Programs for Everybody!

 

  The Works of Pete Seeger - Pete Seeger turned 92 on May 3, 2011. This program looks at the legacy, struggles, songs and stories of one of America’s most beloved folk singers - the man who gave us “If I Had a Hammer,” “Turn, Turn, Turn,” and “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy.” Click here for complete description of this program. (The picture is of me and Pete at a Grammy Award celebration on May 23, 2009.)
An excellent program for Festivals, Libraries, Arts Centers, Churches, Schools and other meeting places.

 

    The Songs of Peter Paul and Mary - There's a great picture of the Beatles back stage at the Ed Sullivan show in 1964 staring in awe at Peter Paul and Mary. The Beatles knew they were in the company of incredible and important musicians. This trio did more to make American folk music accessible to the masses than anyone else. People all over the world sang along to "Puff the Magic Dragon," "Leaving on a Jet Plane" and "Blowin in the Wind." And audience members can't help but sing along with Spook as he leads them through this heart-opening, educational, and voice-raising program! (Occasionally, Spook is joined by Paul Prestopino who toured with PPM for 15 years as a back up musician.)
An excellent program for Libraries, Arts Centers, Churches, Schools and other meeting places.
 

    America's Story through Folk Songs traces American Folk Music from Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger through today. Honoring the great traditions of American roots music, songs inspired by the Dust Bowl, Great Depression, Civil Right Movement, 60's and 70's Peace Movement and more recent issues are presented with a completely contemporary sound and unabashedly positive sensibility. The passion, purpose and spirit of American folk music is alive and well.
An excellent program for Libraries, Arts Centers, Churches, Schools and other meeting places.
 

    Tales from the Road - Spook’s been to every American state except North Dakota, Hawaii, Michigan and Long Island (huh?). And he’s met all kinds of people with all kinds of backgrounds – some comical, some downright sad. In this humorous, heartwarming and inspiring concert Spook will share stories and songs about the places he’s been, people he’s met and the jobs and other predicaments he’s found himself in.
An excellent program for Libraries, Arts Centers, Churches, Schools and other meeting places.
 

    Let’s Get Out the Vote! - Democracy goes way beyond the right to vote. But voting is an essential part of the process. Clean community programs, environmental legislation, civil rights, women’s rights, worker’s rights and so many other issues we all value are affected by who our elected officials are. This fun, empowering and educational concert brings people from all parts of the community together to celebrate the vision of the founders of this great nation. Sing along, laugh and let your voice be heard!!
An excellent program for Libraries, Arts Centers, Churches, Schools and other meeting places.
 

    Spook Handy in Concert is the most popular show I do. Instead of being theme oriented, this is just simply me, my trio or full band showcasing mostly original songs from my 4 CDs. Sprinkled with occasional 60’s and 70’s folk songs or an obscure original, this concert engages audiences of all backgrounds and ages.
An excellent program for Festivals, Libraries, Arts Centers, Concert Halls, Outdoor Concerts and any other place where good music is heard.
 

    Whatcha Gonna Do? - It's Up to You! celebrates the universal values of healing through taking personal responsibility for our actions here on Earth, making peace with our fellow human beings, and taking an active role in making the world a better place.
An excellent program for Libraries, Arts Centers, Churches, Schools and other meeting places.
 

    Freedom Is Your Destiny looks at historic and current day issues surrounding the quest for personal, political and spiritual freedom. Click here for complete description of this program.
An excellent program for Libraries, Arts Centers, Churches, Schools and other meeting places.
 

    The “Stand Up and Sing Out” Series

Song has been a powerful component of American social movements from the Labor Rights and Civil Rights movements to the Green Revolution and beyond. Singing has also played vital roles in peace movements, anti-war protests, environmental awareness campaigns and efforts to promote religious tolerance. Labor activist Joe Hill said in the early 20th century, “A pamphlet, no matter how good, is never read more than once, but a song is learned by heart and repeated over and over.” Civil rights leader and later presidential candidate Jesse Jackson said while “mass action created the body of the (civil rights) movement … the music breathed its soul.”

A “Stand Up and Sing Out” program can be tailored to your needs. It can be broad based or hone in on one particular area such as Civil Right, Labor Rights, etc. Because these programs are highly educational they are particularly excellent for colleges and other educational institutions. The format can also be tailored to your needs: It generally includes a concert and supplemental in-class visits. And all programs always include audience involvement – singing along, commentary and Q&A.

* “Your presentation in my class today was amazing and I loved your song 'Lead Us Home to the Promised Land.' Your energy was amazing, too. It inspired me to look beyond how others see me and to just follow my heart instead.”

                                – Autumn Hill, Anthropology student at Salt Lake Community College, UT

     The Power of Song in the Civil Rights Movement. This “Stand Up and Sing Out” program (see above) focuses on the songs of the Civil Rights Movement. It traces the sound track of the movement from the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 to the March on Washington in 1963 to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King in 1968 and beyond. Learn about the songs’ roots in era of slavery, the black churches of the south and the labor movement of the early 20th century and discover how the lessons of the civil rights movement have influenced and are reflected in “movement songs” of today. Be prepared to sing along and feel the power of the music that breathed the soul of the civil rights movement.
This engaging, educational, entertaining and empowering program is particularly excellent for college audiences and can be supplemented with in-class lectures/concerts, Q&A and workshops to address the specific questions and interests of students today. It is also excellent for schools, arts centers, festivals, conferences, libraries, churches and anywhere else people want to experience the power of song. This program incorporates NJ Core Curriculum Standards: 1.5, 3.4, 5.1, 6.2, 6.4 and 6.6.
 

     The Power of Song in American Social Movements This “Stand Up and Sing Out” program (see above) broadly traces the history of “movement songs” from the early 1900’s to present. It explores how old church songs and folk songs were adapted to reflect the struggles and hopes of their times. It addresses the rich history behind the songs. And perhaps most important audiences can’t help but stand up and sing out themselves as they feel the power that has shaped and continues to shape the curve of American cultural history.
An excellent program for Schools, Libraries, Arts and Cultural Centers, Festivals and for groups concerned with how song can be used to strengthen their work toward a social cause. Workshops, Q&A and Lecture/Concerts can be powerful supplements to this concert. This program incorporates NJ Core Curriculum Standards: 1.5, 3.4, 5.1, 6.2, 6.4 and 6.6.
 

Programs for Young People (and everyone else)

 

  Litter and the Three R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) – A Clean Communities Program Choices we make every day have a huge impact on whether we live in a clean or dirty world. According to your needs, this program can focus specifically on Litter and the Three R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) or more broadly address the environment, ecology and/or global warming. Children and Families love this fun, interactive and educational concert that addresses some of the simple steps we can take to reduce waste, save energy, and become better stewards of the forests, air, water and open spaces we all share.
An excellent program for Festivals, Libraries, Arts Centers, Summer Concert Series, Summer Playgrounds programs, Camps and Schools. Great for families and young alike. This program incorporates NJ Core Curriculum Standards: 1.5, 3.4, 5.1, 6.2, 6.4 and 6.6.

    Around America and Back Again is a fun-packed program for children or the whole family that is sure to open your heart and leave you with fond memories for years to come.   I think back often to when I was a kid singing many of these very same songs around the campfire.   And I still love singing them today.   Sing along to and learn stories behind some of America’s favorite folk songs.   Touching broadly on America’s beautiful landscape and important periods in its history, this program is a fun and interactive way to learn geography, history and the values and principals upon which this nation was formed.

* “Hey Spook, I've seen the families who attended your show and the parents told me they really enjoyed it. A couple of the kids were still singing the songs you did – Comin' 'Round the Mountain and The Finger & Thumb Song.”

                                – Diane Cann, West Deptford Public Library, NJ

Great for the whole family or K-6 Assemblies.
This program incorporates NJ Core Curriculum Standards: 1.5, 3.4, 6.1, 6.2, 6.4 and 6.6.
 

    Good Citizenship – We all make a Difference - What does it mean to be a good citizen? School students and other children give a variety or answers: “Taking care of the Earth.” “Not littering.” “Making friends instead of fighting.” “Blacks, Whites, Asians and Latinos living together.” “Voting.” This interactive, educational and fun program addresses the meaning of democracy, clean communities, environmental issues, civil rights, women’s rights, worker’s rights, the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King and other issues of good citizenship that we all value. It focuses on the commonality of people from all parts of the community and celebrates the vision of the founders of this great nation. Audiences sing along, laugh and let their voices be heard!!
An excellent program for Libraries, Arts Centers, Churches, Schools and other meeting places.
 

Programs for the Whole Family

 

All of my programs are good for the whole family. You can read the descriptions and decide for yourself. But this one is particularly designed for parents to interact with their kids.

  Passing Along the Folk Music Tradition - For generations children grew up singing with the whole family, at large gatherings, at school or in their churches. Before the advent of radio, TV and the internet this was the primary form of entertainment. Today, however, many people are worried that this centuries-old tradition is being deleted from the hard drive of the modern human experience. And along with that society is losing one of the most powerful tools for building strong families and strong communities. This program is simple. Let’s make sure our kids know some of the treasures of American Folk Music. We’ll sing old favorites like “This Land is Your Land”, “If I had a Hammer”, “I’ve been Working on the Railroad”, "She'll be coming Around the Mountain" and maybe some newer songs. If the children don’t already know a song we’ll take the time to teach them. Parents are encouraged to sit with their children and help them learn the songs.
An excellent program for Libraries, Arts Centers, Churches, in the Classroom or K-4 Assemblies.
This program incorporates NJ Core Curriculum Standards: 1.5, 3.4, 6.1, 6.2, 6.4 and 6.6.

 

Programs for Active Adults

 

    Folk Revival! - Remember the good days of Peter Paul and Mary, early Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger? People sang along and felt a real sense that this generation was going to do something big. This program keeps that spirit alive. We’ll have a great time singing the Folk Revival classics from the 50’s and 60’s and few surprise pop classics from the 60’s.
Great for Active Adult dinner parties, clubhouse parties, etc.
This program incorporates NJ Core Curriculum Standards: 1.5, 3.4, 6.1, 6.2, 6.4 and 6.6.
 

Programs for Seniors, Young People (and everyone else)

 

    Great Old American Sing-Alongs brings us back to a time when the family gathered with neighbors by the fireplace on chilly nights and sang old familiar tunes like "Oh Susanna," "Home on the Range," "I've Been Working on the Railroad" and many, many more memorable songs of the American folk music tradition.
Great for the whole family, Seniors or K-4 in-the-classroom events
This program incorporates NJ Core Curriculum Standards: 1.5, 3.4, 6.1, 6.2, 6.4 and 6.6.
 

Programs for Children with Special Needs

 

    For children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other special needs I offer a special 45 minute program of sing alongs and an interactive story that involves one-on-one participation between parents/caregivers and their children. The focus of the program is to teach songs and involve the children while offering encouragement to parents/caregivers to experience the wonder of sharing songs with them.

* “You have a real gift for working with special needs children. I wrote in my report how seamlessly you fit into the program, as if you had been there for years.”

                                – Kate Opella, New Jersey VSA Music Mentors Program for Children with Special Needs

Great for the whole family, and special needs in-the-classroom events
This program incorporates NJ Core Curriculum Standards: 1.5, 3.4, 6.1, 6.2, 6.4 and 6.6.
 

Outreach Programs

 

    Seniors Outreach - Many Senior Centers, Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Homes with limited budgets can still afford top notch musical entertainment. That’s because Spook has drastically reduced his fees for such venues as a way of giving back to a generation that has given so much to our nation and world. Beside, what’s more soul satisfying than spending an hour sharing America’s favorite songs like "Good Night, Irene" "She’ll be Coming Around the Mountain," and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (not to mention a Beetles song or two) with a room full of people who just love to sing?