Mark Shepard is a
multi-disciplinary performing and teaching artist who uses drums, songs
and stories as well as cool sound effects instruments to interactively
engage and educate audiences of all ages in
k-12 school assemblies, family concerts and staff development programs
throughout New England, New York and New Jersey
Overtone Singing:
As the students enter the "Audi-Cafe-Gym-atorium"
Mark begins singing Central Asian Overtone Singing,
African style yodeling and his unique "Throat Whistling"
accompanied by a huge frame drum...
Drums:
Listen as Mark involves 300 4th graders in the
Traditional African Welcoming Song and Rhythm, "Funga
Alafia". Mark is joined on stage by three students as
well as the entire audience clapping and singing along.
Songs: "Porcupine Ice Cream"
- this song was written with a group
of 2nd graders. Here Mark sings it to an older group who
enjoy the wacky flavors just as much...
Stories: Monkey
and Leopard in this
"trickster tale" Mark tells a traditional African story
that explains how drums came to be, why Leopards are not
vegetarians and why Monkeys live in trees.
Putting it all together: In
this "DrumSongStory" called "Curiosity", Mark plays the
Irish Bodhran drum, and tells this traditional African
story in song.
