Playing for school kids, does anyone else do this?

[mandolinlee]

Last Wednesday, Jan. 30, my brother and I were asked to play for the kids at the local Catholic parochial school. The music teacher asked us to play. She had heard me play mandolin in church. We did two 30 minute sessions, similar but not the same. We started with a tune on mandolin and guitar, then explained the instruments and that mandolin played melody and guitar played rhythm. Then we asked if they had any questions. First question: are you guys identical twins? This led to a discussion of the difference of identical vs. fraternal twins. So it was a biology and musical lesson. They then asked good questions about music.
We then played a tune on banjo and mandolin. Ended with a sing along.
We had a lot of fun and I'm curious if any of you have done similar things.
Thanks for your input.
Lee

[Windflite]

The fiddle player in our band is an elementary (K-8) school teacher. #She lives about 50 miles from the rest of us and her school (in a very rural Illinois community) hosts a day of what I would call 'cultural exposure' for the kids. #We have played for a couple of years as one of the 'exhibits'. # The format is that classrooms at a time are paraded through a room where we are set up to receive a 10 minute mini concert and short narrative and demo of #the instruments in a bluegrass band. #

On a bit of a interesting note (at least for this city boy), the 'exhibit' in the next room was a father with his gun collection. #Nothing against guns, mind you, just struck me as kind of odd to see a gentlemen walking into a grade school packin' about 15 rifles and handguns...
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[lizk]

I teach music in a public school to first graders. It's a great joy for me to be able to teach a subject that is so important to me. When I bring in my mandolin, the first reaction is, "What is that?" "Is that a banjo?" I play a few tunes and we sing some songs.
When we play our music for kids in a casual setting maybe some of them are thinking - Hey, I can do that too!
That may be all it takes to get them inspired!
Liz

[smallshinything]

Also In Illinois I had the terror of playing for a high school class our Bass Player taught. It was a private, affluent school in the western Chicago suburbs and I figured the kids would hate us, we played at the time a lot of rock songs with BG instrumentation. They were very receptive, actually. Maybe it was that we didn't give out homework.

We were ostensibly teaching a physics class about the length of sound waves from bass to mandolin and all points in between. I think it was a jolly excuse for Jay to screw around. Turned out to be a fun day, we played about 25 minutes for each of 5 periods.

[MikeEdgerton]

I've played two shools in the last year or so. One was an alternative school for children with learning disabilities, it was a real trip. I had some of the kids up on the stage strumming a banjo... they didn't get near any mandolins. The other was for an exclusive prep school. The money was better but the crowd wasn't real appreciative.

[allenhopkins]

I play for school kids, usually historically-oriented programs. Explain the different instruments (guitar, banjo, mandolin/mandola, Autoharp, concertina, ukulele), their histories and roles in American music. If I can do a bit of "hands on," I do it; also bring musically-related toys, limberjack etc., on which kids can participate.

Some schools around here (Rochester NY) have also done "sampler" music programs, which can include folk music, bluegrass etc. demos for middle school. Nice to expose students to something they won't find on MTV or the radio.

[swampy]

I am fortunate enough to actually teach bluegrass music as a class at a boarding school. The band consists of mandolin, guitar, banjo, and washboard (until the money for the upright bass comes in). The kids have been very receptive to the music, and the banjo player and mandolin player have been doing quite well. Two weeks ago the group played their first "gig" one at a school for disabled children, and another at a preschool. Both sets were about a half hour in length, and they played standards like John Henry, Roll on Buddy and Long Journey home, and kids tunes like Old McDonald and Bingo. Everyone was very receptive to the music, and the kids did an awesome job! I was so proud. Right now, they are learning Pike County Breakdown, and Bluegrass Stomp. My job is the best.

[Santiago]

I accompany a youth chorus. It's easy stuff, but it's fun.

[Dusty]

I play often for kids at school. Learn Cotten Eyed Joe. They are a great group but better when kept busy singing.

[birdman98]

Good Fun, that is!

I'm living in Hokkaido, Japan for a two year gig, teaching English to grades 1-8. I bring my guitar and mandolin to class regularly and with great success...especially with the little rugrats.

Don't have to do anything fancy either...you'd be surprised how much better kids remember words like NOSE, EYE, EAR and TOOTH when they're accompanied by some G, C, and D chords.

[Zoe]

I played twice for my daughter's preschool class:p

[Geoff B]

I'm a High School Geometry teacher and just began a quarter-long elective class on mandolin playing. #The school is for kids with learning issues (dislexia, ADD/ADHD etc.) so instruments as both an incentive and alternate mode of learning/problem-solving is very good for their minds. #Its been a hit in the first two weeks, but the enormous range of things to know can be daunting, for them and me. #I'm thinking of inviting some folks to come share different genres and potentials, so anyone in the Denver area feel free to contact me if you are interested in sharing what you know. #As much petty arguing there is about music and musicians, it also bridges many chasms that other topics simply do not, which is good because everyone could use more goodness in their life. I agree with swampy, it is one of the best jobs. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Griffis]

The band consists of mandolin, guitar, banjo, and washboard (until the money for the upright bass comes in)
Heck, swampy-- why wait for an upright bullfiddle? You could MAKE a washtub bass and have the construction of it be part of the learning experience. You might think I'm joking, but I'm dead serious. You can put one together on the cheap with just a handful of materials you can pick up at a hardware store, plus they are a great deal of fun to play.

I used to thump on one pretty good, but I know guys that if you were to close your eyes you'd be hard-pressed to discern whether they were playing a tub bass or a nice bass viol.

Anyway, just a thought. There's lots of info online on building these. I really liked you post and admire and commend you for the work you do.

[yoshka]

While I was a teacher, I started playing guitar, singing with the kids and telling stories to the first grade classes on Fridays, twenty mintutes in each class. They liked it, and I got alittle "crowd exposure". This year I played my mandolin to a nursery school. When I played "Soldier's Joy" the teacher got the kids up to march around and they had a fun time. My neighbor and I (he on guitar and I on mandolin) played for a senior's center. They loved it and we had a great time. A win win situation, they enjoy, we enjoy.
Yossi

[PhilGE]

We had a lot of fun and I'm curious if any of you have done similar things.
Thanks for your input.
Lee
Yup! It's good fun...

[LateBloomer]

Yep, I played for our children's pre-school classes. Also played for kindergarden and first grade classes. Those kids have an amazing sense of rhythm - their clapping to the beat, was often better than my playing to the beat. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[lmartnla]

Here's pictures of my jam group , the 'Model Citizens' playing for school kids at the Crafts Fest at Fontainbleau State Park in Madisonville, LA. The whole Friday was dedicated to school kids who came in shifts on buses and circulated through the fest. We had an enthusiastic sing-along. The whole group thought it was one of the most satisfying thing we have done. I think it will be a yearly gig for us.

[lmartnla]

more

[lmartnla]

one more

[bradeinhorn]

i played a square dance at an elementary school the other day. it was my first one and a lot of fun. the kids definitely liked it, but it was the cooky callers who wouldn't stop swooning over us. up until that point, they'd been operating with a cassette tape and boom box.

in a couple weeks I'm doing a similar thing to what the OP was describing at an elementary school up near columbia university. we'll be playing a bit and talking about the history of bluegrass and the different instruments. looking forward to it. up to a certain age, kids generally seem to like anything that breaks up the normal school day routine.

[Jim]

Did lots of grade school gigs up and down the arkansas river valley in the 90s with a musical partner who wrote primarily childrens songs. The kids all loved it and I had a great time too!