Education
The Special Consensus tours year-round nationally and internationally. In 1984, the band created the Traditional American Music (TAM) Program to introduce students of all ages (and teachers) to bluegrass music, our own truly American born form of traditional music.
The Special Consensus has presented the TAM Program in hundreds of schools throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland, Scotland and South America since developing the program. The presentation is adapted to reach all age groups, from pre-school and kindergarten to middle school, junior high, high school and college level students. Instrumental and vocal workshops are also available for music class and festival programs.
A study guide is available for downloading from this site for use by teachers in the classroom prior to the in-school presentation.
Band leader Greg Cahill is a former chairperson of the Bluegrass In The Schools Committee of the Nashville, Tennessee, based International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and the TAM Program of The Special Consensus has become a model program for bluegrass artists and bands interested in developing an in-school presentation. A video production of a TAM Program presentation, sponsored by the Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association, was offered to bands and schools by the IBMA but was eventually replaced with the IBMA Discover Bluegrass DVD that includes demonstration of the bluegrass instruments by The Special Consensus.
Contact Maria Nadauld for further information on pricing and availability. Discount rates are available for back-to-back performances at the same location in a single half day and we can provide assistance with block booking at schools in the same region.
Maria Nadauld
Above The Bay Booking
marianadauld@pacbell.net
510/828-6961
Arts Council Grants available for Special Consensus’ performance
Illinois Arts Council, Artstour program:
Grants of 30-50% of the performance fee are available for large and small presenters, including schools, libraries, churches and small venues.
Sponsor must be an Illinois not-for-profit organization, or government agency (school, municipality, university, etc) Complete their simple application form, and submit with contract, no less than six weeks prior to the performance date.
Contact :
Illinois Arts Council (Artstour Program)
(312)814-6750
100 W Randolph, Suite 10-500
Chicago, IL 60601
Michigan Arts & Humanities Touring Grants
Michigan sponsors may apply for a grant of up to 35% of the band’s performance fees.
Applications must be postmarked at least 60 days prior to the contracted date.
Arts & Humanities Touring Program is a joint project of Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs and the Michigan Humanities Council.
Contact :
Arts & Humanities Touring Program
Michigan Humanities Council
Email: tourmihum@voyager.net
(517) 372-7770
119 Pere Marquette, Suite 3B
Lansing, MI 48912-1270