Educational Outreach Programs
Educational Outreach Overview
The January Lanterns’ ultimate goal is to help people of all ages tell the stories that need to be told. Songwriting and music is a beautiful outlet to tell stories.
Andrew grew up teaching himself how to play guitar, piano, and learned to sing based on YouTube videos and practice, practice, practice! Music has always been his passion in life. Andrew has his BA in Vocal Performance from The University of Missouri.
Kristen grew up taking private classical voice lessons. She loved musical theatre and won many awards for her solos and has continued singing all throughout life in various musical atmospheres. Kristen has her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from The University of Missouri.
They make a great team with their fun banter and 15+ years of preforming together. The January Lanterns bring their passion for music and teaching to all educational outreach opportunities. The band offers educators the ability to personalize and customize for any age group or environment.
Sample Outreach Outline
Songwriting Workshop – Zooming In
Optional: Bring current songwriting material/original songs (finished or unfinished)
Objectives:
Students of all ages will get to know and interact with a professional duo/band
Students will experience a short concert of original songs (emphasized with songs that zoom in on specific moments to help teach the lesson)
Students will learn how to focus on a specific moment (real or fictional) in order to craft a song in the session
Students will learn how to connect a small moment with a larger life theme that a broad audience can connect with
Students will work collaboratively with peers
Opening Exercise (5-10min):
Sing/Preform “I Won’t Know, Until The End”
Ask students their background knowledge about songwriting
What is your favorite song and why do you feel connected to it?
If you write songs, what do you write songs about?
What is a tiny moment in your life that had a huge impact?
Brief history of songwriting and its importance in communities
Introduction + Bulk of Lesson + Exercise (10-15min):
Sing/preform “Faint Line”
Discuss the lyrics of the song and explain how small moments of inspiration lead to the song’s creation
Prepare 5-10 snippets of famous lyrics that are zoomed in on a specific moment and how they connect with the larger theme of the song
Ask audience which “small moment” lyrics stick out to them
Discuss with students how those small moments help them connect with a larger theme/big picture - what big themes do they see in theses songs? (Love, Life, Death, Party)
Discuss the importance of “big picture” themes of a song and explain how specific small moments can connect to larger themes of the human experience at large
Students can break into small groups or individually
Start writing about a small moment (real or fictional)
Connect “zoomed in” moment with a large life theme
Start the building blocks to a song (verse, chorus, bridge, etc.) with the small moment and big theme elements
Students can volunteer to share their small moments and their connection to a larger theme and how they plan to connect with their audience
Importance for your life/today (10-15min):
Sing/Preform “Lantern of Love”
Short explanation of our journey of songwriting and how songwriting became like therapy for us
Show growth of personal songwriting journey
Explain that although your audience may not have experienced that tiny moment in your life - they can connect with the larger story at play
Even if you never share your songs with the world, they can remain pieces of history for you
Explain parallels of growth mindset - one for growing in knowing yourself while simultaneously growing in storytelling
Closing and Q&A (5-10 min):
Finish with song “Flyover Country”
Time for Q&A from the audience
Encouragement to continue working on songs from the workshop