Mike Finders offers
Folk Music Education
for All
The fabric of America was woven together by the working people, to the tune of its own regional music. American history is inseparable from the songs and stories of the simple folks that have endured and produced it, building roads, mendin' draw'rs, laboring at the mill, on docks and in the fields. 
Folk music education grabs this thread of history and gives it to today's students.The thread is long and many textured. It contains many songs, stories, emotions, and it goes on, forward. In today's education we must continue to weave with this thread. New songs will be written, new stories told.
Welcome to Folk Music Education...
an initiative that endeavors to use America's rich folk music traditions to teach history and self-expression. Mike Finders, founder of FME, has been a folk musician for 33 of his 39 years, and a special education teacher for 17 years. In that time he's seen a lot of what goes on in today's schools and is proud to offer folk music education as a big hunk of what is missing.
Folk music education weaves through the standard history, language and music curriculums (even incorporating math and science), tapping into those more useful qualities of discovery, patience, expression and character. What good is learning music if you can't make up your own songs? What good is writing if you don't use it to tell your own stories?
Folk music education endeavors to teach all students rudimentary folk skills on guitar, harmonica and banjo. Country, blues, bluegrass, even early jazz and rock music all started right here in America with a foot stomp and bad attitude. Simple songs are easy to teach, as are the forms they're made with--enabling students to write their own songs. Armed with three chords and the truth, students can change the world. American history can spark and snap more than ever when told through the plunk of a banjo or the bluesy moan of a harmonica.
Mr. Finders (say finn-ders)
Mike's teaching experience is rich with at-risk students, for whom traditional methods of music, language and history instruction have not born fruit. He has found that the simplicity of folk music, stories and skills resonate with all students--turning dunces and trouble-makers into sirens and poets, and serious ace students into joyous jug-band stompers.
The rest of this website contains more information about Mike Finders, programs and services available through folk music education, Mike's blog, Folk Music Education partnerships, resources, and contact information.
Stick and click around awhile, then send an email asking how you can get some folk music education yourself.
You know you need it.