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Bring a
taste of the midwestern frontier to your school or organization!
Using music as a vehicle to explore the early history of the American
Midwest, the musical duo Traveler’s Dream engages students in a
fascinating look at their own regional history. Tailored to the age
and composition of the audience, these programs are a combination of
historical narrative, musical performance, and student interaction.
With extensive experience as professional musicians and arts educators,
Michael Lewis and Denise Wilson use their skills as singers,
storytellers, historians (Denise holds a doctoral degree in American
History), and multi-instrumentalists to present programs that are as fun
as they are informative. Students enjoy hearing a wide variety of
instruments which may include the fife, Irish flute and penny whistle,
mandolin, concertina, guitar, jaw harp, bouzouki and historical
percussion.
Click here to see how these programs connect to
Indiana Curriculum Standards for grades 1-8.
Program Descriptions
Musical Journey to 18th-century French-America
From the rousing choruses of French paddling songs
to the stirring sounds of the fife and rope-tensioned drum, students are
transported to the colorful period of French exploration and settlement
of the Midwest. Songs and
narrative tell of the 18th-century voyageurs and traders, soldiers,
farmers and women who were the Midwest’s first white inhabitants.
Volunteers step forward and model authentic 18th-century
military and voyageur clothing styles.
Historical instruments, beaver pelts, and songs that are sung
both in the original French versions and with English translations help
students envision this period of midwestern history.
For French courses, lyrics to French songs can be provided and
students are encouraged to sing along.
Throughout
the presentation listeners will hear the music that was an integral part
of daily life for all early inhabitants. Students learn that music was
not just for entertainment—it set the rhythm for many work tasks, kept
foot soldiers moving at a common pace, relieved hours of boredom during
tedious jobs, and was a welcome part of all celebrations. To end the
program student volunteers are asked to be part of a “frontier band” and
join Traveler’s Dream in a rousing rendition of a favorite pioneer song!
Folk Music - A Window on
the Past
(high school or college workshop)
Listening
to the songs that common people wrote and sang in the past can tell us
much about how they lived, the challenges they faced, what they felt was
worth celebrating, the shared values and morals of different historical
eras, and much more. In this workshop special emphasis is given to
the way folk music illuminates gender attitudes and also the role music has traditionally played in the quest for social
justice.
To learm more or to schedule a program, contact Denise
Wilson at
dm2wilson@gmail.com |
