Educational Programs for Schools and Libraries
Schools:
"Dear Toby,
Thanks so much for your presentation to my class on 'The Blues and American Culture'. Your knowledge of the history and meaning of the blues, as much as your singing and guitar-playing, added immensely to the students' understanding of the subject. One student, I believe, spoke for the entire class when she told me she was delighted to have met 'such an amazing and engaging musician.' When I teach the course again, I very much hope you'll be able to return to Cornell to offer another such lecture/demonstration."
Yours,
Richard Polenberg
Marie Underhill Noll Professor of History
Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow
Cornell University"
"The kids were completely captivated! Out of the many teaching artists we have worked with, you are one of the best at striking a nice balance between explaiining and playing music"
Mark Burford
Weill Institue at Carnegie Hall
"Thank you for your superb performance for our 5th and 6th graders. You grabbed the attention of the students immediately and held it continuously throughout the hour-long performance. The excitement of the music was enhanced by the depth of your knowledge of early blues musicians and a warm sense of humor in sharing their stories with us. It was truly an inspiring performance!"
Eileen Gorman,
Pulaski Street School
Riverhead NY
MORE QUOTES FROM TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
See New York Times Article!!
How would your students like to hear the sound of a locomotive, a Model T Ford and a child's voice all come out of a Blues harmonica? Through stories and songs and using a variety of instruments, Little Toby Walker will entertain and educate your students in a true American musical art form, The Blues. Mr. Walker makes learning fun, interactive and educational as he paints wonderful musical pictures of his travels throughout the Southern United States, where he learned his art directly from old time Blues musicians.
Little Toby Walker has traveled throughout the South studying the Blues first hand from many old time musicians From his 30 years of playing and teaching experience, Toby offers your students a wonderful entertaining and educational program. Toby plays a variety of authentic blues instruments, including a one string instrument called the Diddley Bow
Little Toby Walker's Program, The History Of The Blues, can be geared for students grades 4 thru college. Students will particpate through singing along and acting with Toby right on stage. Toby offers workshops, performances and residencies.
The History Of The Blues meets the following themes in
The National Curriculum Standards for:
English Language Arts
Social Studies
Music Education
Here's a peek at an exciting blues workshop at
Weber Middle School!!!
| Students are taught to write the blues: |
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| Next Toby teaches students to play the blues: |
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| Students now get to play the blues with Toby...... |
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| ..while others come up and sing their own blues songs |
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| A real fun learning experience for students!!
This is Noah, who shot up his hand when I asked if anyone knew who Stevie Ray Vaughn was. |
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Toby Walker Rocks Rocky Point High School!!!Students responded with a spontaneous standing ovation that lasted several minutes as cries for “MORE!” were heard throughout the auditorium. |
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In a most memorable performance, acclaimed blues performer Little Toby Walker entranced the Rocky Point High School juniors and seniors on Wednesday April 13th. The performance featured the use of a number of different instruments such as the harmonica, and several guitars including acoustic, slide, steel, and, of course, electric. Of particular interest was the “diddley bow”, a one-stringed guitar that he played with unbelievable skill. Between each song and instrumental piece, Mr. Walker gave historical background and told some of his many stories from his experiences as he traveled the nation (particularly in the South and the Mississippi Delta) in search of the blues legends that were his heroes. Students learned about the unusual strength, character, and influence of blues greats such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Etta Baker, and of course, more modern acts such as the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton. One of the most interesting aspects of the performance took place when Mr. Walker showed students how a guitar could simulate a train and its whistle, other instruments, and even the human voice. Students responded with a spontaneous standing ovation that lasted several minutes as cries for “MORE!” were heard throughout the auditorium. Following the performance, Mr. Walker was then good enough to answer student questions in an impromptu “blues workshop” for the many students who gathered around him. After a short break, he than did a special “small session” for one of the Advanced Placement United States History classes where he further discussed blues history and answered even more student questions. For the rest of the day students were heard throughout the hallways discussing the performance in terms such as “awesome”, “fantastic”, “the best”, “he rocks”, and “his hands were like lightening on the strings.” Mr. Walker, who is a Long Islander, has been a featured performer not only at Long Island’s own Riverhead Blues Festival, but also at a number of venues throughout the United States. Mr. Walker, who is the winner of the prestigious Memphis International Blues Challenge Award, recently returned from London and in June will again be off to Europe before coming home in July to return to the Riverhead Blues Festival as well as other concerts throughout our area and the United States. We at Rocky Point High School consider ourselves very fortunate and privileged to have Toby Walker visit and perform for us. Steve Shultz - Director of Social Studies and Arts in Education |
Teacher's Guidelines:
Guidelines for Carnegie Hall's American Roots Program
Web Resources for teachers:
Brief History of the Blues
Traveling the Blues Highway; National Geographic by Charles Cobb
In Motion: The African American Migration Experience
The Blues - a PBS documentary whose website has useful teacher resources
The Blue Highway
The Blues Foundation
Libraries:
A Special Show The Whole Family Will Enjoy!!
“I am writing to tell you how much all of us enjoyed your concert of the blues. I have spoken with a number of my patrons and everyone - without exception - thought that you were absolutely wonderful - from your incredible guitar playing and your wonderful stories about your search for the blues singers in the south, to your very comfortable and engaging stage presence and rapport with our audience, to your very fine renditions of old blues songs as well as your own material.
Thank you so much!” ....Penelope B. Wright, Rogers Memorial Library (631) 283 0774
"Your concert was one of the best we've had at our library. Your pacing, timing and musicianship are superb; your rapport–warm and friendly. The popularity of Little Toby Walker was certainly apparent. We had a full house."...Laura Goodket, Freeport Memorial Library (516) 379-3274
How would your patrons like to hear the sound of a locomotive, a Model T Ford and a child's voice all come out of a Blues harmonica? Through stories and songs and using a variety of instruments - Little Toby Walker will entertain and educate your patrons in a true American musical art form, The Blues. Mr. Walker makes learning fun, interactive and educational as he paints wonderful musical pictures of his travels throughout the Southern United States, where he learned his art directly from old time Blues musicians.
Past Library Performances:
South Salem
Harrison
Wappinger Falls
Ossining
Croton on the Hudson
Millbrook
Bronxville
Lindenhurst
East Northport
North Babylon
South Huntington
Freeport
Huntington
Emma S. Clark
Bayport
Bellmore
Merrick
North Merrick
Seaford
Oceanside
Glen Cove
Riverhead
Port Washington
Brentwood
Mastic
Shelter Rock
Bellmore
Elmont
Garden City
Copaigue
Long Beach
South Country
Half Hollow Hills
Amityville
Northport
Mattiuck-Laurel
Longwood
Southampton
Babylon
Plainview
Bay Shore
Wantagh
Hauppauge
East Meadow
Westhampton
Patchogue-Medford
Mineola
Sachem
West Babylon
Sarah Hull
Finkelstein
Greenburgh
Hampton Bays