Feb 27 - Mar 1, 2009
A mid-winter retreat is a perfect time for those who work with young people to re-charge their batteries. Come join members of The Children’s Music Network (CMN — see www.cmnonline.org), a group of songwriters, teachers, and parents inspired by Pete Seeger, the Grandfather of the Network, who banded together 21 years ago.
Many of us work with children, teaching them, raising them, caring for them as parents, teachers, caretakers for most of our days and nights. We teach them, sing with them, dance with them, play games with them, listen and talk with them, and run on instinct, inspiration, and experience.
Only rarely do we have the chance to get together with other adults to fill our souls, to exchange questions and ideas, to process information, to hone our skills, and find new material. Bring stories, singing games, guitars, fiddles, dulcimers, and whatever you want to the feast. We will sing, dance, laugh, cry, share songs and games and techniques and ideas, discuss challenges and work toward solutions with other adults. The leaders are inspiring educators and national award-winning musicians who will facilitate this weekend of music, sharing, laughter, thought, and revitalization.
Feel the pure joy of singing. Come to harvest wonderful new songs, enjoy the music (listeners are welcome), perhaps share a song you wrote, and above all laugh with unbridled hilarity.
On Sunday morning, we’ll engender hope during “Songs of Inspiration.” Rowe’s copy machine will be humming as songs get shared with all who want them. Bring your favorites about your love of our gorgeous planet and the thirst for peace and justice that lives within us all. We hope you’ll join us for the fourth rendition of this fine retreat.
Sally Rogers, who plays guitar, banjo, and dulcimer, has made frequent radio appearances on A Prairie Home Companion and Mountain Stage. She won Best Folk Album of 1982, Best Children’s Recording of 1992 and 1993, and will share ways to get classrooms to sing.
Jackson Gillman, “the Stand-Up Chameleon,” makes music come alive in his wide array of colorful guises. Sparkling with energy, wit, and whimsy, he engages and delights audiences of all ages through his songsmithing, comedy, mime, and storytelling.
Kim Wallach, who loves to help teachers find songs, and help students write songs, has made three tapes of children’s music, four Short Sister’s albums, four collections of original songs, a recording for older children, and is in a woman’s song-writing group, the Rolling Crones.