NATIONALLY TOURING SINGER/SONGWRITER & EDU-TAINER 

Aspen Black

 Duration: 1 hour. Available year round.

This is the companion workshop (but can be booked stand-alone) to the "Sing Me a Painting" concert. Participants will explore how different chords, melodies, and lyrics translate into colors, brush strokes, shapes, and artistic expressions in both abstract and realistic painting styles. After several examples and exercises, the group will choose one of Aspen's original songs to create original paintings that can be taken home and/or displayed in the library. Aspen provides all painting supplies.  Registration is required to ensure enough art supplies are provided. 

Duration 1 1/2 hours.  Available March 2025 onward.

Duration: 1 hour. Available March 2025 onward.

Adults learning to play ukulele in Aspen's workshop in the Silver City, NM library.

BORN TO BE A COWGIRL CONCERT

As part of a special concert in 2024, the Eiteljorg Museum of Art, in Indianapolis, IN, asked Aspen and her duo partner, Kerry, to write custom songs based on paintings in their collection. This spurred Aspen to create "Sing me a Painting" for the 2025 Summer Reading theme "Color Your World" (Artwork).  This concert program features a balance of original story-songs based on the paintings and artwork of others, and Aspen's own paintings inspired by songs. A brief discussion of stories behind the artwork and songs follows the concert.

Singer/songwriter concert is based off of Aspen Black's nationally-awarded song and album , "Born to be a Cowgirl".  

​​Do your adult patrons want to make music of their own?

Library Programs for Adults

 Duration: 1 hour. Available year round.

Storytelling runs deep as Aspen unfolds musical tales of human joy, pain, struggles, and triumphs from modern and historical cowgirl life. Cowgirls are known for being strong, savvy, courageous, and determined.  From fans of Yellowstone, to authentic cowboys and cowgirls, to city-dwellers who long for nature and freedom, to country-folks who love rural Americana, all will find songs that speak to their heart, soul, and way of life (real or only dreamed) in this multimedia concert. 

A participant sharing lyrics written in the workshop.

American Journeys: Take a musical journey through the geography and culture of the United States of America! From bucket list destinations to hidden gems, patrons will connect with, and learn about, interesting regional culture, beautiful landscapes, old buildings, highways and byways, art and artisans, food culture, and little-known facts about places all over our country!  Aspen Black's original story-songs are complimented by photos and videos, many of which she has taken in her over 30 years of traveling and touring as a musician.  Several of the songs have interactive audience participation elements and there is even a quick make-and-take souvenir included! 

Duration: 1 hour. 

Paint Me a Song Workshop- 2025 Summer Reading Themed Workshop

​Folk, Country, and Oldies Sing-Along Adults/ all ages 

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This themed concert rolls out one after another of people's favorite folk, country, and early rock-n-roll songs from the 40's, 50's, 60's, and 70's. Custom made lyric videos accompany each song.  Expect your audience to clap, sing along. and even dance as the music transports them into good memories of yesteryear!

Sing Me a Painting- 2025 Summer Reading Themed Concert

Custom Program:

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Ukelele for Adults -
Everyone loves to make music, and this fun workshop will have adults playing their first song within five minutes!  The easy zero and one-finger chords and familiar songs make it possible for even the most musically-challenged minds to get in the swing of things (pun intended) and make music! 30 soprano ukuleles provided for patron use during the program. While aimed at beginners, intermediate and experienced players are encouraged to attend, as well. Patrons and staff with their own ukuleles are welcome to bring them and jam along. The workshop ends with a group concert, as well as an opportunity to feature any participants who want to share their own song.

​That Song!

Songwriting for Adults

This workshop is the adult version of Aspen's teen workshop by the same name. Participants will analyze three popular and/or timeless songs, learn the basics of songwriting, then work together to create a song start of their own. 

Does your library have a special theme coming up that you would like a custom program for?  Aspen creates custom programs focusing on your topic as it relates to music, art, or writing.  some examples of past custom programs are: "Memoir Workshop" based on Hope Jahren's "Lab Girl" for "The Big Read" in Wichita and Derby, KS libraries, "Country Concert" for the Heartland Library System in MO, a series of yearly themed writing workshops of various themes for the Kearney Public Library in Kearney, NE, and a custom writing and self-publishing workshop to support a community program for "digitizing photos" through the library in Grand Island, NE.  Reach out with your theme or ideas and let's see what we can create for your patrons!

​AMERICAN JOURNEYS (multimedia musical storytelling concert)