Chris Kastle - Program Descriptions
PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS
A PIRATES LIFE FOR ME - Concert/LectureSet sail on a tall ship for a pirate adventure across the seven seas. Go in search of treasure, hear the cannons roar and meet bold buccaneers of days gone by. Find out the real stories of Captain Kidd and Blackbeard. The program is a 45-50 minute concert/lecture that includes songs and stories such as "High Barbaree", "Captain Kidd", "The Pirate" and "15 Men on a Dead Man's Chest" among many others.
Audience: general, special populations and families; groups of up to 250 students-grades 4-12.
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A WHALE OF A TALE - Concert/Lecture
Learn about the world.s whales and of how our attitudes have changed over time. Hear how it used to be to chase the mighty whale and find out why we don.t need to any longer. This program was originally developed for the John G. Shedd Aquarium. Explore the life and times of our cetacean friends through songs and stories such as "Song for the Whales", "Greenland Whale Fisheries" and "Blow Ye Winds".
Audience: general audiences, special populations and families; groups of up to 250 students, K-12.
Science:
State Goal 12 - Understand the fundamental concepts, principles and interconnections of life, physical and earth/space sciences.
State Goal 13 - Understand the relationships among science, technology and society in historical and contemporary contexts.
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BIG DOG, LITTLE DOG
Sing and play with artists Tom and Chris Kastle as they introduce you to big dog and little dog. During the 8 week, sequential, 1 hour workshops, each parent and child will create a sock puppet of their own design and use it during a short musical play. At the end of the program, they will be able to take their puppet(s) and sewing kits home to help sew and create stories of their own.
Audience: Up to 10 parent and child teams (child aged 18 months to 3 years.)
Language Arts: State Goal 1 - Read with understanding and fluency.
State Goal 4 - Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
State Goal 5 - Use the language arts to acquire, assess and communicate information.
Fine Arts:
State Goal 26 - Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced.
PE and Health:
State Goal 31 - Acquire movement skills and understand concepts needed to engage in health enhancing physical activities.
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BUILDING YOUR MARITIME COMMUNITY - Seminar
This program is a 3-hour seminar about identifying, linking, focusing and celebrating your maritime community. Initiate strategies for building maritime awareness and pride through events, seminars, workshops and educational outreach. This seminar was originally developed for the Savannah (Georgia) Visitors and Convention Bureau.
Audience: organizations, municipalities, administrators, planners, undergraduate and graduate student projects.
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CHICAGO FROM THE WATER - Concert/Lecture
Celebrate and explore the exciting waterways of Chicago. The songs and stories in this program investigate the dynamic natural and cultural maritime history that is part of our heritage and daily lives here in Chicago. Our waterways have significantly shaped and continue to shape Chicago as one of the main components of this great transportation hub. Meet people and creatures that live on and in our historic rivers and lakes. Discover your own .maritime roots.! The program is a 45-minute participatory concert that includes songs and stories such as "Sally and the Four Knots", "Below the Waves", .The Lighthouse Keeper.s Wish. and "Shallow Brown" among many others. This program was originally developed for the Chicago Public Library Summer Reading Program.
Audience: general, special populations and families; groups of up to 250 students, K-12.
Language Arts:
State Goal 1 - Read with understanding and fluency.
State Goal 3 - Write to communicate for a variety of purposes.
State Goal 4 - Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
State Goal 5 - Use the language arts to acquire, assess and communicate information.
Fine Arts:
State Goal 26 - Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced.
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CREATIVE WRITING AND PERFORMANCE - Residency
Artist does performance for whole school population and classroom activities with non-core group students. The topical focus depends upon the area of study. Core Group outcomes for this residency 1) write, arrange, rehearse and perform a short work song in a small group setting 2) review the elements of a story and analyze a ballad 3) research and write an original ballad as a solo or in a small group 4) learn and practice the principles of performance 5) incorporate the original ballads into a live performance for the community 6) incorporate instruments and/or puppets into a full-length production (time permitting).
Audience: core group of up to 25, grades 4 through adult.
Language Arts:
State Goal 1 - Read with understanding and fluency.
State Goal 3 - Write to communicate for a variety of purposes.
State Goal 4 - Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
State Goal 5 - Use the language arts to acquire, assess and communicate information.
Fine Arts:
State Goal 26 - Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced.
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DOWN HOME IN ILLINOIS - Concert, Concert/Lecture
Investigate Illinois history - the people, the places and the events through song and story. Learn Abe Lincoln.s favorite song, travel to exotic places like Cairo, find our why the grass is always bluer and learn Chris Kastle's link to the Great Chicago Fire! This program was developed as an accompaniment to the Illinois 3rd and 4th grade curriculum.
Audience: general, special populations and families; groups of up to 250 students, K-12.
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EARTHWAYS, WATERWAYS - Concert, Concert/Lecture
Learn how to take an active part in the stewardship of the Earth. Visit wetlands and oceans and forests and valleys and mountains and rivers. Meet whales and fish and turtles and bugs and beavers and more. Discover how kids (and adults) can make a difference in their own neighborhoods, the Great Lakes and the world. The program is a 45-50 minute concert/lecture, which includes songs and stories such as "Water", "If You Wanna Build a Boat, You Gotta Plant a Tree", and "Turtle Races Beaver" among many others.
Audience: general, special populations and families; groups of up to 250 students, pre school-12.
Science:
State Goal 12 - Understand the fundamental concepts, principles and interconnections of life, physical and earth/space sciences.
State Goal 13 - Understand the relationships among science, technology and society in historical and contemporary contexts.
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GHOST STORIES AND MARITIME MYSTERIES - Concert/Lecture
Traverse the seas and the centuries with Chris Kastle and meet some watery ghosts and investigate some of the facts and fiction about several chilling events on the Great Lakes and the Saltwater Seas'. Hear songs and stories such as "The Lighthouse Keeper's Wish", "The Eastland" and "Lowlands".
Audience: general, special populations and families; groups of up to 250 students, grades 4-12.
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HOW TO TELL YOUR OWN GREAT LAKES STORY - Workshop
Learn how to share your Great Lakes stories with others. Communicate your unique adventures and discover common experiences that bring us together in our awareness, enjoyment, and caring of our Lakes. This program was originally developed for the Lifelong Learning Institute at Northern Illinois University.
Audience: general audiences, special populations such as senior citizens; groups of up to 30 students, K-12, Adults.
Science:
State Goal 12 - Understand the fundamental concepts, principles and interconnections of life, physical and earth/space sciences.
State Goal 13 - Understand the relationships among science, technology and society in historical and contemporary contexts.
Language Arts:
State Goal 3 - Write to communicate for a variety of purposes.
State Goal 4 - Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
State Goal 5 - Use the language arts to acquire, assess and communicate information.
Fine Arts:
State Goal 26 - Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced.
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HOW TO TOUCH A STORY - In-Service
An exercise for teachers and storytellers to connect, gain insight and express a story through tangible means; to literally give "shape" to a story. An activity that can be used by educators to encourage student creativity and self-expression as a means of connecting with their fellow students; it fulfils specific language and fine arts goals. A healing technique for connecting to a personal issue by giving it mass and substance in an effort to help articulate it.
Audience: teachers, storytellers, special populations such as senior citizens; groups of up to 15 participants; adults.
Science:
State Goal 12 - Understand the fundamental concepts, principles and interconnections of life, physical and earth/space sciences.
State Goal 13 - Understand the relationships among science, technology and society in historical and contemporary contexts.
Language Arts:
State Goal 3 - Write to communicate for a variety of purposes.
State Goal 4 - Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
State Goal 5 - Use the language arts to acquire, assess and communicate information.
Fine Arts:
State Goal 26 - Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced.
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INSTRUMENTS AND THEIR STORIES - Residency
Topic depends on the area of study. Artists will do a performance for the whole school population and do classroom activities as time permits. Core group outcomes 1) students will learn about the instrument families 2) core group students will each build a percussion instrument out of found materials and tell story of their instruments 3) using the student stories as a basis, the artist and students will transform the story into a musical play featuring songs and, if time permits, puppets created by the students 5) students will perform their work for the community.
Core Group: single student group of approximately 20-25 students grades 2- adult.
Science:
State Goal 12 - Understand the fundamental concepts, principles and interconnections of life, physical and earth/space sciences.
State Goal 13 - Understand the relationships among science, technology and society in historical and contemporary contexts.
Language Arts:
State Goal 1 - Read with understanding and fluency.
State Goal 3 - Write to communicate for a variety of purposes.
State Goal 4 - Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
State Goal 5 - Use the language arts to acquire, assess and communicate information.
Fine Arts:
State Goal 26 - Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced.
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INSTRUMENTS FROM NEAR AND FAR - Concert/Lecture
Travel with Chris Kastle through song and story, through time and space to experience the "first" rhythm and the possible origins of some the first instruments. Hear and see instruments from near and far covering all of the instrument families. Learn about the principles of sound and about how some instruments are made, a perhaps play an instrument of your very own. The program is a 45.50 minute concert/ lecture/ demonstration, which includes a large variety of percussion, wind and string instruments.
Audience: general, special populations, families; groups of up to 250 students, grades pre-school - 5.
Science:
State Goal 12 - Understand the fundamental concepts, principles and interconnections of life, physical and earth/space sciences.
State Goal 13 - Understand the relationships among science, technology and society in historical and contemporary contexts.
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LET'S WRITE A SHANTEY - Workshop
Learn how to overcome writer's block, how to improvise, how to improve your performance and public speaking skills. Write, arrange, rehearse and perform a work modeled on a work song of the sea in just 60 minutes! Every participant will get to take home an original song modeled on a traditional sea shantey.
Audience: general, special populations, families; groups of up 20-25 students grades 3-12.
Language Arts:
State Goal 1 - Read with understanding and fluency.
State Goal 3 - Write to communicate for a variety of purposes.
State Goal 4 - Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
State Goal 5 - Use the language arts to acquire, assess and communicate information.
Fine Arts: State Goal 26 - Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced.
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MAKING SCRIMSHAW - Teacher In-Service, Workshop
Scrimshaw is the traditional art form of etching line drawings into animal bone, ivory, teeth and horn. This workshop may be used in conjunction with the study of such topics as maritime history and geography, whales, whaling, the oceans, elephants and Africa. This 90-minute teacher in-service will demonstrate how to work with line drawing and etching in an inexpensive ivory-like medium using a simple tool and washable ink for 4th grade and up.
Audience: teachers; can be a student workshop for grades 4-12.
Language Arts:
State Goal 1 - Read with understanding and fluency.
State Goal 3 - Write to communicate for a variety of purposes.
State Goal 4 - Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
Fine Arts:
State Goal 26 - Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced.
Science:
State Goal 12 - Understand the fundamental concepts, principles and interconnections of life, physical and earth/ space sciences.
State Goal 13 - Understand the relationships among science, technology and society in historical and contemporary contexts.
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ME FOR THE INLAND LAKES - Concert, Concert/Lecture
Come experience the life of a sailor aboard a 19th century Great Lakes schooner. Haul up the sail, hoist the anchor and learn about our continuing maritime heritage here, in the Great Lakes, through song and story. Take a fast passage to deliver your cargo, weather a storm, and sing a shanty. The program is a 45-50 minute concert/lecture that includes songs and stories such as "The Bigler", "Shallow Brown", "Shine Out Your Light" and "Mr. Smith's Boat", among many others.
Audience: general, special populations, families; groups of up to 250 students, pre-school-12.
Science:
State Goal 12 - Understand the fundamental concepts, principles and interconnections of life, physical and earth/ space sciences.
State Goal 13 - Understand the relationships among science, technology and society in historical and contemporary contexts.
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RECYCLED INSTRUMENTS - Workshop
Build your own instrument out of "found" materials. Learn how to play 3 part African and Polynesian rhythms on your "recycled instrument" along with the rest of the group.
Audience: general, families, special populations; groups of up to 25 students, grades K-5.
Fine Arts:
State Goal 26 - Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced.
Science:
State Goal 12 - Understand the fundamental concepts, principles and interconnections of life, physical and earth/ space sciences.
State Goal 13 - Understand the relationships among science, technology and society in historical and contemporary contexts.
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RIVERS - Concert, Concert/Lecture
Take a trip across the Midwest and around the world discovering that, historically, life on the rivers around the world has common threads. People who live along the rivers have special relationships with the water, the boats and with each other. Families are separated and then reunited through their efforts to earn a living. Goods move along the rivers and eventually to the seas and oceans where people share, not just the goods, but also the music and the stories. The program is a 45-50 minute concert/lecture which includes songs and stories such as "Shenandoah" and "Jimmy and the Biscuits" among many others.
Audience: general, special populations and families; groups of up to 250 students, pre-school-12.
Science:
State Goal 12 - Understand the fundamental concepts, principles and interconnections of life, physical and earth/ space sciences.
State Goal 13 - Understand the relationships among science, technology and society in historical and contemporary contexts.
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SONGS AND STORIES FOR FUN AND MOVEMENT - Concert
Join the fun with world traveler and parent acclaimed performer Chris Kastle. Sing and move along to musical instruments, songs and stories from exiting places across the planet and around the block. Make some new discoveries and have a great time!
Audience: special populations and families; groups of up to 250 students grades pre-school-3.
Language Arts:
State Goal 4 - Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
PE and Health:
State Goal 31 - Acquire movement skills and understand concepts needed to engage in health enhancing physical activities.
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SONGS FOR A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT - Workshop
Learn how to overcome writer's block, how to improvise, how to improve your performance and public speaking skills. In a small group format, write, arrange, rehearse and perform an original work song that can help work toward stewardship of our waterways in just 60 minutes! Every participant will get to take home an original song modeled on a traditional sea shanty.
Audience: general, special populations, families; groups of up 20-25 students grades 3-12.
Language Arts:
State Goal 1 - Read with understanding and fluency.
State Goal 3 - Write to communicate for a variety of purposes.
State Goal 4 - Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
State Goal 5 - Use the language arts to acquire, assess and communicate information.
Fine Arts:
State Goal 26 - Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced.
Science:
State Goal 12 - Understand the fundamental concepts, principles and interconnections of life, physical and earth/ space sciences.
State Goal 13 - Understand the relationships among science, technology and society in historical and contemporary contexts.
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TELL YOUR STORY IN SONG - Teacher In-Service, Masters Class
Chris Kastle will analyze and discuss examples of her songwriting to demonstrate various approaches she has used to tell personal stories, educate, commemorate special events, and write historical ballads. This workshop is applicable to language arts, history and general humanities as well as the arts. Participants may bring ideas of their own or works in progress to discuss during the 90-minute workshop.
Outcomes 1) to present various techniques for presenting a topic in song 2) to apply those techniques to an individual writing project or classroom situations
Audience: groups of up to 25-30 teachers, adults
Language Arts:
State Goal 1 - Read with understanding and fluency.
State Goal 3 - Write to communicate for a variety of purposes.
State Goal 4 - Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
State Goal 5 - Use the language arts to acquire, assess and communicate information.
Fine Arts:
State Goal 26 - Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced.
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THAT TIME OF YEAR - Concert
This program features original and traditional songs and stories of a chosen season such as: Christmas or Winter, Halloween, St. Patrick.s Day or Valentines Day
Audience: general, special populations and families; groups of up to 250 students, pre-school-12.
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THE ROARING RINOCEROUS AND FRIENDS - Concert
Hear the story of "The Roaring Rhinoceros" and find out his silly secret. Frolic with the "Baby Mammoth that Was No so Very Small". The program is a highly participatory program of songs and stories primarily for younger children. Chris has also created some wonderful and whimsical puppets as part of this presentation.
Audience: special populations and families; groups of up to 250 students grades pre-school-3.
Language Arts:
State Goal 4 - Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
PE and Health:
tate Goal 31 - Acquire movement skills and understand concepts needed to engage in health enhancing physical activities.
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