These workshops are geared towards educators, librarians, recreational leaders and counsellors who work with pre-schoolers through elementary-age children. Workshops can be included as part of a residency, or presented separately.
     Below you will find descriptions of the workshops, and a few comments on them, as well.

  This is a totally FUN, whimsical yet profound workshop that runs from 1-3 hours. It's a basic, practical, hands-on program on how to make simple instruments with groups of young folks. Participants are skillfully guided on the best use of common materials and simple hand-tools, on how to make and play the instruments; and they are offered tips on introducing the projects to the children with whom they work as well as teaching playing techniques. (This is, for sure, a very non-musician-friendly workshop.) Cross-curricular applications are then brainstormed with the group, as well as ways to adapt the projects for different ages, abilities, group sizes and time-frames. We also have a group "jam" on our instruments, if time allows. Hand-outs on each instrument made reinforce the learned skills.
Some of the possible projects include: shakers, straw oboes, rainsticks, cuicas, pan pipes, washtub bass, drums, one-string jug banjos, tubaphones, thumb-pianos and marimbas. How many projects are covered depends on the length of the workshop. 
    Comments on this workshop:
       "Once again your workshop was the hit of the Teachers’ Program.....our participants were eager for the hands-on experience you gave them.  I would highlight a few points that the attendees seemed to appreciate most.
You combine elements the way teachers must in classroom settings.  They learn quickly to work together, teach each other, learn by doing and appreciate small differences among us.
Secondly, the process you set up encourages creativity.   Teachers stepped outside of their starting assumptions.  Being able to hear and see and feel the results is a big plus compared to much of what we learn in continuing professional education.
Third was the variety of skills and information that you provide year after year.  Those of us responsible for the design of the Teachers’ Professional Development Program have special appreciation for the potential of the workshops you provide......(T)hankyou for your continuing service to the community." - Stuart Vexler, PhD., Chairman, Board of Directors, TX Folk Music Foundation/Kerrville Folk Festival

       "I would teach children music, physics and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns of music and all the arts are the keys of learning" - Plato

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A one-hour workshop that offers a passle of fun and easy tunes to fill those little gaps when you just have a few minutes. Finger plays, call-and-response, singing-games and sure-fire attention-getters and group energizers.

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 A one-hour workshop that teaches group leaders “the best of" from the many, many programs I’ve presented over the last 25  years in both educational and recreational settings. This is  a collection of fun and easy-to-learn songs that involve groups in singing and movement. Participants are advised as to efficient techniques for teaching small and large groups.
The workshop may be recorded (video or audio), or copies on cassette will be available for purchase. Hand-outs contain the lyrics to the songs and a brief description of movements involved.
    Comments:
        "You are full of so many wonderful ideas and have so much to offer. And you do what you do with such enthusiasm and do it so well!"-Marilyn Coffin, past-pres. NH Music Educator’s Association, Spring Workshop day

This is a one- to three-hour workshop for  K-6th grade teachers on how to re-write songs. It’s a hands-on adventure in creating lyrics to fit pre-existing songs. We work in small and large groups, start with  changing a few lyrics  (“zipper” songs) and move into re-writing an entire song. No special musical/singing skills required. Some possible areas of focus are : Writing Songs to Teach Content / Writing a School Song / Writing to Encourage Literacy Skills

Post-workshop activities can include a concert with Purly to celebrate the songwriting process and/or an in-school digital recording session(s) to document student-written songs.

A one- or two-hour workshop on basic-to-intermediate guitar playing, geared to “prime”
educators and group leaders who want to, or already play guitar, enabling them to become  more effective musicians and song-leaders. Drawing on 30+ years of experience as a guitar teacher (and song leader), I offer tips on using simple chords, picks and strums; how to choose a good key to sing in; use of a capo; how to transpose easily; how to introduce new songs to groups of children and/or how to instruct children in guitar playing.

FEES/MORE INFO contact:
Fees are determined by length of workshop and whether it is part of a residency. Group size
may be limited - depending on which workshop is presented. Materials, travel and lodging
(if applicable) are charged separately. Average fees run $200-400 for 1-3 hr. workshops.

info@purlygates.com

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