Programs

Programs

John is a wonderful storyteller & musician with years of entertaining and teaching experience. His stories and old-time songs are geared for all audiences, both young and old. He specializes in folk tales, Jack tales, mountain stories and songs and traditional Carolina yarns. His stories are simple stepping stones of history and southern culture. Along with his great storytelling John plays banjo, guitar, washboard, lap dulcimer, banjo-uke, spoons and many more Appalachian folk instruments. All will enjoy his warm southern theatrical style and charm.

His characters come alive with his energy and folksy way.
He is wonderful to listen to."
- Jackie Torrence, Storyteller

John has loads of detailed information to share on workshops and residencies which have been time tested and tweaked to insure maximum quality for age appropriate classes/audiences. He offer's a number of different types of one-day, as well as one-week programs, and he will gladly design a program to meet your specific needs. Programs on music appreciation workshops, storytelling, writing, creative dramatics and theatrical residencies are all favorites. He also has a number of special programs designed for student-teacher cadet classes, small play production, folklife research project (recording) production, and folk instrument making. So please inquire. If you have an idea, just ask! John is very resourceful and versatile.

"The teacher's all commented on how much fun it was to have such a great storyteller visit us. Thanks for a wonderful presentation".
                                       Belinda Reagan,
                                       George Smith Elementary,
                                       Portland, OR.

On the Stage

STORY TELLING PROGRAMS:

Beans In My Ears

Geared for young audiences K – 2nd grade

Little ones love to participate as well as to watch and John has a lot of GREAT
time tested stories and songs that will allow them to do just that. The performance
is geared for age appropriate levels and is designed to both motivate and educate.
John uses his auto-harp, banjo-uke and guitar for simple sing-a-long songs and
interactive storytelling. Each child will experience the magical world of imagination
in storytelling. Some stories and songs are: Sody Sallyraytus, Ghost-Hunt
(very educationally entertaining), Beans in My Ears (fun nonsense song), Sally the
Camel, The Gunny Wolf, This Old Man & others.

Going Across The Mountain
(folk stories & songs from North & South Carolina)

Perfect for community concerts, elementary and middle schools.

Your students will be absorbed by the stories and intrigued with the unusual music
instruments. John’s vast experience glows on stage with his theatrical approach in
story-performance. All the materials are age appropriate. The program is designed
to open a world of imagination in reading and writing, and music. John will play
banjo, spoons, jaw-harp, harmonica and guitar, and will tell an assortment of folk
and mountain tales. The students will be magically captivated with this educational
curriculum-oriented program. Some of the stories and song are: Barney McCabe,
Hairy Toe, John Henry, The Crawdad Song, How Jack Made His Fortune
and others. Simply a GREAT program. Don't miss it!!!

Jack, Jack, Jack...
He Always Comes Out Ahead!

Great program for adults, seniors, teens and older audiences.

"Jack was so lazy, his own mother couldn't do much with him."

These stories are all about "Jack" and his adventures. Sometimes Jack is smart,
sometimes he is a bit slow, and sometimes he's just darn lucky, but for sure he
always comes out on top. Your audiences will love this program of how
"Jack Comes Out on Top". These are stories right from the southern mountains
told with a mountain flavor. Ray Hicks has always been the official keeper of the "Jack Tale". John has had the privilege of sharing the stage with Ray on a number of occasions and enjoys presenting "Jack" for all to see. Some of the tales are: How Jack Made His Fortune, Jack and the Varmints, Jack and the Devil's Imps, Sop Doll and more.

Good and (not so) Scary!!!
Good storytelling recommended for the whole family.

"Don't talk -go ta sleep! Eyes Shut an' don' you peep! Keep still, or he jes moans, Raw Head an' Bloody Bones."

A program of enchanting scary stories for the entire family. John enjoys entertaining with his fine collection of frightful delights. You will love his humor and relaxing stories that are designed not to be so scary. John takes extra effort in presenting his programs to age appropriate audiences. Simply great!

In the Classroom

WORKSHOPS & RESIDENCIES:

STORYTELLING/WRITING

(Design for k-8th grades)
John Thomas Fowler is a Master Storyteller, Writer and Community Scholar. He has performed for thousands and conducted hundreds of workshops. His residencies are designed to reinforce modern teaching strategies in today’s classroom. Teachers love his engaging approach to writing and story development. John has developed a time tested curriculum oriented program to insure a positive experience for all students and teachers. He uses a four-step approach; 1) Warm-up 2) Explore 3) Develop 4) Evaluate. Storytelling is use as a tool for creative story-writing practice and techniques.

TRADITIONAL MUSIC HISTORY & APPRECIATION
(Great for all levels of education)
John's Music Residency is a wonderful way to introduce your students to music history, theory, appreciation and application. Your students will be introduce to the science of how instruments work. They will see first hand how basic instruments were discovered or created. Also be introduced to how primitive instruments evolved into formal instruments of today. Student will see demonstrations, and be allowed some hands-on applications during the classroom lecture. Younger ones will enjoy a performance oriented demonstration with storytelling, and sing-a-longs as well.

Storytelling

(Great for 4th - Adults)

John's expertise in this oral tradition is spell bounding. Over the years he has put together curriculum oriented ideas for teaching simple storytelling techniques. Students will have ample opportunity to explore the art of old fashion yarn spinning in a classroom setting. Great for History, Language Arts, Social Studies, Drama and Civic classes.

Social Studies
An American Experience

What's all this talk about the American Revolution anyway?
This residency is an adventure in history, period music , storytelling & folklore which covers the important highlights that lead up to the American Revolution. Highlighting stories of Lexington and Concord to the surrender at Yorktown John focuses on one of the major turning points of the war; the Battle of Cowpens. Students will learn the facts and stories that lead to Daniel Morgan's triumphant over Banastre Tarleton which took the fight out of the British giving the patriot's new hope for victory. They will enjoy re-enacting the battle sequence, seeing authentic costuming of the period and learning about 18 century life in the Carolina back country. The history books will come alive!

" Why Ole Morgan greeted the militia and promised
them that after this victory the girls would hung and kiss all of them. "

" Boy's, let em' get close, then give two volleys ! "

Yankee Doodle Keep it up, Yankee Doodle Dandy...

OTHER PROGRAMS :
John has a array of other programs ; Adult Workshops, Instrument Making Workshops, Folklife Research & Documentation, Folk Music Demonstrations, Theatrical Production and Presentation. Please inquire.