ICANREAD Program
Details
Singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Purly Gates brings
decades of experience performing for children, a well-stuffed
songbag, and an ample supply of renewable energy to her shows.
She was the recipient of National Endowment for the Arts funding
for residency work in elementary schools in Micronesia. DisneyWorld flew her in for
an Earth Day concert. Purly's given
performances from Boston to Austin, Florida to Oregon, Hawaii
and across the Pacific to Hawaii and Micronesia. In Texas, she
appeared on the Children’s stage at the Kerrville Folk Festival
and as faculty at the Kerrville Music Foundation’s Professional
Development
Workshops for Teachers. A former classroom teacher (3rd grade)
and music teacher (K-8), Purly was commissioned by the Texas
State Library to write the theme song for their statewide Summer
2004 Reading program. Scroll
down for the link to hear the song.
ICANREAD is a lively, up-beat Celebration of Reading
for preK-5th graders. The audience is
positively engaged during the entire program - with singing
along, clapping, hand motions,
verbal “filling-in-the-blanks” and some on-stage
assistance from children and adults alike playing percussion!
Purly plays guitar, ukulele, accordion, harmonica.....
and some unique instrumental surprises, as well!
And of course, Limber"Jack", the little wooden dancing
man, will provide toe-tapping rhythmn for at
least one song. He’s a sure-fire hit! There are songs
celebrating the joys and benefits of reading; songs about the
library; songs based on
folktales and current children’s books, songs to enhance
literacy skills and even a song based on the
6-trait writing method, with great tips for how to write
a good story.
The literacy program includes other great original songs
too, such as:
Click
here: "I'm
Gonna Get It (From a Book)" ....for
a listen
Click here: "Read
a Book....on the Wild Side"....for a
listen
Click
here: "Dr. Seuss Was
Smart".... for a listen
Click here: "Reading
- the Sport of Champions".... for
a listen plus other songs, such as:
"Check Out Some
Books to Read" (lyrics by Purly Gates)
"I Like to Read a
Mystery" (by Purly Gates)
"I'm Gonna Write a
Story" (based on the 6-trait
writing method) "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" (Lyrics by
Bill Martin, Jr/ Music by Purly Gates) "Had an Old Coat" (a
musical parallel to 'Joseph Had a Little Overcoat') "O-W-N-E-Y" ( based on
'A Small Dog's Big Journey - Around the World with Owney'
for the older grades) "Apples and Bananas" (a playful exploration of changing vowel sounds
in words)
*** Specific program content is
always adapted to be appropriate for the grade-level(s).
PROGRAM LENGTH: 30-35 min. for preK-2nd
grade / 40-45 min. for 3rd-5th
grade
[There is a limit of 250 students per show]
FEES start at $300/1 show; $450/2
shows; add $100 for each additional show. [Fees valid through June 2013]
Discounts are available for block-bookings. If you are
within 50 miles of the home base, there is no travel charge.
A lodging fee may apply for bookings more than 100 miles
from the home base. Please call or
email for availability and scheduling. For more
information on Purly’s Residencies, Workshops and wide range of
Themed Assembly Programs, ie:
Diversity, Self-Esteem, the Environment, Western - check
out Youth/Family
Programs.
