Heart and Place: Music of the Westward Expansion
A look at the Westward Expansion through the lens of music including the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Oregon Trail, the cowboys, Native Americans, pioneers, and early frontier communities of the nineteenth century American West.
Assembly Program: (50 minutes) for k-12. This program includes music for guitar, fiddle, piano, singing, and the Northern Cheyenne Courting Flute. Laura takes audiences on a musical journey celebrating the history and the diverse cultures of the American West such as Métis fiddle music, black cowboy songs, women song writers, a Native American opera composers, and Chinese railroad workers.
Experiential Music/Dance Workshops: (At least two visits per classroom recommended) for k-12. Explore the lives of Western emigrants through experiential learning with traditional folk songs and dances.
Students sing and dance their way through the nineteenth century American West.
- Repertoire includes The Girl I Left Behind, Shenandoah, Oh Susanna, Home Sweet Home, Beautiful Dreamer, Buffalo Gals, Old Joe Clark, and Arkansas Traveler, to name a few.
- Dances include the Schottische, the Virginia Reel, the Polka, the Waltz, and Square Dancing,
The Heart and Place program may be tailored to a variety of needs. For example, a school may book a single assembly program, or may choose to schedule an experiential learning residency which combines an assembly program followed up with multiple classroom visits.
“Where there’s a story, there’s music,” Laura Dean said as she explored the theme of Westward Expansion via songs and the stories behind the songs. Dean entertained an audience of all ages at the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls and at Great Falls schools. Her selections showcased her musical range and embraced many musical traditions, among them Cheyenne, Blackfoot and pioneer, from folk music to brass band pieces to elegant ballads. This is music grandparents in the large audience probably knew well, such as “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair,” but how many children growing up today have heard “Camptown Races”? The music was well performed, the show was well-paced and the audience delighted.” –Kristen Inbody, writer for the Great Falls Tribune
Sing-Along with Laura (for K-12 and adult communities)
Laura leads a casual and entertaining hour of singing featuring standards, folk songs, musicals, and pop favorites. Laura provides the song sheets and the accompaniment on the piano and guitar!
*Each sessions includes gentle movement, vocal warm-ups, and wide variety of songs (standards, folk songs, musicals).
Laura (front and center) leading a sing-along at Rancho La Puerta, Baja Mexico
The benefits of singing according to Healthline.com:
1. Relieves stress.
2. Stimulates the immune response.
3. Increases pain threshold.
4. May improve snoring.
5. Improves lung function.
6. Develops a sense of community.
7. Enhances memory in people with dementia.
8. Helps with grief.
9. Improves mental health and mood.
10. Improves speaking ability.
Please contact Laura for Schedule of Fees, 2023:
lauramusic@comcast.net
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