A Day of Stories and Song To Write, To Tell, To Sing, To Share
Assemblies |
Classroom Workshops |Teacher Workshops|
Meet the Author |Evening Concert
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| “Bill Harley has the uncanny ability to reaffirm life for listeners, be they five or fifty. Humor, empathy, intelligence and reality all radiate from his work and from him.” - Penguin Books |
A GRAMMY® award winning artist, Bill uses song and story paint a vibrant and hilarious picture of growing up,schooling and family life. His work spans the generation gap, reminds us of our common humanity and challenges us to be our very best selves. A prolific author and recording artist, Bill is also a regular commentator for NPR’s All Things Considered and featured on PBS. Harley joined the National Storytelling Network's Circle of Excellence in 2001 and tours nationwide as an author and performing artist.
With these considerable talents, Bill considers his real work to be using these skills to encourage his audience to see the world anew by experiencing “live art”, to honor the emotional lives of children and adults and finally, to pass along a love of language and music.
| “Everybody worries about things being educational' with kids. I believe everything is educational, in that it says something about how one looks at the world - it imparts a knowledge, or world-view. Children learn more from context than they do from explicit lessons. They learn vocabulary and language not from a dictionary or worksheet, but from conversation, they learn songs not from reading music, but from singing with someone who loves to sing, and they learn hope and kindness and cooperation not from being told to have them, but by experiencing them.” Bill Harley
“Harley has the heart of a child and a love of life we can all share.” L.A. PARENT MAGAZINE |
A day long visit by Bill Harley to your school will leave students energized about writing, and excited by the performing arts. Bill's ideas will leave teachers primed with dynamic new ideas and exercises. By the end of just one school day with Bill, everyone (even the grumpiest custodian) will be smiling!
Bill’s visit to the school begins with performances for the whole school (usually two, divided by age groups) followed by either workshops for students (Grades 3 and up) or teachers, or a session with the school’s music teacher and chorus, followed by an evening concert for the entire community. The chorus may join Bill onstage for part of the evening concert, which may be open to the public and used as a fundraiser. Bill’s award winning books and recordings are also available to purchase at a discounted rate to benefit the school community.
| “Bill’s songs make me want to be a better parent and a better citizen of the world. We've had so many wonderful family moments by putting on Bill's music during car trips - even when we're feeling tired and cranky, he pulls us together.” Sharon – parent and BIG fan
“He’s a one man cultural resource ...teachers and children alike were captivated by his tales and, the small group settings allowed the kids to understand how to use their talents to achieve something!” Amy Kerby, Millard, Nebraska
"Bill is a hero to our students!” Sarah Chase, Second Grade Teacher, Providence, Rhode Island |
Assemblies
Bill’s performances are an upbeat and participatory combination of story and song that are geared specifically for the grade levels he’s performing for. With original and folk-based material, written and adapted over the years, Bill knows how to reach both students and teachers. Across the country schools use his award-winning songs and stories in language, music, and drama programs.
A teacher in Tucson Arizona says: “Including Bill’s music and stories in my classroom is a reminder that true learning is effortless. Bill’s work is wonderfully inspirational - a gift to educators and the planet.”
| "I have learned not to be afraid when I tell stories. When you are talking in front of people you are learning. Bill has taught me that!" Taylor Kue, Fifth Grade
"Bill Harley is a great guy! He has an awesome imagination and enthusiasm for singing and storytelling! I want to be like him when I tell stories!" Genesis Castenada, Fifth Grade |
Classroom Workshops: best for grades 3 and up
Bill’s workshops focus on the nitty-gritty aspects of his work, offering insight into the writing process and reminding everyone involved that stories and songs require work and perseverance.
Story to Book: In addition to his thoughts on how stories are written and polished, Bill also brings along rough artwork and proofs to show the actual process involved in making a story into a book and what a book looks like before it’s actually printed and bound. Students are left with the understanding that writing is a challenge and a joy.
Songwriting 101: In this workshop Bill will share some of his songs, explain his songwriting process and write a song with the group. As part of this workshop Bill shares his insights about poetry as songs and stories with an emphasis on the relationship between the written, spoken and sung word.
“Bill Harley’s warmth, energetic and fun performances and workshops brought our students up close to poetry, stories and songs.” Margaret Wright, Librarian, Jackson, Mississippi
“I can’t explain enough how engaging, funny, enthusiastic, and amazing Bill is when he’s with my fourth graders. The kids are sooooo excited when they know they’ll get to see him, they work harder, listen harder, laugh harder and love learning with him." Kelly Barr, Fourth Grade Teacher, Providence, Rhode Island |
Teacher workshops: A Love of Story
Bill offers after school workshops to interested teachers, focusing on two aspects of his work - storytelling and writing. He gives teachers simple hands-on experience in telling stories to use as a teaching tool and to help their students develop their own storytelling skills. A serious student of story, Bill offers teachers a better understanding of how and why story works and how to encourage students to explore the wonderful world that story offers. Perhaps most important, Bill’s workshop for teachers honors the best of what they do and leaves them energized to keep doing their job.
| “Children laughed, teachers smiled and everyone enjoyed the humorous and insightful tales you told both in your performances and in your workshops. We’ve had performances by many wonderful artists since I have been involved in the Arts-in-Education program, but none that has touched us in quite the same way as you have.” Laura King, Portsmouth, Rhode Island |
Meet the Author
During the lunch hour or directly after school, Bill will make himself available to meet students, teachers and parents for a signing session. Participating schools may pre-order books and tapes for Bill to sign that day and earn 30% of all sales for your school. A signed book or tape is a permanent reminder to students and staff of the day spent with Bill - a reminder that will keep giving a little of Bill’s magic for a long time.
Evening Concert
Instead of the workshop option, many schools offer an evening concert for their whole school community – as a fundraising event or, simply as a community-building opportunity. Bill is happy to work with the music teacher and a small group of students during the day to accompany him for part of the concert. A songbook and CD’s are sent in advance for the music teacher to work with before Bill’s arrival. This is always an upbeat and joyous event – one that will have a lasting impact on the entire community.
To schedule Bill for a performance please Click here to contact us or
call us at 508-336-9703 9-5 pm. EST.
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