Pipes: Melody and Mystery
Grades: 1-6
Cost: $550
Recorders and Storyteller
A demonstration of ancient pipes – the family of recorders, a variety of crumhorns and the chalumeau – leads to storytelling. During a costumed poetic recitation of Robert Browning’s Pied Piper of Hamlin evocative pipe playing identifies the characters and the action of the poem. Just as the Pied Piper used music to hypnotize a plague of rats and then all the children of Hamlin, this presentation employs music and poetry to instruct and entertain with engaging effect.
Listening Game
Grades: K-5
Cost: $775
Woodwind Trio: Flute, Oboe, & Bassoon
This charming program teaches the use of aural as well as visual skills to identify instruments. (A)
What Composers Do
Grades: K-5
Cost: $775
Woodwind Trio: Flute, Oboe & Bassoon
This program explores unison, melody and accompaniment, imitation and musical conversation, with examples played by each instrument, then duets and finally all three instruments together. Composers include Bozza, Telemann, Haydn and New Bedford resident, Andy McWain. (A, M)
Good Vibrations
Grades 2-5
Cost: $1,000
Woodwind Quintet: Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet & Horn
How do instruments generate sound? We will introduce the instruments of the wind family and explore how each one vibrates to produce its sound, presenting the various tone colors in solo, duet, trio, quartet and quintet. We will relate these principles to common items found around the house and make music from unexpected objects. (Sc, M)
Music From Around the World
Grades: 1-6
Cost: Trio: $775; Quintet: $1,000
Woodwind Trio: Flute, Oboe & Bassoon, or Quintet: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon & Horn
Geography and music combine as we explore classical and folk traditions from other countries as well as the USA, including music of living local composers. Students participate by identifying countries on a world map. (So)
Dances With Winds
Grades: 1-7
Cost: $1,000
Woodwind Quintet: Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet & Horn
International program of historical, folk and contemporary dance music. Students will learn about the significance of dance music in many cultures from a classical Beethoven country dance to an energetic Cuban waltz, an ancient Mummer’s dance and a Zulu isicathamiya. (So)
Peter and the Wolf
Grades K-6
Cost: $1,000
Woodwind Quintet: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon & Horn
Prokofiev’s classic fable is performed and narrated by the members of the woodwind quintet. The program begins with an explanation of the scientific principles of the flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn followed by a demonstration of each instrument. The program concludes with a question and answer period. (E, Sc)
Talking Cello
Grades: K-6
Cost: $175/class
Solo Cello (in a Classroom Setting - Minimum Two 30-Minute Classes, Maximum 40 students per session)
The Talking Cello is a fascinating exploration of how a cello is made and a demonstration of solo cello music and the various sound effects the cello can make. Students identify the sounds and, guided by the cellist, write a story using the sounds they have heard. Students experience the emotional content of music and learn that music can speak without words. (A, E)
Composing Cello
Grades: 3- 5
Cost: $175/class
Solo Cello (in a ClassrooM Setting - Minimum Two 30-Minute Classes, maximum 40 students per session)
In this highly interactive program, the cellist performs a short story using the special sound effects a cello can make. The students write a composition that the cellist performs as a finale to the presentation. (A, E)
Celebrate the Holidays
Grades: K-8
Cost: $825
String Quartet: 2 Violins, Viola & Cello
Celebrate the December holiday season with our String Quartet: old tunes, new tunes and a sing-along! Musical selections will reflect your school’s preference for sacred and/or secular selections.
Go for Baroque
Grades: K-8
Cost: $825
String Quartet: 2 Violins, Viola & Cello
Hats (or wigs) off to the master composers of the Baroque era, including Bach, Handel and Vivaldi, who laid the cornerstone of later music through the ages. In an interactive program, our quartet performs and discusses this great music and its effect on later classical composers, as well as the Beatles, Elton John and Billy Joel. (So)
Musical Paintings
Grades: K-8
Cost: $825
String Quartet: 2 Violins, Viola & Cello
Take a musical journey through time as our string quartet explores the techniques that composers use to create imagery through music: rhythm, melody, harmony and instrumental color. Children are encouraged to put into words and pictures what they think the composers had in mind. (A, E)
Pour Les Enfants
New!
Grades: K-5
Cost: $775
String Trio: Violin, Viola, Cello
What were Handel, Haydn and Mozart composing when they were young? This delightful program explores the lives and music of these young composers who were destined for greatness. Children will easily relate to anecdotes told about the composers young lives. An interactive singing/playing portion is included as well as a question/answer segment. This program primarily focuses on primary grades K-2. However, it can be extended to grades 3-5. (So, H)
Meet the Brass
Grades: K-12
Cost: $1,000
Brass Quintet: 2 Trumpets, Horn, Trombone & Tuba
This program introduces the instruments of the brass family and emphasizes their unique characteristics. Find out how the instruments work, while hearing music from Baroque to classical, pop and Broadway show tunes. This is a wonderful recruitment tool for your school instrumental program. (M, Sc)
Deck the Halls With Sounds of Brass
Grades:K-12
Cost: $1000
Brass Quintet: 2 Trumpets, Horn, Trombone & Tuba
Ring in the December holiday season with the festive sounds of brass. What a great way to celebrate the holidays and learn about brass instruments at the same time. Musical selections will reflect your school’s preference for sacred and/or secular selections.
Intro to Jazz
Grades: K-6
Cost: $1,000
Music School Faculty Jazz Quintet: Flute, Piano, Bass, Saxophone, Drum Set & Voice
This program is an introduction to the elements of music that make Jazz what it is. Music includes swing, improvisation and blues, as well as information about the musical personalities of jazz composers and performers. This program is an exciting and interactive introduction to the world of Jazz music. (So)
Inspiration: A Musical Introduction
Grades: K-6
Cost: $825
Music School Faculty Jazz Quartet: Flute, Piano, Conga Drums, Bass & Voice
A quartet of musicians presents a playful program to teach students how inspiration can lead people to paint pictures, write plays, study hard for school, compose music and achieve their goals. (A, E)
Jazz History Project
Grades 6-12
Cost: Quartet: $825; Quintet $1,000
Quartet: Piano/Vocals, Bass, Drums, Percussion (Quintet adds Saxophone)
This performance ensemble gives a historical look at Jazz at its various stages of development, through a larger lens of political, civil and social world events, with particular emphasis on Black History and its influence in the US. Musical examples will be presented, along with opportunities to experience the music directly through assorted hand percussion, call and response scat singing, as well as a look at the instruments used. Specific needs: tuned piano, PA system (H, So)
Grupo Chekere
Grades: K-12
Cost: Trio: $725; Trio & Dancer $825
Afro-Caribbean Percussion, Dance and Storytelling. (bi-lingual)
This unique trio comprises drummers from Cuba, the Dominican Republic and the US. Using traditional folkloric drumming styles, dance and story telling Grupo Chekere will demonstrate how the music and rhythms of Africa during the African slave trade were transformed throughout the Caribbean and Americas into the modern styles of music we listen to today. (E, So)
The Whompers
Grades: K-12
Cost: $725
Trio – Various Instruments
The Whompers, featuring Chris Turner and Rachel Maloney, present a lively and colorful educational program that illustrates the history and development of folk music in the US and Europe. They play an unusual collection of acoustic instruments that includes harmonica, fiddle, bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy and jaw harp, as they energize audiences with their own unique blend of folk styles. (So)
Early American Music with The Whompers
Grades: 7-12
Cost: $725
Trio-Various Folk Instruments
The Whompers read examples of early American poetry by such writers as Emerson and Thoreau and demonstrate the music which was performed with this literature. A variety of folk instruments characteristic of early Americana are featured. The interrelationship of history, music and literature are clearly presented. This is an excellent second program for schools who have already had The Whompers perform. (E, So, H)
Harmonica Workshop
Grades: Middle & High School
Cost: $1,300 for 3 workshops; $1,650 for workshops and performance
Three or Four Visit Residency
World-renowned harmonica player Chris Turner of The Whompers leads students in an exploration of the history of the harmonica and teaches them to play blues and folk music on this versatile instrument. The residency is a minimum of three one-hour sessions, with the students’ teacher in attendance, and can be followed by an optional student performance of the music learned. Harmonicas must be purchased in advance (approximately $8 each). There is a 25 student maximum per residency. Students keep their harmonicas after the final performance. Mr. Turner is assisted by Whompers’ member Rachel Maloney. A second session of 25 additional students can be added for $500 more ($1,800 for 2 classes, $2,350 with performance). (H)
Exploring Bowed String Instruments
The Sam Hill Trio
Grades: 4-12
Cost: $775
Utilizing violin, viola and cello, the musicians of the Sam Hill Trio play arrangements of European and American folk music. They perform a variety of different pieces - song and dance melodies, a few historical examples - that demonstrate a rich range of rhythms, colors and other musical effects. An ancient type of bowed string instrument - the hurdy- gurdy - will be demonstrated and played as part of the performance.
Music and Movement
Grades: 1-5
Cost: $175/class
Solo fiddle (in a Classroom Setting, Maximum 40 students per session – available for multiple consecutive day visits to the same classroom)
Connect with tunes hundreds of years old by getting up and moving to them! Students will be introduced to community dance and to the music of New England contra dance: Irish, Scottish, French-Canadian, Old-time are all a part of the recordings we’ll dance along to. The fiddler will also demonstrate the live sound when she’s not leading the calls of the dances. (So,H)