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"
"I Like to Read a Mystery"
"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 $350/1 show; $500/2 shows; add $100 for each additional
show. [Fees valid through May 2007]
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.
