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Reading ROCKS!!

Created and Performed by Teaching Artists
Susan Hamlin and Brian Chevalier

An upbeat, original music arts-in-education assembly show created to support your elementary school's literacy & reading program

Perfect PARP Parents as Reading Partners kickoff





 
 




 
 




 
 


 

Reading ROCKS!!
Program Information

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Printable Program Info


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Reading ROCKS!! Program Flyer   (315KB)

Character Ed Show Flyer 
(600KB)


Reading ROCKS!! PUBLICITY POSTER   (3.2MB)

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Program Description

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


Click here to download printable Reading ROCKS!! flyer
 

 



For more fine music please visit our artist websites
   Brian Chevalier
  Susan Hamlin

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