School Programs

Ken plays a wide range of traditional music and will take the students on a musical journey to Ireland, Scotland, Quebec, Appalachia, South America, China and beyond. Ken combines musical selections with explanations of the historical and cultural context of the traditional music. Ken explains how his instruments work, focusing on the hammered dulcimer, and how he came to play traditional music. Ken demonstrates the varieties of styles that he plays on the hammered dulcimer, illustrating numerous techniques and explains what makes traditional music unique. Ken gives a detailed demonstration of the hammer dulcimer, as it is a new instrument to most students. Some musical concepts are introduced. With smaller groups (75 or less), the students are invited to try the hammered dulcimer afterward, which is typically much fun for the kids! The program can be geared towards students of any age level.

Related areas of study in the classroom:

• The concept of 'tradition'
• Immigration and the transmission of cultures
• History, geography and culture of Ireland, Scotland, Quebec, Appalachia
• Life in the late 18th and 19th centuries (the period from which much of the repertoire comes)
• Traditional dance music

Click here to contact Ken for more information