Category: Teen Workshop
Dan Navarro Visits Bemidji September 3 & 4
Headwaters Music & Arts welcomes nationally touring musician and songwriter, Dan Navarro, to Bemidji September 3 and 4 with a concert and a guitar workshop for ages 13-adult.
Dan Navarro’s long and eclectic resume includes “songwriter,” “recording artist,” “singer,” “voice actor,” “road warrior” and “arts advocate” in its range of credits. His music probes life at its most resonant. In his rich baritone, he sings songs of heart and insight, steeped in experience, soulful tales from a long road well-traveled.
Dan started his career writing songs for a diverse array of artists including Pat Benatar (the Grammy®-nominated “We Belong”) The Bangles, Jackson Browne, Dave Edmunds, The Temptations, Dionne Warwick, The Triplets, Dutch star Marco Borsato, and Austin outlaw legend Rusty Weir.
In the 1990’s and 2000’s, Dan worked with Eric Lowen as they recorded and toured as the acclaimed acoustic duo Lowen & Navarro until Eric’s retirement in 2009. Dan has transitioned smoothly into a busy solo career over the past decade, touring nationally almost constantly.
Dan's long awaited first true studio-recorded album, "Shed My Skin" was released in 2019 and was well worth the wait. Recorded and produced by Steve Postell it, of course, features Dan Navarro / vocals, guitar, percussion, Steve Postell / Guitars, Jon Ossman / upright bass, Brendan Buckley /drums, Peter Adams / piano, Phil Parlapiano / accordion, David Glaser / mandolin and Debra Dobkin / percussion.
He has a parallel career as a voice actor and singer, in films like The Playmobil Movie, Pirates of the Caribbean 5, The Book Of Life, Rio (on the Oscar®-nominated “Real In Rio”), Happy Feet, The Lorax, Ice Age (2 & 3) ; TV series Turbo Fast, Prison Break, Family Guy and American Dad; records with Neil Young, Andrea Bocelli, Luis Miguel, Jose Feliciano, Janiva Magness, and Jon Anderson of Yes; hit video games Fallout 4 and Uncharted 4; and hundreds of TV ads for Subaru, Shakey’s, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Honda, Nationwide and more. Most recently, Dan sang on six Lin-Manuel Miranda songs in the Disney Film ENCANTO and, in Feb 2022, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart.
And now… Dan’s new album, "Horizon Line,” is finished and set for an August release. Produced by multiple Grammy®-winner Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Wilco, Dixie Chicks, as well as the first five Lowen & Navarro albums) over a dozen sessions in mid-2021 and a dozen more in spring 2022. You can pre-orders your album now at DanNavarro.com
Dan has a 26-year-old son, thinks sleep is for babies and is a known abuser of acoustic guitars.
You can see Dan perform live in concert Saturday, September 3 at 7:30 pm and you can join him for his guitar workshop for all levels of songwriters (beginners to advanced are all welcome!) 1-4 pm Sunday, September 4. Both the concert and the workshop will be held at Headwaters Music & Arts Performance Hall (519 MN Ave NW, Bemidji). Concert tickets cost $25/person and the cost to register for the guitar workshop is $50. Register or find out more about Headwaters workshops and music events here.
Chris Hudson visits Bemidji
Headwaters Music and Arts hosts Chris Hudson for a workshop and a couple of performances in May. Chris is a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter based out of Kansas City, MO. He’ll be bringing his guitar with him when he stops in Bemidji May 19 and 20 as a part of his Minnesota tour.
Leader and founding member of Gullywasher and Gullywasher Collective, the public will have a chance to hear Chris’ guitar stylings on May 19, 7-9, pm as he performs an intimate house concert at the home of Tom and Elisha Barry of Bemidji; attendance is limited to 25 guests. The event supports Headwaters’ Music Scholarship Program, and will include appetizers and beverages to pair with Chris’ music. Those who are not able to attend the house concert can plan to watch Chris live, on May 20 at Headwaters Music and Arts (519 Minnesota Ave, Bemidji) for a free will donation community concert at 7:30 pm. The event will follow a finger-picking workshop held 5:30-7 pm Friday, May 20 for guitar players of all ages. Both May 20 events are at Headwaters Music and Arts.
May 19 House Concert tickets are $30 per person while registration for the finger picking workshop is $10 per participant. The 7:30 pm May 20 Community Concert is free will donation at the door. Headwaters Music & Arts is an independent non-profit multidisciplinary organization whose mission is to provide opportunities for creativity through instruction and to inspire community through music and the arts.
Announcing Block 2 of Headwaters Jam Band
Headwaters Music and Arts is in the midst of it’s first block of Jam Band. The 8 week program, which is dedicated to exploring instrumental improvisation and composition in a group setting, started at the beginning of April with a group of talented and aspiring teen musicians. The group meets weekly on Thursday evenings, 5-7 pm, at Headwaters Music and Arts (519 MN Ave NW, Bemidji) and is for all instruments and genres – a fact the teens, who come from varying musical backgrounds, have been learning as they work together to create their own music in a format that they all enjoy. As the teens have been digging in and exploring beyond the basics of music theory they have found new skills and techniques while learning to play in a group and as a band. Each participant has been challenged to add their own parts to the mix, coming up with their own rhythm and melody lines on their preferred instrument. Block 1 of Jam Band ends at the end of May, but Headwaters is already taking registrations for Block 2 which runs June 3 through July 22. There will be a total of 4 Blocks of Jam Band this year so if you know a teen who is interested but can’t make it to Block 2 they have opportunities at Block 3 (August 5 – September 23) or Block 4 (October 7 – December 2).
Headwaters Jam Band is for teen musicians ages 13-18 with prior experience with their instrument. The group is led by Cassidy Jay, a professional musician, composer and audio engineer with 20 years of experience playing in bands and writing songs. Cassidy teaches the group how to use their senses and intuition to identify and apply patterns, rhythm, scales and phrasing to compose and improvise. Participants learn how to play in a group setting with a band and how to fit into the mix as an individual with their instrument.
Participants gather weekly to jam out and explore important aspects of song structure, song dynamics, song phrasing, band organization and the social dynamics of playing in a group. This, all while practicing how to be in the moment
when playing, and using the powers of intuition and personal expression. Headwaters Jam Band offers an open atmosphere and creative environment where musicians can collaborate, make new friends, grow together and forge a greater personal understanding of the musical world.
Cassidy has been a member of various bands as a multi instrumentalist, vocalist and songwriter. Through that and his solo work he has delved deep into the study and practice of creating and playing music with an emphasis on song composition, as well as the art of improvisation and using intuition as a guiding force for articulating musical expression. Of his work Cassidy says, “My goal as a musician is to distill everything I have learned from my experiences into writing and playing, in a pursuit to be a conduit for creativity and explore uncharted territory in the music realm.”
Participants are required to provide their own instruments and amps (if applicable) with the exception of the drum kit. The cost to attend is $75/ 8 week block. Advance registration is required – limited spots available. Register here.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Carrie Dlutkowski Visits Bemidji
Headwaters Music & Arts hosts Michigan fiddler and step dancer Carrie Dlutkowski for a concert and a series of workshops providing an overview of the history, style and repertoire of one of three styles of fiddle music: Scottish, French-Canadian, and Metis. With one workshop for ages 5-11, the rest of the workshops are for beginner to advanced fiddle players ages 12 to adult. Participants can choose to attend one workshop or all four sessions. Participants will gain an appreciation of the rich cultural histories behind these musical styles and begin building a repertoire of tunes while exploring the stylistic nuances that make different kinds of fiddle music unique. Sunday's Step Dance workshop is open to all; it complements the fiddle workshops but does not require fiddle playing experience.
Thursday, October 24th
• 6-7 pm – Fiddlin’ Around is a free opportunity for students age 5-11 with any level of playing experience. On Thursday October 24th, 6-7pm, students can bring their violin or fiddle and join fiddler and step dancer Carrie Dlutkowski as the group explores tunes that are adaptable and creative. Students will be able to take the tunes with them as they can be played alone or in a group, by people of any level of experience, and are meant to be crafted by the musicians themselves. Students will develop the confidence to take the tunes home and “play with” them! Students should be accompanied by a guardian. Adults are encouraged to bring a device for recordings which will be useful in future practice.
Friday, October 25
• 6-9 pm Scottish Fiddle Music $25
Saturday, October 26
• 9 am-noon French-Canadian Fiddle Music $25
• 1-4 pm Métis Fiddle Music $25
• 7-9 pm – Carrie Dlutkowski in concert. Carrie will be joined by Minnesota performers Brian Miller and Norah Rendell, musicians and singers with strong backgrounds in Canadian music. Free will donation.
Sunday, October 27
• 1-3 pm Introduction to Ottawa Valley Step Dancing, Students will develop an understanding of the basics of Ottawa Valley step dancing, and of the history that influenced its evolution as a dance form. No fiddle playing experience required. $10 fee
As a classical musician, Dlutkowski has performed in various solo, symphony orchestra and opera orchestra, music theater, and chamber ensemble settings. An accomplished folk musician, she has played in concerts, festivals, interpretive programs, for dances, and on the air. Dlutkowski is also a National Park Interpretive Ranger at Grand Portage National Monument, managing one of the park’s main interpretive locations, the re-created Ojibwe Village.
Carrie Dlutkowski's enthusiasm for the fiddle music of Canada led her to explore its history, with a focus on the development of Scottish, French-Canadian and Métis (Native/French/Scottish) fiddle styles in the 18th century. Each of these cultural groups claims a strong musical tradition. Carrie offers musical and historical presentations, workshops and performances that take listeners on an exploration of how these styles of music blended and developed through cross-cultural interaction. Dlutkowski is a step dancer in the Ottawa Valley style. As a classical musician, Carrie Dlutkowski has performed in various solo, symphony orchestra and opera orchestra, music theater, and chamber ensemble settings. As a folk musician, she has played in concerts, festivals, interpretive programs, for dances, and on the air.
Brian Miller fell in love with Irish traditional music 25 years ago in the crowd at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, moved from his northern Minnesota hometown of Bemidji to St. Paul and has since become one of the most sought-after musicians in North America’s Irish music scene. Brian has toured widely throughout the US and Canada with bands including Bua and The Lost Forty.
Norah Rendell is a singer, flute player and whistle player that specializes in the traditional folk songs and dance music of Ireland and Canada. For the past 15 years, she has toured internationally with several ensembles including seven years as lead singer and flute player for the award-winning group, The Outside Track. She has also performed with the Two Tap Trio (St. Paul), the Máirtín de Cógáin Project, the Canadian folk string quartet called the Fretless and Paddy O’Brien’s Doon Ceili band in Minnesota. In the past five years years, Norah has built a reputation for herself as a solo artist.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Headwaters prepares for school year with after school Art Clubs
Musical Theater Camp coming up July 22-26
Alien space travel. Singing. Dancing. Silliness and humor. Headwaters Music & Arts week-long Musical Theater Camp prepares participants to take part in community theater or school productions while giving participants an opportunity to have fun and be creative with friends. This year Kari Ekhoff directs The Quantianius Connection, where aliens travel through space and time to discover the secret of the performance talents of Purple Floyd.
Participants, ages 8- 15, will spend the week exploring the entire process of musical theater, from character development and set construction to costuming and working off-script for a final public performance. This Musical Theater Camp provides a gentle, inclusive and successful environment for children from most basic to advanced levels to shine. The camp runs from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, July 22-26 with breaks built in for lunch, board games, art activities, and team building challenges.
Supplies are provided but participants should plan to bring a bagged lunch each day.
9-3pm | Ages 8-15 | $150 | Min 12 Max 22 | Register now.
This activity is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Bemidji Area Arts Endowment, a component fund of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation.
Call for Vocalists – Bemidji Sings!
Bemidji Sings! Call for Vocalists
Headwaters Music & Arts invites amateur singers who live, work or attend school in Bemidji to take part in Bemidji Sings! to determine who will represent Bemidji at the Minnesota Sings State Finals in September. Amateur singers interested in taking part will need to register by May 30th.
Auditions will take place noon-7 pm Sunday, June 2nd, 9-noon and 3-6 pm Monday, June 3rd at Headwaters Music & Arts. Participants will sing one song during the preliminary auditions. Up to 7 singers from each age division will be chosen to perform at the August 1st Bemidji Sings! show.
Winners of the preliminary auditions will perform for cash and prizes during the Bemidji Sings! Vocal Competition at 7 pm Thursday, August 1st, 2019 at Bemidji State University. The first place winner from each age division will move on to Minnesota Sings Statewide Finals, Saturday-Sunday Sept. 28th – 29th, in Woodbury.
Singers will be judged based on their vocal skills, presentation skills, audience response, and judge's overall impression. Read more.
Sponsored by Headwaters Music & Arts with support from Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce and Supple Studios. Special thanks to David Eichholz of Deuces Wild.
This activity is funded in part, by an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State’s General Fund.
This activity is make possible, in part, by a grant from the Bemidji Area Arts Endowment, a component fund of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation.
Storytelling Series with Laura Packer
You must be logged in to post a comment.