BEACON, NY Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Americas flagship environmental organization, has achieved wide acclaim for its onboard and tideline education programs over the past three decades, creating with great success a generation of environmental leaders and others dedicated to making a difference in the world in which we live.
Now, with the help of Linda Richards, a renowned Hudson Valley musical entertainer and educator, Clearwater is launching a new interactive learning experience for students of all ages that exposes them to socially conscious music and then inspires them to become active on issues that concern them.
Throughout history, music has been a catalyst for change, a medium for protest and a way to deliver a message of hope. Clearwaters founder, Pete Seeger, has always understood this, and now Clearwaters Power of Song program offers educators three optionsa 45-minute assembly program, a full day workshop and multi-day workshops that can span an entire semesterfor their students to learn how to put music into action.
In Clearwaters Power of Song programs, students are introduced to songs that teach them about scientific principles and historic events. Many of the songs are also thematically connected to the Hudson River. In the workshops, students experience parodies with a purpose, and then learn to create their own songs in this regard. In longer programs, the students research, write and perform a variety of meaningful songs.
The goal of this program is for students to be inspired by the social movements of the past and appreciate their ability to enact social change through the power of song, said Richards, formerly a Sloop Singer and classroom teacher who became Clearwaters outreach educator in December 2009.
Clearwater will be showcasing the Power of Song program with Richards and other staff members throughout February at several Hudson Valley schools.
Upcoming Power of Song schedule:
Tuesday, February 16 at the Grant D. Morse Elementary School , 70 Harry Wells Rd., Saugerties, NY. Richards will be working with an assembly of 6th graders at 10AM, and then leading songwriters workshops after lunch in individual classes. Contact Don Dieckmann, the schools principal, at (845) 247-6961 to arrange media coverage.
Wednesday, February 17 at the Ernest C. Myer Elementary School. Millbrook Avenue, Hurley, NY. Richards will be working with an assembly of 5th graders at 10AM. Contact Dr. Ardrea Lambeth-Smith, the schools principal, at (845) 331-6905 to arrange media coverage.
Thursday, February 25 at the Rensselaer Middle School, 25 Van Rensselaer Drive, Rensselaer, NY. Richards will be working with an assembly of 7th graders at 9:30AM. Contact Karen Urbanski, the schools principal, at (518) 436-8565 to arrange media coverage.
Friday, February 26 at P.S. 002 Meyer London, 122 Henry Street, Manhattan, NY. Richards will be leading songwriting workshops with 5th graders from 10AM-Noon. Contact Brett Gustafson, the schools principal, at (212) 964-0350 to arrange media coverage.
Clearwater is currently applying for grants to help subsidize the cost of the Power of Song programs for schools and organizations.
