OUTREACH PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS are tailored to needs, age,
location, group size, stylistic interests, and curricular expectations of the audience. Settings include educational assemblies/presentations in schools (elementary-college) and libraries, festival workshops, and mini-concerts in senior centers/care homes.
BEGINNING JAMMING
This class teaches participatory etiquette for joining other musicians in a bluegrass or old time jam session. Enables beginning musicians to be comfortable locating, entering, and playing in appropriate jam sessions at their skill levels. We encourage polite risk taking within the standard national community rules. Time frame: 1 hour.
EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN BLUEGRASS MUSIC
Demonstrates the stylistic evolution of bluegrass through it's Irish, Old-time, motif based roots. We discuss traditional instrumentation, perform and discuss songs from various genres with an interactive question and answer session. A set list for the program is provided upon request. Time: 35-40 minutes for elementary schools, High School and College-1 hour.
FOLK SONG CIRCLE
People need more opportunities to sing! This outreach also aims to preserve traditional American songs that fade from popular culture. We provide words, take requests, and sing for the sheer fun of it. Themes include, but are not limited to
-Traditional Cowboy and Western Songs
-US Folk Songs (including Stephen Foster, Alan Lomax and more)
-Holiday Sing a Long (December only)
-Interactive singing and dancing games (Preschool through 2nd grade only).
Time frame: 30-45 minutes.
HISTORY AND MECHANICS OF THE HAMMERED DULCIMER
Wherever I go, people are mesmerized by the dulcimer, it's history, mechanics, and how it fits into western music. In this workshop, I demonstrate all aspects including technique for various styles of music. Perfect for music festivals where the Red Desert Ramblers are performing. It has proven excellent for non-playing family members as well who are curious and want to learn something new! Time frame-30 minutes.
MINI BLUEGRASS/CLASSIC-COUNTRY/SWING CONCERTS
These concerts are perfect in any outreach setting and focus on music
performance rather than dialogue. We bring the show to you! 30-45 minutes.
BEGINNING SQUARE OR NEW ENGLAND CONTRA DANCING WITH LIVE BAND AND CALLER
Our intergenerational caller has everyone up and dancing, and teaches every dance. What a great motivator, and our motivation is the preservation of traditional American music and dance! We are no strangers to old time dancing having been hired for 15 years at the Mountain Man Rendevous Buckskinners Ball in Fort Bridger Wyoming (the largest in the country), and as part of the "Loose Shoes" band for the community dance in SLC for 25 years! Availability depends on location. Time: 1-2 hours. 4th grade through adult.
BEGINNING GUITAR AND MANDOLIN
Steve teaches beginning chording, flatpicking, and guitar backup to intergenerational groups. Time frame: 45 minutes.
CREDENTIALS
-Sharon taught Pre-School-3rd grade, and college in the public schools/university for 30 years.
-Steve is an individual and group music teacher at 'Riffs' music store in Park City.
-Richard was a high school educator for 35 years.
-Dave has mentored teenagers throughout Utah regarding bluegrass music.
-Countless festival workshops everywhere we have been hired.
-Outreach throughout Utah State under-served communities
-Performance musicians weekly for Heart and Soul, an organization bringing live music to people who otherwise could not get anywhere to see it on their own.
-Convocations at various colleges.
location, group size, stylistic interests, and curricular expectations of the audience. Settings include educational assemblies/presentations in schools (elementary-college) and libraries, festival workshops, and mini-concerts in senior centers/care homes.
BEGINNING JAMMING
This class teaches participatory etiquette for joining other musicians in a bluegrass or old time jam session. Enables beginning musicians to be comfortable locating, entering, and playing in appropriate jam sessions at their skill levels. We encourage polite risk taking within the standard national community rules. Time frame: 1 hour.
EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN BLUEGRASS MUSIC
Demonstrates the stylistic evolution of bluegrass through it's Irish, Old-time, motif based roots. We discuss traditional instrumentation, perform and discuss songs from various genres with an interactive question and answer session. A set list for the program is provided upon request. Time: 35-40 minutes for elementary schools, High School and College-1 hour.
FOLK SONG CIRCLE
People need more opportunities to sing! This outreach also aims to preserve traditional American songs that fade from popular culture. We provide words, take requests, and sing for the sheer fun of it. Themes include, but are not limited to
-Traditional Cowboy and Western Songs
-US Folk Songs (including Stephen Foster, Alan Lomax and more)
-Holiday Sing a Long (December only)
-Interactive singing and dancing games (Preschool through 2nd grade only).
Time frame: 30-45 minutes.
HISTORY AND MECHANICS OF THE HAMMERED DULCIMER
Wherever I go, people are mesmerized by the dulcimer, it's history, mechanics, and how it fits into western music. In this workshop, I demonstrate all aspects including technique for various styles of music. Perfect for music festivals where the Red Desert Ramblers are performing. It has proven excellent for non-playing family members as well who are curious and want to learn something new! Time frame-30 minutes.
MINI BLUEGRASS/CLASSIC-COUNTRY/SWING CONCERTS
These concerts are perfect in any outreach setting and focus on music
performance rather than dialogue. We bring the show to you! 30-45 minutes.
BEGINNING SQUARE OR NEW ENGLAND CONTRA DANCING WITH LIVE BAND AND CALLER
Our intergenerational caller has everyone up and dancing, and teaches every dance. What a great motivator, and our motivation is the preservation of traditional American music and dance! We are no strangers to old time dancing having been hired for 15 years at the Mountain Man Rendevous Buckskinners Ball in Fort Bridger Wyoming (the largest in the country), and as part of the "Loose Shoes" band for the community dance in SLC for 25 years! Availability depends on location. Time: 1-2 hours. 4th grade through adult.
BEGINNING GUITAR AND MANDOLIN
Steve teaches beginning chording, flatpicking, and guitar backup to intergenerational groups. Time frame: 45 minutes.
CREDENTIALS
-Sharon taught Pre-School-3rd grade, and college in the public schools/university for 30 years.
-Steve is an individual and group music teacher at 'Riffs' music store in Park City.
-Richard was a high school educator for 35 years.
-Dave has mentored teenagers throughout Utah regarding bluegrass music.
-Countless festival workshops everywhere we have been hired.
-Outreach throughout Utah State under-served communities
-Performance musicians weekly for Heart and Soul, an organization bringing live music to people who otherwise could not get anywhere to see it on their own.
-Convocations at various colleges.
