Children will once again learn to play ukuleles, and adults will be invited to bring their instruments of choice to Coudersport Public Library when the facility hosts free children’s and adult workshops along with a concert March 6 and 7.
Library director Teri McDowell said this year’s program will again be provided by “Simple Gifts” musicians Linda Littleton and Karen Hirshon, an award-winning duo who plays everything from Celtic to Klezmer. The workshop is funded through grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Potter County Commissioners.
“We had them here last year, and we also had a grant to fund them,” McDowell recalled. “It went very well last year, we had good attendance for all of the events.”
McDowell said the duo will offer a ukulele workshop for ages 8 and up from 4 to 5 p.m. March 6. She said children will learn the basics of strumming and fingerpicking.
The young participants will then perform with Simple Gifts in a concert the following evening, with instruments provided.
“In just an hour, they learn how to play the ukulele well enough that they can perform the next evening,” she said of the children.
This event will be followed by an interactive Children’s Concert for ages 3 to 6 that will be presented from 10 to 11 a.m. March 7. She said the young participants will hear Simple Gifts’ instruments, learn about their history and get a basic understanding of how the instruments work. In addition, the children will learn how music influences culture. McDowell said interactive segments of the program will include percussion instruments, singing and hand motions.
McDowell said new this year will be the adult and young adult Musicians’ Workshop slated for 7 to 9 p.m. March 6. During the event, local musicians of all abilities are invited to bring their instruments, or voices, where they will learn how to play together, how to achieve a good band sound and how to arrange folk music to be interesting for an audience. The group will arrange a piece of music together to perform the following evening during a free public concert at 7 p.m. March 7.
McDowell noted the public concert “will feature a wide variety of ethnic folk music, from lively Irish jigs and down-home American reels to Gypsy melodies and exotic dance tunes.”
In addition, children who attended the previous day’s ukulele workshop will perform, followed by a piece arranged and performed by musicians from the prior night’s session.
The finale will feature Simple Gifts playing traditional music from several cultures on 10 to 12 varied instruments. This will be accompanied by an educational narrative about the music, instruments and cultures.
“This covers just about all age groups,” McDowell said of the overall program. “It’s kind of a nice thing for this area.”
Simple Gifts has performed throughout the mid-Atlantic region, including appearances at the Smithsonian, Longwood Gardens, the Philadelphia Folk Festival and others. They have also opened for artists such as Natalie MacMaster, Tom Paxton, John McCutcheon, Jay Unger and Molly Mason. The duo has recorded six albums, including traditional music from many countries plus original compositions by each group member.
McDowell said the library would appreciate it if participants sign up for the workshops by March 1 at the library. She said those interested in attending the public concert do not have to sign up, however.
For more information, call the library at 274-9382.
