SCHOOL AND LIBRARY PERFORMANCES

Bonnie Phipps is many things, a national award winning recording artist, a published author, a national Autoharp Champion, a contemporary folk singer, a spoons player, a storyteller, a former teacher, AND . . . an undeniable hit with children!! She has developed a diverse repertoire of songs and stories from all over the world, plus original and contemporary material. Bonnie adapts her programs to the age level of each audience with ease and encourages their participation in such a positive manner that even the most reserved children join in with enthusiasm.

Bonnie uses her hot pink and turquoise Autoharps to accompany her songs and to heighten the action in her stories. She plays the Autoharp in a totally different way presenting a whole new concept of the Autoharp as a solo instrument. She also plays the spoons, the jaw harp and the paper bags, which she learned during her travels to Appalachia. Bonnie uses storytelling to set the scene for songs about dinosaurs, girls with ten foot long names, the antics of Lucy Lum, Don Gato the cat or a monster who is afraid of children. Young audiences listen to the lyrics that follow with "pleasure, enthusiasm and understanding."

OBJECTIVES:

• To develop language, listening and thinking skills while presenting songs and stories to children.
• To introduce children to materials from various cultures from around the world, with special attention to Appalachia.
• To introduce a variety of Appalachian folk instruments, especially the Autoharp and spoons.
• To create a spring board for post-concert language activities in the classroom. (Study guide available).
• To create an atmosphere of fun and interest through material that is age appropriate, diverse and participatory.
• To celebrate the joy of music, stories and song.

Comments about Bonnie's School Performances


References and Letters of Recommendation

STORYTELLING WORKSHOP BY BONNIE PHIPPS

The workshop begins with a whole school storytelling assembly.  Then each class will be visited by the artist.  The students will learn techniques of bringing stories to life through discussion, examples, and participation in short, hands-on storytelling exercises.  Each class will be presented with a different short folk tale to learn, and students will work on retelling it in their individual way.  Depending on the length of the residency or workshop, a master class can be chosen (one student from each classroom) and they will work further on their stories and do a few school assembly programs and if possible, a public performance such as the example below presented at the Boulder Public Library Theater last year. 

A group of young storytellers from Rocky Mountain School for the Gifted and Creative will tell folk tales about trickster rabbits, how lazy Jack won the day, a riddle master, why the dog hates the cat, a clever leopard, why there are no turtles in New York, and more.  Audiences will be captivated with the oldest form of entertainment - storytelling.

STORYTELLING WORKSHOP OPTIONS

• One day workshop includes whole school performance and classroom workshop visits
• 5 day residency includes a whole school performance, multiple class workshops with an  optional master class.  The 5 days can be spread over 3 - 4 weeks. 

LEARN TO PLAY THE AUTOHARP

If you can clap your hands in time, then you can learn to play the basics of the Autoharp. It is a great tool for classroom use. In this workshop you will learn how to do simple strumming techniques and play easy 2 and 3 chord children's songs. We will also touch on tuning the Autoharp and on ideas of how to work with children on the instrument.

LEARN TO PLAY THE SPOONS

Make your spoons sing for their supper in this fun filled workshop. Bonnie will show you how to hold the spoons and guide you through a variety of techniques and rhythms exercises. Before you know it you will be confidently accompanying selected excerpts of recorded music that Bonnie has prepared for the class. You will learn how to put together a spoons unit for your class.