Reading ROCKS!! is a 45-minute assembly show created by seasoned teaching artists Brian Chevalier & Susan Hamlin. Music and dialogue bring home the message that reading helps a child grow to his or her highest potential-and that reading is pure fun.
Great original songs (pop, rock & roll, R&B, blues, hip-hop and acoustic styles) celebrate the adventure of reading.
Reading ROCKS!! is an energetic and highly participatory show that is a perfect fit for PARP, summer and library reading programs. With sing-alongs, student volunteers, movement and guessing songs, students are fully engaged from start to finish.
Sincere, spontatneous, fun and inclusive!
Click Here for Free MP3 Song Samples from Our Shows!
Program Goals
Reading ROCKS!! mission is to help inspire students' lifelong adventure with reading and to create confidence and success in each child's unique reading journey. Students are treated with respect, like experts in their own reading development, whatever the level.
The show targets messages like asking for help, reading is fun, characters in books, different kinds of reading, experiences at the library, reading with parents, literature based characters and positive character values.
English Language Arts (ELA)
Students practice LISTENING FOR CONTENT as they find clues embedded
in songs. PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS grows with the Rhythm and Rhyme of Reading ROCKS!! varied music.
Classroom songwriting and critical listening workshops target ELA development as well as teamwork, cooperation and creativity.
Target Audience
Grades Pre-K through 6. Different age appropriate shows for older and younger students.
To enhance the experience -- and give as many kids a chance to volunteer on stage as possible -- we recommend two separate shows for audiences spanning more than 3 grades or for groups over 200-250.
Click Here for Free MP3 Song Samples from Our Shows!
The Birth of Reading ROCKS
Brian Chevalier and Susan Hamlin combined their skills in the mid 90s to create Reading Rocks, filling a gap in what they saw in the field. They set out to write original music to reach the sophistication and imagination of today's elementary students. They focused on upbeat music styles kids would really relate to. Pop, rock, blues, folk, etc. Turns out they were on to something: Students -- and teachers -- really like the music.
Reading Rocks is a fully integrated, rah-rah reading show with lots of student participation. Kids help teach ASL for one song, run the maraca orchestra for another, guess the animal clues in another, lead the hand movements etc.
Brian and Susan have years of experience as professional musicians, songwriters, recording artists and studio engineers. They've both graduated from the Albany Schenectady League of Arts Arts In Ed Mentoring Program and have years of experience as classroom and workshop facilitators, including creative songwriting sessions for all ages.
Age Targeted Shows
Reading Rocks performs different age appropriate shows. There's a Harry Potter "hi-hop" tune for the older students and a Clifford song -- a "rocker" for the young ones. An older grade blues tune about staying up too late with a page-turner book -- "Late Night Reading Blues" -- and "Reading for Fun" for the younger.
One Susan's favorite jobs -- going out in the audience (she wears a wireless headset) asking individual students to recommend favorite books for others to read. Susan can't count how many times she's had to say "Captain Underpants!" (and Black Beauty, one of her own favorites too.)
Reading Rocks is a great kickoff or finale for a reading month and also for year-round programs.
The Reading ROCKS!! Songs
Reading Rocking Ridiculous (Riddle Song)
Reading Rocks the USA
Rock the Magic (Harry Potter Song)
Dive into Reading
Goosebumps
Sailing on my Comfy Chair
Ask Your Librarian
Reading for Fun
Chicka BOOM!
Clifford (The Big Red Dog)
Late Night Reading Blues
Program content and music copyrighted by Brian Chevalier and Susan Hamlin
Perfect Kickoff or finale for PARENTS AS READING PARTNERS Literacy Month
Let's talk about how Reading ROCKS!! can tie in to your Reading Month Theme for the best program ever.
Technical Needs
Artists provide: Quality sound system and microphones.
You provide: Grounded power outlet close to performance location, adequate lighting, parking convenient to closest load-in, custodial support and security.
Performance space to be reserved for a minimum of one hour before show time for setup and sound check. Space must be clear and ready to set up. Sorry, safety requirements do not permit gym classes or other activities during setup or tear-down.
Interested? Please
email for your personalized quote
