The Traditional American Music (TAM) Program
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 (produced by Greg Cahill and Nancy Cardwell) that includes demonstration of the bluegrass instruments by The Special Consensus.
Get in Touch
Contact Penni McDaniel for further information on pricing and availability:
Hope River Entertainment
Penni McDaniel
770-367-1480
penni@hoperiverentertainment.com
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.
Arts Council Grants available for Special Consensus’ performance. Illinois Arts Council, Artstour program:
Illinois Arts Council (Artstour Program)
312-814-6750
100 W Randolph, Suite 10-500
Chicago, IL 60601