Join the rhythm revolution with Downbeat Percussion, the official drumline of the Buffalo Bills! From thrilling stadium performances to engaging school shows, we bring high-energy entertainment and character education to audiences of all ages. Get ready to drum, dance, and be inspired!

Strum Bowing is a method that Tracy Silverman has developed to teach string players how to groove. A Strum Bowing Workshop could be anything from a one-hour Zoom meeting with a school orchestra to a weeklong residency culminating with a concert. Workshops are based loosely on Silverman's book, The Strum Bowing Method. With school or youth orchestras, it’s often effective to have a zoom session a month or two before a live workshop or residency so the group can start working on some of the Groove Studies ahead of time. Tracy also encourages the instructor to take a lesson with him if they can, to familiarize themselves with the techniques. He works with players of all ages and abilities, from elementary school beginners to conservatory pre-professionals to adult learners. He also presents pedagogy sessions and lessons with string teachers. He has lots of improvisation games that are effective for younger players (and great for breaking through inhibitions for older players) and the simplicity of the Strum Bowing method is accessible across age ranges. For school orchestras, Tracy offers a collection of 22 Groove Studies for Strings which are an effective way to apply and reinforce the concepts of Strum Bowing and to practice techniques like Ghosting, Chopping, Subdividing, and developing the 3-D Strum. A favorite format is to work with the orchestra in rehearsals/workshops and then present a shared concert which usually consists of a solo program by Tracy using his live looping and electric 6-string violin, and then a collaboration with the orchestra on several pieces, which could be from the 22 Groove Studies for Strings or any piece that the orchestra is working on. Grooving — awakening our inner sense of rhythm using Strum Bowing, essential to rock, jazz, hip hop, etc. The Chop — non-pitched percussion sounds. Also the Compound Chop and the 3-D Strum Ghost Notes — muted notes within a groove Improvising — cultivating our natural curiosity and playfulness with fun improv games Call and Response — ear training, rhythm training, style training GPS for Strings (Groove Proficiency System) — Silverman's 4 step formula for finding your way to any groove Blues scale and the blues Other Workshop Topics ??Lecture/Demonstration – performance and explanations about technique, equipment, career etc; questions from the audience. General audience. ?Improvisation for Strings – an overview of the blues; call and response; simple scales and approaches for first-time improvisers. String players with instruments.

Once Upon a Toon is a unique hybrid of storytelling with live cartoon illustrations. Multi-Emmy Award-winning cartoonist Joe Wos draws the stories as he tells them, in a lively and engaging program for all ages. Pulling from original stories and folktales with a twist, this live show is like watching a picture book being drawn before your very eyes. Each presentation includes a short guessing game, a how-to example, and two illustrated stories. Yielding between 15-20 drawings at every show. Best of all the illustrations stay with your school and may be displayed, auctioned, or even photocopied to share with students. Popular illustrated tales include Joe’s original pun-filled adventure “Don on the Farm” about a duck who longs to be a rooster, and with some help from his friends, they all help each other achieve their dreams! Joe also puts his unique spin on such classics as The Crowded House, How Turtle Flew South, How Elephant Got His Trunk, and many more.

Multi-award-winning, bestselling author Paul Volponi (38 years of classroom experience) teaching 4 to 5 workshops per day, combing how literature is a daily part of our lives and creative writing. Not a lecture, but a group dynamic where everyone speaks and writes -- powerpoint presentation in the background.

From color-changing creatures to extreme environments to far-out foods, Alicia Klepeis loves to research fun and out-of-the-ordinary topics that bring the world to young readers. Alicia began her career at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. She is the author of over 200 children’s books, the majority of which are nonfiction. Her recent nonfiction titles include Go Wild! Frogs; Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts; and Polar Bears & Penguins: A Pretty Cool Introduction to the Arctic and Antarctic. She was featured on PBS Books’ Author Talk for Kids series about her book The Science And Technology Of Ben Franklin. Her fiction works include the wildlife-focused collections Secrets of the Forest and Secrets of the Ocean: 15 Bedtime Stories Inspired By Nature. She is also the author of the picture book Francisco’s Kites/Las cometas de Francisco, which was named to the Tejas Star Reading List. A former middle school teacher, Alicia loves doing author visits and regularly presents to kids from PreK – Grade 8. Her programs include Amazing Animals, Making Nonfiction Fun, and Let’s Go There! She is more than happy to tailor her presentations to a school’s interests and curricula. She is currently working on projects on the topics of nocturnal animals, popular musicians, and world history. She lives with her family in upstate New York where she can often be found eating fruity candy while reading a book or writing a letter to one of her many penpals.

We offer small group or class sized lessons on art history, including American artists Winslow Homer, George Inness, Childe Hassam, and many more. These are 45 minutes and usually include an art making activity. https://www.arkellmuseum.org/school-programs

The Apple-Y EverAfter Show is an arts-infused literacy program designed to spark imagination, strengthen reading comprehension, and inspire a lifelong love of reading in students from Pre-K through Elementary. Our program captivates children’s attention with catchy rhymes, sight words, and interactive songs that make literacy fun. In addition, through music, dance, and delicious apple-filled adventures, the show teaches kids to be brave, try new things, and celebrate cultural differences. Students will be actively engaged with interactive activities throughout the show. Theatrical experiences have been proven to not only benefit students’ academic achievement, but to also foster socioemotional learning, improve communication skills, enhance memory and concentration, and develop critical thinking skills. You also choose one of our add-on programs as part of the student experience: Cuddle and Read: with this program, kids create a cuddly reading pal, celebrate with Judge Bear’s adoption ceremony, and take home a Reading Tracker. Schools get a year’s supply to keep the reading fun alive! Playful Picasso: with this creative literacy program, books spark imagination and stories leap off the pages. Students begin with a playful scavenger hunt, then bring their discoveries to life through painting or a hands-on activity. This experience helps strengthen comprehension, encourages self-expression, and builds confident, joyful readers So join Novel, Novella, and Chef de Pomme as they hop from one exciting destination to the next, whipping up scrumptious apple desserts and learning that everyone can grow to love apples—maybe you will too! Let’s bring this adventure to your students!

Stomping Ground is an overnight camp in the gateway to the Adirondacks in Saratoga Springs, New York. We are building radically empathetic communities through humble curiosity, personal responsibility, restorative practices, and unbounded creativity. In the off season, we offer more focused programming around community building, conflict resolution training through circles, and practices focused in empathy and inclusion. Our mission is to partner with young people to inspire the next generation of radically empathetic decision makers. Together we re-imagine a more perfect world.

The Magic of Reading with Brian Richards is designed to tickle the imagination, highlight the fun of reading, and encourage children to explore the library. This elementary reading school assembly will inspire your students to open a book and start reading! Featuring magic, comedy, audience participation, storytelling, and educational fun, The Magic of Reading assembly show is a hit with students, teachers, and staff! Librarians, Teachers, PTA Presidents, Principals, Students, and Parents have and continue to give amazing reviews for this program. This elementary reading school assembly show promotes reading and the importance of visiting the library, utilizing Magic, Comedy, Storytelling, and Audience participation. The Magic of Reading will touch on reading genres and the types of books found in the library, including Fantasy, Adventure, Mysteries, Science Fiction, Horror, Non-Fiction, and more. The show features the books “The Empty Pot” and “Abiyoyo.”

MUSIC OF THE EARTH - A Celebration of World Cultures and Our Planet! Mysterious, exciting, information-packed! World cultures come alive through the powerful vibrations of exotic instruments from around the globe. Unique, interactive assemblies with giant drums, crystal singing bowls, Australian didgeridoos, Chinese gongs, Native American flutes and chants, Indian snake charmer, Aztec wind whistle, Scottish Bagpipes, and much more! Special programs available for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Winter Solstice, Earth Week (April) and St. Patrick’s Day.

I coordinate Onondaga Lake education experiences for elementary and middle school students. The lake field trips involve hands-on learning stations that include fishing, water quality testing, a nature walk to learn about the ecosystem, a local history lesson related to Onondaga Lake, and an integrated art project.

Planting Seeds of Joy: Cultivating Environmental Stewardship and Personal Growth Program Description: Cody Wasial, Americas Joy Catalyst, brings Wee Plant Joy's mission to schools through an engaging program that inspires environmental stewardship and personal growth. Small Group Version (15-30 students): Eco-Mindfulness: Guided sound and movement exercises to connect with nature. Seed Planting: Hands-on activity representing personal growth and conservation. Conservation Storytelling: Sharing inspiring Wee Plant Joy project stories. Vision Board Creation: Students design boards reflecting environmental goals. Eco-Action Planning: Brainstorming sessions for local and global environmental initiatives. Assembly Option (Larger groups): Interactive Presentation: Engaging talk on environmental stewardship and personal growth. Group Eco-Mindfulness: Brief guided exercise for the whole assembly. Conservation Storytelling: Sharing impactful Wee Plant Joy stories. Collective Vision: Creating a school-wide environmental vision board. Call to Action: Inspiring students to participate in eco-friendly initiatives and create a campaign alongside Wee Plant JOY efforts . Educational Impact This interactive presentation aims to inspire students to actively engage in conservation efforts while promoting personal growth and enhancing environmental awareness. By combining storytelling, creativity, and actionable planning, students will leave feeling empowered and motivated to make a positive impact on the world around them. This overview captures the essence of your interactive presentation while ensuring clarity and engagement for students. Both versions aim to inspire active participation . The program can be tailored to specific classroom needs and age groups. For older students (9-12), Wee Plant Joy will offer eco-tours, providing hands-on experience with ongoing conservation projects. NOTE: We are building are new Wee Plant Joy Website as we speak which will also have an interactive component that kids can watch and participate in and with as well engage in social media campaigns and follow the journey of Wee Plant Joy and know they are making a difference.