School/Community

• Junk Jam
• The Sights & Sounds of Ghana
• View a list of past programs

Download Mark’s complete School & Community Program Information Packet (pdf)
- includes bio, references, program descriptions and costs

• Color (file size 7MB)
• Black & White (file size 1MB)

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Junk Jam

Turning Garbage Into Grooves

Hands-on experiences are an exciting and educational way to promote teamwork, nurture creativity and boost self-esteem among youth. The
Junk Jam program is designed with these goals in mind, while allowing students to explore firsthand the percussive possibilities hiding within common everyday items.

Students will learn that any ordinary object can indeed be a musical instrument. In merely seconds, they will transform these “found sounds” into intense rhythms- at the same time developing creativity, listening and communication skills.

Playing on “instruments” such as 5-gallon pails, garbage cans, automotive brake drums and soda can shakers, students will find that rhythm exists everywhere and that by working together they can discover music in their own environment, their own bodies, even in the vocalization of their own names.

Junk Jam programs can be tailored to fit any age/grade level and participants do not need any previous percussion or music experience. Schools need not supply any materials other than chairs for all participants and sufficient room to arrange a large circle of students. The program’s flexibility includes accommodating any number of students during each 30- to 45-minute session, and length and content can be customized to fit your class schedule and particular needs.

To be supplied by school:

• adequate room for a collection of buckets, other ‘junk’ instruments and presenter
• seating for attendees (preferably chairs)

(Some art-related materials and/or supplementary ‘junk’ instruments may need to be supplied by the school, depending on program)

Please inquire if you have any special requests. Junk Jam can be adapted to fit your school’s specific needs and interests.

Contact Mark Powers for program pricing & more information at:
920- 410-0465

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The Sights & Sounds of Ghana

• Teacher download: Classroom Preparation Packet (pdf, file size 805KB)

The Sights & Sounds of Ghana program will take students on a journey into the world of West African percussion while heightening their awareness and understanding of African cultures.

In addition to a complete family of authentic drums, bells and shakers of the Ewe people, the program features Kpanlogo drums of the Ga, ‘talking drums’ of the Dagomba, djembes and a beautiful 14-key balafon.

The program will integrate numerous Education Standards, helping students to meet several general music and social studies outcomes.

The presentation begins with a video filmed during Mark’s studies in the village of Kopeyia- giving students a peek at life, music and school in Ghana. Students are then introduced to several Ghanaian instruments, learn a greeting in the Ewe language and also get onto their feet for some traditional dancing!

To be supplied by school:

• adequate staging area for the instruments and presenter
• seating for attendees
• six additional chairs (without armrests)
• video equipment (VHS or DVD, projector & screen)

(Some art-related materials may need to be supplied by the school, depending on program)

Please inquire if you have any special requests. The Sights & Sounds of Ghana can be adapted to fit your school’s specific needs and interests.

Contact Mark Powers for program pricing & more information at: 920-410- 0465

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Past Programs

Abiqua Middle School – Appleton East High School – Ash Creek Intermediate School – Ashland High School – Ashland Middle School – Bayside Christian Fellowship – Best Friends of Neenah/Menasha – Boys’ & Girls’ Brigade:Neenah – Boys & Girls Club of the Fox Valley – Boys & Girls Club:Oshkosh – Camp Fire Kids USA:Appleton – Camp Helen Brachman – Camp Hope:Appleton – Carl – Camp Fire Kids USA:Appleton – Camp Helen Brachman – Camp Hope:Appleton – Carl Traeger Elementary – Carl Traeger Middle School – Chapman Hill Elementary – Collegiate Music Educators National Conference – Cub Scouts Pack #3091 – Cub Scout Pack #3607 – Cub Scouts Pack #4034 – Culture Shock:Salem – DePere High School – Eagle Bluff Elementary – Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley – Emmeline Cook Elementary – Evans Elementary – Foster Elementary – Four Corners Elementary – Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra – Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship – Fox Valley Youth Symphony – Friendship Learning Center – Future Neenah, Inc. – Gibraltar School – Green Meadow Elementary – Haines Junction Public Library – Haines School – H. B. Patch Elementary – Heritage Elementary – Holy Angels School – Independence Elementary – Jacob Shapiro Elementary – Jefferson Elementary – Lakeside Elementary – Lakeview Elementary – Lebanon Public Library – Lincoln Elementary:Appleton – Lincoln Elementary:Oshkosh – Lourdes High School – Marian College – Mari-Linn School – McKinley Elementary School – McMinnville Adventist Christian School – Merrill High School – Merrill Middle School – Montessori Adventure School – Mountain View Middle School – Neenah Joint School District – Neville Public Museum – Oak Creek Youth Correctional Facility – Omro Elementary – Oregon Music Educators Association – Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce – Oshkosh North High School – Oshkosh West High School – Outagamie County Pre-Action Network – Peace Lutheran Church:Oshkosh – Perry Tipler Middle School – Prairie River Middle School – Project S.O.A.R. – Propel – Pulaski High School – Ripon High School – Rivermeadow Retreat Center – Rosenow Elementary – Salem Area Chamber of Commerce – Salem Arts Association – Salem Montessori School – Salem Outreach Shelter – Seton Middle School – Sheridan High School – Smith Elementary – South Park Middle School – South Salem High School – Southern Oaks Girls School – St. John Neumann Middle School – St. John the Baptist School – St. John’s Catholic School:Oshkosh – St. Joseph Catholic School:Salem – St. Joseph School:Fort Atkinson – St. Mary Catholic Church:Omro – St. Mary’s Church Youth Ministry:Hurley – St. Sebastian Catholic School – The ARC:Oshkosh – Unitech – University of Wisconsin:Fox Valley – University of Wisconsin:Oshkosh – Webster Stanley Elementary – Weidner Center for the Performing Arts – Whiteaker Middle School – Willamette University – Winnebago Mental Health Institute – Winneconne High School – Winneconne Middle School – Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired – Wisconsin Resource Center – Wisconsin Women’s Bowling Association – Xavier High School

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