In conjunction with ‘CREATE!’, one of New York's leading providers of arts education, Sean is offering these assembly and school programs. For booking and more information about Create please go to: http://www.createnewyork.org
Also, Sean offers private lessons.
Assembly Program: Roots of American Music
From the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee to the Mississippi river, from the Rockies to the Great Plains, and from coast to coast, American music has been in a constant state of evolution for hundreds of years. This program explores the vast range of styles and idioms that have contributed to our nations' musical development. With glances into Bluegrass, Cajun styles, Jazz, Rock and Gospel, students will walk away humming the melodies that have defined the American sound for generations.Students will be introduced to an array of stringed instruments including the banjo, mandolin and Appalachian dulcimer, and a variety of percussion and wind instruments, children will discover the magic of this decidedly American tradition. Stories, songs and demonstrations will also contribute to make this a complete artistic, educational experience.
Classroom Instruction/Residencies: American Folk Music
This class focuses on American Folk Music styles of the 20th century. Students will learn to sing age appropriate songs from the American folk catalogue. They will be introduced to many uniquely American styles including Bluegrass, Blues, Folk and Country. An emphasis will be placed on the concepts of the songwriting, and original works may be created and performed in the class.
Classroom Instruction/Residencies: American History Through Song
This program is an exciting way to introduce some of the important events and figures in American History. Great empires and civilizations throughout history are often remembered by the legacy left behind by their folk artists. By analyzing their works, an image comes forth of the lifestyles, concerns and interests inherent in a given population. In this program, students explore the hopes, concerns and political ideas of the American culture spanning the years since the forefathers declared the United States an independent nation. In telling the complex stories of our great nation's history, truth can be found in the tales of our 
culture's great songwriters.
Private Lessons
Private lessons in folk banjo and guitar are available at all levels of experience. Sean will bring his broad range of education and practical experience to each lesson.
Ear training, music theory and proper technique will be taught alongside ideas on performance, expressiveness, engagement, and the communal nature of folk music. There will be an emphasis on the American canon of folk song as a way to learning.
In the end, the focus will be teaching you to teach yourself. As the Chinese proverb says, ‘Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day, TEACH a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime.’
Instructional cassettes or CD’s will be tailor made for each individual in order to have concrete examples of what we are learning and to strengthen and further ideas contained in the lessons.
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