SCHOOL 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. The instrument sounds beautiful in her adaption of the Japanese folk tale, The Stonecutter, where Bonnie has cut some of her chord bars in a Kyoto scale. 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.
Read some Comments about Bonnie's School Performances
	TEACHER WORKSHOPS
	FUN MUSIC AND LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES FOR THE YOUNG CHILD (Pre-K through 3rd grade) Award winning musician, recording artist and former teacher Bonnie Phipps, present a practical workshop for parents and teachers who are looking for new ways to develop reading and language skills. She will present ideas on how to use songs to create a variety of activities that encourage reading and language development, creative expression and just plain fun. You will also learn new songs to sing with your children and how to play spoons.
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.

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