt grateful that Goldman has given him a space and the guidance in identifying and processing his emotions through music. “I recognize music is a place for me to process my emotions.”
Nguyen said he valued Goldman using her music to develop a nonprofit and felt inspired to do the same. “I did not realize I could use my music to give back, this is something I am interested in doing,” Nguyen said.
Throughout the remaining weeks, classwork will focus on skill building of voice technique, the mechanics of singing, instrument playing, and song writing.
While discussing key aspects of Goldman’s class, resident Arent Bradt described diverse kinds of voices, from high head voices, to lower throat voices, to chest voices. He improved the quality of his voice through a series of vocal exercises designed to grow range, to develop pitch accuracy, and to improve tone, leading towards building confidence and authentic self-expression.
“Understanding the different kinds of voices helps me feel comfortable and makes me a better singer,” Bradt said.
Participants will engage in a variety of writing exercises, including free writing, journaling, lyric writing, and group-guided collaborative song writing exercises.
Near the end of the class, guest teachers will offer clinics with specialty-level focus.
Goldman’s love for music started at an early age. She plays almost every instrument but concentrates on guitar. While frequently traveling as a child, her Walkman kept her constant company. Her career led to seven albums with five record labels from 1997 to the present.
Recently, Goldman produced an album for a former student who suffered from ALS, a degenerative disease, and she performed as his voice. The endeavor may lead to a film.
“Music is a great unifier, the salve of our mind, body, and spirit,” Bradt said. “It draws us together, no matter where we are from or what we do.”
