Please note that this is an all day program and allows personal attention and interaction with all the students of each class. Brett and Serenity will spend the entire day in a classroom setting sharing these unique instruments and actually teaching and helping the students to learn and play some of the more complicated, yet easily learned instruments, showing first hand the traditional method of teaching and sharing first hand the heritage we have all but lost.
---$700 for the entire day.
Long before there were video games, televisions, or even radios, there was a form of entertainment, a tradition passed down from generation to generation, the heritage of music. Sadly, that heritage has all but disappeared from our country with the appearance of modern technology. Let your students take a step back in time to discover and reconnect with this heritage and history as Brett and Serenity demonstrate each instrument, explain how it works and is played, and allows select students and teachers the opportunity to join in and play along on some of these unique instruments!
Many people never play a musical instrument because they don't read music, have no confidence, or just feel musically illiterate. This program will change that by encouraging, demonstrating, and proving that truly anyone can make music.
For information on prices, scheduling, etc., please contact us at 330-221-6404 or by email at fbridgeway@juno.com
"I highly recommend the Ridgeway's program "Anyone Can Make Music". Their Nov. 13, 2003 assembly was ideal for our elementary school (grades 4-6) and the children enjoyed every moment of it. The students spontaneously began clapping in time to the music and later in the program, when the music was softer, they hushed one another's clapping so they were sure to hear the instruments. The children were also very entertained by seeing their teachers and classmates trying their hand at some early American instruments. In addition, Brett Ridgeway did a very good job of weaving Civil War history and music together in an entertaining and memorable way.
The best testimonial for a program is if it inspires change. My daughter came home inspired and motivated to learn to play the mountain dulcimer that we have had hanging on our family room wall for years. She spent the evening learning Christmas carols rather than watching TV!"
Pam Leuenberger
PTO Program Vice President
Oakview Elementary
West Middlesex, Pennsylvania
...is a delightful, informative, and highly interactive program that is historical, musical, and even scientific in nature. It includes a one hour performance that uses the students and teachers to help create music, even if they have never played an instrument before! It also includes on site classroom workshops throughout the entire day, allowing students an up close, hands- on opportunity to learn to play some of America's traditional instruments--without any prior musical knowledge or experience!
Dressed in period costume of the mid-1800's, Brett and Serenity Ridgeway demonstrate some of America's traditional instruments, while sharing the instrument's importance and place in our heritage and history. Your students will learn about the Conestoga piano, as the hammered dulcimer was once called, packed on the famous Conestoga wagon trains that traversed our country from Pennsylvania to the Oregon Trail. Students will enjoy playing the Limberjacks, a rhythmic toy, the only puppet to have originated in the United States over two hundred years ago. Discover the only two instruments that have their roots in the United States and are truly America's own. Learn why some historians blame music for the Confederate loss of the Civil War.
SAMPLE REFERENCE
Kristèl Behrend
Cloverleaf Local School District
8525 Friendsville, Rd.
Lodi, Oh 44254
To Whom It May Concern:
Brett and Serenity Ridgeway gave a wonderful day of performances to my students at Lodi Primary, grades pre-school-2. They were very talented musicians. In addition, they were very easy to work with and adapted readily to each situation.
They began our day by "sitting in" on four of my first grade music classes. Actually, they completely taught each class giving every child a chance to play the Appalachian instruments that they were sharing. They even accommodated double and triple classes to allow each first grader this more intimate experience.
Later in the afternoon, they gave a large-scale assembly to the entire 2nd grade class and our kindergarten and pre-schoolers as well. The auditorium was packed, but they kept the kids attention for a full 45 minutes entertaining them with historical American works on the lap dulcimer, hammered dulcimer, fiddle, and banjo to mention a few. In the middle, we needed to change our set-up to accommodate all the kids they went right with the flow without hesitation. They also involved the teachers in a bit of a demonstration of how easy these instruments are to begin to learn. Everyone enjoyed the show!
The Ridgeways not only play the American folk instruments, but they also dress the part and give age-appropriate historical information as they go. I think they would be a wonderful assembly for older kids as well. I highly recommend Brett and Serenity they are an excellent duo.
