Monty's Children's Music Blog

Paseo Arts FEAST July 16 in OKC

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:09:16 PDT

I am one of five artists selected for the July 16 Paseo Arts FEAST! This is a chance for me to receive a grant in support of my work writing songs with kids. This is also a chance for you to support that work!!

Here's how the FEAST works:
During a meal, five different artists get five minutes each to present their proposals. At the end of the evening, attendees vote on their favorite. The artist with the most votes receives all the proceeds in order to make their proposal happen!

My proposal in a nutshell:
I would like to purchase some portable recording equipment that will enable me involve the kids I work with in arranging and recording songs they've written! Making recordings of the songs is an important way to ensure that their efforts will connect with a wider community. Right now I do that for them at home. Being able to arrange and record with the kids during class will increase their exposure to different music-making skills, increase their feeling of ownership in the overall project, and also increase my ability to receive Oklahoma Arts Council funding for what I do.

How you can participate:
Getting as many of my supporters in the room as possible is part of the game here! Tickets are $30 each. For your ticket you get:
- A meal at Joey's Pizzeria, 700 W. Sheridan in OKC, 6:00-8:00PM
- A fun evening watching artists describe their hopes and dreams
- A vote
- The wonderful feeling that comes from supporting the arts. Even if your ticket money doesn't go to me it will go to one of the other four deserving artists presenting that evening.

To help out, you can buy a ticket - even if you can't be there, it'd be a great gift for a friend who can - and/or help spread the word.

You can get your ticket and find out more here:
http://paseofeast.wordpress.com/upcoming-feasts/feast-event-info/

Ada, Oklahoma

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:25:07 PDT

One of our highlights every summer is our visit to the Ada public library. We were trying to remember how many years running I've performed there, and it must be about 20! Today's program was as lively as always, with lots of fun audience interaction, including a toddler who tried to make off with my concertina!

Stegosaur Swing

Posing with fans.

She came to the show when she was 10!

This little guy didn't want me to give him back to mom! He was very interested in the ferret.

Emporia, KS

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:13:33 PDT

Yesterday was our second time to visit Emporia for the library's outdoor "Brown Bag" concert series. It was also the first day of the summer that really felt hot to us - the car registered some temperatures over 100! We had a great crowd of kids, parents, grandparents, and daycares - about 350 people.

Here are some great photos that Lisa took - for even more great photos see the Emporia Library Facebook Page.

Derby, Kansas

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:22:39 PDT

I did two shows at the library in Derby, KS today - both were great fun, and we are already on the calendar there for next summer! Evalyn was in charge of the camera for most of the day, and as you can see below she took some interesting shots.

Triceratops Bop

Tyrannosaur Crunch

Eyeball

Elbow

Hutchinson and Pratt, Kansas!

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:38:06 PDT

Great day today in Kansas! We figured out that the last time I was in Hutchinson was fourteen years ago! We won't let it go that long again. The Hutchinson crowd were fantastic participators! Then we drove to Pratt for an evening performance, where we had a small but very enthusiastic crowd and we were nearly overrun by rampaging dinosaurs!

Horned lizards, a.k.a. "Horny Toads" popping up in Hutchinson.

Triceratops Bop

The Hutchinson library had the greatest decorations - it was like walking into a cave with stalactites and bats hanging from the ceiling. Here I'm posing with fans in front of the gnome home.

Evalyn snagged an awesome chair for reading in Pratt.

Pinch your nose and sing along...

Library Bookaneers

Long-necked dinosaurs!

Altus and Hollis

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:57:36 PDT

Yesterday Lisa and I woke at 4:15 AM, dropped Evalyn and Nutmeg off with Grandma, and hit the road for the nearly four hour drive to Hollis, in the SW corner of Oklahoma! Lisa is such a wonderful supporter, driving all that way so that I can rest and put my energy into the shows!

It was the first program of the summer for Hollis, and I think this was my biggest audience there yet!

Can you say, "Concertina?"

Triceratops Bop!

We grabbed lunch at Fat Daddy's in Altus before the second show. Good thing we decided to split a sandwich - we both were stuffed!

We had a super audience at Altus! Just the right mix of parents and kids together, with everyone participating. We had a great time!

I use this black-footed ferret to introduce a song written by fourth graders at Richmond Elementary here in Stillwater. We'll have a naming contest for my noodley little friend on Facebook soon.

Talking with some fans after the show.

Summer Reading is Under Way!

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 18:19:28 PDT

I can't believe we are already four shows into this summer's library tour! I've been focused on finishing up school residencies and the summer just snuck right up on me!

Our first four shows have been fantastic. Here are some highlights! Thanks to Lisa for taking these photos!

In Hugo, OK - Circus City, USA!

In Valliant we carried our sound equipment up the stairs to set up in their cool loft. We had plenty of helpers!

"You're a Dinosaur" - This was a pretty shy group overall, so Evalyn volunteered to be a dinosaur!

In Perkins, OK.

My Perkins audience were great participators!

The Seismosaur Stomp

We had a fun group in Meeker, OK!

More stomping seismosaurs!

You Can't Trash This!

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 18:01:21 PDT

Thank you all for voting in our recycling song competition!! It was a close race! The winning song was "You Can't Trash This!" by 4th graders in Mrs. Holland's and Mrs. Powell's classes. And now here for your viewing pleasure is the video they got to make! Many thanks to our videographer, Brian Collins!

Recycle Time!

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:09:56 PDT

Fourth and fifth graders at Will Rogers Elementary wrote these songs with help from Monty Harper during a recent residency, made possible by the Oklahoma Arts Council. The songs were inspired by the City of Stillwater's new curbside recycling program!

Please listen and vote for your favorite below! The class who wrote the winning song will get to make their song into a video and will win a pizza party from the City of Stillwater! The poll closes Wednesday May 8 at 10:00 PM.

Trash Monster by Monty Harper and Will Rogers Elementary 4th and 5th graders, 2013 You Can't Trash This by Monty Harper and Will Rogers Elementary 4th and 5th graders, 2013 Curbside Karma by Monty Harper and Will Rogers Elementary 4th and 5th graders, 2013 Recycle Style by Monty Harper and Will Rogers Elementary 4th and 5th graders, 2013 Curbside Recycling Is Fun by Monty Harper and Will Rogers Elementary 4th and 5th graders, 2013 Recycle the Party by Monty Harper and Will Rogers Elementary 4th and 5th graders, 2013

Please note: Due to an early glitch in our settings, the song "Recycle the Party" is displaying 70 invalid votes. The glitch is fixed but the votes cannot be removed. We will therefore need to subtract 70 votes from "Recycle the Party" when we determine the winning song.

Sangre Ridge Residency - Songs of Ember

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 09:40:29 PST

I worked with the Sangre Ridge fourth grade this December

To help them write songs based on The City of Ember.

I wrote and recorded four songs with four classes.

On December 18 we performed for the masses...

Each class presented their song for the whole school that morning.

Even though the songs were still brand new, the kids did a great job singing!
I followed along with the guitar the best I could!

That evening we gathered to perform for parents.
Fourth graders welcomed fellow students with cheers as they came in through the door.

Then they all gathered in one of the classrooms. Everyone was excited and nervous!

We had a huge turn-out, with parents seated all the way to the back of the room!

Each class had their turn on stage.

We used the projector so everybody could follow along with the words.

You can listen to and download the kids' songs on BandCamp:

Songs of Ember by Monty Harper and the 4th grade at Sangre Ridge Elementary, 2012.

The PTA was also kind enough to purchase CDs of the songs for all the kids! The talented folks at DiscMakers took different pieces of artwork the kids made to illustrate their songs and combined them to design a really cool cover / CD label.

Many thanks to the Oklahoma Arts Council for their support, which made this project possible!

This week I begin a new residency at Will Rogers!

Wondertorium 10/19/12

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:12:49 PST

On October 19th I did a series of performances at the Wondertorium here in Stillwater. Many thanks to Shannon and Lynda and Debbie for passing along these photos so I can share them with you!

Recording at Bell Labs for EODLS

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 20:56:08 PST

I spent today at Bell Labs in Norman recording a song for the EODLS (Eastern Oklahoma District Library System)! It's sounding fantastic - one of my best vocals ever. Thanks to Chris Wiser (organ, producer), Dr. Rock (drums), Travis Linville (guitar), and Trent Bell (Engineer) - who was sick as a dog but refused to cancel the session. It's always fun to hear a song taking shape in the studio. I can't wait to let you hear it too!!

Dr. Rock, packing up after a hard day's drumming. If you think he seems blurry, you're right, he generally looks like that.

Travis on the left tuning up for some brilliant guitar work, Chris on the right, supervising.

Me singing joyfully. Chris took this one - thanks, Chris!

Chris overdubbing some organ parts.

50 Things a Pirate Kids Singer Would Say!

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:23:13 PDT

In preparation for "Talk Like a Pirate Day" Wednesday, here come... fifty #ThingsAPirateKidsSingerWouldSay - via my Twitter feed! I invite you to join in the fun and post your own #ThingsAPirateKidsSingerWouldSay, re-tweet the ones you like best, and sing pirate versions of your favorite kids songs all week! My first such tweet is based on a traditional welcome song for small children with a menacing twist. Enjoy!

https://twitter.com/montyharper

Talk Like a Pirate Day Video!

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 21:30:34 PDT

International Talk Like a Pirate Day is next week (9/19/12)! To get in the mood, check out this new video for the song I wrote with me scurvy mate, Mr. Billy!

Not only that, but we have put five piratical songs together in a package you can download for just $2 on my BandCamp page! Please enjoy TLAPD, and share with your shipmates!

Your Birthday Present From Me!

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 07:54:19 PDT

This Tuesday, August 21, is my birthday! And I want to celebrate by giving you a present!

For 24 hours, starting Monday at midnight, I will set the download price for all seven of my CDs on CDBaby to $0.

Yes, you heard right - free music for YOU and your friends on MY birthday!

And in case you would care to get me a little something, here's my wish list:

Download some free music on Tuesday - it'll boost my sales numbers.

Post a review on CDBaby, Amazon, or iTunes. It can be just one sentence about your favorite Monty Harper CD.

Like me on Facebook, Follow me on Twitter, Circle me on Google+!

Finally, drop by and say hi. I'll be "hanging out" with friends on Google+ Tuesday afternoon. I'd love to see you there!

Thanks for being a fan!

Bella Vista

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:36:07 PDT

Yesterday I did my very last library program for Summer 2012 in Bella Vista, Arkansas. All my programs this summer went really really well, and this one was no exception. The husband of the librarian is an OSU alum and big fan so we were greeted in the parking lot by the "Pistol Pete Mobile" which Lisa took a photo of and posted to facebook.

My sister and niece live nearby, so we brought my mom along on the trip and made a weekend of it. We all toured the Crystal Bridges art museum yesterday - very cool. A fun end to a fun summer!!

Don't forget to check out the slideshow I posted on YouTube - a photo retrospective of my "Sing-Along Slumber Party" summer tour. Please share it with anyone you think should book me for a program during the coming school year. Thanks!!

Lisa captured this angle from a seat on the floor with the audience. Is this really what I look like to the kids?

Roundy Round!

"... and pulled out a hand..."

Home Schoolers at the Library

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 10:50:03 PDT

Each summer the Stillwater library chooses a top reader from each elementary school in town, plus one homeschooler, to receive a certificate for one free classroom visit by Monty Harper - that's me!

This year our home school winner is just getting ready to move out of state, so we quickly set up our visit at the library, earlier this week. The kids were great - and I love doing a more informal mini-concert with a small group. I look forward to visiting the other winners once school starts!!

Right now it's off to Arkansas for my very last summer reading program of 2012 - at the Bella Vista Library, 10:30 AM on Saturday (8/4/12).

Group photo.

Here is our top reader, checking out the guitar after the program, with her "I Love Music" shirt on. Love it!

Thanks For a Super Summer, Everyone!

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 17:42:03 PDT

Duncan

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 18:14:03 PDT

Lisa and I drove to Duncan today for our second-to-last summer program! Time sure does indeed well and truly move quickly along an aerial trajectory when you're having fun.

As you can see below, we set up in the middle of the library and packed in quite a crowd. Lots of great fans in Duncan!

Our last "Sing-Along Slumber Party" program is next Saturday, August 4 at 10:30 in Bella Vista, AR. In the meantime we'll be working on school bookings for the coming semester, so let us know if there's a school near you where you think I should perform. Thanks!

Norman

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 08:59:29 PDT

Lisa, Evalyn, and I look forward every summer to our day at the Norman Public Library - we always have a great time. Yesterday both shows went fantastically well, and we got to eat at Ted's in between, so what more could we ask for?

The 2:00 Show Begins

Group hug after the program!

High fives and rabbit ears.

The 7:00 PM Show

Gather round for a "spooky story..."

Our Week in Arkansas

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 14:29:28 PDT

We had a great time in Arkansas this past week! I did six library performances and Lisa, Evalyn and I spent two days in a cabin for some quality family time. Many thanks to the Crawford County Library System for booking the tour - we had a great time and hope to make regular visits in the future!

West Fork, AR on Monday.

We stayed at this cabin, called Ledgecreek Hideaway, and we loved it!!!

Tuesday morning, Lisa and I discussed bookings strategies on the front porch of the cabin while Lisa took some wildlife photos. Here's a little chipmunk that was foraging for seeds nearby.

Golden Finch

Evalyn

Tuesday afternoon, Evalyn and I went fishing for trout at a trout farm; they cooked up our catch at the restaurant across the street!

We had quite a discussion about what kind of critter this might be, hiding in a gap in the rocky hill next to the restaurant. Turns out he's a woodchuck, A.K.A. groundhog.

Lisa and Evalyn fixing dinner in the cabin Wednesday evening.

Thursday morning at the Mulberry Library.

Thursday afternoon after the Alma performance. These are all the kids from my audience! Plus Evalyn, two stuffed canines and Perry the Pillowpus.

Grey Wolf gets a guitar lesson.

Thursday afternoon at Mountainburg.

Friday morning at the Van Buren Library - they have a fantastic new building!

Pop Up!

Me with the librarians at Van Buren! They had as much fun as the kids - maybe more!

Friday afternoon at Cedarville, in another brand new building. All the wooden beams in the high ceilings reminded us of our cabin.

Pop Up!

Roundy Round

Edmond

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 15:09:50 PDT

Today I did two last-minute shows at the library in Edmond. They were in a pickle due to a scheduling mishap and luckily I was available to help out. It was nice to visit Edmond again - it had been too long! We had two very lively audiences with many very young kids, and we had a lot of fun, as you can see..

Red eye!

Roundy Round!

Gather round for a spoooky stoorry!

2nd group - fireflies

Roundy Round again!

Edmond Tomorrow!

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 20:06:40 PDT

We just added two last-minute programs to the schedule, tomorrow (July 12) at the library in Edmond, OK! They start at 9:30 and 10:30. Please pass this along if you know anyone who might attend!

Also, some reminders:

Download your free copy of the "Dream Big" song!

Enter our "Dream Big" video competition! - July 22 deadline!

Ponca City

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 19:58:53 PDT

Oh, what a day!

We just got back from vacation with my family late Sunday night, and are still recovering. I prepared for this morning's show last night. I went down the checklist and everything. So where was my head? I got to the library in Ponca City this morning, brought in the sound system, set everything up, turned to grab my guitar - no guitar!

This was the first time in twenty plus years of performing that I neglected to bring my guitar to a library gig!! I was (and still am) completely embarrassed!

Luckily there was also a mix-up on the starting time for the show. Some of the advertising said 10:00 AM, and some of it said 11:00 AM. This actually allowed us to start an hour later, so I headed for the local music store while back at home Lisa called around looking for a car to borrow.

Lisa was already heading out to Ponca City with my guitar when I called to let her know that I was able to rent one. The good folks at Shanghai Music and Sound did me a huge favor and rented me a guitar for the day even though they don't usually rent out instruments.

Posing for a photo before the show.

The program went really well, and the few groups who showed at 10:00 came back for the 11:00 starting time. My afternoon songwriting workshop with a small but enthusiastic group of teens also went really well. So it was all good in the end!

Collinsville

monty@montyharper.com (Monty Harper) — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 10:24:36 PDT

It was the "Little Program That Could" at Collinsville yesterday. The regular program room was unavailable, AND so was the regular program time, so we were meeting at an off time in an off location - the church across the street. Still, several families found their way to us and we had a whole lot of fun together!

Stretch!

Pop up - way up!

The "Roundy Rounders" got particularly dizzy given plenty of space for spinning!