Artist: Tom Breiding

Songwriting is a rewarding and enjoyable method of learning. During this six session artist residency, students will examine a significant historical event to suite your school's needs, and they will construct song lyrics, incorporating literary elements such as theme, point of view, setting, imagery, meter, and rhyme. Tom, a Language Arts classroom teacher of 18 years, will guide students to organize these lyrics in a verse/chorus structure, and with his guitar accompaniment, they will perform and record their original historical ballads on primitive instruments such as washboards, spoons, and a washtub bass. No musical background is necessary.

A scheduled performance of Tom's assembly program: Western Pennsylvania: The Region that Built America prior to this residency is recommended.

Maximum # of students:

25

Requirements:

A large, clear classroom; pencils and paper

Minimum sequential workshops:

6