School Programs & Lessons
Parts II and III of the "Polaris Bluegrass Intensive" series:
School Programs:
- Bluegrass Music Intensive (5th grade and up - see video below):
An introductory immersion into bluegrass music history, instrumentation and performance. Students learn basic skills on guitar, banjo, mandolin, stand-up bass and harmonica, and explore harmony singing. They also learn standard bluegrass songs and write their own songs for final
performance. This program can be conducted as a week-long intensive, once-a-week for a semester, or anything in between. - Songwriting Class (5th grade and up):
Students explore fundamentals of poetry & creative writing and examine standard song forms such as blues, bluegrass, country and rock-and-roll. They co-write & compose songs with peers and give constructive critique within a group. Final assessment is an open mic-style public performance. This program is customizable, but is most effective when offered once a week as a semester-long project. - Customizable Programs (appropriate for any age):
American Folk music pairs well with history and geography. From specific time periods and specific regional locations came specific songs particular to the people living the experience. Historically were The Great Depression, the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, and the Civil Rights movement. Regionally there were coal miners, cowboys, riverboat captains and Midwestern settlers. Programs can be designed to enhance your curriculum in any of these subjects.