| |
|
|||||||||||
School & Library Programs |
 |
 |
Pickin' and a' dancin' in the Library - Rancho Santa Fe, CA |
|
Old Time Music, Stories and Dance
In today's world of television, computers and "multi-media" productions, children are rarely given the opportunity to experience what it means to entertain themselves - or make their own fun. Homemade Fun is a program of acoustic music and dance that presents children with a vignette of how we might have entertained ourselves 100 - 150 years ago - in the days before electricity - without radios, TV's or even electric guitars. Imagine no MTV or Nintendo!
In this program, Dan introduces the banjo, fiddle, guitar and clog dancing (a form of dance akin to tap dancing), with songs and stories from around the world. He invites the students to dance and join in on some of the songs. Even the teachers get to participate.
Travel back in time as Dan Levenson enchants and educates students and teachers alike. Through curriculum-based performances of music and stories, Dan introduces young audiences to the music and cultures of Early America. Acoustic music is presented as something being done today that the students can participate in and enjoy.
Homemade Fun Remembers a time before electricity and automobiles when people entertained themselves. Making your own music, not listening to CDS, was a way of life. Using traditional instruments, Dan demonstrates what music sounded like a hundred years ago. Whether at a square dance, barn raising, or on the front porch, learn how music permeated every aspect of settler life.
Age Group: Kindergarten through 12th grade
Time Length: 40 to 45 minutes
Audience Size: maximum 250
Setup Time: 30 minutes, tear down 15 minutes
Sound system: Basic system with two microphones on boom stands
Rates: $450 one show, $650 two shows back to back
Special programs and more focused, interactive presentations are available for smaller groups. These are especially appropriate for students of music, dance, and social studies.
Time Length: 30 - 45 minutes Maximum # of students: 30 per session
First Banjo
In this hands on workshop, the banjo is introduced starting with information about it’s history and various styles. Students are then given a banjo to play and are taught basic strum banjo style.
Age Group: 7th grade and up.
Space: Chairs for everyone and presenter.
Supplies: INSTRUMENTS PROVIDED courtesy of Deering Banjos, Lemon Grove, CA. A tape recorder is suggested to record the class.
Requirements: Suggested for students with an interest in music.
15 student limit per session.
- Clogging
- Students learn the basics of Appalachian style clogging and will dance to live and recorded music.
- Age Group: all ages
- Space: Hard floor (no carpet), clear space for everyone to stand with arms outstretched
- Fiddle Styles
- Violin students are taught a fiddle tune and some basic, distinctive fiddle techniques. Teaching is by ear with written music given for later reference.
- Age Group: 4th grade and up
- Space: Chairs for each student and presenter
- Supplies: Students must bring their own instruments, Tape recorder is suggested to record the fiddle tune being learned.
- Requirements: Students should be able to play basic melodies.
String Band
- Students are taught a fiddle tune and learn techniques for playing in a stringband. For violin, guitar, bass, banjo, dulcimer, and mandolin.
- Age Group: 7th grade and up.
- Space: Chairs for everyone and space to split up into subgroups.
- Supplies: Students' must bring their own instruments. A tape recorder is suggested to record the tune being learned.
- Requirements: Students should be able to play basic melodies.
Dan Levenson was born in Pittsburgh, PA and exposed to folk music at an early age. He credits the school music program in his home town with exposing him to many types of music and dance. His mother sang, and played guitar and piano; his father called square dances in the Old Time tradition. Over the years Dan has learned to play fiddle, banjo and guitar. He also danced with the Coal Country Cloggers. Recently Banjo Newsletter readers voted Dan one of the top 10 clawhammer banjo players.
He is a multi-instrumentalist who shares his talent, knowledge and respect for traditional music in a variety of settings. The joy that he finds in traditional music spills over, so every song has a story, and every story has a song.
A seasoned professional with eight recordings to his name, Dan has performed for school and library audiences nationwide including The NUEVA School For the Gifted, Hillsboro, CA, Rotham Woods School, St. Louis, MO, Cleveland, OH, Denver CO, Ottoville Local School, Ottoville, OH and Rancho Santa Fe, CA.