Workshop: Before radio, television and the internet, songs carried the history and shared the stories and feelings of everyday life. Folk songs are more than just songs; they are living tales expressive of the people and their lives, reflective of their travels, triumphs, tragedies and true loves. In this workshop with Ben Harbert, students view American history through its folk songs. Presented along with background information which places the song and lyrics in historical context, students learn how Americans adapted and used music in their lives as they rode the range, traveled the trail or lived out their own piece of American history. Led by Ben Harbert, a classical guitarist, Indian tabla player, music historian, educator, and avant-garde composer, students participate by singing in traditional styles and exploring the meaning behind the lyrics. Songs that may be presented include "Amazing Grace", "Gypsy Davy", "Cat Came Back", "Freight Train" and "Tom Dooley", among others. The workshop may also provides brief biographical information about composers such as Stephen Foster, John and Alan Lomax, Woody Guthrie, Maybelle Carter and Josh White. The folk music of America shows students how songs and their stories reflect the history of our nation.

Benjamin Harbert has many identities as a musician including being a classical guitarist, an Indian tabla player, a music historian, an educator, and an avant-garde composer. He represents a third generation of the Andrés Segovia School of guitar, having studied under three of his Protégés. Mr. Harbert is an exponent of the Lucknow tabla gharana, having studied in Calcutta, India and at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California. He has accompanied classical Indian music and dance, including artists Aashish Khan, Pallavi Raisurana and Pranita Jain. Mr. Harbert also studied composition at Wesleyan University and in 1997, he was awarded the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship for a yearlong study in Egypt, India and Spain. From 1998 to 2001, he directed the guitar and percussion departments at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. As a writer, he is a contributor to Acoustic Guitar Magazine and served as editor of the Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook. In addition, Mr. Harbert has studied and performs Middle- Eastern oud and Javanese gamelan. Currently, he is working on his Ph.D. in ethnomusicology at UCLA with a focus on American music and music of the Near East and is producing a documentary on music in prisons.

Price:
$75 per 45-minute workshop plus possible planning fee. Minimum four workshops per day must be scheduled.

Age Group:K-12
Capacity:1 Classroom (maximum of 35 students, plus regular teacher)
Availability:Year Round

Teacher In-Service Price: $100/hour (2-hour minimum required), plus additional planning fee.
Capacity: 40 Educators

To design an arts education program with this artist, please call (213) 250-ARTS or email education@musiccenter.org.

Prices are for services between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009.