Historical Journey Through America's Music

    This program takes the students very quickly through the history of America by using songs popular at the various periods of history. Historical events or periods that will be discussed include: colonization; revolutionary War; minstrel shows, slavery, the Gold Rush; Civil War and the cowboy era. It is a sampler type of program, with a great variety of styles and musical instruments.

   Songs may include: This Land Is Your Land, Yankee Doodle, Greensleeves, Sailor’s Hornpipe, Boil’em Cabbage Down, Oh Susana, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, I’ve Been Working on the Railroad, Home On the Range, The Ballad of Jesses James, When the Saints Go Marching In, Lassus Trombone (Jazz), Hoochie Coochie Man, Bad to the Bone, Hound Dog, La Bamba, and Twist and Shout.

   Instruments Demonstrated: Acoustic Guitar, harmonica, tin whistle, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, Indian flute, trombone, bottleneck guitar (blues), electric guitar.

“Oh California”

   In this program Craig Newton presents a sampling of the music of some of the peoples who have occupied what is now California for the past 500 years or so. Combined with the songs of different ethnic groups are the demonstrations of various instruments with lots of sing-along's and participation. The audience is given a better understanding of the diverse influences that have created the unique culture we enjoy today in California, and the audience is urged to learn to play some instrument on their own.

Countries or Areas Discussed: California, Native American Indians, Spanish and Mexican, Russian, Sailors, Miners, Railroad workers.

Songs may include : Oh California, Boil ‘em Cabbage, Flute Song, La Bamba, Quieres Que Te Ponga, Birch Tree, Come Bunny Dance A While, Haul Away Joe, California Song, Clementine, Drill Ye Tarriers, Stars and Stripes, Lassus Trombone, California Here I Come, Take Me Out To the Ball Game, Route 66, Surfin’ USA, Twist and Shout

Instruments Demonstrated : Violin, Indian Flute, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Tin Whistle, Ukulele, Banjo, Trombone, Mandola, and Electric Guitar.

“A Musical Safari”

   Join Craig Newton in this wonderful new program, A Musical Safari. This will feature various rhythms from places such as Africa and South America, and talk about how they have affected all kinds of music.

   Craig will present these rhythms and styles of music in his unique way, using a wide variety of instruments, especially drums and percussion. Get ready for a fun, wild, journey from the African jungles to our present day styles of music including jazz, blues and rock n’ roll.

—There will be audience participation, singing, laughing, toe tapping and of course, hats!

“America’s Multi-Cultural Music Heritage”

   In this program Craig Newton presents an overview of the diversity of America’s music. Using his extraordinary talents as a multi-instrumentalist, singer and storyteller, Craig serves up a smorgasbord of music. The focus here is on the country, region or ethic group that originated the instruments of songs that are performed. Drums from Africa, the “goose egg” from China, the Penny Whistle from Great Britain, and the tambourine from the Middle East… and the list goes on. The audience is invited and encouraged to join in and participate, and is given an idea of the rich heritage of music in America.

Countries or Areas Discussed: Great Britain, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Asia, Middle East and Africa.

Songs may include: Rosin the Bow, Old Joe Clark, Malaguena, En Roulant Ma Boule, Marianni, Five Foot Two, Sy a Hamba, Cotton Needs Pickin’, Satin Doll, Aloha Oe, Surfin’ USA, and Twist and Shout.

Instruments Demonstrated: Tin Whistle, fiddle, acoustic guitar, recorder, mandolin, harmonica, Indian flute, Ocarina, ukulele, tambourine, banjo, djembe drum, saxophone, and electric guitar.

“Holiday Music”

   Join Craig as he shares versions of some of the standard holiday songs from a variety of cultures. As usual he brings a wonderful array of instruments to play the music, and this is a great audience participation program.

Songs may include: Jingle Bells (USA), Feliz Navidad ( Mexico), The First Noel (France), Joy to the World ( Germany), O Christmas Tree ( Germany) Dreidle Song (Jewish), Good King Winceslas ( England) Deck the Halls ( England), We Wish You a Merry Christmas ( England), Sy’a Hamba (Africa), Auld Ang Syne ( Scotland), Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer (USA), and more.

Instruments used: Mandola, Violin, Mandolin, Concertina, Tin Whistle, Acoustic Guitar, Djembe, Saxophone, Banjo, Ukulele, and Electric Guitar.

Holidays mentioned include: Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, New Year’s Eve, and Kwanzaa.

How the West was Sung

   This is a fast paced program that takes audiences on a Westward Movement (1850 to the present) journey across America featuring songs from cowboys, miners, settlers, farmers, laborers, soldiers and more. The program will feature instruments like the banjo, fiddle, guitar, saxophone, flute and mandolin…to name a few. It's history and music in a delightful program, filled with singing, clapping, and interaction.

Some comments about Craig’s shows:

“Staff and students thoroughly enjoyed the performance.”
   -Shari Wohlstattar, Principal, Santa Susana Elementary

“…A valuable and successful learning experience.”
   -Julie Tindall, 1st Vice President, PTA Programs, Garden Grove Elementary

“You always provide wonderful shows”.
   -Llene Abramson, Children’s Librarian, Los Angeles Main Library

“…Excellent presentation.”
   -Terry Miller, Principal, Our Lady of Malibu School

See what others had to say about Craig's Shows