Song Factory is an inclusive one-on-one music creation workshop designed for the person who has experienced difficult events that she or he has not fully processed. Work with internationally acclaimed composer/producer James Wright Glasgow to write, record, and produce two original songs of any genre over the course of eight workshop sessions and enjoy the emotional rewards of the program!
Song Factory was chosen as one of the Top 6 Innovative Practices in the US and Canada by the Council of Accreditation in 2019, and in 2020 was awarded a $50,000 grant through the Children's Home of Wyoming Conference, from the Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation.
Created by Kim Stratton (MSW/MASS, Vice President of Quality at The Children’s Home of Wyoming Conference) and James Wright Glasgow (ASCAP, Owner of Strange Fangs Song Factory), this program is consistently successful by quantitative and qualitative measures, including a documented reduction of negative behaviors and hopelessness in participants.
Catering to the strengths of the participant and constantly adapting to meet the needs of the individual, this workshop is developmentally focused, relationship based, and trauma informed.
Developed with the assistance and generosity of The Children’s Home of Wyoming Conference in Binghamton NY, Song Factory is now available in person in Broome County and the Hudson Valley Region. 
Song Factory now offers a fully online option which makes long distance participation and participation during the pandemic possible. This  flexible program option was successfully implemented at the Children's Home of Poughkeepsie (CHP). These program graduates have identified the virtual option as both enjoyable and highly effective in meeting their needs. While in-person programming can be easily provided to agencies in the Hudson Valley and Southern Tier region, this online feature (using video chat and remote controlled recording equipment provided by Song Factory) allows Song Factory to come to any agency in (or out of) New York State.
If you would like to see this program at your agency or school, please send a message to songfactorynewyork@gmail.com!
Goals:
  • Catharsis through the creation of music and lyrics.
  • A sense of accomplishment gained from a recorded, produced, professional product.
 
Additional Benefits:
  • Exposure to a safe, professional environment which encourages artistic and emotional expression.
  • Trauma informed, competence centered mentoring and partnering.
  • A sense of control in creative direction, as well as professional cooperation/teamwork as the project comes together.
  • The opportunity to co-direct a musical project with live piano, cello, bass, guitar, and percussion, as well as cutting edge digital instrument technology used in modern Hollywood scores and Billboard hits.
Song Factory is inclusive and designed for a diverse population:
 
  • Ages 7 and up
  • All ethnicities
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Score: 1-10
  • Male, Female, Trans, Non-Binary
  • All sexual orientations
  • Varied trauma history and behaviors (see list)
 
Recommended Criteria:
  • Has social worker willing to collaborate in the process
  • Ability to read and write
  • Currently does not engage or benefit in traditional therapeutic interventions
  • Interest and/or aptitude in music, poetry, and/or storytelling
  • Willingness to attempt something new
  • Has experienced difficult event(s) that she or he has not fully processed
 
Please note that the criteria is flexible; if you have someone in mind for this program, please email james@strangefangs.com to see if it could still work! We are more concerned with doing as much good as possible rather than fitting everyone into a rigid definition.
Song Factory uses the Behavior Rating Index for Children (BRIC)* before and after a participant goes through the program to measure quantitative results in the program. This Rapid Assessment Instrument measures the severity of a child’s negative behaviors on a scale from 1 to 100, with 100 being the most severe. As of June 2019, the before/after results are consistently positive, and range from a 10 point improvement to a 30 point improvement.
 
Song Factory also uses the Hopelessness Scale for Children (HSC)** to measure quantitative results in the program. This Rapid Assessment Instrument gauges hopelessness in those taking the survey, on a scale from 1 to 17, with 1 having the most hope for the future. Participants have progressed from bleak outlooks to scoring an average of 3 on the scale.
As far as qualitative results, we love testimonials! Scroll down to see what our awesome participants and partners have to say about our workshops!
 

*Stiffman, A. R., Orme, J. G., Evans, D. A., Feldman, R. A., and Keeney, P. A. (1984). A brief measure of children’s behavior problems: The Behavior Rating Index for Children, Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 16, 83-90

**Kadzin, A. E., French, N. H., Unis, A. S., Esceldt-Dawson, K., and Sherick, R. B. (1983) Hopelessness, depression, and suicidal intent among psychiatrically disturbed children, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51, 504-510.

Any communication with us is strictly confidential.
Song Factory sessions in Broome County are held through the Children's Home of Wyoming Conference in Binghamton, NY.
Song Factory sessions in Dutchess County are held through the Children's Home of Poughkeepsie.
For more information, or to get started, please use the contact form at the bottom of the page and we will get right back to you!

 

Kim Stratton worked as a marketing recruiter for Binghamton University in the early years of her career and then was provided the opportunity to run a Therapeutic After-School Program (TASP) that captured her heart.  Kim was a social worker and quickly became the Director of TASP where she spent 15 years providing services in an engaging family centered atmosphere.  Kim received two Master’s Degrees (MSW/MASS) in a dual degree program with Binghamton University and University at Albany.  She is currently the Vice President of Quality for the Children’s Home of Wyoming Conference focusing on process improvement, quality of services, and data driven decision making. Kim believes that with the right relationships and collaboration, anything is possible.

 

 

James Wright Glasgow is an internationally acclaimed composer and the owner of Strange Fangs Song Factory, a music composition and production company in Orange County, New York. Originally from Binghamton, NY, Glasgow’s work has been performed in major cities across the US, Italy, Scotland, and Brazil. Clients he has composed for include the world-touring dance company Galumpha, the Burning Man Festival, Ryan Meadows (sound engineer for Game of Thrones, the Revenant), Sarah Dunton (animator for Tiesto, Post Malone), the New York City Poetry Festival, the Binghamton Philharmonic, Rochester Institute of Technology, and over 60 projects for numerous universities, commercial entities, and private clients since 2015. Glasgow specializes in cello, piano, bass, and guitar performance. Strange Fangs Song Factory is currently producing "Do You See What I Hear," an experimental music and poetry performance with award winning poet Mario Moroni on world tour, as well as "Forget Me Not," a critically-acclaimed feature length work of music, dance, and puppetry which tells the story of those living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Prior to starting Song Factory (Music Creation Program), Glasgow had also spent five years working with youth in therapeutic settings, including a Therapeutic After School Program, residential treatment, and OPWDD/waiver provision settings.

 

The songs below are just a small sample of what we have created in this program! As of December 2020, there are nearly one hundred recorded and produced songs created through the Song Factory Therapeutic Music Program. The songs featured here are done so with the participants’ permission.
play_circle_filled
pause_circle_filled
Mama Can You Hear Me?
volume_down
volume_up
volume_off
play_circle_filled
pause_circle_filled
Your Face in the Mirror
volume_down
volume_up
volume_off
play_circle_filled
pause_circle_filled
Do or Do Not
volume_down
volume_up
volume_off
play_circle_filled
pause_circle_filled
Public Housing
volume_down
volume_up
volume_off
play_circle_filled
pause_circle_filled
Getting Back Up
volume_down
volume_up
volume_off
[ess_grid alias=”TMP”]

Names and details have been changed or omitted for confidentiality.

<- TESTIMONIALS ->
For pricing and info, please email songfactorynewyork@gmail.com

Vector in logo sourced from freepik.com